Time Management (ACT Test Strategy)

ACT Timing Overview

The ACT is a fast-paced test where timing is critical to success.

Section Timing

| Section | Questions | Time | Time per Question | |---------|-----------|------|-------------------| | English | 75 | 45 min | 36 seconds | | Math | 60 | 60 min | 60 seconds | | Reading | 40 | 35 min | 52 seconds (really ~8:45 per passage) | | Science | 40 | 35 min | 52 seconds (really ~8:45 per passage) | | Writing (optional) | 1 essay | 40 min | N/A |

Total testing time: 2 hours 55 minutes (without Writing) or 3 hours 35 minutes (with Writing)

Key challenge: You must work efficiently to finish each section!

English Section Timing (45 minutes, 75 questions)

Target Timing

Goal: ~36 seconds per question

Realistic approach:

• Aim to finish in 40 minutes (leaves 5 min for review)
• First 50 questions: Go quickly (~30 sec each = 25 min)
• Last 25 questions: More time for rhetoric (~40 sec each = 17 min)
• Final 5 minutes: Check flagged questions

English Time-Savers

Strategy 1: Trust your ear

• English tests standard grammar
• If it sounds wrong, it probably is
• Don't overthink simple questions

Strategy 2: Identify question type quickly

• Grammar questions: Fast (15-25 seconds)
• Rhetoric questions: Slower (40-60 seconds)
• Adjust your pace accordingly

Strategy 3: Use "NO CHANGE"

• It's correct about 25% of the time
• Don't avoid it out of suspicion
• If sentence sounds fine, choose it and move on

Strategy 4: Skip and return

• If question takes > 45 seconds, circle and skip
• Come back if time permits
• Don't let one hard question derail your timing

Pacing Checkpoints for English

• After 15 minutes: Should be at question 25
• After 30 minutes: Should be at question 50
• After 40 minutes: Should be finishing up (question 70-75)
• Final 5 minutes: Review and check flagged items

Math Section Timing (60 minutes, 60 questions)

Target Timing

Goal: 60 seconds per question (average)

Reality: Questions vary greatly in difficulty

Effective approach:

• Easy questions (1-30): ~30-45 seconds each
• Medium questions (31-50): ~60-75 seconds each
• Hard questions (51-60): ~90-120 seconds each

Math Time-Savers

Strategy 1: Do questions in order of difficulty (for you)

• ACT Math goes easy → hard
• Don't skip ahead, but know you can

Strategy 2: Know when to move on

• After 90 seconds with no progress, guess and flag
• Can return if time permits
• Better to ensure you attempt all easy/medium questions

Strategy 3: Use your calculator efficiently

• Have it ready (fresh batteries!)
• Know your calculator's functions
• But don't overuse — sometimes math is faster

Strategy 4: Watch for time traps

• Word problems (questions 40-55) eat time
• Geometry proofs/complex diagrams
• If stuck, make educated guess and move on

Strategy 5: Backsolve when appropriate

• Plug in answer choices
• Start with C (middle value)
• Can be faster than solving algebraically

Pacing Checkpoints for Math

• After 15 minutes: Should be at question 15-18 (easier ones)
• After 30 minutes: Should be at question 30-35 (halfway-ish)
• After 45 minutes: Should be at question 45-50
• Final 10-15 minutes: Finish last questions + review flagged

Reading Section Timing (35 minutes, 40 questions)

The Big Challenge

35 minutes for 4 passages (10 questions each)

That means: 8 minutes 45 seconds per passage

Breakdown:

• 3-4 minutes: Read passage
• 4-5 minutes: Answer 10 questions
• ~30 seconds: Per question

Reading Strategies

Strategy 1: Choose a reading approach

Option A: Read then answer

• Read passage first (3-4 min)
• Answer all questions (4-5 min)
• Good for: Strong readers, those who need full context

Option B: Skim then answer

• Quickly skim passage (2 min)
• Answer questions, referring back as needed (6 min)
• Good for: Slower readers, detail-oriented people

Option C: Questions first

• Read questions (1 min)
• Read passage with questions in mind (4 min)
• Answer questions (3-4 min)
• Good for: Strategic readers, those who remember questions well

Pick one approach and practice it! Don't switch on test day.

Strategy 2: Do passages in your preferred order

• Most students: Natural Science or Social Science first (often easier)
• Save Prose Fiction or Humanities for later if harder for you
• DO NOT spend time deciding on test day — decide beforehand!

Strategy 3: Focus on easier questions first

• Detail questions (line reference): Fast
• Main idea: Medium speed
• Inference: Can be slower
• Within each passage, answer in the order that's fastest for you

Strategy 4: Don't reread excessively

• If you have to reread every paragraph multiple times, you're reading too fast the first time
• Read actively once, annotate, then answer

Pacing Checkpoints for Reading

• After 8:45: Finish Passage 1
• After 17:30: Finish Passage 2
• After 26:15: Finish Passage 3
• After 35:00: Finish Passage 4

Track time! Glance at watch after each passage.

If falling behind:

• Skim remaining passages more quickly
• Answer easy questions (detail, line reference)
• Make educated guesses on harder inference questions

Science Section Timing (35 minutes, 40 questions)

Understanding Science Passages

Typically 6-7 passages:

• 3 Data Representation (5-6 questions each) - FASTER
• 2-3 Research Summaries (6 questions each) - MEDIUM
• 1 Conflicting Viewpoints (7 questions) - SLOWEST

Science Strategies

Strategy 1: Do Data Representation first

• Quickest passage type
• Mostly graph/table reading
• Less reading, more visual interpretation
• Builds confidence and banks time

Strategy 2: Save Conflicting Viewpoints for last

• Most reading-heavy
• 7 questions (vs. 5-6 for others)
• Most time-consuming
• Do it last so you don't run out of time on easier passages

Strategy 3: Don't read the passage first

• Go straight to questions
• Questions tell you where to look
• Refer to graphs/tables as needed
• Only read text when question requires it

Strategy 4: Answer questions in order

• Usually progress from simple to complex
• Early questions are often straightforward graph reading

Pacing Checkpoints for Science

Flexible timing based on passage type:

• Data Representation: ~5 minutes each
• Research Summary: ~6 minutes each
• Conflicting Viewpoints: ~7 minutes

Checkpoint strategy:

• After 18 minutes: Should have completed ~3-4 passages
• After 28 minutes: Should have completed 5-6 passages
• Final 7 minutes: Last passage + review

General Time Management Strategies

Strategy 1: Wear a Watch

Critical! Not all test centers have visible clocks.

Get a simple analog or digital watch

• Easy to read at a glance
• Not a smartwatch (not allowed!)
• Practice using it on practice tests

Strategy 2: Practice with Timed Sections

Take full-length, timed practice tests

Why?

• Builds stamina
• Helps you internalize pacing
• Identifies where you run out of time
• Reduces test-day anxiety

Practice exactly like real test:

• Same time limits
• No breaks mid-section
• Use a watch
• Bubble answer sheet

Strategy 3: Don't Get Stuck

If you've spent too long on one question:

1. Make your best guess
2. Circle it in test booklet
3. Move on
4. Return if time allows

Two extra minutes on one hard question = missing three easier questions at the end

Strategy 4: Use Process of Elimination

Faster than solving from scratch!

• Cross out obviously wrong answers
• Narrow to 2-3 choices
• Make educated guess if needed
• Saves time on hard questions

Strategy 5: Grid Answers Strategically

Two approaches:

Option A: Answer as you go

• Bubble each answer immediately after choosing it
• Pro: Won't forget to bubble
• Con: More time on bubbling

Option B: Batch bubbling

• Answer questions in test booklet
• Bubble a page at a time
• Pro: Faster bubbling
• Con: Risk of forgetting or running out of time

Recommendation: Answer as you go on Reading and Science (too risky), batch bubble on English and Math (more time)

CRITICAL: Leave time to bubble! No credit for unbubbled answers.

What to Do If You're Running Out of Time

If you have 2 minutes left and 10 questions:

DO:

1. Bubble something for every question (no penalty for wrong answers!)
2. Look for easy questions (detail questions in Reading, graph-reading in Science)
3. Make educated guesses (eliminate 1-2 choices if possible)
4. Stay calm — rushing leads to careless errors on questions you could get right

DON'T: ❌ Leave questions blank
❌ Panic and bubble randomly without looking
❌ Spend 2 minutes on 1 hard question

Emergency Bubbling

If absolutely no time left:

1. Pick one letter (B or C often good)
2. Bubble that for all remaining questions
3. You'll likely get 25% right by chance

But try to avoid this! Proper pacing prevents this scenario.

Section-Specific Time Traps

English Time Traps:

❌ Overthinking "NO CHANGE"
❌ Rereading same sentence 5 times
❌ Debating between two similar answers for too long

Math Time Traps:

❌ Complex word problems (questions 45-55)
❌ Getting stuck on one algebra problem
❌ Not moving on from questions you don't know how to start

Reading Time Traps:

❌ Reading too slowly/carefully
❌ Rereading entire passage when stuck on one question
❌ Spending too long on inference questions

Science Time Traps:

❌ Reading the entire passage before questions
❌ Spending 10+ minutes on Conflicting Viewpoints
❌ Getting stuck on one complex graph question

Building Your Time Management Plan

Before Test Day:

1. Take timed practice tests

• At least 3-4 full tests
• Under realistic conditions
• Identify your weak areas

2. Track your timing

• Where do you run out of time?
• Which question types are slow for you?
• Adjust strategy accordingly

3. Set personal pacing goals

• Based on your strengths/weaknesses
• Realistic for your skill level
• Practice hitting these goals

4. Develop a bubbling system

• Choose answer-as-you-go or batch bubbling
• Practice it consistently

On Test Day:

1. Bring a watch ✓

2. Know your strategy ✓

• Passage order for Reading
• When to skip and return
• Pacing checkpoints

3. Stay aware of time ✓

• Glance at watch regularly
• Check against pacing goals
• Adjust if needed

4. Don't panic if behind ✓

• Make educated guesses
• Prioritize easier questions
• Ensure you bubble everything

5. Trust your practice ✓

• Don't change strategy mid-test
• Stick with what you've practiced

Quick Time-Saving Tips

✓ Skip and return — Don't get stuck
✓ Trust your first instinct — Especially on English
✓ Use POE — Faster than solving from scratch
✓ Bubble strategically — Choose method and stick with it
✓ Know your calculator — Don't waste time figuring it out
✓ Don't reread excessively — Read actively once
✓ Do easier passages first — Banks time for harder ones
✓ Watch the clock — Awareness prevents rushing
✓ Practice timing — Makes pacing automatic
✓ Stay calm — Panic wastes time

Remember: Time management is a learnable skill. With practice, you'll develop an internal clock that keeps you on pace without constantly watching the time. The key is deliberate practice with timed sections, reflection on where you struggle, and gradual improvement. Don't expect perfect timing on your first practice test — but by test day, pacing should feel natural!