ACT Updates: Latest Changes to the Exam

Significant changes went into effect for the ACT in 2025-2026 as a response to feedback from test takers and educators. These ACT test changes deliver a shorter test that’s less stressful and empowers students with more control over their testing experience. In this guide, we’ll review what has changed on the enhanced ACT and what has stayed the same so students know what to expect on test day. Keep reading to learn how these ACT test changes have affected the current exam format and scoring.

[  READ NEXT: What’s a Good ACT Score? ]

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

• When did the ACT change?
• Is the ACT changing in 2026?
• What’s different about the new Enhanced ACT?
• What’s stayed the same when the ACT changed in 2025?
• What are the different versions of the ACT (as of 2025)?
• Why did the ACT change?
• How to Study for the Enhanced ACT
• ACT Test Changes FAQs

When did the ACT change?

The ACT test changes began in 2025 and continued through Spring 2026. Beginning in April 2025, the ACT gradually introduced new enhancements to the exam and began offering all students the choice of taking the exam on the computer or on paper.

Is the ACT changing in 2026?

In 2026, the primary change to the ACT is its mandatory rollout to all state and district School Day testing windows, completing the final phase of the transition to the enhanced ACT format. While National weekend test takers adapted to the shorter format in 2025, students taking the state-funded exam through their high schools also experienced the shortened, two-hour core exam consisting of only 131 questions, starting in Spring 2026. 

Additionally, depending on individual state education department guidelines, the newly optional Science section will either be entirely skipped or separated from the main 1–36 composite score, finalizing a universal shift toward a less exhausting, highly optimized enhanced ACT.

What’s different about the new Enhanced ACT?

Keep reading to learn what’s different about the new Enhanced ACT.

• Shorter Test Length: The core ACT exam now consists of three sections: English, Math, and Reading. Because the Science section is now optional, the length of the core exam dropped from 175 minutes to 125 minutes (just over 2 hours).
  
• Optional Science Section: The ACT Science section is no longer mandatory. You can choose whether to take it. If you do, it is scored separately and no longer impacts your 1–36 Composite score (which is now averaged using only English, Math, and Reading).
  
• Fewer Total Questions: The total question count across the ACT core sections decreased from 215 to 131 questions. If you choose to take the optional Science section, it adds another 40 questions (40 minutes), bringing the total to 171 questions.
  
• More Time Per Question: Because the question count decreased more significantly than the testing time, students now get 12% to 27% more time per question.
  
• Fewer Math Answer Choices: Multiple-choice ACT Math questions now feature 4 choices instead of 5.
  
• Shorter Passages: ACT Reading and English passages have been streamlined and shortened to prevent mental fatigue.
  
• Flexible Format: Unlike the SAT, which went 100% digital, the ACT continues to offer both paper-and-pencil and digital formats, allowing students to choose the option that best fits their testing style.

One of the major changes for the enhanced ACT was the reduction of the overall testing time. The test duration of the core ACT exam has been reduced from 175 minutes (English, Math, Reading, Science) to 125 minutes (English, Math, Reading). There are also fewer questions per section but more time per question. The updated ACT also has reduced the number of Math question answer choices from five to four. This means that test takers have more time to think through each question and feel less pressure from the testing time clock.

The table below shows a breakdown of the structure of the enhanced ACT. Please note that the field test questions in each section are not scored.

ACT Section	Number of Questions/Tasks	Duration
English	50 questions, (10 field test)	35 minutes
Math	45 questions, (4 field test)	50 minutes
Reading	36 questions, (9 field test)	40 minutes
Science (optional)	40 questions, (6 field test)	40 minutes
Writing (optional)	1 task	40 minutes
		Total testing time:  National & State/District ACT = 125 minutes +Optional Science section OR Optional Writing section = 165 minutes +Optional Science + Writing sections = 205 minutes

Another critical change the ACT made to give students more control over their testing experience is making the Science section optional. Students will be able to take the ACT with or without Science. All ACT test takers will take the English, Math, and Reading sections. These sections will generate a composite ACT score. When a student chooses to take ACT Science, it will appear as a section score and be used to calculate the STEM score (Science + Math) but will not be used to calculate the composite score. 

States and districts can choose to offer the ACT with Science and/or Writing. Some colleges and universities may still require or recommend students submit an ACT Science score, so just because the section is optional does not mean students should not take it. Students who plan to major in Science or a STEM field are highly encouraged to take the ACT Science section and submit their scores.

The enhanced ACT debuted some changes to questions in most ACT sections. In the table below, we highlight the test enhancements that went into effect in 2025.

ACT Section	Proposed Changes
English	– Question stem added for each item. – Reduced the length of some English passages. – Reduced the percent of questions that test grammar (Conventions of Standard English).
Math	– Reduced the number of answer choices in Math from 5 to 4. – Reduced the number of questions that require students to solve nonstandard problems that involve combining multiple skills in a series of steps. – Reduced the number of questions aligned to advanced topics (higher grade level items). – Reduced the number of word problems.
Reading	– Reduced the length of some Reading passages. – Reduced the number of questions for each passage from 10 to 9.
Science (optional)	– Ensured at least one passage per exam addresses an engineering and design topic.
Writing (optional)	– No changes.

There were some minor changes to the ACT scoring following the ACT test changes going into effect in 2025, but, overall, ACT scores are still delivered within the regular 2-8 week window. If students choose to take the Science section, their score report will include a Science score and a STEM score, which will include the student’s Science score plus their Math score. If students choose to take the Writing section, their score report will include a Writing score, which will also be incorporated into the student’s ELA score (along with English and Reading). The new ACT composite score is calculated using English, Math, and Reading scores and continues to be on a scale from 1 (lowest) to 36 (highest).

The enhanced ACT is much more flexible than the previous exam, and one of the ways it improved the testing experience for students is through the multi-option ACT test format. Students can choose whether to take the ACT via paper-and-pencil or digital/online, depending on which testing experience they prefer. Both exam formats are identical in content, difficulty, and scoring scale, and colleges treat them exactly the same. This allows students to test in the the way they feel more comfortable and can show off their best performance.

What stayed the same when the ACT changed in 2025?

Despite the ACT’s many changes, several key features have remained the same:

• The ACT score scale will remain 1-36 for all sections and for the composite score.
• The ACT remains a linear assessment and is NOT computer adaptive.
• The ACT test will continue to feature multiple-choice questions in the English, Math, Reading, and Science sections.
• The open-ended, prompt-based Writing section on the ACT will remain unchanged.

What are the different versions of the ACT (as of 2025)?

There are now four types of the ACT exam available to test takers:

1. The standard ACT (English, Math, and Reading)
2. The ACT plus Science
3. The ACT plus Writing
4. The ACT plus Science and Writing

Why did the ACT change?

The creators of the ACT listened to input from both students and educators, implementing changes to enhance the testing experience and better align it with college readiness standards. The enhanced ACT seeks to reduce test anxiety by shortening the overall exam length and allowing more time per question. Additionally, the cost of the ACT without Science will be lower, increasing accessibility for all students. The updated ACT will be more modern and flexible, giving students greater autonomy over how they take the ACT and which subjects they choose to be evaluated on.

How to Study for the Enhanced ACT

To study for the enhanced ACT, focus on practicing with the revised, shorter time limits and the new four-choice Math format using updated practice materials. Additionally, take diagnostic tests both with and without the optional Science section to determine if omitting it will naturally boost your ACT composite score. Here are some recommended ACT resources from Kaplan to boost your prep:

• ACT Prep Courses: We have many options for ACT prep to suit your schedule. See our full list of official ACT prep courses here.
  
• ACT Tutoring: Our expert ACT tutors will tailor your studies to your needs. Learn more about our ACT tutoring options.

ACT Test Changes FAQs

Below, we answer some common questions about the 2025–2026 ACT test changes.

Is there a cost difference between the ACT with and without the Science and Writing sections?

Yes, there is a minor cost difference between the ACT with and without the Science and Writing sections. The table below breaks down the current ACT exam fees:

ACT Test Option	Fee (USD)
ACT Core Test (English, Math, Reading)	$70
Science Section (Optional Add-on)	+$5
Writing Section (Optional Essay)	+$25

Do colleges require applicants to provide an ACT Science score?

Many colleges continue to require or recommend applicants provide an ACT Science score. Earning a good score on the ACT Science section can make you a more competitive applicant, especially for STEM programs. Ultimately, there will continue to be different requirements for different schools and programs, so it’s important to research college admissions requirements before applying.

Is the enhanced ACT easier than the old version?

While the enhanced ACT is shorter than the old version, it is not an easier exam. Rather, this new ACT allows students to tailor their testing experience to fit their needs, such as by offering optional Science and Writing sections. The new test also gives test takers more time to answer each question with the goal of reducing test anxiety.

Do students have the ability to opt out of reporting their Science score?

No, students can cancel an entire ACT exam score or opt to not report their score from a certain test date to colleges,  but they cannot suppress scores by section. This rule may change in the future, but as it currently stands, if test takers opt to take the Science section, it will be included in their ACT score report and seen by college admissions officers.

Do the ACT and SAT score conversions remain the same with the ACT test changes?

There was no significant impact on ACT scores from these test changes. Any future concordance tables between ACT and SAT would be the normal iterations and not driven by these test enhancements. Use our SAT/ACT Score Conversion Calculator below to see your converted score.

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Written by Kaplan experts, reviewed by Melissa McLaughlin, Pre-College Content Developer and Heather Waite, Director of Content and Curriculum, Pre-College at Kaplan North America.