ACT MATH GUIDE

ACT Math Strategies & Practice Guide

All 5 ACT Math reporting categories — with the formula sheet the ACT doesn't provide and topic-by-topic strategies.

Start Practicing Free

ACT Math Section Overview

The ACT Math section has 45 questions in 50 minutes (67 seconds per question). All questions have four answer choices (A–D). Calculator use is permitted throughout. Questions are roughly ordered by difficulty: the first 20 are foundational, questions 21–35 are moderate, and questions 36–45 are hardest.

The five reporting categories are: Pre-Algebra/Elementary Algebra, Intermediate Algebra/Coordinate Geometry, Plane Geometry, Trigonometry, and Integrating Essential Skills. The ACT does not provide a formula sheet — the formulas below are what you need memorized on test day.

The Formula Sheet the ACT Doesn't Give You

Triangles
  • Area = ½bh
  • Pythagorean: a² + b² = c²
  • 30-60-90: 1 : √3 : 2
  • 45-45-90: 1 : 1 : √2
Circles
  • Area = πr²
  • Circumference = 2πr
  • Arc length = (θ/360) × 2πr
  • Sector area = (θ/360) × πr²
Coordinate Geometry
  • Slope = (y₂−y₁)/(x₂−x₁)
  • Midpoint = ((x₁+x₂)/2, (y₁+y₂)/2)
  • Distance = √((Δx)²+(Δy)²)
  • Circle: (x−h)²+(y−k)²=r²
Trigonometry
  • SOH: sin θ = opp/hyp
  • CAH: cos θ = adj/hyp
  • TOA: tan θ = opp/adj
  • sin²θ + cos²θ = 1

Topic Guides

ACT MATH · ALGEBRA
ACT Math Algebra: Strategies & Practice
Master ACT Math Algebra — linear equations, systems, inequalities, and absolute value. Covers ACT-specific formats with worked examples and time-saving strategies.
ACT MATH · FUNCTIONS
ACT Math Functions: Notation, Graphs & Composition
Understand ACT Math Functions — function notation, domain and range, composition, inverses, and graph interpretation. Strategies for every function question type.
ACT MATH · GEOMETRY & TRIG
ACT Math Geometry & Trigonometry: Complete Guide
Master ACT Geometry and Trigonometry — triangles, circles, coordinate geometry, and right-triangle trig. The ACT includes trig that the SAT does not — this guide covers all of it.
ACT MATH · STATISTICS & PROBABILITY
ACT Math Statistics & Probability: Data, Graphs & Chance
Tackle ACT Statistics & Probability — mean, median, mode, standard deviation, probability, data tables, and graph interpretation. All question types with worked examples.

Practice ACT Math Now

Adaptive sessions across all 5 ACT Math topics. AI tutor explains every wrong answer step by step.

Start Practicing Free