The American College Testing (ACT) has made some major changes for the 2025 testing season, such as dropping the science section and shortening the test, which could impact scores for upcoming seniors and their college applications. With the upcoming changes, teachers and schools must adapt their teaching styles to better fit these changes, and students will adjust to the new format.
The ACT’s main reason for the changes is to give more students the chance to get higher scores while still allowing colleges to rely on student placement. Students taking the ACT nationwide have the same two general complaints: “The test is too long” or “I need extended time.” These complaints seem to conflict with each other, but both suggest that there are too many questions in each section and not enough time to answer them.
To address many concerns about test fatigue and accessibility, the ACT is set to significantly reduce both length and complexity. The test will be shortened from 195 minutes to 125 minutes, a change designed to reduce the exhaustion that often comes with longer exams.
Additionally, the number of questions will be reduced by 44, allowing students more time per question and aiming to enhance focus and accuracy. Peyton Sevin, a senior at Saint Paul’s, says, “I feel the ACT gives just enough time to students who know how to efficiently take the test. But people who have trouble, or aren’t great at taking tests, will struggle and maybe not even finish.”
One notable change involves the math section, where the number of answer choices will decrease from five to four. This adjustment is expected to simplify decision-making and improve performance by making it easier for students to identify the correct answers.
The most significant change, however, is unquestionably making the science section voluntary. A mandatory component for decades, now the science section will be entirely optional. This new change recognizes that while some students excel in science, others may not, providing a more personalized assessment approach.
The ACT’s decision to switch its test represents a significant shift in testing. By addressing the common complaints and focusing on reducing test fatigue, the ACT aims to provide a more effective assessment tool.
ACT CEO Janet Goodman expressed the motivation for the overhaul, as many have questions about why the ACT is changing.“ 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.”
Overall, the test is undergoing these changes to reduce stress and enhance student performance, making the test more accessible and reflective of current students’ abilities.
Janet Goodman, ACT CEO, July 15, 2024
Many taking the ACT recently have come across the experimental section. This fifth section can cover English, science, reading, or math. This additional section does not count toward a student’s score. Rather, it is used to gather more information on the students taking the ACT.
Saint Paul’s junior Bobby Hanks recently took the “fifth section,” which for him was a modification on the English section. “It was weird. It told you what it was about to ask you about, and the passages were much shorter, like paragraphs,” said Hanks.
The new format will be implemented in the national online and in-school testing formats starting in the Spring of 2025. Students preparing for the test need to adjust their study strategies to align with the newer format, focusing mainly on mastering core concepts and adapting to the new question types and test duration.
As the changes take effect, students and schools need to navigate this new revamp, adjusting their approaches to ensure success in the college admissions process.
Published By: Caiden Betzer
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