See the issue: March 2007

You’ve got two hours and 55 minutes to answer the 215 questions on the ACT. The test breaks down like this:

• English: 75 questions in 45 minutes = 36 seconds/question
• Math: 60 questions in 60 minutes = 1 minute/question
• Science: 40 questions in 35 minutes = 52.5 seconds/question
• Reading: 40 questions in 35 minutes = 52.5 seconds/question

But let’s be real. Most test-takers need more time. If you’re one of them, here are two hints. First, if you come to a question that stumps you, narrow down your options, then guesstimate. “Typically, at least one choice per question is obviously wrong,” says Scott Brady Carlin, MA, a master’s course instructor in the Department of Teacher Education at Michigan State University. Second, answer all the questions, because you aren’t penalized for wrong answers.

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