The American College Testing (ACT) Program was introduced in 1959 as a competitor to the SAT. According to the test makers, the ACT measures high school students’ general education development and their capability to complete college level work. Offered seven times a year, the ACT is formally recognized by all four-year colleges. In it's latest revision in 2025, the ACT contains three required sections - English, reading and math - that together are about two hours long. Each section receives a score of 1-36; the composite score is the average of the three required sections. The two optional sections are science and writing, each 40 minutes long. The ACT can be taken online on a computer or on paper. It is taken at a test center.