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Test Prep for the ACT Exam
Big Changes Coming to the ACT
On July 15, 2024, the ACT CEO announced that the ACT will undergo changes designed to give students both flexibility and options. Given the timing of the rollout of these changes, high school students in the Class of 2027 and younger will be most impacted; students in the Class of 2026 who delay their testing timeline may also be in able to take advantage of the new format.
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What you need to know:
Optional Science Section. Like the current ACT Writing section, the ACT Science section will become optional. The overall Composite score will comprise of the English, Math, and Reading sections. The Science section, if taken, will be scored as a separate section and attributed to students' STEM scores (the average of Math and Science)
Shorter Test Experience. The length of the current ACT test dates is 3 hours 15 minutes; the announced changes would cut that time to 2 hours and 5 minutes (up to 3 hours and 25 minutes, depending on which, if any, of the optional sections a student opts to take.)
Fewer Questions and More Time per Question. The core test (English + Math + Reading) will be 44 questions shorter and provide students about 10 additional seconds per question.
Shorter Reading/ English Passages. The test will reduce the length of the English and Reading passages.
More Rigorous Science Section. The current version of the ACT focuses heavily on data science, testing students’ abilities to analyze and interpret data from scientific passages. The proposed changes to the Science section would increase the number of questions focusing on prior scientific knowledge.
Timeline. The changes are planned to take effect for national digital testing in April 2025 and paper testing in September 2025. This means that if you plan to take the ACT on paper in 2025, you won't need to navigate any of these changes.
Paper Testing Remains an Option.
ACT has stated that it does not have plans to move to a fully digital medium and will continue to offer a paper testing option.
There are still many unknowns: the precise structure and content of the revamped test, its impact on how students should prepare, how colleges will regard these changes, etc.
We will continue to provide updates and expert insight to help prepare students and their families for whatever changes come their way.