ACTPractice questions

Enhanced ACT Practice Questions

Last updated November 6, 2026

20 practice questions in the style of the Enhanced ACT, easy to hard, across English, Math, Reading and Science. Pick an answer, check it, and read why the right answer is right and why each trap is tempting. If you miss one, tag why you missed it so you know what to fix.

These are original practice questions written by TestLessons, not official ACT questions. They will not predict your score. For real test practice, start with ACT's free official practice tests under a timer, then use questions like these to work on the skills you keep missing. We check every key by re-solving it, but if you think one is wrong, tell us.

How to use this page

English, Math and Reading make up your Composite score. Science is optional on the Enhanced ACT; skip that part if you are not taking it (help deciding).
Press Check. Read the explanation even when you are right, so you know it wasn't luck.
When you miss one, pick why: didn't know it, wrong method, careless slip, or ran out of time. Your summary at the bottom lists those misses for your Miss Log.

Jump to: English · Math · Reading · Science (optional) · Your summary

English

On the real test, sentences sit inside longer essays, with the part to fix underlined. NO CHANGE means keep it as it is. You get about 42 seconds per English question (50 questions in 35 minutes).

Question 1 Punctuation and boundaries Easy

My uncle grows peppers in pots on the roof of his apartment building, every August he gives bags of them to the neighbors.

Which choice is the best version of the underlined portion? (NO CHANGE means keep it as it is.)

A) NO CHANGE B) building; every C) building every D) building, and, every

Show answer and explanation

A is wrong. “My uncle grows peppers... on the roof of his apartment building” and “every August he gives bags...” are both complete sentences. A comma alone can't join them (a comma splice).
B is correct. A semicolon correctly joins two complete sentences.
C is wrong. With no punctuation, the two sentences run together (a run-on).
D is wrong. “And” would work with one comma before it, but the extra comma after “and” breaks the sentence for no reason.

Fix for punctuation and boundaries: Check whether each side of the underlined spot could stand alone as a sentence. Two full sentences need a period, a semicolon, or a comma plus and/but/so. Extra-information phrases need the same mark on both sides (two commas, or two dashes).

Question 2 Punctuation and boundaries Medium

The trail's highest point which sits above the tree line, offers views of three states on a clear day.

Which choice is the best version of the underlined portion? (NO CHANGE means keep it as it is.)

F) NO CHANGE G) point, which H) point; which J) point, that

Show answer and explanation

F is wrong. The phrase “which sits above the tree line” closes with a comma after “line,” so it must open with a comma too.
G is correct. “Which sits above the tree line” is extra information. A comma before it matches the comma after “line,” and the sentence reads “The trail's highest point... offers views.”
H is wrong. A semicolon needs a complete sentence on each side. “The trail's highest point” is not a sentence.
J is wrong. “That” does not follow a comma when it starts an extra-information phrase, and “that sits above the tree line, offers” no longer reads correctly.

Question 3 Concision Easy

The student council will reconvene again next Tuesday to finish planning the budget.

Which choice is the best version of the underlined portion? (NO CHANGE means keep it as it is.)

A) NO CHANGE B) reconvene C) reconvene again a second time D) come back together again to reconvene

Show answer and explanation

A is wrong. “Reconvene” already means meet again, so “again” repeats the idea.
B is correct. It says the full meaning in one word, with nothing repeated.
C is wrong. This repeats the same idea three times.
D is wrong. Wordy and repetitive. Every part means the same thing.

Fix for concision: If two choices say the same thing, the shorter one that keeps the meaning is usually right. Cross out words that repeat an idea (“reconvene again”) or pad it (“due to the fact that”).

Question 4 Concision Medium

Due to the fact that the morning ferry was delayed by fog, most of the band arrived after the concert had already started.

Which choice is the best version of the underlined portion? (NO CHANGE means keep it as it is.)

F) NO CHANGE G) Because H) Being as how J) For the reason being that

Show answer and explanation

F is wrong. Grammatically fine, but five words do the job of one. The ACT rewards the shortest clear choice.
G is correct. “Because” says the same thing as “due to the fact that” in one word.
H is wrong. Informal and unclear. It is not standard written English.
J is wrong. Wordy and awkward, with an extra “being” that adds nothing.

Question 5 Transitions Medium

Many people say that a goldfish remembers things for only a few seconds. In fact, goldfish can learn to swim to one corner of the tank when a light comes on at feeding time, and they keep the habit for weeks.

Which choice is the best version of the underlined portion? (NO CHANGE means keep it as it is.)

A) NO CHANGE B) Similarly, C) As a result, D) For example,

Show answer and explanation

A is correct. The second sentence corrects the popular claim in the first. “In fact” signals that correction, so the original is best.
B is wrong. “Similarly” means the next idea agrees with the last one. Here it disagrees.
C is wrong. The popular claim did not cause goldfish to learn. There is no cause and effect.
D is wrong. The second sentence is not an example of the claim; it argues against it.

Fix for transitions: Read the sentence before and the sentence with the transition. Decide the link yourself first: same direction, contrast, cause and effect, or example. Then pick the word that names that link. NO CHANGE is right when the original already fits.

Question 6 Transitions Hard

Last year the town library launched an app that reminds readers about due dates and lets them renew books from home. Nevertheless, the number of overdue books fell by almost half in the app's first year.

Which choice is the best version of the underlined portion? (NO CHANGE means keep it as it is.)

F) NO CHANGE G) Consequently, H) However, J) Instead,

Show answer and explanation

F is wrong. “Nevertheless” signals a surprising contrast. Fewer overdue books is what you would expect from an app that sends reminders, so a contrast word is wrong.
G is correct. The app (reminders and easy renewals) led to fewer overdue books. “Consequently” shows that result.
H is wrong. Same problem as “nevertheless”: it signals a contrast where the text shows a result.
J is wrong. “Instead” means one thing replaced another. Nothing is being replaced here.

Math

Four answer choices each: A–D on odd questions, F–J on even questions. A calculator is allowed on the whole Math section. You get about 67 seconds per question (45 questions in 50 minutes).

Question 1 Algebra Easy

What value of x solves the equation 3(x − 2) + 5 = 4x − 9?

A) 8 B) 12 C) −8 D) 2

Show answer and explanation

A is correct. Distribute: 3x − 6 + 5 = 4x − 9, so 3x − 1 = 4x − 9. Subtract 3x and add 9: x = 8. Check: 3(6) + 5 = 23 and 4(8) − 9 = 23.
B is wrong. This comes from multiplying only the x by 3 and not the 2: 3x − 2 + 5 = 4x − 9. Distribute to every term in the parentheses.
C is wrong. This is a sign slip when moving terms across the equals sign. Check by plugging in: 3(−10) + 5 = −25, but 4(−8) − 9 = −41.
D is wrong. 2 is the number inside the parentheses, not a solution. Plug it in: the left side is 5 and the right side is −1.

Fix for algebra: Distribute to every term inside the parentheses, collect x terms on one side, and plug your answer back into the original equation to check it.

Question 2 Functions Medium

If f(x) = x² − 4x + 1 and g(x) = 2x + 1, what is the value of f(g(2))?

F) −5 G) 5 H) 6 J) 25

Show answer and explanation

F is wrong. This is g(f(2)): f(2) = −3 and g(−3) = −5. The order is backward. Start with the inside function, g.
G is wrong. 5 is g(2), the first step. You still need to put 5 into f.
H is correct. Inside first: g(2) = 2(2) + 1 = 5. Then f(5) = 25 − 20 + 1 = 6.
J is wrong. This squares 5 but drops the − 4x + 1 part of f.

Fix for functions: For f(g(x)), work from the inside out: find g(x) first, then put that number into f. Write each step on its own line.

Question 3 Geometry and trig Easy

A circular rug has a diameter of 14 feet. What is its area, in square feet?

A) 49π B) 196π C) 14π D) 7π

Show answer and explanation

A is correct. The radius is half the diameter, 7. Area = πr² = π(7²) = 49π.
B is wrong. This uses the diameter, 14, as the radius. Halve the diameter first.
C is wrong. 14π is the circumference (π × diameter), not the area.
D is wrong. This multiplies π by the radius without squaring it.

Fix for geometry and trig: Sketch the figure and label what you know. For right triangles, write SOH-CAH-TOA and name which side is opposite, adjacent and hypotenuse for the angle in the question. For circles, check radius vs diameter.

Question 4 Geometry and trig Medium

In right triangle ABC, angle C is the right angle, AC = 12 and BC = 5. What is sin A?

F) 12/13 G) 5/13 H) 5/12 J) 12/5

Show answer and explanation

F is wrong. 12/13 is AC ÷ AB, which is cos A (adjacent over hypotenuse).
G is correct. First find the hypotenuse: AB = √(12² + 5²) = √169 = 13. The side opposite angle A is BC = 5, so sin A = 5/13.
H is wrong. 5/12 is 5 ÷ 12, which is tan A (opposite over adjacent).
J is wrong. 12/5 is adjacent over opposite. That is not sine.

Question 5 Probability and statistics Medium

A jar holds 18 game tokens: 5 gold, 7 silver and 6 bronze. One token is picked at random. What is the probability that it is NOT silver?

A) 7/18 B) 5/18 C) 1/3 D) 11/18

Show answer and explanation

A is wrong. 7/18 is the chance it IS silver. The question asks for not silver.
B is wrong. 5/18 is the chance of gold only. Not silver includes gold and bronze.
C is wrong. 1/3 is 6/18, the chance of bronze only.
D is correct. There are 18 tokens, and 5 + 6 = 11 are not silver, so the probability is 11/18. (Or 1 − 7/18 = 11/18.)

Fix for probability and statistics: Probability = favorable outcomes ÷ total outcomes, so count the total first. For averages, work with totals: mean × count = sum.

Question 6 Probability and statistics Hard

The mean of Dana's first 4 quiz scores is 81. After her fifth quiz, the mean of all 5 scores is 84. What did Dana score on the fifth quiz?

F) 84 G) 87 H) 96 J) 93

Show answer and explanation

F is wrong. 84 is the new mean, not the fifth score. A score equal to the new mean could not raise the mean from 81.
G is wrong. This adds the 3-point rise only once. The new score has to lift the mean of all five scores by 3.
H is correct. Use totals. Before: 4 × 81 = 324. After: 5 × 84 = 420. Fifth score = 420 − 324 = 96.
J is wrong. This is 81 + 12, which starts from the old mean. Work with totals instead: 420 − 324.

Fix for probability and statistics: Probability = favorable outcomes ÷ total outcomes, so count the total first. For averages, work with totals: mean × count = sum.

Reading

One passage with four questions. On test day you read four passages and answer 36 questions in 40 minutes, so practice reading once, carefully, then answering.

Reading passage · Informational

Backyard Rain Gauges

Every morning, volunteers in many parts of the country step outside, read a plastic rain gauge mounted on a post, and type a single number into a website. The whole job takes less than a minute. Yet together, these small reports fill gaps that official weather stations, which are often miles apart, cannot.

Rain is surprisingly local. A summer thunderstorm can drop two inches on one neighborhood and leave the next one dry. A weather station at an airport records only what falls at the airport. Forecasters and flood planners who want to know where water actually landed need far more measurements than a handful of stations can provide.

Volunteer data has weak spots. A gauge placed under a tree or too close to a roof can catch too little rain, and a volunteer who forgets to empty the gauge can report two days of rain as one. For that reason, volunteer networks usually ask new observers to follow simple placement rules and to note any missed days, and staff members compare unusual reports with nearby ones before using them.

Many observers say the habit changes how they see the sky. After a few months of daily readings, they begin to notice which storms bring the heaviest rain and how quickly their own yard dries out. The program collects numbers, in other words, but it also builds a habit of paying attention.

The next 4 questions are about this passage.

Question 1(passage) Main idea Medium

Which choice best states the main idea of the passage?

A) Volunteer rain-gauge readings fill in local rainfall details that distant stations miss; the data needs checking, and the daily habit also sharpens observers' attention. B) Weather stations at airports give inaccurate readings. C) Summer thunderstorms are becoming more common. D) Volunteer observers should be paid for their reports.

Show answer and explanation

A is correct. This covers the whole passage: what volunteers do (paragraph 1), why it matters (2), its limits (3) and what observers gain (4).
B is wrong. The passage says airport stations record only what falls at the airport, not that their readings are wrong.
C is wrong. The passage uses one storm as an example of how local rain is. It says nothing about storms becoming more common.
D is wrong. The passage makes no argument about pay.

Fix for main idea: After the passage, say its point in one sentence before you look at the choices. The answer must cover the whole passage, not one paragraph, and must not claim more than the passage does.

Question 2(passage) Inference Medium

Based on the passage, a staff member would most likely double-check a volunteer's report if it:

F) was entered on the website in the morning. G) came from someone who has reported for many years. H) showed far more rain than gauges nearby. J) showed no rain on a day with clear skies.

Show answer and explanation

F is wrong. Morning is when volunteers normally report, so that alone would not stand out.
G is wrong. The passage never says experience triggers a check.
H is correct. Paragraph 3 says staff compare unusual reports with nearby ones. A reading far above its neighbors is exactly that kind of unusual report.
J is wrong. No rain on a clear day is expected, not unusual.

Fix for inference: An inference on the ACT is a small step from the text, not a guess. Point to the line that supports your answer. If you can't, pick the choice that claims less.

Question 3(passage) Purpose and structure Medium

The main purpose of the third paragraph is to:

A) argue that volunteers should stop placing gauges near trees. B) describe weaknesses of volunteer data and how networks reduce them. C) explain why thunderstorms are so local. D) give the history of the first rain-gauge network.

Show answer and explanation

A is wrong. Trees are one example of a problem, not the paragraph's main point.
B is correct. The paragraph opens with “Volunteer data has weak spots,” gives examples, then explains the fixes: placement rules, noting missed days and comparing reports.
C is wrong. That is the job of paragraph 2, not 3.
D is wrong. The paragraph has no history or dates.

Fix for purpose and structure: Ask what job a paragraph does in the passage: adds a reason, gives a limit, shows an example, or sums up. The topic of the paragraph is not the same as its job.

Question 4(passage) Inference Hard

In the last sentence, the claim that the program “builds a habit of paying attention” most nearly suggests that:

F) observers are paid more after a few months. G) the numbers volunteers collect are not useful. H) most observers quit after a few months. J) part of the program's value is that observers become more aware of their local weather over time.

Show answer and explanation

F is wrong. Pay is never mentioned.
G is wrong. The passage says the reports fill real gaps. The last sentence adds a benefit; it does not take one away.
H is wrong. Nothing in the passage says observers quit.
J is correct. The sentence follows the point that, after months of readings, observers notice which storms bring heavy rain and how fast their yards dry. That growing awareness is the “habit of paying attention.”

Fix for inference: An inference on the ACT is a small step from the text, not a guess. Point to the line that supports your answer. If you can't, pick the choice that claims less.

Science (optional)

Science is optional on the Enhanced ACT and does not count toward your Composite. It tests reading data and judging experiments, not memorized facts. About 60 seconds per question (40 questions in 40 minutes).

Science passage · Optional section

Muffling a Speaker

A student studied how well different linings keep sound inside a box. A small speaker playing a steady tone at the same volume was placed in the center of a closed wooden box. A sound meter 1 m outside the box measured the sound level in decibels (dB); a lower reading means less sound escaped. Each reading is the average of 3 trials.

Experiment 1: The student lined the inside of the box with a 2 cm layer of different materials (or left it bare).

Experiment 2: The student lined the box with foam of different thicknesses.

Table 1 (Experiment 1): 2 cm linings
Lining	Sound level outside (dB)
None (bare box)	78
Cardboard	73
Felt	67
Foam	59

Table 2 (Experiment 2): foam linings
Foam thickness (cm)	Sound level outside (dB)
1	66
2	59
3	54
4	51

This experiment and its numbers are invented for practice. They follow a realistic pattern: soft, thick linings let less sound out.

The next 4 questions are about this passage.

Question 1(passage) Reading tables and graphs Easy

According to Table 2, as the foam thickness increased from 1 cm to 4 cm, the sound level outside the box:

A) decreased only. B) increased only. C) decreased, then increased. D) stayed about the same.

Show answer and explanation

A is correct. 66, 59, 54, 51: every reading is lower than the one before.
B is wrong. This reads the table backward. The readings go down as the foam gets thicker.
C is wrong. The readings never go back up in Table 2.
D is wrong. The readings drop from 66 dB to 51 dB, a clear change.

Fix for reading tables and graphs: Read the column headings and units before the numbers. Find the trend first (up, down, up then down). To estimate between two values, your answer must sit between them.

Question 2(passage) Reading tables and graphs Medium

Based on Table 2, if the student had tested foam 2.5 cm thick, the sound level outside the box would most likely have been about:

F) 50 dB. G) 61 dB. H) 56 dB. J) 66 dB.

Show answer and explanation

F is wrong. 50 dB is lower than the 4 cm result (51 dB). A thinner layer should let out more sound than that.
G is wrong. 61 dB is higher than the 2 cm result (59 dB), but thicker foam should let out less sound.
H is correct. 2.5 cm is between 2 cm (59 dB) and 3 cm (54 dB), so the reading should be between 54 and 59 dB. Only 56 dB fits.
J is wrong. 66 dB is the 1 cm result. 2.5 cm of foam should do better than 1 cm.

Question 3(passage) Evaluating an experiment Medium

In Experiment 1, which factor did the student change on purpose?

A) The sound level outside the box B) The lining material C) The thickness of the lining D) The speaker's volume

Show answer and explanation

A is wrong. That is what the student measured (the dependent variable), not what the student changed.
B is correct. Experiment 1 tested different materials at the same 2 cm thickness. The material is the independent variable.
C is wrong. Every lining in Experiment 1 was 2 cm, so thickness was kept the same (a control).
D is wrong. The speaker played at the same volume in every trial, so it was a control.

Fix for evaluating an experiment: Name what the scientist changed on purpose (independent variable), what was measured (dependent variable) and what was kept the same (controls). To test a claim, compare only results where one thing changed.

Question 4(passage) Evaluating an experiment Hard

A classmate claims that adding 1 cm to a 2 cm foam lining lowers the sound outside the box more than switching a 2 cm felt lining to 2 cm of foam does. Do the results support this claim?

F) Yes; going from 2 cm to 3 cm of foam lowered the reading from 59 dB to 54 dB. G) Yes; 4 cm of foam gave the lowest reading of all. H) No; switching felt to foam at 2 cm lowered the reading by 8 dB (67 to 59), more than adding 1 cm of foam did (59 to 54, 5 dB). J) No; thicker foam let more sound out of the box.

Show answer and explanation

F is wrong. That drop (5 dB) is real, but the claim is a comparison, and switching felt to foam did more.
G is wrong. The lowest reading overall does not compare the two specific changes in the claim.
H is correct. Compare only the two changes named in the claim, each starting from a 2 cm lining. 8 dB beats 5 dB, so the claim is not supported.
J is wrong. Thicker foam always lowered the reading in Table 2.

Your summary

Check some answers above and your results show up here. Nothing is saved or sent anywhere; it all stays on this page.

Use an official or full-length practice-test score, not your result on this short set.

Answer key

Spoilers below: every answer, grouped by section. For a full explanation of each trap, open the explanation under that question.

English

1. Punctuation and boundaries — B. A semicolon joins the two complete sentences.
2. Punctuation and boundaries — G. A comma before “which” matches the closing comma after “line.”
3. Concision — B. “Reconvene” already means meet again; “again” repeats the meaning.
4. Concision — G. “Because” preserves the meaning in one clear word.
5. Transitions — A. “In fact” correctly introduces a correction to the popular claim.
6. Transitions — G. “Consequently” shows the result of reminders and easy renewals.

Math

1. Algebra — A. Distributing gives 3x − 1 = 4x − 9, so x = 8.
2. Functions — H. g(2) = 5, then f(5) = 25 − 20 + 1 = 6.
3. Geometry and trig — A. The radius is 7 feet, so the area is π × 7² = 49π.
4. Geometry and trig — G. The hypotenuse is 13; sin A = opposite ÷ hypotenuse = 5/13.
5. Probability and statistics — D. 5 gold + 6 bronze = 11 non-silver tokens out of 18.
6. Probability and statistics — H. The fifth score is 5 × 84 − 4 × 81 = 96.

Reading

1. Main idea — A. The choice covers local data gaps, quality checks and growing awareness.
2. Inference — H. An unusually high report would stand out against nearby readings.
3. Purpose and structure — B. Paragraph 3 explains data weaknesses and how networks reduce them.
4. Inference — J. Daily observations make volunteers more aware of local weather.

Science (optional)

1. Reading tables and graphs — A. Every reading decreases: 66, 59, 54, 51 dB.
2. Reading tables and graphs — H. 2.5 cm is between 2 and 3 cm, so 56 dB fits between 59 and 54 dB.
3. Evaluating an experiment — B. Experiment 1 deliberately changes the lining material.
4. Evaluating an experiment — H. Switching felt to foam saves 8 dB, more than the extra centimeter’s 5 dB.

Answer key

English

1. Punctuation and boundaries — B. A semicolon joins the two complete sentences.
2. Punctuation and boundaries — G. A comma before “which” matches the closing comma after “line.”
3. Concision — B. “Reconvene” already means meet again; “again” repeats the meaning.
4. Concision — G. “Because” preserves the meaning in one clear word.
5. Transitions — A. “In fact” correctly introduces a correction to the popular claim.
6. Transitions — G. “Consequently” shows the result of reminders and easy renewals.

Math

1. Algebra — A. Distributing gives 3x − 1 = 4x − 9, so x = 8.
2. Functions — H. g(2) = 5, then f(5) = 25 − 20 + 1 = 6.
3. Geometry and trig — A. The radius is 7 feet, so the area is π × 7² = 49π.
4. Geometry and trig — G. The hypotenuse is 13; sin A = opposite ÷ hypotenuse = 5/13.
5. Probability and statistics — D. 5 gold + 6 bronze = 11 non-silver tokens out of 18.
6. Probability and statistics — H. The fifth score is 5 × 84 − 4 × 81 = 96.

Reading

1. Main idea — A. The choice covers local data gaps, quality checks and growing awareness.
2. Inference — H. An unusually high report would stand out against nearby readings.
3. Purpose and structure — B. Paragraph 3 explains data weaknesses and how networks reduce them.
4. Inference — J. Daily observations make volunteers more aware of local weather.

Science (optional)

1. Reading tables and graphs — A. Every reading decreases: 66, 59, 54, 51 dB.
2. Reading tables and graphs — H. 2.5 cm is between 2 and 3 cm, so 56 dB fits between 59 and 54 dB.
3. Evaluating an experiment — B. Experiment 1 deliberately changes the lining material.
4. Evaluating an experiment — H. Switching felt to foam saves 8 dB, more than the extra centimeter’s 5 dB.

What to do with your misses

Copy each miss into the Miss Log in the free Enhanced ACT Study Guide (PDF): the section, why you missed it, what it was about, and what you will fix tomorrow.
Look for the label that shows up most. “Didn't know it” means learn the rule or method. “Wrong method” means slow down and pick a plan before solving. “Careless slip” means reread the question and check the answer. “Ran out of time” means practice with a clock.
Take your next full timed practice test from ACT's free test prep to see if the fix worked.
Got a practice Composite already? See what it means with the ACT score interpreter.

More help by section: English · Math · Reading · Science. If you use an AI chat tool, our optional prompts can talk through a miss, but check the answer against the explanation.

Provided as is. TestLessons is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by ACT. ACT is a registered trademark of ACT Education Corp. These questions are original and are for practice only; they are not official items and do not predict a test score.