The ACT is undergoing significant changes. On July 15, 2024, the ACT announced that to accommodate students’ needs better and align with modern testing standards, the ACT will undergo some reformatting and modernization. I had the opportunity to chat with senior leaders at ACT on July 17th. The two showed no small amount of enthusiasm for the ensuing changes in the ACT. Throughout our conversation, I took copious notes and did my best to relay what they told me. This blog summarizes the information from that meeting and provides a comprehensive overview of what’s happening and how it will impact test-takers and tutors. 

NOTE: This article is the first of many updates on the New ACT Changes. The NTPA will post additional blogs as more information is released from the ACT. 

Shorter ACT Test with Fewer Questions

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There will be fewer questions across the English, math, and reading sections, cutting 44 items in total. The new English section will have 50 questions, the math section will have 45 questions, and the reading section will have 36 questions. This change aims to make the test more manageable without compromising its ability to assess a student’s readiness for college. The ACT will feature a shorter test with 44 fewer items across the English, math, and reading sections. The new core test will last just two hours, compared to three hours for the current test.

Embedded Experimental Questions in the ACT

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Experimental questions will be embedded within the test to field test certain questions. Students won’t be able to distinguish these experimental questions from regular ones. For instance, out of 50 English questions, 10 will be experimental and won’t count toward the final score. Of the 50 English items, 10 will be experimental and won’t count toward the final score.

Optional Science Section on the ACT

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Acknowledging that science might not be every student’s strength, the ACT makes the science section optional. This change provides flexibility for students who excel in other areas and don’t necessarily need a science score for their college applications. However, for those who choose to take it, the science sub-score and STEM score will still be reported, although they won’t be part of the composite score. The ACT remains the only standardized test with a dedicated science section, but it will become optional to provide more flexibility for students. Students can choose to take the ACT with or without the science and writing sections, providing greater flexibility.

In many ways, the ACT Science section functions similarly to the Optional ACT Writing Section. The New ACT format will make the science and writing sections similar in the following ways:

• The science section will be an optional add-on, just like the writing section is currently.
• If a student takes the science section, they will receive a science sub-score and a STEM score, similar to how students receive a writing sub-score and an ELA score for the writing section.
• However, the science score will not be part of the composite score, just like the writing score does not count towards the composite score.

Understanding ACT STEM and ELA Scores

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Your ACT STEM score is an average of your science and math scores, the same way that the English, reading, and writing scores make up your ELA score. If you don’t take the optional writing section, then no ELA score is reported. Similarly, no STEM score will be reported if you don’t take the optional science section. Remember, however, that neither science nor writing will contribute to your composite score (the 1-36 scale we all know).

This allows students to highlight their strengths in science when applying to colleges, especially those with holistic admissions processes.

Changes to ACT Reading and English Sections

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Passages in the English and reading sections will be shorter. Additionally, the number of questions that require a lot of contextual reading in the Math section will be decreased. This means you will see fewer word problems with many setups. With this, the hope is that students will spend less time reading, leaving more time to solve the problem. The English section will include added stems to each item, reducing the need for students to scroll back to read instructions.

ACT Math Section Changes: Fewer Multiple-Choice Options

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The Math section will reduce the number of answer choices from five (ABCDE) to four (ABCD), which aligns with the format used in many other standardized tests. The math section will also reduce the number of distractors from five to four, which aligns with common practices in other standardized tests.

Improved Accessibility in the ACT English Section

The instructions will now be attached to every English question rather than at the beginning of the section. This change is particularly beneficial for students using screen readers, as it eliminates the need to scroll back and forth to understand the instructions. Instructions for each English item will be embedded within the question to improve accessibility, particularly for students using screen readers.

Ensuring Score Comparability on the ACT

To avoid confusion, the ACT will ensure that scores from the new format are comparable to the old format. Studies and simulations are being conducted to validate this equivalence. Colleges will receive scores on the same 1-36 scale we already have. Studies and simulations are being conducted to ensure score comparability between the new and old formats, maintaining the 1-36 scoring scale.

ACT Registration Pricing Changes

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The new format, which excludes the science section, will be less expensive than the current full ACT. However, the actual price has not yet been determined. Students who wish to add the science section can do so for an additional fee, which will be lower than the writing test fee ($25) since the science section is machine-scored and the writing test requires human scoring. The new ACT format will be less expensive than the current one, with additional fees for the optional science and writing sections.

ACT Rollout Schedule

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These changes will be implemented gradually:

• April 2025: Launch of the new format in the national online testing market.
• September 2025: All national and international test-takers will use the new blueprint.
• February 2026: State and district testing will switch to the new format for the spring testing window.

Students taking the test in April, June, and July of 2025 will first see the new ACT blueprint. This will be a smaller sample group as part of a “slow launch” before the new blueprint is rolled out nationally in September 2025.

Preparing for the New ACT Format

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How might you prepare for this new test when there are no examples out yet? Thankfully, practice exams in the new format will come out in late 2024 or early 2025. This will give a good few months before the first new ACT test will be administered in April 2025.

Additionally, students can still opt to take the test online with paper and pencil.

Remember, also, that the ACT format has changed quite a bit, but the questions themselves will target the same knowledge and academic content. So, using practice tests with the old format is a decent option, too. Practice exams for the new format will be available online by late 2024 or early 2025, giving students several months to prepare.

ACT Changes for Educators and Tutors

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These changes to the ACT are designed to provide greater flexibility, reduce test anxiety, and improve accessibility for all students. By offering an optional science section and reducing the reading load, the ACT is adapting to meet the diverse needs of today’s test-takers. As always, students should stay informed about these changes and plan their test preparation accordingly.

For tutors, it’s essential to start familiarizing yourself with these changes as soon as possible. Make sure to inform your students about the optional science section and the reduced number of questions. Begin integrating strategies that will help students manage their time effectively with the shorter reading passages and fewer multiple-choice options in math. Keep an eye out for the release of the new practice exams in late 2024 or early 2025, and incorporate these into your tutoring sessions to give students a feel for the new format. Stay updated on any further announcements from the ACT organization to ensure you have the latest information.

What We Still Don’t Know About the ACT Changes

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As the ACT undergoes these changes, several components of the test remain unclear. Neill Seltzer, a veteran tutor and an active NTPA Member, was kind enough to provide me with a few questions to ask the ACT Leaders. While some were answered, many were not. Here’s a summary of what we’re still waiting to learn.

Availability of Practice Tests

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It’s unclear how many practice tests will be when the new ACT goes live. We do know that practice exams in the new format will be available by late 2024 or early 2025. Will there be enough practice materials to cover the new test format comprehensively, and will these materials be sufficient to ensure thorough preparation for all test-takers? We’re not sure yet.

One thing is for certain: the Official ACT Prep Guide will look quite different.

Release of New ACT Practice Materials

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We know practice exams will be released online. The exact timeline for their release eludes us. However, more announcements will ensue as we inch closer to the ACT’s release. Additionally, we don’t know the form these materials will take—will they be available as online tests, downloadable PDFs, or interactive modules? The sooner we gain more clarity on these details, the sooner students and educators can plan their ACT Prep strategies more effectively.

Licensing of Question Content

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The ACT has a history of working with test prep providers, but it remains uncertain whether the new question content will be licensed to these providers. If licensing is available, when will it be accessible, and what will the process entail? This information is essential for test prep companies to align their materials with the new ACT format.

Detailed Question Specifications

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One major uncertainty is when the detailed specifications for the new questions will be released. Will the new questions differ significantly in design from the current ones, or will there simply be fewer of them? This information is crucial for educators and students to prepare for the new format adequately.

Online Test for International Students

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These changes will take effect for National online testers in April 2025 and then in September. They will roll out for both online and paper/pencil testers. However, questions remain about how the transition to the digital format will be managed for international students. Will there be any region-specific adaptations or considerations to ensure a smooth transition?

Conclusion

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For now, we await more information from the ACT organization. The leaders I spoke with at the ACT want to tell us as much as possible. And so, we’ll be informed and prepared as soon as they’re ready to tell us more. Keep an eye on official announcements and updates, and we’ll continue to provide the latest insights and guidance to help you navigate these changes effectively.

Summary of ACT Changes:

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• Shorter Test with Fewer Questions:
  • 44 fewer items across English, math, and reading sections.
  • New English section: 50 questions; Math section: 45 questions; Reading section: 36 questions.
  • The new core test will last just two hours, compared to three hours for the current test.
• Optional Science Section:
  • The Science section becomes optional, with sub-scores reported separately.
  • Provides flexibility for students who do not need a science score for college applications.
  • Students can choose to take the ACT with or without the science and writing sections, providing greater flexibility.
• Changes to Question Format and Accessibility:
  • Fewer multiple-choice options in math (ABCDE to ABCD).
  • Shorter reading passages and contextual questions in English and math.
  • Embedded instructions for better accessibility, especially for screen readers.
• Testing Options:
  • Students can still opt to take the test online or with paper and pencil.

About the Author

Marc Gray, owner of Odyssey College Prep and CEO of Powerful Prep, streamlines college admissions with advanced aptitude testing. An active blogger, he writes on college admissions, test prep, and aptitude testing. As Chair of the NTPA’s Blog Committee, he updates members on the latest in test prep, college admissions, aptitude testing, and community news.

Last Updated on October 29, 2024 by Michael Jordan