Is the “New” ACT Better?
Fall of 2025 saw a “new” version of the ACT. I put new in quotation marks because it really is the same old ACT with a few twists designed to make the exam more appealing to consumers as it competes with the SAT’s new digital format.
What’s New?
One major change is the opportunity to take the ACT in digital format. Additionally, the pacing of the exam changed with a slightly shorter testing time overall and significantly fewer questions. Finally, the ACT has made their science section optional.
At first glance all of these may seem like improvements, but the reality is more complicated.
What are the benefits?
The most significant benefit to students is more time per question. The biggest changes can be found in English and math. English (grammar) changed from 75 questions in 45 minutes to 50 questions in 35 minutes. While this seems huge, most of my students were able to finish the English section without much trouble. Math also allows more time moving from 60 questions in 60 minutes to 45 questions in 50 minutes.
The next most impactful change, for some, is the ability to omit the science section. While I find science to be one of the most coachable sections, it is also a section where too many students run out of time. (Science changed from 40 questions across 6 passages in 35 minutes to 40 questions across 7 passages in 40 minutes— not a huge win for students struggling to finish.) So the ability to decide whether to take the ACT science section will be a big win for some students. Those who love the section have the benefit of keeping that section to raise their overall score while those who were losing points due to science can skip it.
Most of my discussion of the online exam will be in the next section, but one benefit is the inclusion of a Desmos calculator.
What are the drawbacks?
At this time the most significant drawback is the ACT digital format. Students familiar with the digital SAT and the College Board’s Bluebook app have signed up for the digital ACT thinking they are getting a similar testing experience. That has not been the case.
First, the digital ACT is the same test as the paper exam, just on a screen. Those long reading passages with multiple questions— you have to scroll up and down to read.
I’ve had a few clients who took the digital ACT before working with me and many reported glitches with test taking. Two students sat for almost two hours waiting for their devices to connect with the ACT system so they could begin the test. This type of inconsistent delivery has to be fixed before I can recommend anyone take the digital version of the ACT.
My next issue with the ACT changes is they don’t offer enough meaningful improvement in exam length or time per question. Let’s start with the “shorter” new exam. For students who continue to take the science section the ACT is 10 minutes shorter than before. 10 minutes out of an exam that is now “only” 165 minutes long is insignificant. Students should still expect a 3.5 hour administration of the ACT, more if they have extended time.
Next, while I find the pacing improvements in English to be meaningful and those in math helpful, ACT did very little with the two sections where students struggle the most: reading and science. Reading got 5 more minutes and 4 fewer questions, but students are still expected to read four long passages and answer 36 questions in 40 minutes. (I’m a great test taker, but not a fast reader and I struggle to finish.) Science is only better because if you struggle on time, you can omit the section.
Another huge drawback is the lack of official testing material for practice. Currently ACT has only released four exams for practice. Access to practice exams was once a strength of the ACT and now it is a major weakness.
Conclusion
The ACT has made some changes, but for the most part the content has stayed the same. Some students will benefit from optional science and changes to the number of questions, but there are also some huge drawbacks to the new ACT.