Pocket prairies are small patches of native grasses and wildflowers planted in places such as school yards, the edges of parking lots and backyards. They are tiny compared with the prairies that once covered much of the central United States, but they can still feed bees and butterflies. Because native plants have deep roots, they also soak up rainwater that would otherwise run into storm drains. Some city gardeners admit that the plots look untidy in winter, when the dry stems are left standing. They leave them anyway, because many insects spend the cold months inside those stems.According to the passage, why do some gardeners leave the dry stems standing in winter?

Many insects shelter inside them

Cutting them would let rainwater run off

The stems protect the roots from frost

The city does not allow the plots to be cleared

Job assessment practice

ACT practice test: free questions in the enhanced ACT format

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This ACT practice test gives you original questions in the four ACT sections: English, math, reading and science. Start with 5 free questions, then take two timed 40-question tests at the real ACT pace, with an explanation for every answer and a score per section.

5 free questions
2 timed tests, 80 questions
Real ACT pace per section
Explanation for every answer
Practice certificate PDF

How many questions are on the ACT, and how long is it?

Since April 2025 (online) and September 2025 (paper), national ACT tests use the enhanced ACT: fewer questions, more time per question, and science as an optional add-on.

Section	Questions	Time	Pace
English	50	35 min	about 42 s
Math	45	50 min	about 67 s
Reading	36	40 min	about 67 s
Science (optional)	40	40 min	60 s

English, math and reading take 2 hours 5 minutes; with science, 2 hours 45 minutes. The Composite score (1-36) is the average of English, math and reading; science gets its own score and counts toward the STEM score, not the Composite. Part of every section is unscored field-test questions (ACT lists 20% of English, 9% of math, 25% of reading and 15% of science). Registration costs $70, or $75 with science (act.org, checked 16 October 2026).

MyLevel tests are a shortened mixed practice, not a full ACT: each has 40 questions (10 per section) with a 39-minute timer, the same average pace per section as the real test.

What is on each ACT section?

English: sentences and short passages with an underlined part to fix or keep (NO CHANGE): punctuation, subject-verb agreement, pronouns, verb tense, parallel structure, transitions, wordiness and whether a sentence fits the writer's purpose.
Math: algebra, linear and quadratic equations, functions, exponents, percent, statistics and probability, geometry and basic trigonometry. Enhanced ACT math questions have four answer choices, and a permitted calculator may be used on the whole section.
Reading: passages from fiction, social science, humanities and natural science, with questions on main idea, details, inference, word meaning and the author's purpose.
Science: tables, graphs, experiment descriptions and conflicting viewpoints. It tests reading data and reasoning about experiments far more than memorized facts.

All questions on this page are original practice questions written by MyLevel in the ACT question styles, not real ACT questions.

What is a good ACT score?

ACT scores run from 1 to 36. The national average Composite for the ACT-tested class of 2025 was 19.4 (ACT, Graduating Class 2025 report). ACT's College Readiness Benchmarks, the section scores linked to a good chance of passing first-year college courses, are 18 in English, 22 in math, 22 in reading and 23 in science (act.org). What counts as good depends on your colleges: check the middle 50% range of admitted students and the score cut-offs of the scholarships you want, because your college admission and scholarship chances can depend on it.

After each MyLevel test you see your score per section and an indicative band. It is a guide for your practice only: a MyLevel raw score does not convert to an ACT score.

How to use this ACT practice test

Start with the 5 free questions, then take one full timed test to find your weakest section.
Read every explanation, also for questions you got right: in English the reason is often a rule you can reuse.
Practise pacing: English allows only about 42 seconds per question, the other sections about a minute.
Decide early whether you will take science: it is optional, but some colleges recommend or use it, and it is needed for the STEM score.
ACT offers free official practice tests on act.org. Take one as a full-length dress rehearsal; use MyLevel for extra original questions with explanations.

The full pack costs $9.99, one time: two timed 40-question tests, explanations, a score per section and a practice certificate. No subscription and no time limit. One purchase also unlocks every other MyLevel job and aptitude test.

MyLevel is independent and not affiliated with ACT. ACT is a registered trademark of ACT Education Corp., which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse, MyLevel. All questions are original practice questions in the ACT question styles, not real ACT questions.

Sample question with explanation

The average (mean) of 4 test scores is 82. What score on a fifth test would raise the average of all 5 tests to exactly 84?

Show the answer

Answer: B. 92

Five tests averaging 84 total 5 × 84 = 420. The first four total 4 × 82 = 328, so the fifth must be 420 − 328 = 92.

Frequently asked questions

Is there a free ACT practice test?

Yes. ACT itself offers free official practice tests on act.org, and this page has 5 free original questions with explanations. The MyLevel pack adds two timed mixed tests of 40 questions with an explanation for every answer and a score per section.

How long is the ACT?

The enhanced ACT takes 2 hours 5 minutes for English (50 questions, 35 minutes), math (45 questions, 50 minutes) and reading (36 questions, 40 minutes). The optional science section adds 40 questions in 40 minutes, and the optional writing test another 40 minutes.

Is science still on the ACT?

Science is now optional. It is scored on its own and used for the STEM score, but the Composite is the average of English, math and reading only. Some colleges recommend or require science, so check your colleges before you register.

Are these real ACT questions?

No. These are original questions written by MyLevel in the styles of the ACT sections. Real ACT test questions are copyrighted by ACT, and the only official practice material comes from ACT itself.

What do I get for $9.99?

Two timed mixed ACT practice tests of 40 questions each (English, math, reading and science), an explanation for every answer, a score per section, unlimited retakes and a practice certificate. It is a one-time payment, no subscription, and it also unlocks every other MyLevel job and aptitude test.

Can I unlock only this test?

There is one option, so you never have to choose: the $9.99 job pack, one time. It unlocks the 2 full tests on this page and every other MyLevel job test, with no subscription and a full refund within 14 days if it does not help you.

Do I get a certificate?

Yes. After a full practice test you can download a MyLevel practice certificate (PDF) with your score. It is a personal record of your practice, not an official document and not an ACT score.

More practice tests

US · English

ACT practice test: free questions in the enhanced ACT format

How many questions are on the ACT, and how long is it?

What is on each ACT section?

What is a good ACT score?

How to use this ACT practice test

Sample question with explanation

Frequently asked questions

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