What are the key changes to the test?
The new ACT will incorporate experimental questions, referred to as “field test items,” into the test itself. Placement of field test items will vary from form to form. The word is they will not be included in the first or last passages of any section. Field test items will NOT contribute to a student’s score.
English
Less questions (50 vs 75) and less time (35 min vs 45 min)
Every item will include a task/instructions (stem question).
Math
Less questions (45 vs 60) and less time (50 min vs 60 min)
The number of answer choices will be reduced from 5 to 4.
There will be fewer questions on advanced topics (high grade level items).
There will be fewer questions with context (take longer to read).
Reading
Less questions (36 vs 40) and more time (40 min vs 35 min)
Science
Same amount of questions (40) and more time (40 min vs 35 min)
At least one passage will address an engineering and design topic.
There will be more items requiring scientific background knowledge.
What hasn’t changed?
The ACT scale will remain 1-36 with no changes to ACT benchmarks or state-specific achievement standards.
Previously issued composite scores and super scores will not be recalculated.
Both paper-and-pencil testing options will continue to be available.
what are the key dates for the release of the new act?
Sep 2025: Intro to National Paper Core ACT (new test) and ALL Composite scores will be English, Math, Reading only
Spring 2026: Intro to School-Day Online and Paper Core ACT (new test)
how will super-scoring be affected?
Yes, students can superscore a combination of classic and new ACT scores. ACT will use the highest score from each section across all tests (including both classic and new versions) when calculating the superscore (about 75% of schools superscore). However, the ACT's official superscore report will shift to a composite of English, Math, and Reading for students who have taken the new ACT, even if they have a Science score from a previous test.
Scores earned on previous tests are still 100% valid. Any score achieved can be reported via ACT or self-reported on your application. Ultimately, colleges have the final say on all superscoring decisions.
how should students manage the new optional science test?
To be safe, include the science. Most colleges are still deciding what their position on science will be for the new test. Relatively few are expected to treat it as a firm requirement, but most will consider it to be optional/recommended.
how will colleges evaluate Classic vs new ACT Composite scores?
When scores from a test date are reported by ACT, all of your section scores are included. This is true no matter which version of the ACT you take. If you take the science, it will be reported.
The composite score for anyone taking the new “enhanced ACT” will show as the average of the English, Math, and Reading scores. Science will be included as a separate score.
ACT is not recalculating old Composite scores. Once you have a composite score, it will not change, even if future tests do not use the science test to create the composite.
Whether or not ACT includes the science in the composite score calculation, colleges will always have access to the science score if it was taken on a test date that the student chooses to release (the majority of colleges do not require students to submit scores from all sittings).
Sources: Compass Education Group, ACT Education Corp.