2025 ACT Test Changes: What Students and Parents Should Know

Changes are coming to the ACT in 2025 as a response to feedback from test-takers and educators. These upcoming ACT test enhancements deliver a shorter test that’s more manageable and empowers students with more control over their testing experience. In this guide, we’ll review what is changing on the ACT and what’s staying the same so students know what to expect on Test Day. Keep reading to learn how these ACT test changes will affect the exam format and ACT scores.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS:

• When is the ACT changing?
• What is changing on the ACT in 2025?
• What’s staying the same when the ACT changes in 2025?
• What are the different versions of the ACT (as of 2025)?
• Why is the ACT changing?
• How to Study for the New ACT
• ACT Test Changes FAQs

When is the ACT changing?

Changes to the ACT go into effect at different times depending on where and how test-takers plan to take the exam. Starting in April 2025, all students who choose to take the ACT National Online test will be able to take advantage of the test enhancements. Next, in September 2025, all students taking the ACT on a Saturday, either online or on paper, will experience the new test. Lastly, in Spring 2026, schools and districts will have these options available.

Students are currently unable to register for the April, June, or July 2025 National ACT test dates due the ongoing implementation of the test enhancements. ACT expects registration to open in early December 2024. Check the ACT website for upcoming test dates and to register for the ACT. Sign up on the ACT Enhancements site to receive updates about the new test.

What is changing on the ACT in 2025?

There are many significant changes coming to the ACT in 2025:

• The ACT will have an overall shorter testing time
• The ACT will have a reduced number of questions
• More time allowed per question on the ACT
• The ACT science section will be offered as optional (like the writing section)
• The ACT composite score will only consist of English, math, and reading scores
• If test-takers choose to take the science section, their ACT score report will include a science score and a STEM score

Keep reading for more details on how the ACT is improving and what this means for the testing experience.

One of the major changes coming to the ACT is that the overall testing time will be reduced. The test duration for the enhanced ACT will be reduced from 195 minutes to 125 minutes for the national test (excluding writing and science). There will also be fewer questions per section but more time per question. The new ACT is also reducing the number of math question answer choices from five to four. This means that test-takers will have more time to think through each question and feel less pressure from the testing time clock. 

The table below shows a breakdown of the proposed future state of the ACT. Please note that the field test questions in each section are not scored and are included in the total count questions to the left.

ACT Section	Number of Questions/Tasks	Duration
English	50 questions, (10 field test)	35 minutes
Reading	36 questions, (9 field test)	40 minutes
Math	45 questions, (4 field test)	50 minutes
Science (optional)	40 questions, (6 field test)	40 minutes
Writing (optional)	1 task	40 minutes
		Total testing time:  National & State/District ACT = 125 minutes + Optional Science Section = 165 minutes + Optional Science and Writing Sections = 205 minutes

Another critical change the ACT is making to give students more control over their testing experience is providing them the option to choose whether they take the science section. Students will be able to take the ACT with or without science, similar to how the writing section is today. All ACT test-takers will take the English, math, and reading sections. These sections will generate a composite ACT score. When a student chooses to take science, it will appear as a section score and be used to calculate the STEM score (science + math) but will not be used to calculate the composite score (same as writing today). 

States and districts can choose to offer the ACT with science and/or writing at their discretion. Some colleges and universities may still require or recommend students submit an ACT science score, so just because the section is optional does not mean students should not take it. Students who plan to major in science or a STEM field are highly encouraged to take the ACT science test and submit their scores.

The new ACT will also debut some changes to questions in most of the ACT sections. In the table below, we highlight the estimated enhancements. Please note that a final determination on these proposed ACT question changes will be made later this year.

ACT Section	Proposed Changes
English	– Adding a stem to each question (the instructions for how to solve the question which had appeared in the general instructions at the start of the exam rather than for each question). – Reducing the length of some English passages. – Adding an argumentative essay and corresponding questions.
Reading	– Reducing the length of some reading passages. – Increasing the percentage of questions aligned to the Integration of Knowledge and Ideas (IKI) reporting category.
Math	– Reducing the number of answer choices in math from 5 to 4. – Reducing the number of questions aligned to the Integrating Essential Skills reporting category. – Reducing the number of questions aligned to advanced topics (higher grade level items). – Reducing the number of questions with context (require longer time to read).
Science (optional)	– Ensuring at least one passage per exam addresses an engineering and design topic. – Increasing the number of questions requiring scientific background knowledge (DCI).
Writing (optional)	– No planned changes.

There will be some minor changes to the ACT scoring following the ACT test changes going into effect in 2025, but overall, ACT scores will still be delivered within the regular 2-8 week window. If students choose to take the science section, their score report will include a science score (similar to current writing scores) and a STEM score, which will include the test-taker’s science score plus their math score. 

The new ACT composite score will be calculated using English, math, and reading scores but will continue to be on a scale from 1 (lowest) to 36 (highest). April, June, and July 2025 online National (Saturday) ACT tests will have composite scores calculated in this new method. Then, starting in September 2025, ACT composite calculations for all test modalities will adopt this composite scoring method.

What’s staying the same when the ACT changes in 2025?

While there are many upcoming changes to the ACT, several key features will remain the same:

• The ACT score scale will remain 1-36 for all sections and for the composite score
• ACT score meaning will remain the same as it currently stands
• The ACT remains a linear assessment and is NOT computer adaptive
• The ACT test will continue to feature multiple-choice questions in the English, math, reading, and science sections
• The open-ended, prompt-based writing section on the ACT will remain unchanged
• Students will continue to be able to choose whether to take the test on paper or online

What are the different versions of the ACT (as of 2025)?

There will be four types of ACT available to students, starting in 2025 when the ACT offers the flexibility to choose whether to take science:

1. The standard ACT (English, reading, and math)
2. The ACT plus science
3. The ACT plus writing
4. The ACT plus science and writing

Why is the ACT changing?

The creators of the ACT listened to input from both students and educators, implementing changes to enhance the testing experience and better align it with college readiness standards. The enhanced ACT seeks to provide an improved testing experience by shortening the overall exam length and allowing more time per question. Additionally, ACT intends to lower the cost of the standard test required for a college reportable composite score. The updated ACT will be more modern and flexible, giving students greater autonomy over how they take the ACT and which subjects they choose to be evaluated on.

How to Study for the New ACT

Studying for the enhanced ACT will be similar to studying for the current ACT. While new test prep options, including a full-length practice test, will be available in early 2025, current practice tests and ACT prep are still a great way to prepare. This is because the types of knowledge and skills measured on the new ACT will remain the same.

Kaplan is the official ACT test prep provider and offers a wide range of ACT prep courses and resources to help students succeed on the exam, including:

• ACT Question of the Day: Sign up to receive a free ACT practice question with detailed answer explanations delivered straight to your inbox every day.
  
• ACT Study Plans: Whether you have three months before the exam or just a few weeks, we have free ACT study plans that will help keep you organized.
  
• ACT Prep Courses: We have many options for ACT prep to suit your schedule. See our full list of official ACT prep courses here.
  
• ACT Tutoring: Our expert ACT tutors will tailor your studies to your needs. Learn more about our ACT tutoring options.

ACT Test Changes FAQs

Below, we answer some common questions about the upcoming ACT test changes.

Is there a cost difference between the ACT with and without science?

ACT plans to set final pricing for the new ACT prior to the opening of registration for the April administration window. Their intention is to provide a “core” version of the ACT, containing English, math, and reading that will be less expensive than the current 4-section ACT. Fee waiver programs will continue to apply to the new test as well.

Will colleges require applicants to provide an ACT science score?

Some colleges may continue to require or recommend applicants provide an ACT science score. Earning a good score on the ACT science section can make you a more competitive applicant, especially for STEM programs. Ultimately, there will continue to be different requirements for different schools and programs so it’s important to research college admissions requirements before applying.

Is the new ACT easier than the current version?

While the enhanced ACT is shorter than the current version, it is not an easier exam. Rather, this new ACT allows students to tailor their testing experience to fit their needs, such as by offering optional science and writing sections. The new test also gives test-takers more time to answer each question which may improve student’s test-taking experiences.

Will students have the ability to opt out of reporting science scores?

No, students can cancel their entire ACT score but cannot suppress it by section. This rule may change in the future, but as it currently stands, if test-takers opt to take the science section, it will be included in their ACT score report and seen by college admissions officers.

Will international ACT test-takers have the ability to choose between taking the paper-and-pencil test or the digital version?

No, due to ongoing international supply chain delays and reduced security, the international ACT will only be offered as a digital option, with the exception of students requiring an accommodation.

Will previous ACT score composites be recalculated next fall? For example, will rising seniors have their old composite scores recalculated?

No scores reported previously will be changed and reissued. Only ACT scores that result from the updates will reflect the changes.

Will the ACT and SAT score conversions remain the same with these ACT test changes?

There will be no significant impact on ACT scores from these upcoming test changes. Any future concordance tables between ACT and SAT would be the normal iterations and not driven by these test enhancements. Use our SAT/ACT Score Conversion Calculator below to see your converted score.

Quickly convert your SAT or ACT score using our free calculator.

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Written by Kaplan experts, reviewed by Heather Waite, Director of Content and Curriculum, Pre-College at Kaplan North America. Heather has taught thousands of students how to master the PSAT, ACT, and SAT for over a decade. She holds a B.A. in Elementary Education from Indiana University.