Changes to the ACT: What you need to know
Since our initial blog last summer, ACT has provided only limited updates on the administration and structure of its upcoming changes. However, here’s what we know so far:
Key Updates
Starting April 2025:
The ACT will introduce the Core ACT, a shorter, digital version of the test. Students will have the option to choose from the four options listed below for taking the Core ACT:While the shorter online version may sound promising, accessibility remains an issue. In our attempts to register for the digital test, the nearest available testing location was over 70 miles away, making this option impractical for most students.
Starting September 2025:
The current ACT format will be retired, and the Core ACT will replace it. Students will have the choice of taking the Core ACT online or on paper. Notably, the ACT will maintain the paper-based testing option, unlike the SAT, which is now exclusively online.
What This Means for Students
Based on the current timeline, here are our recommendations:
Class of 2026:
Plan to take the current version of the ACT before September 2025, while it is still available. This ensures you have access to the familiar format.Class of 2027:
Prepare for the Core ACT, which will align with your testing timeline. Begin familiarizing yourself with the shorter format and any practice resources ACT releases closer to your testing season.
As the changes unfold, we’ll continue to monitor updates from ACT and provide you with the most accurate and actionable information. If you have questions about how these changes might impact your testing strategy, feel free to reach out—we’re here to help you navigate the path to success!
original article written in July 2024
Compared to the SAT, which has changed itself every 8 or 9 years in the past 20 years, ACT has held steady since it was created. It has kept their flagship test the same. However, ACT recently announced three changes to their standardized test that will come into effect starting next spring. Given the positive response Digital SAT has received from students taking that test, we have been anticipating some kind of announcement from the ACT to this effect.
For reference, the ACT takes approximately three hours and contains four sections: English, Math, Reading, and Science. However, starting in spring 2025 for the online version and in spring 2026 for the in-person test, the changes to the ACT are the following:
The science section will become optional. Starting in March 2025, students taking the digital ACT may choose whether or not to have the science section on their test. So, students will register for one of four tests:
Core ACT (English, Math, and Reading)
Core ACT + Science
Core ACT + Essay
Core ACT + Science + Essay
Shorter English and Reading sections of the test: Currently, the English section takes 45 minutes and has 75 questions, while the Reading section is 35 minutes and has 40 questions. Starting next spring, ACT announced these sections will contain shorter passages and 44 fewer questions.
Overall shorter and quicker test: With the shortening of the Reading and English section and making the science section optional, the test will now only be approximately two hours.
Note: ACT has not revealed how they will shorten the Reading and English by 44 questions, and thus we do not have a comprehensive understanding of how this will affect the formatting and appearance of the test.
From our perspective, this announcement implies larger changes ahead, but the jury is still out on this one. ACT has made similar announcements previously but had to roll them back due to COVID. Furthermore, in our opinion, this announcement is probably an attempt to keep the ACT competitive with the SAT. This spring, CollegeBoard moved permanently to a digital SAT that is shorter in terms of the time it takes with fewer questions. The current SAT is only two hours and 14 minutes and has 98 questions. It has been a hard case for ACT to make against this new version of the SAT, expecting students to take a 3 hours long test with a lot more questions.
There are many unanswered questions following this announcement that impacts students looking to take the ACT in the coming months ahead. We expect more details from ACT regarding the make up of the new test, content changes etc. Stay tuned.
