In response to the shorter, digital version of the SAT, the ACT announced that they too will be modifying their test. The two major problems students have with the ACT are (1) it takes too long to complete a full test and (2) they often do not have enough time to answer all the questions. These changes will tackle these concerns, making the ACT much more competitive with the SAT.
Here is what we know for sure about the new ACT:
- The ACT will be about an hour shorter (2 hours of testing instead of 3) thanks to making the sections shorter and making the Science section optional.
- Composite scores (still given from 1-36 points) will be an average of just the English, Math, and Reading sections.
- Students will have more time per question.
- The ACT will continue to offer both paper and digital versions of the test.
- According to ACT, the changes “will roll out starting with National online testing in spring 2025 and then for school-day testing in spring 2026.”
What do we need to find out about the new ACT?
- What is the precise design of the updated ACT test? If it is consistent with the format of the test used in a research study in June of this year, it will likely have these parameters:
- English: 35 minutes, 50 questions, 5 or 10 questions on each passage
- Math: 50 minutes, 45 questions
- Reading: 40 minutes, 36 questions, 9 questions on each passage
- Optional Science: 45 minutes, 36 questions
- What sort of ACT practice materials will be provided? When the SAT changed its format, it made four brand new SAT practice tests available to students prior to the first administered test. Since the ACT does not routinely make significant updates to its structure, it is unclear how much material they will make available prior to the first test.
- When will the switch for the national paper ACTs take place? The announcement from ACT does not make this clear, only referring to the national online testing. The switch to the newer format on the national paper tests won’t happen before February of 2025, but it could happen sometime during 2025 or even early 2026. We will have to wait and see.
- How will colleges use ACT scores? Our best guess is that the ACT composite score with just the English, Math, and Reading sections will be sufficient. However, students who want to demonstrate their competency for science-related majors may be well-served by doing the ACT science.
What should students do about the new ACT?
- Rising seniors in the class of 2025 do not need to do anything. These changes will go into effect after college applications have been submitted.
- Rising juniors in the class of 2026 may want to try the paper ACT before it goes away; they can also try the updated ACT when it is convenient do so. When the SAT changed to its digital format, many students took advantage of trying both the paper SAT before it went away and the newer digital SAT. It is highly likely that colleges will accept scores from either the newer ACT or the current ACT. When students prepare for the new ACT, they will likely be able to use existing practice materials; they can try working through them at a slightly slower pace to reflect the more generous time constraints on the new ACT.
- Underclassmen—classes of 2027 and later—may want to wait to begin focused preparation on the ACT until there is more information available. If a highly motivated sophomore wants to take the longer ACT before it goes away, they might go ahead and give it a try.
Please reach out to us with questions you may have about these major changes to the ACT and how they affect your testing plans.