American College Test (ACT)
Per the Illinois State Board of Education, the high school State assessment will transition to the ACT beginning with the 2024-25 school year. The ACT aligns to the Illinois Learning Standards; provides a secure online testing experience for students, while reducing administrative burden on districts; and prioritizes accessible and actionable reporting for educators and families. The Illinois State Board of Education has created an ACT Frequently Asked Questions document that addresses the transition from SAT to ACT.
The ACT is composed of multiple-choice questions in four subject areas: English, mathematics, reading, and science. There is also an option to participate in a writing assessment, which does not factor into a student’s composite score.
Subject Area | Test Length | Number of Questions | Description |
English | 45 minutes | 75 | Make decisions to revise and edit short texts and essays of various genres |
Mathematics | 60 minutes | 60 | The skills acquired in coursework through 12th grade |
Reading | 35 minutes | 40 | Read closely, reason logically about texts using evidence included in the text and integrate information from various sources |
Science | 35 minutes | 40 | Interpretation, analysis, evaluation, reasoning, and problem-solving using science content including biology, chemistry, Earth/space science, and physics |
Writing | 40 minutes | 1 prompt | Skills learned in high school English courses as well as entry-level college composition course requirements. |
ACT Test Preparation Options