The math section is the second section on the ACT. This section is multiple choice, and a calculator is allowed. You have 60 minutes to answer 60 questions. This allows you one question per minute, but some questions will take more time than others. Spend enough time on the questions that you do know how to do to avoid silly mistakes, but make sure to save enough time to attempt some of the harder questions.
The math section is also generally arranged by difficulty, with the easier questions at the beginning, and the most difficult questions occurring at the end of the test. In general, questions 1-10 will be easier than questions 11-20, etc, but question 1 may not be easier than question 2.
Despite the range of difficulty, each question is worth the same amount, 1 point. Knowing this will allow you to budget your time, spending the majority of your time on the earlier questions to attain the most accuracy. For example, if you rush through the early questions and miss one due to a silly mistake, and then come across a question that you don’t know how to do, now you have missed two questions instead of one. Since harder questions are not worth any more than easier ones, it makes sense to ensure that you get as many points as possible from the questions that you know how to do.
The ACT categorizes their math questions into one of six subsections:
- Integrating Essential Skills
- Preparing for Higher Math - Number and Quantity
- Preparing for Higher Math - Algebra
- Preparing for Higher Math - Geometry
- Preparing for Higher Math - Functions
- Preparing for Higher Math - Statistics and Probability
