The math section of the ACT has 45 questions in 50 minutes, 41 of them scored, and covers mathematics from pre-algebra to trigonometry.
The test has changed recently. ACT describes an enhanced version that is shorter, gives more time per question and offers four answer choices in math instead of five. This guide covers how the section is built, which topics come up and in what proportion, what the calculator policy allows, how the score works and how to pace yourself on the day.
The math section of the ACT, in numbers
ACT's guide to the sections and structure of the test lists three core multiple-choice sections, English, mathematics and reading, plus two optional ones, science and writing.
| Section | Questions | Scored | Minutes |
|---|---|---|---|
| English | 50 | 40 | 35 |
| Mathematics | 45 | 41 | 50 |
| Reading | 36 | 27 | 40 |
| Science (optional) | 40 | 34 | 40 |
| Writing (optional) | 1 essay | 2 to 12 scale | 40 |
In math, four of the 45 questions do not count towards your score. You cannot tell which ones they are, so every question deserves the same care. On its page for state and district testing, ACT lists the changes behind this format: a test that is 10 minutes shorter with 44 fewer questions when English, math, reading and science are all taken, more time per question, and four answer choices in math instead of five, a change it dates to its spring 2026 state and district administrations.
Which math topics the ACT covers
The questions draw on skills typically learned up to the beginning of grade 12, with a focus on the math needed for entry-level college courses. Most are self-contained, and some are tied to a shared graph or chart. ACT groups the content in two categories, with modeling running through both.
| Category | Share | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Preparing for Higher Math | 80% | Algebra, functions, geometry, statistics and probability, number and quantity |
| Integrating Essential Skills | 20% | Multi-step problems using rates, proportions, averages and measurement in real-world contexts |
| Modeling | Throughout | Creating, interpreting and refining mathematical models within problems |
Two practical points follow. Algebra and functions carry most of the weight, so they deserve most of the revision time. And the essential skills part is everyday arithmetic in context, where quick work with rates and percentages saves minutes; our guide to percentages in your head covers the shortcuts. ACT also notes that the mathematics section asks for the correct answer, while the other sections ask for the best one: working the problem out before looking at the choices is usually the safer method. If your answer is not among the choices, ACT's advice is to reread the question and consider all the choices again.
The ACT calculator policy, model by model
According to ACT's calculator policy, calculators are allowed only on the mathematics test, and all of the problems can be solved without one. You bring your own: four-function, scientific and graphing models are allowed unless they are on the prohibited list, and testing staff do not provide them.
- Prohibited: any calculator with computer algebra system (CAS) functionality, built in or downloaded. ACT names all TI-89 and TI-92 models, the TI-Nspire CAS, the HP Prime, the HP 48GII, the HP 40G, 49G and 50G models, and Casio models such as the ClassPad 400, 300 and m330. The TI-Nspire without CAS is permitted.
- Allowed after changes: remove documents and programs with CAS functionality, take out paper tape, turn off sound, cover an infrared port with opaque material and remove power cords.
- Never allowed: phones, tablets and laptops, calculators built into communication devices, pen-input devices and models with QWERTY keys. Sharing a calculator during the test is not permitted either.
Students taking the ACT online have the Desmos graphing calculator built into the testing platform during the math section. The same CAS rule applies on the digital SAT, as our guide to SAT Math explains, so a CAS-free model works for both tests.
ACT also offers free video tutorials on using both the Desmos calculator and handheld TI calculators on the math section, worth watching before the test whichever format you take.
How the ACT scores math, from 1 to 36
Each section is reported on the ACT scale from 1 to 36, and ACT says that scale and its benchmarks have not changed with the enhanced test. What has changed is the composite score: in the enhanced ACT it is calculated from English, math and reading only. Science and writing are optional, and the writing essay, scored from 2 to 12, does not affect the composite.
ACT still supports superscoring, which lets you build your best composite from section scores earned on different test dates. For math, that means a weak sitting does not have to define your result: you can retake the test and the best math score can be combined with your best English and reading scores, for the colleges that accept superscores.
As with any admissions test, the score that matters is the one the colleges on your list ask for, so check their requirements before deciding how many times to sit the test.
Pacing yourself through 45 questions
Fifty minutes for 45 questions is about 67 seconds per question. ACT says its time limits give nearly everyone enough time to finish all the questions, and advises against puzzling too long over any one problem: go on to other questions and come back if there is time. The questions are not all equally long, so a fixed pace per question is less useful than a rule for moving on.
- First pass. Answer everything you can solve in under a minute, and mark the rest.
- Second pass. Come back to the marked questions with the time you saved.
- Last minutes. Never leave a question blank. ACT scores only the questions you answer correctly, with no penalty for guessing, so eliminate the choices you can and make an educated guess.
Speed comes from the basics. Fractions, ratios and percentages appear in many questions, and doing them quickly without a calculator frees time for the longer problems; our guide to multiplying and dividing fractions covers the methods step by step.
How to prepare in the weeks before the test
Start with a full practice test under timed conditions, to see where the points are lost. Then spend most of your time on the higher math category, which is 80% of the section: linear equations and inequalities, functions and their graphs, geometry and trigonometry, and statistics and probability.
- Practise with your own calculator, or with Desmos if you take the test online, so it is never new on the day.
- Keep a mistakes log. Rework each missed question the next day and again a few days later.
- Do short timed sets of 10 to 15 questions to build the pace of about a minute per question.
- Check the calculator itself. ACT's tips: make sure it works and is fully charged or has reliable batteries, and bring a backup calculator or extra batteries.
Finally, check the calculator against ACT's prohibited list well before test day: a model that is not allowed means taking the section without one.
Frequently asked questions
How many questions are in the math section of the ACT?
45 questions, of which 41 are scored, in 50 minutes.
Can you use a calculator on the ACT?
Yes, but only on the mathematics test, and only an allowed model: calculators with CAS functionality, such as the TI-89 or the TI-Nspire CAS, are prohibited.
What topics are on the math section of the ACT?
Preparing for Higher Math, 80% of the section (algebra, functions, geometry, statistics and probability, number and quantity), and Integrating Essential Skills, 20%, with modeling throughout.
How is the math section of the ACT scored?
On the ACT scale from 1 to 36. In the enhanced ACT, the composite score is based on English, math and reading.
How many answer choices do ACT math questions have?
Four. ACT says the math section moved from five to four answer choices in its spring 2026 state and district administrations.
Practise mental maths in Kalc
Ten minutes a day, adapted to your level, with spaced repetition bringing back what you miss.