The ACT will look a bit different – streamlined and shorter – for students starting next spring.
ACT recently announced the college admissions test will change in two significant ways in the spring of 2025:
- First, the science section will become optional. While English, reading, and math will remain as the core sections that generate a score that can be sent to colleges and universities, science will join writing as an additional section students can choose whether to take.
Students’ test options will be the core ACT; ACT plus science; ACT plus writing; or ACT plus science and writing.
“With this flexibility, students can focus on their strengths and showcase their abilities in the best possible way,” ACT’s CEO, Janet Godwin, wrote in a recent blog post.
- Second, the length of the test will be reduced by up to one-third, depending on which version a student takes. The new core test of English, reading, and math will take two hours compared to the current test’s three. This will mean shorter passages in the reading and English sections and fewer questions in each section.
Timeline for Changes and Upcoming Tests
The changes will take effect with national online testing in April 2025, followed by in-person testing in September 2025. School-day testing, such as the one scheduled for March for juniors, will not change until 2026.
Upcoming national ACT testing dates (all on Saturdays) include September 14, October 26, and December 14, while MNPS high schools will be offering an online senior retake in October or November; check with your high school for specific dates and times.
Metro Schools ACT Prep Support is Available.
Metro Schools offers video webinars for students, detailed information on preparing for the test and test results impact information for students and families.