How to Think About the Changes to the ACT: First Thoughts

Two days ago, the CEO of the ACT, Janet Godwin, announced that starting in April 2025, the ACT will no longer require the science section and will shorten the English and reading sections by a total of 44 questions, resulting in a test that is one hour shorter than it was previously. These changes obviously come as a direct response to a more substantial change by the SAT earlier this year, in an attempt to stay competitive and relevant. But what do these changes mean for students, and how could they affect test-taking strategy?

Timing

The ACT is known as a more straightforward test than the SAT, with its difficulty lying in its timing. Students generally have to move at an uncomfortably fast pace to answer all the questions, particularly on the math section. Will eliminating 44 questions fix this problem? Since the questions being removed do not affect the math section, and the test will also run an hour shorter, this does not seem like a significant change.

Attention Span

That said, a shorter test overall is definitely more appropriate for today’s students, who have been proven to have a shorter attention span than students of previous generations. Indeed, it is a long test for any generation's attention span.

Test Prep

A shorter test also means that preparation will be more manageable since practice tests will also be shorter. Getting one done in a weekend will suddenly feel less like a chore. Another added benefit is that tutors won't have to create a lot of new material to prep for a new test, as they did for the Digital SAT. Instead, students can simply take the old ACT without the science section and manually cut out a few passages from the English and reading sections. This is important because third-party produced materials are never as reliable as the real tests, are often significantly easier, and can create a false sense of security in the test-taker.

Going Science Section Optional

Anyone who has ever prepped for the ACT knows that the science section does not really test students on their understanding of science, but merely on their ability to read complicated charts, graphs and other displays of information with a tired brain. It's a section more about information extraction than anything else. Students who are good at test taking strategy, and who have practiced quite a lot, tend to do well on the science section for this reason. Does that mean the current test benefits students who can afford test prep? Probably.

Is all change a good thing? For whom?

Generally yes, this is a friendlier test for students overall. But remember: when the test is easier for one student, it is easier for all students, and the ACT is still graded on a curve.

Rising Seniors: This doesn't affect you since the new test doesn’t come out until April 2025.

Rising Juniors: If you are currently testing exceptionally well on the ACT in preparation this summer, you may want to bank your scores this fall since it may be harder to differentiate this spring. If you are scoring decently or not as well as you’d like, it may still make sense to bank a score this fall, see how you do, and, if you are not satisfied, try to do better this spring.

As for those rising juniors and sophomores who are still deciding between the Digital SAT and the ACT, our guess is that the new ACT will suddenly seem like a much easier test than the Digital SAT for most students. But do your own research by taking both practice tests and go from there. You may prefer the DSAT and not need to worry about these changes at all. Or you may find that the new ACT is just what the doctor ordered. (Remember, you can take the new ACT by simply modifying the old one.)

What now?

Still wondering how to integrate this information into your own test-prep strategy? Don’t stress. Book a free consultation. We’ll be happy to help you make the best, most informed choices for your family.