The New ACT Launching in April 2025

The ACT is undergoing a significant transformation, bringing changes aimed at improving the test-taking experience while maintaining its reliability as a college admissions benchmark. These updates will be rolled out in April 2025 for U.S. students and in September 2025 for international students, including those in India.

The Enhanced 2025 ACT introduces a shorter format and gives students the option to exclude the science section, allowing for greater flexibility. The Composite score will now be based on English, Math, and Reading, while Science will be reported separately for those who choose to take it.

Key Changes: What's Staying the Same and What's Different

What's NOT Changing

• Scoring scale remains the same – Section and Composite scores will still be on the 1–36 scale.
• Paper and digital formats – U.S. students will continue to have the option of taking the ACT on paper, while international students (including those in India) will take it only in the digital format.
• Content remains largely unchanged - Preparing for the current ACT will still be effective for the new version.
• Writing (Essay) section remains optional – And as before, it is rarely required by colleges.
• No adaptive testing – Unlike the digital SAT, which adjusts difficulty based on student performance, the ACT remains a linear test.
• Score comparability – A 30 on English in the new ACT will mean the same thing to colleges as a 30 on the current ACT.

What IS Changing

• Composite score now based on three sections – English, Reading, and Math will determine the Composite score, while Science will be scored separately.
• Shorter test with fewer questions – The ACT will eliminate 44 questions and provide more time per question.
• Reduced test duration –
  • Without Science: 2 hours 5 minutes (previously 3 hours 15 minutes)
  • With Science: 2 hours 40 minutes
• Math section will now have four answer choices instead of five.
• Reading passages will be shorter, improving readability and reducing scrolling for digital test-takers.
• Science section becomes optional, meaning colleges will decide whether to require, recommend, or ignore Science scores.

In summary, the ACT's foundational structure remains intact, with both digital and paper formats available (depending on location). The biggest change is the optionality of the Science section, which could impact how colleges evaluate applicants.

ACT 2025: Current vs. Enhanced Format

A comparative table outlining the key differences will be useful here to highlight the specific modifications.

Commonly Asked Questions About the 2025 ACT

Should students still take the Science section, even if they don't plan to major in Science

Yes, taking the Science section remains the safest option. While few colleges are expected to require it, many will consider it recommended or optional. In some cases, “optional” means “optimal.” Additionally, some colleges with a test-optional policy may still require that if a student submits an ACT score, it must include Science.

How will these changes affect the overall testing experience

Students will have more time per question, making the ACT's notoriously fast pacing more manageable:

• English: +17% more time per question
• Math: +11% more time per question
• Reading: +27% more time per question

However, this does not mean the test is easier. ACT does not plan to revise score concordance tables, meaning that achieving a particular Composite score will require the same level of proficiency as before. This suggests that while pacing may feel less rushed, difficulty may be slightly adjusted to maintain score consistency.

Other notable format changes

• English section: Passages will be shorter, limited to a single page or screen, minimizing scrolling distractions. More “stem questions” will be introduced (e.g., “Which choice is least redundant in context?") to eliminate the need for repetitive instructions.
• Math section: Reduction from five answer choices to four, aligning more closely with the SAT format.

What about superscoring

Superscoring averages a student's best performance across multiple test attempts. The ACT will transition to superscoring only the three core sections (English, Reading, Math) starting September 2025. However, colleges set their own policies, and some may continue to superscore across different ACT versions.

For example, Harvard has already announced that it will superscore only within the same test version (Classic ACT vs. Enhanced ACT).

Will students lose their older ACT scores with this transition

No. ACT scores remain valid and can be reported at any time. However, colleges determine which scores to consider and how superscores are calculated. We are tracking evolving ACT policies at various institutions and will provide regular updates.

Will ACT introduce section retakes

No. While section retakes were initially planned back in 2019, the ACT has confirmed that individual section retakes are not part of the 2025 update.

Is the new ACT easier or harder

ACT aims to maintain the same level of difficulty across the Classic and Enhanced versions. While pacing adjustments may make it feel more manageable, question difficulty could increase slightly to offset any scoring inflation.

Will the new ACT remain reliable and valid

Reliability may slightly decrease with a shorter test, as fewer questions mean that individual scores could fluctuate more. However, ACT is likely using improved psychometric research to ensure that the test remains a strong predictor of college readiness.

One concern is that the Core Composite (English, Reading, Math) now has only three sections instead of four. Research has shown that while Science and Reading add limited predictive validity, some institutions may prefer to retain the four-section model for admission decisions. Colleges may opt to require Science to maintain consistency in their evaluations.

We expect ACT to publish research findings on whether the Enhanced ACT predicts college success as effectively as the Classic ACT.

Final Thoughts

The Enhanced 2025 ACT brings meaningful changes, particularly with the new three-section Composite score and optional Science section. These adjustments offer students more flexibility, but they also create uncertainty as colleges determine how they will evaluate scores moving forward.

As independent academic counselors, it is crucial to:

• Stay informed on how individual colleges are responding to the Science section change.
• Advise students to take the Science section until clear policies are established.
• Emphasize time management strategies, as pacing adjustments may impact test difficulty.
• Monitor superscoring policies, as colleges refine their approach to the new ACT format.

Overall, the 2025 ACT is designed to provide a more efficient and student-friendly testing experience while preserving its role as a reliable measure of academic readiness. By staying ahead of these changes, counselors can ensure their students are fully prepared to navigate this transition with confidence.