Just when our families adjusted to a brand-new SAT, the ACT has announced some upcoming changes. We know these announcements can be stressful, but we're here to break down what we know, what we expect and how to best navigate these changes:
What's changing:
The test is getting shorter (by up to ⅓) to compete with the now-shortened SAT. Passages on the Reading & English sections will be shorter, and the Science section will become optional, which means students will have the option of just taking the “core” sections of English, Reading & Math.
What's staying the same:
Composite scores will remain out of 36 and there's been no mention of content shifts.
When this is expected to happen:
As of now, new ACTs are expected to roll out online in Spring 2025 and on school day testing in 2026. Announcements about these changes have been inconsistent (and the information has already changed since the ACT first announced these updates on Monday).
The ACT has walked back announced changes before. Here is one example of previous walk-backs (there are many!)
We expect to have a clearer sense of how these changes will actually play out in the coming months. Rest assured, we’ll be keeping an eye on things and sharing updates as information becomes more clear!
What we still don't know:
The ACT has not announced how the Science section will be scored and whether the new composite is a simple average of the three “core” sections, which would give much more weight to verbal skills.
We also don’t yet know if college admissions will expect the Science section even if it is technically optional.
What does this mean for our kids?
Our rising seniors need not worry, as these changes don’t affect them.
Our juniors can expect to hear much more from us about these intended shifts, but the test is only getting shorter and (optionally) easier, and (for now) should only affect juniors testing digitally. If your junior has already chosen the ACT, there is no need to panic or change course. We’ll be monitoring updates and sharing new information as it is announced.
Freshman and sophomores can sit tight as we await more information and practice materials.
Over the course of the last 23 years at Tutor Associates, we’ve seen the tests change over and over. It’s our job to adapt our materials, strategies, and advice accordingly so that your child is ready for whatever they face. We’ll keep an eye on what the ACT is saying so that you don’t have to.
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