How Long Does The ACT Take? | CollegeVine Blog

In this post, we’ll answer the frequently-asked questions of how long does the ACT take, what time does the ACT start and end, and more. After all, beyond properly studying, nothing is as important as showing up for the ACT on time! 

 

How Long Does the ACT Take?

 

The ACT consists of four required sections, and one optional section. The required sections are English, Math, Reading, and Science, and they are taken in this order. The optional section is Writing, and this takes place at the end of the exam. 

 

See the table below to find out how long each section lasts and how many questions each consists of. 

 

Section	# of Questions	Time
English	75	45 mins
Math	60	60 mins
Reading	40	35 mins
Science	40	35 mins
Writing (optional)	One essay	40 mins
Total (without Writing)	215	2 hr 55 min (not including breaks)
Total (with Writing)	216	3 hr 35 min (not including breaks)

 

If you are taking the ACT without Writing, you will have just one break during the test. It takes place after the Math section and lasts for ten minutes. While you’re allowed to use the restroom or have a snack during this time, you cannot leave the building and cannot use any electronic devices. 

 

If you take the ACT with Writing, you will have an additional break directly preceding the Writing Section. This break lasts 5 minutes and generally just allows enough time for those not taking the Writing Section to leave the room. If you’re staying, you should use this time for a trip to the restroom, or just to stretch your legs and have a drink of water. 

 

This means that if you take the ACT without Writing, it will last approximately 3 hours and 5 minutes, including your one break. If you take the ACT with Writing, it will last approximately 3 hours and 50 minutes, including two breaks. 

 

What Time Does the ACT Start and End?

 

Generally, on the day of your ACT test, you can expect to begin testing between 8:30 and 9:00AM. While it may come as a surprise that there’s no concrete and standard start time, this is because it may take some test centers longer than others to register students, distribute test materials, and fill out personal details on the answer sheets. 

 

What is standard across all testing centers, however, is that the doors to the ACT testing center close at 8:00AM. This means that you will need to arrive there between 7:30-7:45AM to allow plenty of time and not feel stressed upon arrival. 

 

Wondering what time the ACT will end? Most students are done taking the ACT without writing by about 12:15PM, and those who take the writing section are usually done by about 1:15PM.