An earlier post gives insight into the ACT exam as a whole. Let’s look at the Math section of the ACT exam. The math section is the third section of the ACT which comes after the Reading section.

Math Section Overview

Math section contains 60 questions to be answered in 60 minutes. The Math questions are from the topics covered up to grade 12. This section tests your ability to solve math questions using reasoning and practical applications of mathematics. On average, you would get about 60 seconds per question, including the time to read.

Most of the math questions are self-contained. A few of them may belong to a set of questions (like a chart or graph). Knowing basic formulae and computational skills are necessary. Complex formulae and extensive computations are not required in the ACT exam.

Note: ACT exam allows calculators in the exam. There are restrictions on certain types of calculators. You can read more about it in the ACT Calculator policy document on the ACT site.

The Math sections tests on three broad content areas. Preparing for Higher Math (57 – 60%), Integrating Essential Skills (40 – 43%), and Modeling (25%)

Preparing for Higher Math

This category tests on the recent concepts of mathematics students are learning, starting from algebra. It is divided further into five sub-categories.

Number and Quantity – Understand and reason with numbers in many forms such as integer and rational exponents, vectors, matrices, and et al.

Algebra – Students are expected to solve, model and graph expressions. This is done using linear, polynomial, radical and exponential equations. Solving systems of equations is expected.

Functions – This area tests knowledge in a function definition, notation, representation, and application. Questions can range across different types of function, including linear, polynomial, logarithmic, piecewise functions.

Geometry – Understand concepts of shapes and solids, such a similarity, and congruence relationships to solve for missing values, areas, volumes for different figures.

Statistics and Probability – Understand and model relationships across data, calculate the probability of event occurrence, sample spaces is tested in this area.

Integrating Essential Skills

This area tests concepts such as rates and percentages, proportional relationships; area, surface area, and volume; mean, median; expressing numbers in different ways. Problems of increasing complexity are expected to be solved by the student in this section.

Modeling

This area is an interpretation, understanding, evaluating of models. Each question also falls under the previous categories. This measures how well a student can use modeling skills across mathematical concepts.

Sample questions can be practiced on the ACT page

Related Articles:

Read about the Overview of the ACT
Read about the English Section of the ACT
Read about the Reading Section of the ACT
Read about the Science Section of the ACT
Read about the Essay (Optional) Section of the ACT

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