ACT Exam: Syllabus, Exam Pattern, Dates

What is the ACT Exam?

Short for the American College Testing, the ACT exam is designed to help high school graduates qualify for university and college admissions every year. This university entrance test evaluates students on four major categories, i.e., English, Reading, Mathematics, and Science, along with an optional writing section as well.

Conducted both online and offline, ACT exam 2025 provides students with ample opportunities to take the test as they please. Recently, the ACT Education Corp. updated and revised the test by shortening the test format by making the science section optional. Moreover, the shorter format will allow students to allocate more time to each question, reducing their overall pressure during the testing period.

The changes in the ACT exam will allow students to test better while also focusing their energy on the sections that matter for the degree programme they wish to pursue. As per the changes, the ACT exam will have 75 fewer minutes on the clock and 44 fewer questions. Additionally, the mathematics section will only carry 4 answer choices instead of the regular 5.

All the changes brought in by the ACT Education Corp. have been made to ensure reduced mental and decision fatigue among testers. Moreover, students will now be able to design the test format according to their academic and professional careers and strengths. Therefore, if you choose to take the ACT exam 2025, then go through the details listed on this page before you prepare and apply for the ACT exam.

ACT Exam Dates 2025

Among the first things to note down are the important ACT exam dates for 2025. Candidates are advised to schedule activities from registration to the preparation process as per these dates. Listed below are the important dates for the ACT exam 2025.

ACT Exam Eligibility 2025

Being an entrance test to undergraduate courses offered by US universities, the ACT exam does not specify any academic qualifications. However, it is commonly understood that candidates should be at least 13 years of age to attempt the test. 

ACT Exam Registration 2025

Among the changes brought in by the ACT Education Corp. is the registration process, which, as per their official website, takes less than 10 minutes to complete. Furthermore, by making the Writing and Science sections optional, you can design the test as per your strengths and career goals.

The registration process for the ACT Exam 2025 requires candidates to visit the official website and complete the process as dictated. Candidates will be required to create an account before they can register for the test, as highlighted below.

Step 1: Register/Create an Account with ACT

Visit the Global ACT website (global.act.org/content/global/en.html) and click on the “Register for the ACT” button on the screen. If you are registering for the first time, make sure you add your information correctly, as directed on the page; otherwise, sign in with your MyACT account credentials.

Step 2: Compile documents for ACT Registration

The registration process takes about 10 minutes to complete, provided you have all the documents and information ready to submit during registration. Among the documents that you need to register are your credit card, your photograph (as per directions specified below), and your high school grades (optional).

Step 3: Register for the ACT Exam

Sign in with your login credentials for your MyACT account, and register for the test. ACT provides candidates with 3 hours to complete their registration process; however, it only takes 10 minutes to register for the test. During the registration process, you need to provide information on:

• Your Testing Location: Whether in or outside the USA
• Additional accommodations (for students with disabilities)
• The optional sections: Whether you plan to take the Science and Writing sections
• The location details from where you wish to take the test: here, all details pertaining to the closest testing location, as well as the date on which you wish to take the test, should be submitted.
• Once all the details have been added, you must click on “Save and Continue”.

Step 4: Review for the Test

After clicking on “Save and Complete”, you must review whether the test is as per your requirements at this point before continuing with the registration process.

Step 5: Complete the Registration Process

After reviewing the test package, you must fill out the details in the registration form. It is advisable to seek assistance from an elder in the family or a study abroad consultant to ensure they make no mistakes at the time of registration.

Step 6: Upload your Photograph

Candidates are advised to keep their photographs (a passport-size photograph of the person taking the test) ready to be submitted during the registration process. It is also important to ensure that the photograph complies with the photograph details mentioned below.

Step 7: Select the Universities and Institutions to which you want to send your Scores

It is during the registration process that candidates will be asked to specify the higher education institutions and universities where they wish to send their scores.

Step 8: Pay for the Test

Once all the details for the ACT Exam registration have been updated and submitted on the official registration page, candidates will be asked to seal the deal by paying for the test. It is important to note that the exam and the subsequent seat at the test centre will not be held for the individual candidates until they pay for the test.

Note: Candidates can change their preference for Science and Written Sections after they have registered; however, this should be done before the registration deadline.

ACT Exam Photograph Specifications 2025

The photograph requirements for the ACT exam 2025 have been outlined below:

• Photographs should be submitted by the photo upload deadline. They can do so by:
  • Submitting the photo through their computer/laptop, or mobile phone
• Photographs should be taken in portrait and not landscape, with candidates standing in front of a plain background
• The photograph submitted must only include the applicant, primarily displaying their head down to their shoulders. The photograph should not be blurry, dark, grainy, fuzzy, etc.
• Candidates must face the camera in the photograph
• Candidates must not wear any dark spectacles/glasses
• Photographs should not be altered in any way, i.e., through filters, lenses, texts, emojis, stickers, etc.
• Those wearing a head covering for religious reasons must ensure that they have adjusted their clothing in a manner that reveals their entire face

In addition to these requirements, candidates must also ensure that they upload the image as per the specifications listed by the ACT Education Corp, as highlighted below:

• Images should be in JPEG, JPG, PNG, or BMP file formats and should be below 5mb
• Upon scanning, the resulting photograph should print in a 2”x2” image or larger
• The digital photo should have at least 640x480 pixels
• Avoid uploading scanned photographs as they would not meet the image quality requirements for the system. A photo of the photo is strictly prohibited

Missing the deadline to submit the photograph will lead to an automatic cancellation of the application for the test. Candidates will be required to submit the ACT Exam application form again with a photograph, to be able to appear for the test.

ACT Exam Fee 2025

Candidates will also be required to pay the registration fees for the ACT exam. The ACT Exam Fees 2025 that non-US candidates will have to pay have been listed in the table below:

*Data has been provided according to the INR currency rate of US $1 = ₹87.66.

Note: The ACT exam registration fee for international students is subject to change at the discretion of the organisation conducting the test.

ACT Exam Test Centres 2025

If you wish to attempt the ACT exam 2025 in India, then you will be able to do so at any one of the test centres found across 19 cities in the country. However, it should be noted that you will only be able to find the closest test centre at the time of registration, after you have created your ACT account on the official website. Here is a list of the cities where you will be able to take your ACT exam 2025.

ACT Exam Pattern 2025

With the latest enhancements introduced to the ACT exam 2025, the exam pattern has also seen changes. Starting September 2025, the ACT exam pattern will consider the Science section, alongside the Writing section, as an optional section that students can pay for at the time of registration. While the two sections are optional, attempting these sections will provide a better insight into your skills and understanding of different subjects, thus making you a better candidate for US universities.

ACT Exam Syllabus 2025

While there is no specific ACT syllabus for the different subjects within the ACT exam 2025, students will be evaluated on certain aspects of each subject. Highlighted here are some of the topics under each section on which a candidate will be evaluated this year.

ACT Exam 2025 - English Syllabus

Designed to evaluate a candidate’s basic knowledge and understanding of the English language, the English test of the ACT exam covers the following topics:

• Sentence Structure
• Grammar and Usage
• Punctuation
• Organisational Skills
• Sentence Styles
• Sentence Creation Strategies

ACT Exam 2025 - Mathematics Syllabus

Designed to evaluate a candidate’s ability to logically and reasonably find solutions using mathematical methodologies and equations, the mathematics section of the test will include the following subjects:

• Preparing for Higher Mathematics
  • Number and Quantity
  • Algebra
  • Functions
  • Geometry
  • Statistics and Probability
• Modeling
• Integrating Essential Skills

ACT Exam 2025 - Reading Syllabus

Designed to assess a candidate’s ability to comprehend, analyse, and reason with problem-solving skills on different short texts and essays, the reading section of the test will include the following topics:

• Passages like Prose, Narrative Texts, or Literary Texts
• Topics can vary across a variety of genres, like Natural Sciences, Humanities, Social Sciences, and many more.

ACT Exam 2025 - Science Syllabus

Designed to evaluate a candidate’s scientific reasoning skills in different areas of biology, physics, chemistry, and other sciences, the science section of the ACT exam 2025 will include the following topics:

• Data Representation
• Conflicting Viewpoints
• Research Summaries

ACT Exam 2025 - Writing Syllabus

Designed to evaluate a candidate's writing skills along with their planning, strategising, and organisational skills, the writing section of the ACT exam will be scored on the following parameters:

• Use of Language and its Conventions
• Ideology and Analysis
• Strategising, Development and Support

ACT Exam Preparation 2025

There are different learning methodologies that you can adopt when preparing for the ACT exam 2025; however, it is crucial to budget your time wisely and prepare accordingly. Whether you start with the tough subjects like Mathematics and Science or with the easier subjects like English and Reading, it is important to figure out the parts of the exam where you require the most preparation and budget that time into your overall preparation period. Here are some ACT exam preparation tips that you can employ to increase your chances of scoring high on the first go.

Section-wise Preparation Tips for the ACT Exam 2025

Here are some tips you can use when preparing for different sections of the ACT tests this year.

1. ACT English Section Prep Tips
   1. Understand the writing styles used in the passages
   2. Figure out the context of the question being asked before selecting your answer
2. ACT Mathematics Section Prep Tips
   1. If you choose to, use the calculator wisely
   2. Before reading the answer choices, solve the questions through scratch work
   3. Before selecting a choice, check whether the answer you received through scratch work is correct and is according to all the information given in the question
3. ACT Reading Section Prep Tips
   1. Be sure to read the passages carefully and completely
   2. Always go back and forth between the passages and the questions to help yourself choose the right answer to each question.
4. ACT Science Section Prep Tips
   1. This section will also contain passages that must be carefully read. It is important to understand the tables, graphs, or figures mentioned in the passages
5. ACT Writing Section Prep Tips
   1. With limited time, it is important to budget your time to plan, write, and review your writing
   2. Practice your writing skills as much as possible to help you efficiently use your time to plan, write, and review your passages

ACT Exam Preparation: Self Study vs Professional Help

For tests like the ACT and SATs, it is common to see tuition centres offering academic assistance in acing the tests. However, many students also choose to prepare by themselves. Both have their pros and cons, and listed below are some that you should consider.

While both methods will allow you to prepare and be able to score well on the ACT exam this year, it is important to understand the learning and teaching methodologies that work best for you.

Some additional preparation tips for the ACT exam 2025:

• The ACT Global website offers direct links to the Official ACT Prep Guides and Subject Guides that can help you effectively and efficiently cover all the major topics in each section. These preparation guides also include numerous practice tests, as well as access to online flashcards and customisable test banks, to further help your preparation process.
• These official ACT prep guides can be purchased online.
• Regardless of your choice of preparation, i.e, self-study or tuition, acquiring sample tests and copies of previous year’s exams is highly recommended. These tests will not only help you gauge your knowledge and understanding of the subjects, but also allow you to hone your speed and decision-making skills to fit the time limits set for the actual tests

ACT Exam Results and Scores 2025

Depending on the section of the test, the ACT exam score 2025 can be delivered to your ACT account anywhere between 2 days to 8 weeks, or even more. The official website highlights that the multiple-choice questions are often posted online within 2 days of giving the test; meanwhile, the writing section can take between 2 to 3 weeks after the test. Here is what you need to know about ACT Exam scores for 2025.

Types of ACT Scores

1. Raw Scores: The total number of correct answers carrying 1 mark each results in the raw scores.
2. Scale Scores: Using a conversion chart, the ACT converts raw scores into scale scores to bring uniformity among all test-takers.
3. Composite Scores: The average of the English, Mathematics, and Reading scale scores results in the composite scores of the candidate.
4. Superscores: Candidates with more than one valid ACT score can combine the best scores from different tests to create a superscore composite.

ACT Exam Section Reporting Categories

Each section of the ACT has been divided into different categories that carry different scoring percentages, which affect the overall achievable score in a section. Here are the score reporting categories for each section.

ACT Exam Score Report 2025

The ACT exam scores are delivered during a specific time frame after the exam has been conducted. However, it should be noted that ACT does not promise a specific date for the publication of the test scores. Additionally, there are two different types of reports for the ACT Exam 2025 that you can request, namely:

• Student Report: It highlights the ACT scores, colleges, and career planning information. It can be accessed on your MyACT account between 2-8 days after the test has been conducted.
• College Report: It highlights everything on the Student Report, along with all the grades that you reported in up to 30 high school courses. The College report of the ACT exam may also include predictions related to your college programme performance. The college report is sent to every valid college and scholarship programme you selected and paid for at the time of registration.

The ACT Education Corp. allows candidates to take their ACT exams multiple times in a year, to give them the chance to improve their scores. They will be able to select the scores that they wish to send to colleges and universities if they choose to take the test multiple times.

How to Access ACT Exam Scores 2025

• The ACT exam scores can not be accessed via phone, email, chat, or fax
• Your ACT exam scores will only be available on your MyACT online account, within the timelines specified below
  • ACT processes and posts the scores for the multiple-choice questions online within 2 business days after the test date. However, there are chances of delays of up to 8 weeks as well
  • The ACT writing scores are usually available within 2-3 weeks after the multiple-choice scores have been posted
• There is no negative marking; therefore, it is advisable to attempt as many questions as time permits

Students looking for top universities accepting ACT scores can get in touch with our AECC counsellors for short listing the best ACT accepting universities based on their student profile.