ACT Test Enhancements

The ACT Test is Evolving

Starting in April 2025, students who choose to test online will have more flexibility and choice, experience a shorter test, and get more time to respond to each question. 

Beginning with the September 2025 test, all students testing on a Saturday, either online or on paper, will experience these benefits. Schools and districts will have these options starting in spring 2026. 

Keep scrolling to learn more about the changes and how students will benefit.

What's Changing

  • Reduced the number of questions overall (44 fewer, to be exact!)
  • Reduced the test length. Students can receive their college-reportable Composite score after 125 minutes of testing, rather than up to 195.
  • More time per question.
  • Reduced the number of answer choices in math questions from five to four.
  • Science section will be optional on the ACT National test. State and district customers will choose whether to include the science section for their students.

What's Not Changing

  • The ACT scale will remain 1-36 with no changes to ACT benchmarks or state-specific achievement standards.
  • Scores from tests taken prior to the rollout of the new Composite score will not change.
  • Ability to predict success in first-year college credit-bearing courses will not change.
  • Both paper-and-pencil course will continue to be available.

Enhancements Timeline

April 2025

ACT National Online Only

September 2025

  • ACT National Paper & International
  • Updated Composite Score for All ACT Tests

Spring 2026

State & District Spring 2026 Testing

Let’s Dive Into Some Details

We’ve put together a short summary video to give visual guidance to some of the more technical updates, so students know what to expect on test day. 

Want to take a deeper dive? Check out the full video. 

Sign up to stay informed about the latest details on ACT test updates!

Do you want to be notified as more details become available and registration opens for the April through July 2025 test dates? Fill out the form and we’ll email you to keep you informed.  

Students Spoke, We Listened!

What We Heard How the ACT is Improving What This Means for the Testing Experience
"The test is too long, I need more time!”
  • Reducing the number of questions overall (44 fewer questions to be exact.)
  • Reducing the test length from up to 195 minutes to 125 minutes.
  • More time per question.
  • Reducing the number of math question answer choices from 5 to 4.
 A test that's more manageable so students can shine, while also maintaining the integrity and rigor of the ACT that colleges rely on and trust to aid in the admissions process and get students placed into the right courses.
"The science section scares me." Students can now choose to take the ACT with or without science. More choice and more flexibility, allowing students to tailor their experience to fit their needs. This gives them more control over their testing experience.
"I want to show off my science and math skills for my major." The score report will include a science score and a STEM score if students choose to take the science section. If a student is planning to take science courses in college, they still have the option of taking the ACT with science to showcase their skills and work toward their future goals.
"I don't want to test on a computer. I still want paper." The choice is still theirs! The ACT is available via paper/pencil or online.

Students can test the way they feel most comfortable and show off their best performance.

Note: If choosing to test online, these enhancements will be made available beginning with the April 2025 ACT test. These enhancements to the test will take effect, regardless of testing mode, beginning with the September 2025 ACT test.

Why are these enhancements happening?

ACT is committed to continuous improvement, alignment to assessment industry best practices, and innovation to make the ACT test primed for student success and college admission. 

 
  • ACT wants students to show up with their best self on test day, creating more opportunities for college admission, scholarships, and more. 
  • ACT wants students to have the flexibility and choice to determine how they will test. 
  • ACT wants students to demonstrate their true capabilities and potential, always.  
  • ACT wants students to tailor their testing experience to fit their future goals and highlight their strengths.  


Learn more about the ACT test enhancements in this blog post from ACT CEO Janet Godwin. She writes about how ACT is evolving to meet the needs of our students by providing students with choice, flexibility, and accessibility. Get the scoop on what’s changing, what’s staying the same, and what that means for you. 

ACT Test Enhancements FAQs

The changes are expected to take effect starting with the April 2025 test for examinees who choose to test online. The paper test will reflect the enhancements starting in September 2025. Schools and districts will have these options starting in spring 2026.

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Yes!

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... receiving these same benefits? 

Yes. The enhancements will become available based on the timeline above regardless of accommodation status.  

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... July 2025 test dates? 

As ACT is in the process of implementing the test enhancements, students are not yet able to register for the April, June, or July 2025 National test dates.

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As ACT is implementing the test enhancements, students are not yet able to register for the April, June, or July 2025 National test dates. Registration is expected to open for these dates in early December. Be sure to sign up to be notified when registration opens details to secure your spot!

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ACT is committed to providing a high-quality science section for anyone who chooses to take it.

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Students planning to major in science or a STEM field or take science courses in college should consider taking the science section since those who have math and science scores will still receive a STEM score.

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That depends. On the ACT, students have the flexibility to choose whether to take science or writing, and whether to take the test using pencil and paper or online. These choices affect your test day experience.  Let’s break it down!

  • If students take just the English, math and reading subjects, the testing time, not including the short breaks between sections, is two hours and five minutes.  The tests will go like this:
    • English: 35-minute section with 50 questions (around 42 seconds per item) 
    • Math: 50-minute section with 45 items (around one minute and seven seconds per item) 
    • Reading: 40-minute section with 36 items (around one minute and seven seconds per item) 

 

There will be a short break between each of these sections. Once these three sections are completed, there will be a dismissal, and anyone who has not chosen to add either science or writing will have their materials collected and will be dismissed. 

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If a student decides to take the ACT test with science or writing (or both) added, they will remain in the room quietly while others are dismissed. There will be a short break to allow them to get up and stretch their legs, after which they will return to their seat. If a student is taking science, they will need their test booklet and answer sheet. If a student is taking writing, the test administrator will collect their booklet and provide them with writing materials. Both science and writing will be 40 minutes and will be given in the same room. The tests will consist of:

  • Science: 40-minute section with 40 questions (around one minute per item) 
  • Writing: 40-minute section with one writing prompt 

 

Following the 40-minute session, there will be a short break with materials collection. Anyone who is only taking science in addition to English, math, and reading, and anyone who completed writing, should now be done, and will be dismissed following document collection. Anyone who is taking writing in the second additional 40-minute section will have a short break before beginning the writing portion.  

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Yes. The new ACT Composite score will be calculated using your English, math, and reading scores. 

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No.

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...learn when registration opens for the ACT test? 

ACT registration for the April, June, and July test dates is expected to open in early December. Be sure to sign up to be notified to know when registration opens to secure your spot!

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The ACT Fee Waiver will support the full flexibility of offerings. Eligible students can register for any option once registration for these new options becomes available.

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...and the ACT test without science? 

Yes. The ACT test without science will be available at a lower cost. Pricing will be updated when registration opens for the April through July tests.

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New test prep options, including a full-length practice test, will be available by early 2025. Current practice tests and available ACT test prep materials are still great for preparing because there has been no significant change in the types of knowledge and skills measured by the ACT test with the enhancements.

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No. The ACT will remain a linear test, with all students having the same chance to show their best selves from the beginning to the end of the test session.

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Starting in April 2025, students who choose to take the online ACT test will have their ACT Superscore calculated using the new method incorporating English, math, and reading. For everyone else, this change will happen in September 2025. We'll still show your highest scores for each subject with the test date, but the Composite score will be based on the new English, math and reading calculation.

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No. Scores will still be delivered within the regular two-to eight-week window. Some examinees who participate in special studies conducted by ACT will be made aware of adjustments to their scoring timeframe and will opt in during registration.

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Starting with the April 2025 test event, testers who take this updated version of the national test will no longer take Test 5 (also known as the fifth test). 

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