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. 

 

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

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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.  

You Gave Us Feedback - We Listened

What We Heard How the ACT is Improving What This Means for the Testing Experience
"I can't finish. I need more time!"
  • Reducing the number of questions overall (44 fewer questions to be exact.)
  • Reducing the test length from 195 minutes to 125 minutes.
  • More time per question.
  • Reducing the number of math questions 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 getting students placed into the right courses.
"Science scares me." You 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 you 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. 

What’s staying the same?

Everything you know about the ACT is staying the same whether you test using paper or test on a computer.
  • Based on your high school curriculum.
  • An opportunity to qualify for scholarships.
  • An effective tool to help ensure you are placed in the right classes in college.
  • The score scale will remain 1-36.
  • Scores from tests taken prior to the rollout of the new Composite score will not change.
  • The reliability and validity of the test that colleges and universities have trusted and relied on for the past 65 years has not wavered. 
  • Students will still be able to choose between paper or online. 

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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... 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.  We expect registration for these dates to open late 2024 or early 2025. 

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Students can still choose to take the science section, including students who plan to major in science or a STEM field or take science courses in college. Students who have math and science scores will still receive a STEM score.

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Students can still choose to take the science section, including students who plan to major in science or a STEM field or take science courses in college. Students 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: 45-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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Yes!

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

We recommend signing up for alerts from ACT here to be notified as soon as more information becomes available, including registration dates.

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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. There will be more time per question overall, but each subject will have a fixed number of questions.

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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, examinees who take this updated version of the test will no longer take Test 5.

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