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Send Your Kids to College is a WNY College Planning Nonprofit that aims to help students and families understand the many stages leading into a future in college. We offer several different services, including financial aid help, a WNY scholarship, and also SAT & ACT test prep and tutoring thanks to our members at All-Pro Tutoring. This spring, the ACT test is experiencing an overhaul, and today on the blog we wanted to summarize what the changes will look like, and why they are happening in the first place.
Let’s take a look at how the 2025 ACT Test will look a little different this year.
Why the Changes to the ACT Test?
The changes to the ACT test come down to a few key factors. Ultimately the changes aim to make the test more manageable and less stressful for students. By shortening the test length overall, and allowing more time per question, ideally this will reduce fatigue on test takers. According to Janet Goodwin, ACT CEO: “This change is designed to make the testing experience more manageable for students, enabling them to perform at their best without the fatigue that often accompanies longer exams.”
The ACT says they want students to have more opportunities for college admission, scholarships, and have the flexibility to determine how they take the test. They also want students to tailor their testing experience to fit their future goals and highlight their strengths.
So What Will Be Changing on the ACT Test?
Optional Science Section
The ACT Test has forever included four primary sections. Science, English, Math, & Reading. Each section traditionally was scored on a scale of 1-36. All the scores would combine to contribute to a composite score. Now, English, Math, and Reading will continue to be required to form the composite score, but the science section will be optional.
Students who plan to major in science or a STEM field in college should certainly consider taking the science section since those who have math and science scores will still receive a STEM score.
This makes the science section similar to the writing section in that it will be offered, but not required.
Shorter ACT Test
Depending on if a student chooses to complete the optional science and/or writing sections of the ACT test, the test is designed to be significantly shorter. There will be 44 fewer questions on the new ACT, and students will receive their college-reportable Composite score based on 125 minutes of testing, rather than up to 195 minutes of testing. There is also more time offered per question.
Students will also be able to choose whether they take the test using a pencil and paper or online. This will significantly impact how long the test will take on test day. If students take just the English, math, and reading subjects, the testing time, not including the transition period 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: 50-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)
If a student chooses to do the science and/or writing section(s), then they will stay after these sections as the other students who do not choose to do these sections will be dismissed.
Those students will remain in the room quietly and be allowed a short break. Both science and writing will be 40 minutes, given in the same room.
Science: 40-minute section with 40 questions (around one minute per item)
Writing: 40-minute section with one writing prompt
Will The Changes Affect the Price of the ACT?
The ACT Test itself will cost a student $65.00, and the Writing add-on fee will be $25.00. The Science add-on fee will be $4.00. Here you can see any other information regarding fees.
Failing to Prepare for the ACT is Preparing to Fail the ACT
Luckily, there are WNY test prep specialists here at Send Your Kids to College that can help your kid to get ready to excel on their ACT Test! If you or someone you know has a kid who will be taking the ACT test this year or in the next few years, we highly recommend speaking with our team to get set up with All-Pro Tutoring, the test prep arm of our organization. You can get in touch here, or just reach out directly at allprotutoring.com!
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