How to Pace Yourself on the ACT and SAT

The SAT and ACT, rather than strictly measuring aptitude or knowledge, are essentially set up to also gauge how well students perform under pressure and implement test-taking strategies. Each section on both exams has its own strict time limits that are enforced by the proctoring team during the exam. The time limits ensure that the testing experience is universal and that no student receives an unfair advantage (although some students may qualify for an extended time).

Understanding Test Format and Timing

If we step back for a minute, there are three essential parts of college entrance exam test prep: content knowledge, test strategy, and time management. Although it may seem the most challenging, time management is the single easiest piece of the test prep puzzle to prepare for because you just need to keep pace with the required amount of time to complete each section of the test — ideally with a few minutes to spare to review the questions you didn’t know as well or double-check the answers.

But first, it is beneficial to firmly know the format and procedure of the exams you are planning to take even before worrying about the pacing. The number of questions per section never changes, so it’s helpful to know when pacing that you will always encounter a set number of questions.

The SAT, which is completely digital as of March 2024, is broken down as follows:

• Reading and Writing: 54 questions divided into two 32-minute modules
• Math: 44 questions divided into two 35-minute modules, calculator permitted

The test is adaptive, meaning that the questions in the first module of each section will be a mix of difficulty levels. The difficulty of the questions in the second module of each section will be determined by your performance in the first module. However, you can expect the difficulty to increase as the test goes on.

The ACT is offered in the traditional paper and pencil format, as well as an online format as of February 2024 — both formats have the same questions. The sections are broken down as follows:

• English: 75 questions in 45 minutes
• Math: 60 questions in 60 minutes
• Reading: 40 questions in 35 minutes
• Science: 40 questions in 35 minutes (This test becomes optional starting spring 2025.)
• Optional Writing: 1 Essay in 40 minutes

Pacing Strategies for Reading Passages 

It might seem intimidating at first, but the more you practice and prepare for it, the easier it will become to take the exam in a set amount of time. The Reading and Writing section of the SAT, for example, gives you 1 minute and 11 seconds per question. This section is comprised of short passages (25-150 words), followed by one multiple-choice question. We advise reviewing the question first so you know what to look for in the passage. You can also highlight and annotate the passages as needed. Once you go back to the question, you can narrow down the choices with the option eliminator tool until you find the best answer.

The ACT Reading and English sections will require similar strategies as the SAT, though the passages may be longer with more corresponding questions. Focus on answering the easiest questions first, then eliminate the wrong choices for any remaining questions to help you get to the best answer. It is extremely crucial to pay attention to the timing on the ACT considering that the pacing is even more rigorous due to greater number of questions (but maybe slightly less difficult) and less time.

Pacing Strategies for Math 

Pacing is slightly different on the math sections of the SAT due to their organization. You have 1 minute and 35 seconds per question, so you may want to devote less time to the questions that come easier to you to have more time for the more challenging questions. Remember that your individual strengths will decide which questions are most difficult for you. You might be pleasantly surprised to find that the questions at the end of the test are not as challenging as you’d feared. Nonetheless, it’s a good idea to assume that the questions toward the end of the test will take you longer to complete than the questions at the beginning.

Similarly, the ACT Math section is also structured in order of difficulty with more rigorous pacing. The science section on the ACT is unique and may require its own pacing methodology depending on a student’s analytical skills.

Know When to Check the Clock 

A good rule of thumb is to check the time, but not so frequently as to take time away from the exam and cause anxiety. The more time remaining implies there’s more time to review, but you should also adjust if you feel you are pacing too fast or too slow. Practice your skim-reading skills and mark the text as you go to stay engaged and to highlight important areas like a thesis or supporting evidence.

It’s important when sitting for the ACT or SAT to take breaks seriously and use the restroom, drink some water, and eat a quick, nutritious snack to help manage test anxiety. If you find yourself getting anxious over time, try closing your eyes and taking a few deep breaths. Don’t worry about how you look — everyone around you is too busy focusing on their own tests to notice what you’re doing. Calm yourself and prepare to shift your thinking by clearing your head. Try rolling your shoulders or arching and releasing your back to relieve tension. All this will help you maintain your endurance through the exam and get back on pace if you find yourself slowing down or going too fast.

Some other general pacing rules to remember:

• Try to conserve time at the beginning since the questions at the end of the sections will likely take longer (due to increasing difficulty and fatigue).
• Use the two-passes strategy to make sure you answer every question that you find easy. This means skipping problems that seem very difficult and returning to them after you’ve completed all the questions you find easier.
• Neither the SAT nor ACT penalizes you for guessing, so it’s in your best interest to answer all the questions even if you must guess on some.
• Don’t obsess over time. Keeping an eye on the clock can help keep you on track with your pacing, but constantly figuring out how many minutes you have left per problem also eats away that valuable time.

Again, test prep is a combination of knowledge, strategy, and time management. By implementing these pacing strategies, students can improve their performance on the SAT or ACT — putting them in a good position to obtain their goal score and ultimately admission to their top-choice universities.

Still struggling with your SAT or ACT strategy? The team of expert tutors at IvyWise can work with you to help you determine which test is the best fit for your abilities, areas of strengths and weaknesses, and develop a test prep plan that will help you reach your goal score.