The ACT is undergoing major changes, making the test more flexible and student-friendly. If you plan to take the ACT soon, here’s what you need to know about the updates and how they might affect your test-taking strategy.
Key Changes to the ACT Format
Fewer Questions Per Section, More Time Per Section
The new ACT will have fewer questions per section, allowing students more time to complete each section. This change is intended to improve pacing and reduce test fatigue.
Field Practice Test Questions Integrated into Test Sections
Instead of separate experimental sections, field test questions will now be embedded within regular test sections. These questions help ACT refine future exams but will not count toward your score.
Science Section Becomes Optional
Students can now choose whether or not to take the Science section. The core composite score will be based only on English, Math, and Reading scores.
STEM Score for Science Takers
If you want to take the Science section, you will receive a separate STEM score, which is the average of your Math and Science scores. This is important for students pursuing STEM fields and those applying to highly selective schools.
Writing Section Remains Optional
No changes to the Writing section—it will continue to be an optional component, and very few schools require the writing section.
Scoring and Concordance Remain the Same
The ACT will still be scored on the familiar 1-36 scale, and scores will be concordant with past ACT exams, ensuring consistency for college admissions.
Question Format Remains Unchanged
While the test structure is evolving, individual test questions will generally remain the same. This means older ACT practice materials will still be relevant and useful for preparation.
Full-Length Practice Test Available Online
Although it is a bit clunky, ACT has a full-length online practice test to help students prepare for the new format.
Test Administration & Rollout Schedule
April 2025 – The new format will debut for online National Test Dates but will not yet affect paper-based administrations.
September 2025 – The new format will be implemented across all testing modalities, including paper-based and online tests.
No Adaptive Testing (unlike the digital SAT)
Unlike some standardized tests that adjust difficulty based on initial responses, the new ACT remains linear. This means all students will receive the same questions, and their performance on earlier questions will not determine the difficulty of later ones.
What This Means for Students
If you’re taking the ACT this year (2025), consider how these changes may impact your test prep:
Current juniors: If the ACT is your best test, take the old four-part Classic ACT until July while the new ACT calibrates.
Continue using older ACT practice materials—they remain useful.
If science is not your strong suit, you can opt out of science on the new ACT without impacting your Composite Score.
If you are a STEM student or applying to a selective school, take the optional science section.
Always take practice tests before any standardized test.
Final Thoughts
Determine your favorite test (SAT or ACT). Lean in and take it 2-3 times with some prep for your best score, but know that you are more than a test or grade. Less than ten percent of colleges require testing.
Finally, remember calm is contagious, and knowledge is power.
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