Two major changes are coming to one of the most prominent tests for college admission.
American College Test (ACT) CEO Janet Godwin has announced that students looking to take the standardized test will no longer be required to partake in the science section. The ACT will continue to maintain the other three core sections — English, math, and reading — for mandatory participation.
Just like the writing section, science will be offered as an additional section. This means students can choose to take the ACT, the ACT plus science, the ACT plus writing, or the ACT plus science and writing.
A student’s composite score will be the average of the English, reading, and math scores. The composite and section scores will continue to be reported on the same 1-36 scale, and stakeholders can continue to use them as indicators of achievement and college readiness.
Another change to the test is that the length has been reduced by up to one-third, depending on which version of the test students take. The new core test will last just two hours, compared to three hours for the current test. To achieve this, 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.
“I’m thrilled about the future and the opportunities that lie ahead for us and those we serve. Our unwavering commitment to meeting the evolving needs of students and educators drives us forward. These enhancements are just the beginning, and we are eager to continue revolutionizing how we prepare learners for future challenges and opportunities,” Godwin said.
“For more than 65 years, ACT has embraced innovation, and we are focused forward on delivering our vision to transform college and career readiness pathways so that everyone can discover and fulfill their potential.”
The ACT will continue to allow students to take the test either on paper or online. Students are still able to use their superscore, the average of their best scores from each subject from multiple test attempts, to showcase their abilities
As for the latest changes to the standardized test, the ACT will roll out starting with National online testing in spring 2025 and then for school-day testing in spring 2026.
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