Standardized & Admissions
ACT®American College Testing
The ACT is the second major US college admissions exam, administered by ACT Inc. The test underwent a major redesign in 2025: it shortened to ~2 hours, dropped 44 questions (215 to 171), and made Science optional with a separate score. Both paper and digital versions are available; the digital format is linear (not adaptive like the SAT). School-day testing moves to the new format in spring 2026.
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Exam facts
Everything you need to know about the ACT® exam.
- Passing score
- No pass/fail — scored 1-36 composite (average of English, Math, Reading); 24+ is competitive for most flagship state schools
- Format & length
- 171 questions · ~2 hours core (English 50 Qs · 35 min, Math 45 Qs · 50 min, Reading 36 Qs · 40 min) plus optional Science 40 Qs · 40 min and optional Writing 40 min
- Voucher cost
- $68 USD core (English, Math, Reading) · +$4 Science · +$25 Writing
- Prerequisites
- None
- Validity
- 5 years (ACT reports scores for 5 years)
What’s tested
Key topics on the ACT® exam.
The Cert Climb question bank is mapped to every domain on the official ACT® exam blueprint, so what you study is what the test asks.
- English
- Mathematics
- Reading
- Science (optional)
Who it’s for
Built for the people taking this exam.
US high school students applying to college. ACT skews stronger in the Midwest and South while the SAT dominates the coasts; most colleges accept either, so students often pick based on whichever format suits them — ACT favors faster pace and concrete reasoning, SAT favors longer reading passages.
Why it matters in 2026
The career signal.
Like the SAT, the ACT is regaining required status at selective schools as the test-optional era winds down. The 2025 redesign cut content by ~22% per question and made Science optional, which especially helps STEM-averse students. A 30+ composite is the typical bar for top-tier merit aid; the score is directly comparable to legacy ACT scores so prior benchmarks still apply.
What you get
Everything you need to actually pass.
Full question bank
800 questions covering every objective on the official ACT® exam blueprint, with detailed explanations on every option — right and wrong.
Quiz modes
Timed exam simulation, missed-only review, topic drills, and a daily question of the day. Practice the way you study best.
Flashcards
Spaced-repetition flashcards generated from each topic. Pull them up on a phone in the gap between meetings.
Progress tracking
See per-topic accuracy and answered counts. Find weak areas before they cost you on test day.
Per-category premium
Unlocking ACT® unlocks every other Standardized & Admissions exam in the Cert Climb catalog — pay once, stack credentials.
No-fluff explanations
Every wrong answer comes with a 2-3 sentence explanation of why it’s wrong, not just “the correct answer is X.” Pattern recognition is the whole game.
Read while you study
ACT® articles & study guides
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about ACT®
How many questions does the ACT® bank have?
800 questions, organized into 4 subject areas mapped to the official exam objectives.
Is the free trial really free?
Yes. 30 questions, no credit card, no email-trap, no “activate by Friday or pay” spam. You either upgrade because the bank’s good, or you don’t.
What does premium cost?
Premium is sold per category and unlocks every Standardized & Admissions exam in the Cert Climb catalog. Plans are 1-month, 3-month, or 12-month — see the upgrade modal for current pricing.
How current is the ACT® content?
We track exam version updates and refresh the bank within weeks of new objectives. Where the version of an exam matters (e.g. CompTIA SY0-701 vs. SY0-601), question explanations call it out.
Can I cancel my subscription anytime?
Yes. Cancellation is one click from your profile. Your access continues through the end of the period you’ve already paid for.
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