Free ACT practice test: English, Math, Reading and Science on the clock

This free ACT-style practice test has 83 original questions in all four ACT sections, each on its own clock at the real ACT pace per question: English 20 questions in 14 minutes, Math 27 in 30, Reading 18 in 20 and Science 18 in 18. You get your percent right, a practice band and a score for each section, with every answer explained. Our English and Reading passages are shorter than the ACT's, and the result is not a predicted ACT score.

83
questions in four sections: 82 min
at the real ACT pace: 4
sections scored separately: Free
no sign-up

Last checked 22 October 2026 · Test facts from ACT's pages, read 22 October 2026

83
questions
82 min
time limit
Free
instant score

4 timed parts, each on its own clock: English, 20 questions in 14 minutes, then Math, 27 questions in 30 minutes, then Reading, 18 questions in 20 minutes, then Science, 18 questions in 18 minutes. A part's clock starts when you begin it, and you cannot go back to an earlier part.

By the LifeScore Editorial Team · Updated 22 October 2026 · How we check facts · How this is scored

What is on this ACT practice test?

All four ACT sections in the real order, English, Math, Reading, then Science, each shortened but timed at the real ACT pace per question, so the clock feels the way it will on test day.

The real ACT and our practice test, section by section
Section	Real ACT	Our mock	What our mock asks
English	50 in 35 min	20 in 14 min	Four editing passages of five questions each, NO CHANGE first where it applies
Math	45 in 50 min	27 in 30 min	Algebra, functions, geometry, statistics and number topics, four choices each
Reading	36 in 40 min	18 in 20 min	Three passages of six questions (literary, social science, humanities, natural science)
Science	40 in 40 min (optional)	18 in 18 min	Three data and experiment sets of six questions, each built on one table

The ACT is famous for its clock: 42 seconds a question in English, 67 in Math, 67 in Reading and 60 in Science. Most students who score below their ability lose the points to time, not to hard questions. Every section here runs at that pace, so the mock shows you which section the clock is costing you.

Science is optional on the enhanced ACT and does not count toward the Composite, but many colleges and STEM programs still look at it, and it is part of the STEM score. We include it so you can decide with evidence whether to take it.

What this practice test copies, and what it does not
Length	83 questions in 82 minutes: English 20, Math 27, Reading 18 and Science 18
Pace	Each section at the real ACT pace per question, on its own clock
Passages	English and Reading passages are shorter than the ACT's, so a mock fits three or four of them
Science	Data and experiment sets built on one table each; no conflicting-viewpoints passage
Your result	Percent right, a practice band and a score for each section. Never a predicted ACT score

How does the real ACT work?

The enhanced ACT has three required sections, English (50 questions, 35 minutes), Math (45, 50) and Reading (36, 40), and optional Science (40, 40). Each is scored 1 to 36, and the Composite is the average of English, Math and Reading.

The real ACT, with where each fact comes from
Who gives it	ACT, Inc., on paper or online at a test center, on national test dates or on a school dayPublished by the ownerACT, "The Enhanced ACT"
English	50 questions in 35 minutesPublished by the ownerACT, "The Enhanced ACT"
Math	45 questions in 50 minutes, four answer choices each; calculator allowedPublished by the ownerACT, "The Enhanced ACT"
Reading	36 questions in 40 minutesPublished by the ownerACT, "The Enhanced ACT"
Science	Optional: 40 questions in 40 minutes, reported separatelyPublished by the ownerACT, "The Enhanced ACT"
Composite	1 to 36: the average of English, Math and ReadingPublished by the ownerACT, "Understanding Your ACT Scores"
Fee	About $70 without Science or Writing for 2025-26; the sources we could read disagree, so check ACT's fee pageReportedACT, "Current ACT fees and services"

ACT shortened the test in 2025: fewer questions, more time per question, four answer choices in Math instead of five, and Science made optional. Older practice books describe the longer test, so check the edition before you use one. The full picture is in the ACT test guide.

Can I practise one ACT section at a time?

Yes. Each section has its own page with a free 12-question drill at the real pace, the rules it tests most, and worked examples.

ACT English practice test
1 free drill
Four editing passages of five questions each, NO CHANGE first where it applies
ACT Math practice test
1 free drill
Algebra, functions, geometry, statistics and number topics, four choices each
ACT Reading practice test
1 free drill
Three passages of six questions (literary, social science, humanities, natural science)
ACT Science practice test
1 free drill
Three data and experiment sets of six questions, each built on one table

Take the full mock first, then drill the section with the lowest score. English, Math and Reading each carry a third of your Composite, so the weakest of those three is usually the best use of your time.

What do ACT questions look like?

English questions edit underlined parts of a passage; Math questions are short problems with four choices; Reading questions ask about passages; Science questions are answered from tables and graphs. Try the four below.

ACT-style question 1 · Agreement
Which choice is best for the words "there is" in sentence 4?
1. ANO CHANGE
2. Bthere are
3. Cthere was
4. Dthere being
Worked answer
B: there are. The subject comes after the verb: "more than sixty" (tables) is plural, so the verb is "are." "Was" also breaks the present-tense "Now."
1. Find the subject: "more than sixty" tables.
2. It is plural, so the verb is "are."
3. "Now" calls for present tense: "there are."
The trap: Keeping NO CHANGE because "there is" sounds natural in speech. After "there," the verb agrees with what follows.
ACT-style question 2 · Sequences
The first term of an arithmetic sequence is 5 and the fourth term is 20. What is the 10th term?
1. A50
2. B45
3. C55
4. D25
Show the worked answer
A: 50. Three steps take 5 to 20, so the common difference is 5. The 10th term is 5 + 9 × 5 = 50.
1. From term 1 to term 4 is 3 steps: d = (20 - 5) ÷ 3 = 5.
2. Term n = 5 + (n - 1) × 5.
3. Term 10 = 5 + 45 = 50.
The trap: Using 10 steps instead of 9 (55), or dividing by 4 steps instead of 3.
ACT-style question 3 · Main idea
The main purpose of the passage is to:
1. Aexplain why the cause of purring is still debated.
2. Bprove that purring helps bones heal.
3. Cargue that cats purr only when content.
4. Ddescribe how cats give birth.
Show the worked answer
A: explain why the cause of purring is still debated.. The passage questions the "contentment" explanation, offers two others, and ends with scientists "divided." Its purpose is to show the question is open.
1. Paragraph 1: the obvious explanation does not cover all cases.
2. Paragraph 2: two other ideas, one untested.
3. Ending: scientists remain divided. So, explaining a debate.
The trap: Choosing the healing idea. The passage calls it "speculative" and untested, so it does not prove it.
ACT-style question 4 · Interpolation
Students measured how much sugar dissolved in 100 mL of water at four temperatures (Table 1). At 50°C, the amount dissolved would most likely be:
Water temperature (°C) Sugar dissolved (g per 100 mL)
20 200
40 238
60 287
80 362
1. Abetween 238 and 287 g
2. Bless than 200 g
3. Cbetween 287 and 362 g
4. Dgreater than 362 g
Worked answer
A: between 238 and 287 g. 50°C lies between the 40°C and 60°C rows, and the amount rises steadily with temperature, so it falls between 238 and 287 g.
1. Find the rows on either side of 50°C: 40°C and 60°C.
2. Their values are 238 and 287 g.
3. The trend is steady, so the answer lies between them.
The trap: Picking the 60°C to 80°C interval by reading the wrong pair of rows.

Water temperature (°C)	Sugar dissolved (g per 100 mL)
20	200
40	238
60	287
80	362

These were written for this page, so none is in a mock. More are on ACT sample questions.

After the free ACT-style mock

One mock shows your weakest section. Seven more, and four drills for each section, show it improving on passages you have not seen.

The ACT Pass Pack gives you 8 full mocks on the real clock, 16 drills of 12 questions for the sections that cost you points, and a predictor that turns your mocks into the odds of reaching your target. One payment, no subscription, and your free score stays free.

Prep courses for these tests usually cost $19 to $129. The ACT Pass Pack is US$39 (£29), once.

See the ACT Pass Pack How our questions are built and checked

8
timed mocks: 16
topic drills: 1
score predictor

How do I read my ACT practice result?

You get the percent you got right, a practice band (Building, Developing 45%+, Solid 65%+, Strong 80%+ or Excellent 90%+), and a score for each section. The bands are ours, not ACT scores.

Look at the sections first. A low English score usually means a few grammar rules, which are quick to learn. A low Reading or Science score with many unanswered questions at the end means pacing: practise one read of each passage and going straight to the lines or the table.

For a scale score, take an official ACT practice test. For context, ACT reports an average Composite of 19.4 for the class of 2025, and its College Readiness Benchmarks are English 18, Math 22, Reading 22 and Science 23. What is a good ACT score explains how colleges read them.

Do ACT practice tests raise your score?

Yes, when they are timed and every miss leads to the rule behind it. The ACT rewards speed with accuracy, and only timed practice builds that.

Untimed practice tells you what you know. Timed practice tells you what you can do in 42 seconds an English question, which is what the ACT measures. A full mock finds the section where the clock bites, and a 12-question drill at the real pace fixes it while the rule is fresh.

Every ACT sitting costs a registration fee and a Saturday morning. If you are deciding between the ACT and the SAT, SAT vs ACT has the official concordance and a quick way to choose.

Frequently asked questions

Is this the real ACT?

No. It is an ACT-style practice test with original questions written for LifeScore. LifeScore is not affiliated with ACT, Inc.

How long is this practice test?

83 questions in 82 minutes across four sections, each at the real ACT pace per question.

Will this predict my ACT score?

No. We show percent right, a practice band and your section scores. For a scale score from 1 to 36, take an official ACT practice test.

Do I need to practise Science if it is optional?

Only if you plan to take it. Many STEM programs like to see it, and it is part of the STEM score. Our mock includes it so you can judge.

Can I use a calculator?

Yes, on the Math section, as on the real ACT, which allows approved calculators.

Do I have to pay?

The first full mock, one free drill for each section and the sample questions are free with no sign-up. The ACT Pass Pack, with eight mocks, 16 drills and every answer explained, is a one-time payment.

Beat the ACT clock before test day

Eight full ACT-style mocks at the real pace, four drills for each section, every answer explained and a printable study guide, in one payment with no subscription.