ACT Math: Section Overview

Structure

The ACT Math section is 60 multiple-choice questions in 60 minutes, ordered roughly easiest-to-hardest. Topics span pre-algebra, elementary algebra, intermediate algebra, coordinate geometry, plane geometry, and trigonometry.

Math is the only section with five answer choices instead of four. Calculator allowed throughout, but most questions are designed to be solvable without one.

Top Strategy

Skip-and-return aggressively. Easiest-to-hardest ordering means a hard question late in the section is worth the same single point as the easy first question; do not let one tricky problem cost you ten easy ones.

Plug in answer choices and pick numbers when you can. Many ACT Math problems are faster solved by checking the choices than by deriving the answer algebraically.

Calculator Use

Use your calculator for arithmetic, not for setup. The setup is what the test is actually testing; the arithmetic is just the last step. Trust your algebra and use the calculator to confirm.

What to do next

Drill pre-algebra, elementary algebra, and coordinate geometry first — together they are about 55% of the section.