SAT Test Dates for 2026

The ACT® Math section has changed. If you’ve seen older guides describing 60 questions, 60 minutes, and five answer choices, that information is out of date. Today’s ACT Math test is shorter, uses four answer choices per question, and is organized around a new set of reporting categories.

This guide walks through everything students and parents need to know about the current ACT Math section: how it’s structured, what topics it covers, the types of questions you’ll see, calculator rules, worked sample questions, a free 10-question ACT Math practice test with answer explanations, and how to get a free ACT practice test from StudyPoint.

ACT Math at a Glance

• Number of questions: 45 multiple-choice questions
• Scored questions: 41 (the other 4 are unscored field-test questions mixed in, and you won’t know which ones they are)
• Time limit: 50 minutes, or a little over 1 minute per question
• Answer choices: 4 per question
• Calculator: Permitted (see the calculator policy below)
• Score range: 1 to 36
• Composite score: Your Math score is one of three sections, along with English and Reading, that make up your ACT Composite score. Science is now optional and is not part of the Composite.

​

What Changed on the ACT Math Test?

ACT rolled out an enhanced version of the test starting with online national test dates in April 2025 and paper national test dates in September 2025. For the Math section, the biggest changes are:

• Fewer questions: 45 questions, down from 60
• Less time: 50 minutes, down from 60
• Fewer answer choices: 4 choices per question, down from 5
• New reporting categories: The old breakdown (Pre-Algebra, Elementary Algebra, Intermediate Algebra, Coordinate Geometry, Plane Geometry, and Trigonometry) has been replaced by the categories described below.

The good news: students get slightly more time per question than before, and eliminating wrong answers is a little easier with one fewer choice.

​

Topics Covered on the ACT Math Section

ACT groups math questions into reporting categories. You’ll receive an overall Math score plus scores for each category, which helps you see exactly where to focus your practice.

​

Preparing for Higher Math

These questions cover the more advanced math students typically learn in high school. ACT breaks this category into five areas:

• Number & Quantity (about 10-12%): Real and complex numbers, integer and rational exponents, radicals, vectors, and matrices
• Algebra (about 17-20%): Solving, graphing, and modeling with linear, polynomial, radical, and exponential expressions and equations; systems of equations; and inequalities
• Functions (about 17-20%): Function definition, notation, and evaluation; domain and range; linear, quadratic, exponential, and trigonometric functions; and interpreting graphs
• Geometry (about 17-20%): Shapes and solids, congruence and similarity, area, surface area and volume, circles, right triangle trigonometry, and coordinate geometry
• Statistics & Probability (about 12-15%): Center and spread of data, data collection methods, relationships between variables, and calculating probabilities

​

Integrating Essential Skills

These questions test the foundational math students build before high school, applied to more complex problems. Expect rates and percentages, proportional relationships, area and volume, averages and medians, and expressing numbers in different ways. These problems often take more than one step to solve.

​

Modeling

Modeling questions ask you to use math to represent or analyze a real-world situation, such as writing an equation for a cost, interpreting a graph, or judging whether a model makes sense. Modeling questions are also counted in the other categories above, so they overlap with the rest of the test rather than adding extra questions.

​

ACT Math Question Types

Every ACT Math question is multiple choice with four answer options. Within that format, you’ll see a few common styles of questions:

• Direct skill questions: Solve an equation, simplify an expression, or evaluate a function.
• Word problems: Translate a real-world scenario into math, then solve it.
• Graph, table, and figure questions: Read data from a chart, table, coordinate plane, or diagram to find an answer.
• “Which must be true” questions: Evaluate several statements (often labeled I, II, and III) and choose the combination that’s correct.
• Multi-step problems: Combine two or more skills, such as finding a missing length and then using it to calculate an area.

​

Many students find the later questions in the section more challenging, so pacing matters. Moving efficiently through the problems you know well can buy you time for tougher ones.

​

ACT Math Calculator Policy

You may use a calculator on the entire ACT Math section, but you aren’t required to. ACT states that every math problem can be solved without one.

• Allowed: Most four-function, scientific, and graphing calculators, as long as they aren’t on ACT’s prohibited list
• Not allowed: Calculators with a built-in computer algebra system (CAS), including all TI-89 and TI-92 models, the HP Prime, and Casio ClassPad models, plus phones, tablets, laptops, and calculators with a QWERTY keyboard
• Online testing: A built-in Desmos calculator is available on screen, and you may also bring your own approved calculator
• Bring your own: Testing staff don’t provide calculators, so bring a permitted one you’re comfortable using

​

ACT updates its calculator policy periodically, so check the current policy on ACT’s website before test day.

​

Sample ACT Math Questions with Answer Explanations

​

Here are three sample questions in the current four-choice format, with step-by-step explanations.

​

Sample Question 1: Statistics (Mean, Median, and Mode)

Seven students took an art history exam. Their scores were: 70, 80, 50, 20, 80, 30, 80.

​

Which of the following statements about the scores is true?

I. The average (arithmetic mean) is greater than 70.

II. The mode is greater than 70.

III. The median is greater than 70.

A. None

B. II only

C. I and II only

D. II and III only

​

​

Answer: B

Explanation: First, find the mean: (70 + 80 + 50 + 20 + 80 + 30 + 80) ÷ 7 = 410 ÷ 7 ≈ 58.6. That’s not greater than 70, so statement I is false. That eliminates choice C. Next, put the scores in order: 20, 30, 50, 70, 80, 80, 80. The median (middle value) is 70, which is not greater than 70, so statement III is false. That eliminates choice D. Finally, the mode (the most frequent score) is 80, which is greater than 70, so statement II is true. The correct answer is B.

​

Sample Question 2: Algebra (Systems of Equations)

If 3x + 2y = 16 and x − y = 2, what is the value of x?

A. 2

B. 3

C. 4

D. 6

​

​

Answer: C

Explanation: Rewrite the second equation as x = y + 2. Substitute into the first equation: 3(y + 2) + 2y = 16, so 5y + 6 = 16, which gives y = 2. Then x = 2 + 2 = 4. Check your work: 3(4) + 2(2) = 16, and 4 − 2 = 2. The correct answer is C.

​

Sample Question 3: Modeling (Real-World Word Problem)

A gym charges a one-time $40 sign-up fee plus $28 per month. Jordan has $300 to spend on a membership. What is the maximum number of full months Jordan can pay for?

A. 9

B. 10

C. 11

D. 12

​

​

Answer: A

Explanation: Write an inequality for the total cost: 40 + 28m ≤ 300. Subtract 40 from both sides: 28m ≤ 260. Divide by 28: m ≤ 9.28. Since Jordan can only pay for full months, the maximum is 9. The correct answer is A.

Free ACT Math Practice Test (10 Questions)

Ready to try it yourself? This free mini practice test covers a mix of the topics you’ll see on test day. To match the real pace of the ACT Math section, give yourself about 11 minutes. A calculator is allowed.

Following the ACT’s format, odd-numbered questions use choices A through D, and even-numbered questions use F through J.

​

1. What is 15% of 240?

A. 24

B. 32

C. 36

D. 40

​

2. If 2(x − 3) + 5 = 17, what is the value of x?

F. 6

G. 7

H. 8

J. 9

​

3. What is the slope of the line that passes through the points (1, 2) and (5, 10)?

A. 1/2

B. 2

C. 4

D. 8

​

4. If f(x) = x² − 4x + 1, what is the value of f(−2)?

F. −11

G. −3

H. 5

J. 13

​

5. A right triangle has legs of length 6 and 8. What is the length of the hypotenuse?

A. 10

B. 12

C. 14

D. 48

​

6. A bag contains 4 red marbles, 5 blue marbles, and 3 green marbles. If one marble is chosen at random, what is the probability that it is NOT blue?

F. 5/12

G. 1/2

H. 7/12

J. 3/4

​

7. What are the solutions to x² − 5x − 14 = 0?

A. −7 and 2

B. −7 and −2

C. 7 and −2

D. 7 and 2

​

8. A circle has a diameter of 10 inches. What is its area, in square inches?

F. 25π

G. 10π

H. 20π

J. 100π

​

9. In a right triangle, the side opposite angle θ has length 5, and the hypotenuse has length 13. What is cos θ?

A. 5/12

B. 5/13

C. 12/13

D. 13/12

​

10. A population of 500 bacteria doubles every 3 hours. What will the population be after 12 hours?

F. 2,000

G. 4,000

H. 8,000

J. 16,000

​

Answer Key and Explanations

1. C. Convert 15% to a decimal and multiply: 0.15 × 240 = 36.

2. J. Distribute: 2x − 6 + 5 = 17, so 2x − 1 = 17. Add 1 to both sides to get 2x = 18, so x = 9.

3. B. Slope = change in y ÷ change in x = (10 − 2) ÷ (5 − 1) = 8 ÷ 4 = 2.

4. J. Substitute −2 for x: (−2)² − 4(−2) + 1 = 4 + 8 + 1 = 13. Watch your negative signs on this type of question.

5. A. Use the Pythagorean theorem: 6² + 8² = 36 + 64 = 100, and √100 = 10. (This is a multiple of the common 3-4-5 right triangle.)

6. H. There are 12 marbles total, and 7 of them are not blue (4 red + 3 green). The probability is 7/12.

7. C. Factor: (x − 7)(x + 2) = 0. Set each factor equal to zero to get x = 7 or x = −2.

8. F. The radius is half the diameter, so r = 5. Area = πr² = π(5²) = 25π. A common mistake is using the diameter instead of the radius, which gives 100π.

9. C. First find the missing side using the Pythagorean theorem: 13² − 5² = 169 − 25 = 144, so the adjacent side is 12. Cosine is adjacent ÷ hypotenuse, so cos θ = 12/13.

10. H. In 12 hours, the population doubles 12 ÷ 3 = 4 times. 500 × 2⁴ = 500 × 16 = 8,000.

​

Get a Free ACT Practice Test from StudyPoint

A mini test is a great warm-up, but the best way to check your pacing and find the topics worth reviewing is to take a practice test under real test conditions.

StudyPoint offers a free ACT practice test through our student portal. To get access, schedule a free call with one of our consultants. They’ll set you up with the test and talk through your student’s goals.

ACT also offers free official practice tests on its website, available online (timed or untimed) and as printable PDFs with scoring keys.

​

ACT Math Tips and Strategies

• Know your pace. With 45 questions in 50 minutes, you have about 1 minute and 7 seconds per question. Don’t let one hard problem eat up three minutes.
• Answer every question. There’s no penalty for wrong answers on the ACT, so never leave a question blank. Make your best guess and move on.
• Use process of elimination. With only four choices, crossing out even one wrong answer meaningfully improves your odds.
• Plug in the answer choices. When you’re stuck on an equation, try substituting the answer choices back into the problem to see which one works.
• Don’t over-rely on your calculator. Every question can be solved without one, and mental math is often faster for simple steps.
• Memorize key formulas. The ACT doesn’t provide a formula sheet, so know area and volume formulas, the Pythagorean theorem, slope, the quadratic formula, and SOH-CAH-TOA.
• Review your mistakes. After each practice test, sort the questions you missed by topic. Patterns in your errors show you exactly what to study next.

​

Get Personalized ACT Math Help

Every student’s path to a stronger ACT Math score looks a little different. Some students need to rebuild algebra foundations, while others need help with pacing or the tougher questions at the end of the section.

At StudyPoint, we match students with an expert tutor who builds a plan around their specific strengths and goals. Our students complete a minimum of three full-length practice tests during their program, so progress is measured, not guessed at. On average, StudyPoint students improve their ACT scores by +3.9 points, and we’ve helped more than 60,000 students since 1999.

Schedule a free call with our team to get access to our free ACT practice test, talk through your student’s goals, and find the right tutor.

​

ACT Math FAQs

How many questions are on the ACT Math section?

The ACT Math section has 45 multiple-choice questions. Of those, 41 are scored and 4 are unscored field-test questions.

How long is the ACT Math section?

You have 50 minutes to complete the ACT Math section.

How many answer choices does each ACT Math question have?

Each question on the current ACT Math section has four answer choices.

Can you use a calculator on the ACT Math test?

Yes. You can use an approved four-function, scientific, or graphing calculator on the entire Math section. Calculators with a computer algebra system (CAS), such as the TI-89, are not allowed. Students testing online also have access to a built-in Desmos calculator.

Does the ACT give you a formula sheet?

No. The ACT does not provide a formula sheet, so you’ll need to memorize common formulas before test day.

Is trigonometry still on the ACT?

Yes. Trigonometry is no longer its own category, but trig concepts, such as right triangle ratios and trigonometric functions, appear within the Functions and Geometry categories.

Is the ACT Math section part of the Composite score?

Yes. Your ACT Composite score is the average of your English, Math, and Reading scores. Science is optional and does not count toward the Composite.

Where can I find a free ACT Math practice test?

You can start with the 10-question practice test in this guide. StudyPoint also offers a free ACT practice test: schedule a free call with one of our consultants to get access. ACT’s website has free official practice tests as well.