ACT.org announced that it is changing its popular standardized test in the coming year. In the July 15, 2024 announcement, CEO Janet Godwin described that the changes would offer more flexibility for test takers and that the test would be shorter.
Students will have four choices: the ACT, the ACT plus science, the ACT plus writing, or the ACT plus science and writing. Godwin explained, "with this flexibility, students can focus on their strengths and showcase their abilities in the best possible way."
In addition, the will be shorter - reduced by up to one third, depending on the version a student takes. The new core test will last just two hours, a hour less than the current three-hour test.
The announcement states, "the test will include shorter passages on the reading and English sections and fewer questions in each section – 44 fewer questions in all – allowing students more time to answer each question thoughtfully. 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."
Scores of 1-36 will remain the same. The digital version of the new test will begin roll out online in Spring 2025 in the US. The enhanced digital test is expected to be available outside the US as well.
For test takers whose first language is not English, the option of having more time per question might make the ACT an attractive testing option.
Zachary Adler of the test prep firm Onsen Education, noted that the new ACT will be nine minutes shorter than the digital SAT. "In addition to decreasing the total testing time, the test makers have modified the structure... to provide students with more time per test question. Historically, the fast-paced nature of the ACT has provided a challenge for many students and has led some to opt to take the SAT instead. By adjusting the average time per question, the ACT has addressed one of the most common criticisms of its test." For an in depth analysis of the what to expect in the new ACT, the Onsen blog details them here.
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