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Are you a student planning on taking the ACT this year? You’ve probably heard that the test is changing — here’s everything you need to know to succeed.
Table of Contents
Introduction
Every year, millions of high schoolers in the United States take the ACT, which stands for “American College Testing.” Along with the SAT, this is one of two major options for standardized tests that high schoolers can take for college admission. For the class of 2024, about 1.4 million students took the ACT, which was comparable to the numbers for the previous class.
In July of 2024, the ACT announced they would be making changes to the test with “the goal of meeting the evolving needs of students and educators,” according to CEO Janet Godwin. Some changes were already implemented for the April 2025 online tests, but the remaining changes will take effect this fall and next spring.
These changes will make a big difference for students who are applying to college this year and in the future. Here’s everything parents and students need to know about how the ACT, now known as the “enhanced ACT,” is changing.
Why the ACT Is Changing
As mentioned above, the organization behind the ACT says it is changing primarily to benefit students, particularly to help “showcase student success for college and career.” Ideally, this will help improve the national median ACT score, which has been hovering around 19.3-19.4 in recent years and steadily declining since the 1990s. This dip in the median composite score may explain why the ACT is actively improving the student experience. They’re also competing against the SAT, which shortened its test and began adaptive testing this year, so it’s in the ACT’s best interest to keep up in order to become students’ preferred standardized test.
Especially in the wake of many schools going test-optional, it is imperative for the ACT’s test administration to prove its usefulness not only to students but to colleges as well. It’s no secret that standardized tests have fallen out of favor as a useful metric for assessing college readiness since they provide a pretty rigid definition of academic competency. However, some schools, especially elite schools like Harvard and Brown, are now reinstating their testing policies, meaning that standardized tests are probably not going anywhere in future college admissions cycles. With that in mind, students should be aware of all the changes that are taking place.
Major ACT Exam Changes in 2025
The three major changes to the enhanced ACT of which students should be aware are the shorter test length, optionality of the science section, and the choice between paper tests and digital ACT tests. We’ve detailed what all those major changes will entail in the sections below, but there are some other small changes being made, such as the number of answer choices in math questions has been reduced from five to four. In short, the test will be more accessible and, ideally, less daunting for all test takers in the future.
Additionally, the scoring scale will remain 1-36, but the composite score will not include the score on the science section. But it’s important to note that students will receive different kinds of scores based on the sections they do end up taking — see below for the breakdown.
| When Students Take: | They Will Receive: |
| The ACT Test (English, Math, and Reading sections) | Composite Score |
| The ACT Test with Science | Composite and STEM Scores |
| The ACT Test with Writing | Composite and ELA Scores |
| The ACT Test with Science and Writing | Composite, STEM, and ELA Scores |
Source: ACT
On the topic of superscoring, which is the average of a student’s best scores from each section from multiple test attempts, the ACT says the following of this enhanced ACT: “A student’s superscore can be calculated from section scores from test events before and after the transition to the new Composite. If a student takes a test after September 2025, their superscore will be based on their English, math, and reading performance (if no tests are taken after September 2025, the last calculated superscore, based on English, math, reading, and science, will continue to be available). ACT will still report the highest score for each section with the test date, but the reported superscore will now be based on a simplified calculation of English, math, and reading scores.”
Change #1: Shorter Test & Fewer Questions
One of the most significant changes to the ACT is to the length of the test, which has been reduced by up to one-third, depending on the version of the test that students take. This means that the core test, which is just the English, reading, and math sections, will last just two hours, compared to the previous three hours for all test sections. Additionally, the reading passages in both the English section and reading section will be shorter, and there will be 44 fewer test questions in all, which means students will have a longer time per question than in previous tests.
This change is anticipated to reduce testing fatigue, allowing students to better maintain concentration and stamina throughout the assessment. By minimizing the number of questions, the ACT is also aiming to focus on quality over quantity, ensuring that each question is aligned with the key skills and knowledge areas that accurately assess college readiness.
This is not a surprising shift, given that the SAT was also recently shortened from three to two hours, so it’s likely these changes might’ve been made in an effort to stay competitive in the standardized testing market. Still, the hope is that the shorter test time will make it more manageable for students across all academic levels. As teachers and students alike adjust to these new dynamics, it will be interesting to observe how these modifications impact overall performance and whether or not they lead to a more balanced and accurate assessment of a student’s readiness.
Change #2: Science is Optional
The next major change is the decision to make the science section, which previously was one of the core sections of the ACT in past years, completely optional to students. As mentioned above, if students do opt to take it, they will receive a STEM score, similar to how students receive a separate ELA score, which comprises their scores on the English section, reading section, and writing section, but only if they choose to take the writing section. The STEM score will be an average of a student’s scores on the math section and the science section. All of these scores will still be on the 1-36 scale.
This could be an advantage for students who are interested in humanities-centered careers and don’t necessarily flourish in STEM fields. That way, instead of spending their time improving their score on the science section, they can come as close as possible to achieving a 36 on their ELA score instead. Still, the ACT does consider the math section as a core subject since it’s what most students are studying on a daily basis, so there’s no option to avoid any and all STEM subjects.
Change #3: Format Flexibility
The third major change is the choice of test format that students now have — they can take the enhanced ACT in a digital format or stick to paper tests. The digital test has existed previously, mostly in select school day tests and international testing centers, but the full digital format made its first official appearance in April 2025 as the enhanced ACT. This is also a change that follows the SAT’s modifications, since the digital SAT debuted in the U.S. officially in March of 2024, so this is no surprise to students and educators. Still, the hope is that the digital test improves accessibility and reduces test fatigue, if students prefer that option.
Not sure which format would suit you best? Try out some practice questions for both, and see which one helps you perform better. Many students have difficulty focusing on a digital assessment, whereas some students find that it helps them take the test more efficiently. Still, the paper version is the optimal choice for students who learn best through writing and have been preparing for that format.
How ACT Changes Affect College Admissions Strategy
This enhanced ACT, while not making any surprising changes from previous versions of the test, does still indicate a general shift in attitude towards standardized testing. There has long been debate about the efficacy and utility of the test in college admissions, particularly since there is overwhelming evidence to support that students from higher-income backgrounds have ample access to test preparation resources. While many schools practice holistic admissions and therefore can consider the circumstances from which a student comes (thus possibly de-emphasizing the importance of the test score), it still provides a benchmark of some kind against which admissions officers can measure and compare students.
As many schools make changes in their admissions approach to help improve equity and fairness, such as eliminating legacy admissions, it makes sense that the next domino to fall would be the place of the standardized test in the evaluation of an application. This has obviously been happening already with the rollout of test-optional policies, but the subsequent rollback of those policies has left many students and parents wondering what approach to take when it comes to making a test prep plan.
Preparing for the New ACT: Tips and Resources
Now, you may be wondering: how do these changes to the ACT alter how students should approach test prep? The truth of the matter is that preparing for the ACT exam, for both the digital and paper formats, has not changed much. Sure, you’ll want to practice for the format you’re choosing and adjust the test duration when you’re taking practice tests, but the enhanced ACT is still a normal standardized test.
Start by taking a look at the Official ACT Prep Guide that the ACT offers, and then if it doesn’t suit your needs, you can take a look at other test prep companies’ offerings or potentially hire a tutor, possibly with us at H&C Education! The important thing is that you’re taking practice tests often, either in the digital format or the paper-and-pencil format, to help you get familiar with the new test questions and acclimated to the test timing.
Consistency and practice remain the cornerstones of effective preparation. By dedicating regular time to study and utilizing a variety of resources, students can navigate the ACT’s changes with poise and assurance. Whether you choose a digital or paper format, ensure you are comfortable with the test environment to optimize your performance. Try out some sample reading passages and, if you’re taking the essay section, practice writing a sample essay, then score yourself using the ACT’s rubric. Whatever you do, make sure you’re mimicking test conditions as closely as possible, so when you get in the room, you know you’re going to be bringing your best test-taking self!
Conclusion
Preparing for the ACT is an exercise in developing both your own knowledge and test-taking strategy. Knowing yourself and how you best perform on a standardized test is your biggest asset. As the ACT and other standardized tests evolve, with changes designed to improve the exam experience and provide a more level playing field for all test-takers, students must adapt their preparation methods accordingly. Remember, the objective is not only to familiarize yourself with the content but also to build confidence and improve your ability to manage the exam under timed conditions.
In essence, the new changes to the enhanced ACT offer an opportunity for students to demonstrate their abilities in a modern, flexible context. Embrace these updates as part of your educational journey, and remember that thorough preparation is key to achieving your desired score. Keep your focus sharp, your study plan consistent, and your outlook positive, and you’ll be well-prepared for whatever changes the ACT might bring. You’ve got this!
Do you need assistance with navigating this ever-changing college admissions landscape? Reach out to us today to schedule a free consultation!
