⏰ACT Test Duration: Section-Wise Duration, Extended time on the ACT and More 

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ACT Test Duration

ACT Test Duration: The ACT Test duration is 2 hours and 55 minutes. Students who opt for the optional essay can expect the ACT Test duration to be  3 hours and 40 minutes. The ACT test can last for more than 3 hours if you tend to take breaks between the tests.  

The ACT test is a standardized entrance exam used to assess an individual’s ability and readiness for admission to universities overseas. To know more about ACT Test duration, read the article. 

Name of the Test ACT
Conducted By ACT Inc. 
Types of Questions MCQ
Mode Computer-based/ Pen-Paper
Age Limit  13 Years and above
Frequency  8 (For national students)
6 (For international students) 
Duration 2 Hours 55 Minutes 

⏳How Long is the ACT test? 

The ACT test lasts for 2 hours and 55 minutes. The test comprises 4 sections, with each section having a designated time frame of completion. This standardised entrance test comes with 215 questions in total.  However, if you take frequent breaks, the overall length of the ACT Test will increase. For instance, the overall amount of breaks, including the 10-minute break between the Math and Reading parts, can bring the total ACT test duration to around 3 hours and 30 minutes. 

Source: Prep Pros

⏰ACT Test Section-Wise Duration

The English section of the ACT Test lasts for 45 minutes while the maths and reading/science sections last for 60 and 35 minutes respectively. Refer to the following table to get an overview of the ACT test section-wise duration. 

ACT Section Duration  Number of Questions Estimated Duration for Each Question
English  45 Minutes  75 36 seconds  per question
Maths 60 Minutes  60 1 minute per question 
Reading  35 Minutes  40 52 seconds per question
Science  35 Minutes  40 52 seconds per question

🤔What Time Does the ACT Start?

The ACT exam usually begins at 8 a.m.  It is critical that test takers arrive on time on the day of the exam. Those who arrive late for the test will not be permitted to take the ACT. It is recommended that students who are taking the test from a remote location attend early to allow for a breathing period. The ACT exam normally lasts till 12:25 p.m. 

Refer to the following table to go through the section-wise ACT test timings. 

ACT Section  Start  End
Maths  9:15 a.m 10:15 a.m
English  8:30 a.m 9:15 a.m 
Break  10:15 a.m 10:25 a.m 
Science  11:00 a.m 11:35 a.m
Reading  10:25 a.m 11:00 a.m
Break 11:35 a.m 11:40 a.m
Optional  11:40 a.m 12:20 p.m
Source: PrepPros

⏱Extended Time on the ACT

According to the amendments made to the ACT test policies in 2018, students can now request extended time for taking the test. Students who get the approval for such a request get 50% extended time for each section of the ACT. 

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FAQs

1. What is the duration of the ACT Test? 

The ACT test lasts for 2 hours and 55 minutes. 

2. What is the duration of the ACT English section? 

The ACT English section lasts for 45 minutes. 

3. Does ACT have negative marking?

There is no negative marking in the ACT exam.

The ACT exam is a standardised entrance exam used by students to gain admission to institutions around the world. The test lasts about 2 hours and 55 minutes and can possibly go longer if you take breaks in between. Therefore, it is critical that you manage your time well and complete your test within the set time frame. 

Visit the Leverage Live page of Leverage edu or contact our study abroad experts at 1800-57-2000 to strengthen your scores and application to secure your spot in your dream college. 

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