Free practice test

Tests

Driving testsCitizenship testsSchool and university admissionsNursing, medicine and healthEnglish and French testsTeachingMoney, law and insuranceTrades and work licencesPilots, drones, boats and radio

Countries

United StatesCanadaUnited KingdomAustraliaNew Zealand

United States · Admissions test

ACT math: what’s on it and how to practice

The ACT math section has 45 questions in 50 minutes, each with four answer choices, and 41 of them count toward your score. It covers the math students typically learn up to the start of 12th grade, from algebra and functions to geometry, statistics and probability. You can use a permitted calculator on this section, but ACT says every problem can be solved without one.

Free practice test

Updated October 2026 · Written from official sources, listed at the bottom of this page

What’s on the ACT math test

The first five together make up Preparing for Higher Math, 80% of the test. ACT also reports a Modeling score, made from questions that are already counted in the other categories.

ACT assumes you know basic formulas and can compute, but it doesn’t ask you to recall complex formulas or do long calculations. Every question stands on its own.

Reporting categoryShare of the testWhat it covers
Number and Quantity10-12%Real and complex numbers, exponents, vectors and matrices
Algebra17-20%Solving, graphing and modeling linear, polynomial, radical and exponential equations, and systems of equations
Functions17-20%Function notation and graphs, including linear, piecewise, polynomial, exponential and logarithmic functions
Geometry17-20%Shapes and solids, congruence and similarity, area and volume, triangles and circles, trig ratios, conic sections
Statistics and Probability12-15%Center and spread, data collection, bivariate data, probability
Integrating Essential Skills20%Multi-step problems with rates, percentages, proportions, area and volume, average and median

Which calculator can you use on the ACT math test?

Any four-function, scientific or graphing calculator, unless ACT bans it. ACT doesn’t recommend a model, so bring one you already know well. Common graphing calculators such as the TI-84 aren’t on the banned list. Calculators are allowed only on math, never in science.

Banned: anything with a computer algebra system (CAS), including all TI-89 and TI-92 models, the TI-Nspire CAS, the HP Prime, HP 48GII and HP 40G, 49G and 50G models, the Casio ClassPad models, the Algebra fx 2.0 and all CFX-9970G models. The non-CAS TI-Nspire is allowed. Phones, tablets, laptops and calculators with a QWERTY keyboard aren’t.

Before test day, delete any stored programs with CAS features, turn off sound, and remove paper tape or power cords. If you test online, the Desmos graphing calculator is built into the math section.

What else to bring on test day →

ACT’s tips for the math section

  • Use the calculator wisely. ACT says many problems are best done without one, so do your scratch work first.
  • Solve the problem yourself, then look for your answer among the choices. Working backward from all four choices can take a lot of time.
  • Make sure you answered the question asked. On multi-step problems, one of the choices is often an in-between result, not the final answer.
  • Check that your answer is reasonable for the situation, and recheck your work if you have time left.

Free ACT math practice

ACT’s free QuizMe site has math quizzes with answers, and each of ACT’s four full-length practice tests has a math section you can take timed or untimed, online or on paper. ACT also has short calculator how-to videos. For a book, ACT’s Official Math Guide comes with a year of access to an online question bank. Our 20-question practice test includes six math questions in the current four-choice format. Math sections in practice tests from before 2025 have five answer choices, so time yourself at the current 45 questions in 50 minutes.

Free ACT practice test →ACT prep compared →

Explore

Everything else, in one place

OverviewThe ACT testFormat and lengthACT test format: how many questions, how long, and what’s on itScoringHow ACT test scores are calculatedRegistrationACT test registration: how to sign upCostHow much does the ACT cost? Test fees and waiversTest dayACT test day: what to bring and what happensOnline testCan you take the ACT test online?ResultsACT test results dates: when scores come out and how to get themPercentilesACT test score distribution: percentiles and averages by stateACT vs SATSAT or ACT: which test is better for you?Writing testThe ACT writing test: prompts, rubric and whether to take itAccommodationsACT test extended time and other accommodationsPreACTPreACT: the pre-ACT test for grades 8 to 10Test datesACT test dates for 2026-27EnglishACT English: what it tests and how to practiceReadingACT reading: passages, question types and practiceScienceThe ACT science test: what’s on it and whether to take itStrategiesACT test strategies and tipsStudy guideACT study guide and practice test PDFsPractice testFree ACT practice testWhere to learnACT prep: where to study for the ACTStudy plannerStudy for the ACT with a plan that fits your date
Sources: ACT and 4 more. Checked October 2026.

Rules and fees can change, so check the official site before your test.