You want details about the ACT changes? We got you!

You want details about the ACT changes? We got you!

by Susan Powers From the Author News SAT vs. ACT Tests

We’ve been busy making sure we have all the up-to-date information about the big changes coming to the ACT. We have another blog post if you want the highlights or recommendations for each grade of high schoolers. If you, however – intrepid soul – want all the nitty gritty, we can hook you up! Read on about the “Enhanced ACT.”

Format

  • Fewer questions, shorter passages, more time per question, less time per section will characterize the new English/Math/Reading (Core EMR) sections.
Current Section TimeEnhanced ACT Section TimeCurrent Section QuestionsEnhanced ACT QuestionsCurrent Time per QuestionEnhanced ACT Time per QuestionIncrease in Time per Question
English45 min35 min75 Q50 Q
(10 Exp.)		36 sec42 sec+ 17%
Math60 min50 min60 Q45 Q
(4 Exp.)		60 sec67 sec+ 11%
Reading35 min40 min40 Q36 Q
(9 Exp.)		53 sec67 sec+ 27%
Science35 min40 min40 Q40 Q
(6 Exp.)		53 sec60 sec+ 15%
5th Section (Experi-mental Ques-tions)20 minNA12 – 28 QNANANA
Writing40 min40 min1 Q1 Q
Totals195 min

235 min w/ Writing




125 min

165 min w/ Science

205 min w/ Science & Writing		227 Q –
243 Q
(excluding Writing)




131 Q

171 Q w/ Science

(all excluding Writing)
  • Science will be optional and will NOT be included in the composite calculation beginning as soon as a student takes a test in the “Core EMR/Enhanced ACT” format (see timing below).  
    • PREVIOUS composites WILL NOT be recalculated.  
    • Superscores AFTER an Enhanced ACT/Core EMR test attempted only include EMR data.
  • One passage in English (10 questions), one passage in Reading (9 questions), one passage in Science (6 questions), and 4 questions in Math will be experimental. The former 5th section will no longer exist. (And the crowd goes wild!)
  • Paper will continue to be offered for the foreseeable future. No guarantees forever though.
  • The Enhanced ACT will continue to be linear; it will NOT be adaptive in any way.  Both digital and paper will be the same test, just different formats.
  • English will have question stems for ALL questions, leveling the playing field for many accommodation types.
  • English will now have an argumentative essay rather than the current all non-fiction feast.
  • Math will only have 4 answers choices instead of the current 5 answer choices.
  • Math will have proportionally fewer lower level questions and lower the overall word count in questions.
  • Reading will have a more diverse set of passages.
  • Science will now always include one passage addressing engineering and design topics.

Timing and Cost

  • April 2025 – First offering of the Enhanced ACT for national test dates DIGITAL format only.
  • September 2025 – All national test dates, PAPER & DIGITAL, will be in the Enhanced ACT format.
  • Spring 2026 – State, District, and School Day testing will finally be in the Enhanced ACT format.  If schools require both Science and Writing, they will be able to opt for 2-day testing for everyone.  NOTE: Composites for all testing will start to be calculated based only on EMR starting in September 2025 even though the test’s format won’t change until Spring 2026.
  • Expected pricing for Enhanced ACT will be less than current four section ACT.

What do colleges think?

  • ACT has been working with colleges (including test blind colleges) to understand how they use composites in their processes.
  • ACT’s research shows that the EMR-only composites closely track overall composites, supporting their move to make Science optional.

Practice material updates?

  • ACT has issued the new “Preparing for the ACT Guide” so you can check out the new format. (The content here is old though – just recycled questions from previous tests.)
  • ACT has also issued the new “red book” The Official ACT Prep Guide with four tests which are also chopped up old tests shoehorned into the new format.
  • We are eagerly awaiting new material directly from ACT. Check back for updates!

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.

Changes are coming to ACT!

Changes are coming to ACT!

by Susan Powers From the Author SAT vs. ACT Tests

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.

How to Choose Between the Digital SAT and ACT?

How to Choose Between the Digital SAT and ACT?

by Susan Powers From the Author SAT vs. ACT

Now that college admissions is moving back into more of a test-preferred environment, students don’t have to struggle with the choice of whether or not to take a college entrance exam but rather which one. In a recent industry podcast, Test and the Rest: The College Admissions Industry Podcast, Woodlands Test Prep Founder Susan Powers weighs in on the important factors in choosing between the digital SAT and the ACT.

What are five things you will learn in this episode?

  1. Why should students give thought to which test they want to take?
  2. How are the ACT and digital SAT different?
  3. How does the ACT Science section play into a decision about which test to take?
  4. Should you prepare for both the ACT and digital SAT?
  5. Are there any general rules for what types of students are better suited to either test?