Major modifications revealed for the ACT college admissions test. What has been altered?

The ACT college admissions test will be shorter for some test-takers starting next year, as announced by the exam company this week.

The revisions will reduce the number of questions and shorten the test by up to an hour from the usual three-hour duration. Reading passages will be briefer, and the science section will become optional.

These adjustments to the well-known college admissions exams are part of the changing landscape in standardized testing, which has been impacted by the pandemic. They follow the SAT’s independent overhaul, with the College Board abbreviating its exam to two hours and switching to a fully digital format.

“Read more about the SAT overhaul:
Big changes are coming to the SAT, and not everyone is happy. What students should know.”

While most U.S. universities are test-optional, the alterations made to the ACT imply that future test-takers opting for a college admissions exam will face a shorter exam with condensed content.

According to the ACT CEO, Janet Godwin, “These improvements are just the start.”

The majority of the ACT test will remain the same, allowing students to choose between online and in-person formats, unlike the predominantly digital SAT.

To decrease the test’s length by around a third, the reading and English sections will have 44 fewer questions. The reading passages will also be shorter, while the formerly mandatory science section is now optional.

“Some students find that section intimidating,” remarked Alyssa Coburn, chief learning officer at Nurturing Wisdom Tutoring in Illinois.

The changes for online test-takers are scheduled for the spring of 2025. Students opting for specific school district-sponsored dates won’t see the adjustments until the spring of 2026.

“How will colleges react?”

Godwin’s announcement follows the revelation that the testing company will transition to for-profit status after acquisition by a private equity firm. The move raised concerns among some observers about the alignment of ACT’s mission with a for-profit structure. Nonetheless, Godwin has defended the change as essential for expanding the organization’s reach and supporting more students.

The debate surrounding standardized testing in college admissions intensified during the pandemic, prompting many schools to eliminate ACT and SAT requirements. While some selective institutions have reinstated these requirements, over 80% of four-year colleges will leave the choice up to students this fall, according to The National Center for Fair & Open Testing.

Harry Feder, the organization’s executive director, noted the implications of ACT’s new testing approach.

“The ACT didn’t want to be seen as outdated with the traditional three-hour paper-pencil test. While the shorter tests are more user-friendly, concerns remain about colleges accepting this test.”

Michael J. Petrilli, president of the Thomas B. Fordham Institute, suggested that the tests remain reliable indicators of academic performance. ACT’s adjustments are perceived as a response to the SAT’s recent changes to maintain market competitiveness.

“The rivalry between SAT and ACT is ongoing. That dynamic persists.”