Everything You Need to Know About ACT Timing With Breaks

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Everything You Need to Know About ACT Timing With Breaks

ACT schedules have a fixed timeframe like other standard test schedules. Exam timing is vital for educators to gauge the students' educational prowess and time management skills.

However, students with a proven mental and physical disability might test timing accommodations to allow them to have a fairer ground as regular students. These test accommodations include Extended Time, Double Time, or Special Testing accommodations.

These testing time accommodations are awarded after the student or their guardian submits a written request.

The process of requesting ACT timing with breaks requires proper and concise expression. DoNotPay helps you compose a straightforward letter and send it within minutes through the Test Accommodation product.

How Long Does ACT Take?

The is a standardized test given to high school final-year students to determine their college eligibility and prepare them for college-level school work. ACT is not a measure of the student's IQ; instead, the test focuses on courses the student has studied, including:

  1. English
  2. Mathematics
  3. Reading
  4. Science reasoning

The test has 215 questions and one optional essay. Typically, students are allocated a maximum of 4 hours, depending on whether the student chooses to sit for the essay or not. The table below shows a breakdown of the test sections and their timing.

Section Time Number of questions
English45 minutes75 questions
Math60 minutes60 questions
Reading35 minutes40 questions
Science35 minutes40 questions
Writing (Optional)40 minutes1 essay

Students are given a minute or two to switch between sections and are entitled to a ten-minute break after the math session. Students taking the essay option are given a five-minute break as the rest walk out of the room.

This time allocation might not be enough for a student with a mental or physical disability. In such instances, the students are awarded time extensions. Some disabled students need more frequent breaks and are hence rewarded with extra time during the test.

How Long Is the ACT With Extended Time?

Students sitting for the ACT with extended time are awarded 50% more time to finish their test. Initially, the National Extended Time/Timing Code 6 Policy allowed self-pacing for the additional hour, and the students would choose how to use the extra time. Since the 2018 National Extended Time Code 6 Policy was reformed, time allocation for the ACT time is as follows:

  • Test 1 – English – 70 minutes to complete (35 extra minutes)
  • Test 2 – Mathematics – 90 minutes to complete (30 extra minutes)
  • Test 3 – Reading – 55 minutes to complete (25 extra minutes)
  • Test 4 – Science – 55 minutes to complete (25 extra minutes)

Students who opt for the written essay get an extra hour for the essay. There is a compulsory 5-minute break after each section and the student is required to sit for the entire session even when they are done with the test until the time is called off.

Other ACT Timing Accommodations

Some students require more than the standard 50% time extension and qualify for 100% or more extensions. The exams for such students are not done at a designated testing center. Rather, they are sent to the school a day or two before the accrual exam day.

Here are the ACT accommodations programs with greater than 50% time extension:

ACT Special Testing

ACT Special Testing accommodation is given to students who qualify to have double-timed persecution. The test sections are spread over two or more days, with breaks between the sections. However, the student cannot take a break within a session. The breaks between the sections are not fixed; each break period is determined by the individual student's accommodations. Here are the additional timings of the ACT Special Testing:

  • English – 90 minutes
  • Math – 120 minutes
  • Reading – 70 minutes
  • Science – 70 minutes
  • Essay – 80 minutes

SAT Double Time

SAT double-time accommodation is given to students with acute disabilities who require more time to complete the test. The test sessions are spread across two or more days, with breaks between the sessions.

The students might have a break-in session, depending on their individual accommodation. The period of breaks between sessions is also determined by the individual student's accommodation. Here are the extra time frames for students under SAT double-time accommodation:

  • Reading – 130 minutes
  • English – 70 minutes
  • Math-No Calculator – 50 minutes
  • Math-Calculator – 110 minutes
  • Essay – 100 minutes

Request for Act Timing With Breaks With the Help of DoNotPay

Different students require different testing accommodations; and for a standard test such as AST, the accommodations are needed more than anything. To get the right accommodation for your child, you require an elaborate request letter that presents your case to the accommodations committee.

DoNotPay helps you write the perfect request letter and send it within a few minutes. With DoNotPay, you do not have to hustle to send your requests for LSAT, MCAT, or ADHD accommodations.

If you want to request testing accommodation but do not know where to start, follow these steps:

  1. Search for testing accommodations on DoNotPay.

  2. Start our Request My Testing Accommodation product by telling us which test you intend to take.

  3. Answer some questions about your specific disability and testing plans.

And that's it. DoNotPay will write a letter to the company administering your exam laying out the case for your accommodation request both with respect to that company's internal policies and relevant disability law. You should receive a response soon.

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