ACT Changes in 2025

The ACT is undergoing its biggest transformation in decades. Starting in 2025, students will experience a shorter, more flexible exam that aims to reduce test anxiety while maintaining its value for college admissions. These changes reflect both evolving educational needs and technological advances in testing.

Why the ACT Is Evolving

The ACT's mission has always been to help students succeed in their journey to higher education. These upcoming updates reflect that mission through:

• Student-Centered Approach: By offering a shorter test, fewer total questions, and the option to skip the science section, test takers can tailor the exam to their own strengths and college goals.
• Better Access: Online testing will adopt these changes first, making it easier for students to schedule and take the exam in a way that suits them.
• Meaningful Scores: Colleges continue to rely on the ACT as a reliable assessment, and now there will be an even sharper focus on the key academic areas of English, math, and reading.

Key Updates Coming to the ACT

1. Shorter Exam, Fewer Questions

The revised format removes a total of 44 questions, offering a more streamlined experience:

2. Flexible Science Section

One of the biggest changes is that the science section will now be optional for most testers. If you are aiming for a STEM degree, you will want to consider including science for a more robust score profile. Students who skip it will still get a composite score based on English, math, and reading.

3. Revised Composite Score

Beginning in April 2025 for online tests and September 2025 for paper tests, the Composite score will only factor in English, math, and reading. Science results (when taken) will still appear separately and will continue to be valuable for college admissions and scholarships, especially in STEM fields.

4. More Time per Question

With the total number of questions reduced, you will have slightly more time to think through each one. This can lower stress levels and help you focus on providing the best possible answer for every prompt.

5. Four Answer Choices in Math

The mathematics section now has four answer choices instead of five. This update can help you work through problems more efficiently and potentially improve your chances of identifying the correct response.

6. No Fifth Test (Field Test Section)

Starting April 2025 for online testers, you will not see the additional "Test 5" section that was used for field-testing questions. This means less overall time spent testing.

What Remains the Same

Despite these adjustments, the ACT is holding on to many of its foundational elements:

• 1-36 Scale: The ACT scoring scale is not changing, so scores remain familiar and comparable.
• College Predictive Power: The ACT will continue to provide a trustworthy measure of your ability to succeed in first-year college courses.
• Writing Option: The optional Writing test still exists.
• Score Reporting: Past ACT scores remain valid and unchanged, and superscoring will continue.

When Do These Changes Happen?

How to Prepare

• Stay Informed: Keep tabs on official ACT announcements. Practice tests and updated prep materials are available.
• Use Existing Resources: Current study tools remain helpful because the skills tested remain the same.
• Pick Your Sections Wisely: If you are set on a STEM path, consider taking the optional science portion.
• Plan Your Testing Timeline: With shorter sessions, you can schedule your test around other commitments more efficiently.

The ACT's commitment to supporting students has driven these important updates. By 2025, you will have a chance to sit for a more flexible, shorter test while still showcasing your academic abilities in all the areas colleges care about.

Frequently Asked Questions