The ACT recently announced changes that will begin to roll out in the spring of 2025 starting with national online test-takers. What are these changes and how do they affect your children?
Read on to see a breakdown of these shifts and the consequences we expect.
The Timeline:
April 2025: National online test changes
Sept. 2025: National paper tests change, International tests change, and composite scores are updated for all tests
Spring 2026: State and District Spring 2026 tests change
A shorter test...
Like its competitor, the SAT, the ACT will be shorter. The new core test will last just two hours (compared to the three hours it currently takes). The new ACT will feature shorter passages on both Reading & English and fewer questions on each section.
An optional Science section...
The English, Reading, & Math sections will comprise the core of the ACT, and the Science section will be optional (much like the Writing section). Students can choose to take the ACT, the ACT + writing, the ACT + Science + Writing, or the ACT + Science.
Which means… New Scoring
While Composite (average) scores will continue to be reported on a 1-36 scale, the Composite will now be the average of the English, Reading, and Math scores.
The ACT will be on paper & online
Students can still opt to take the test online or with paper and pencil.
At this point, we are waiting on practice materials for our sophomores who will soon be trying diagnostics. We will also await information from college admissions offices on whether they will expect the Science, despite its new optional status. Until then, we are recommending that our juniors plan on taking the Science section.
These changes can be tough to keep track of, but we are here to help. Click the button below to schedule a free consultation with our team.
