ACT, Inc.—the company behind the ACT—recently accounced changes to the ACT test. Positioned as "ACT Enhancements," the company shared that, starting in April 2025, the test will be shorter and students will have more time per question. One of the major ways the test can be shorter is the Science section will become optional. Additionally enhancements include a move to a computer-based version of the test.
Truth be told, all of the changes to the ACT won't be fully rolled out until 2026. Since the changes will happen incrementally, this makes for a curious ACT landscape over the next 18-24 months.
One thing to consider for those test takers who favor the ACT: Since there will be a variety of permutations of the ACT test in the next 1-2 years, students may benefit from repeat sittings to really focus on their best super score. Additionally, the ACT will differ from the new Digital SAT since the ACT will not be adaptive. This may further benefit the students who dislike the guessing game during an adaptive SAT test of "is this a harder question or an easier one?"
All told, these changes to the ACT underscore the arms race of the SAT vs ACT. It's a competitive environment where the test makers work to provide the most reliable and consistent data to colleges while simultaneously attracting the most customers to take their tests. Still, students can ultimately choose which one is better for them and hopefully these changes will lead to less stressful testing experiences for students.
And, as we are seeing more and more colleges revisit their test-optional policies established during Covid, this may mean some colleges will return to test-required policies. Time will tell.
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