Changes are coming to ACT!

Updated July 8, 2025

Just when you thought it was safe to go into the water, now that the Digital PSAT and SAT are old news, here comes ACT with changes of its own!

Our hot take:

Students will appreciate – strike that – love that the ACT is shorter and has more time per question.
In the near term, selective colleges will likely require Science. Plan to still take Science.
So much uncertainty! We’re buckling up for a bumpy ride with ACT until at least January 2026.

Here’s the short summary on what’s changing and when. (Click here for WAY more details!)

What’s Changing?

Significantly more time per question.
- English and Math questions get 12% and 17% more time, respectively.
- Reading and Science questions get 28% and 27% more time, respectively.
- Shorter passages —> less text to process.
Science is OPTIONAL.
Shorter overall timing for the test, especially if the student opts out of the Science section —> now shorter than the Digital SAT timing!
Experimental questions (formerly Section 5) will now be part of the regular sections: reduces overall testing time AND improves data.
Composite scores will now be calculated ONLY on the English, Math, and Reading scores.

What’s NOT Changing?

Scoring will remain the same: each section ranges from 1 – 36 and the composite is an average of the English, Math, and Reading sections.
Students can choose between paper and digital formats. ONLY take paper. Click here for why!
Writing is still optional.
Students will still NOT be able to use their own device for digital testing (BUT that is coming soon).

When is this happening?

The changes above were introduced first in April 2025 in the digital format ONLY.
The changes above will be incorporated into PAPER beginning in September 2025.
The changes will be incorporated into School Day testing in “Spring 2026.”

Our current recommendations by class year:

Seniors (Class of 2026)
- If you took the old format of the ACT, the new one will have different pacing, and math will feel much different. Be SURE to only take the ACT on paper. Note that once you take the “enhanced” format, your composite and superscore will ONLY be calculated based on your English, Math, and Reading scores.
Juniors (Class of 2027)
- Still consider the ACT by taking a practice test of both SAT and ACT. Evaluate the impact of the availability of practice materials (essentially no new materials in new format). Students for whom the ACT may still be the better choice for Fall 2025 testing are:
  - Students whose practice tests scores for the ACT are significantly better than their SAT practice scores.
  - Below-average scoring students whose ACT and SAT practice scores are equal.
  - Below-average scoring students who have extra time accommodations for the ACT.
- Plan to take Science.
- Do NOT take the digital version of the ACT.
Sophomores (Class of 2028)
- Wait and see. We will learn a lot between now and when you need to start making choices on which test to take.

Want to see how the new “enhanced” format ACT or the SAT works for you? Try taking one at home! If you’d like to see how these changes might or might not mean anything for you, please let us know. We love helping families develop a testing plan. Always at no charge.