The ACT changes 2025 represent the biggest overhaul in the test's history: fewer questions, more time per question, and science is now optional. Whether you're taking the ACT this spring or planning ahead for 2026, these changes directly affect how you prepare, what you pay, and how colleges evaluate your scores. Here's a complete breakdown of the enhanced format rollout, updated scoring, and what it all means for your test strategy.
The enhanced ACT format, rolling out in 2025, reduces the total question count from 215 to 171 (or just 131 if you skip the now-optional science section). Core test time drops from 175 minutes to 125 minutes without science. The result? Students get approximately 18% more time per question — about 9 extra seconds on each item.
Every core section saw a reduction in questions. English drops from 75 to 50 questions with time cut from 45 to 35 minutes. Math goes from 60 to 45 questions in 50 minutes instead of 60. Reading is the unique case — while questions decrease from 40 to 36, time actually increases from 35 to 40 minutes, giving you significantly more time per passage. Science, now optional, keeps its 40 questions but gets 40 minutes instead of 35.
| Section | Old Questions | New Questions | Old Time | New Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| English | 75 | 50 | 45 min | 35 min |
| Math | 60 | 45 | 60 min | 50 min |
| Reading | 40 | 36 | 35 min | 40 min |
| Science (Optional) | 40 | 40 | 35 min | 40 min |
| Total (with Science) | 215 | 171 | 175 min | 165 min |
| Total (without Science) | 175 | 131 | 140 min | 125 min |
The extra time isn't just about comfort — it changes strategy. With roughly 9 more seconds per question, you have more room to read carefully, check your work, and avoid careless mistakes. This is especially significant in the English section, where time pressure was a major challenge under the old format. However, keep in mind that many of the easier questions were removed, so the remaining items tend to be harder on average.
The scoring scale remains 1-36 for all sections and the composite. The optional Writing section is unchanged. Both digital and paper formats continue to be available, and the test remains linear — it is not computer-adaptive like the digital SAT. Score reports still include reports for you, your school, and up to four colleges.
This is the most strategically significant ACT change for 2025. The ACT optional science section no longer factors into your composite score. Instead, students who take it receive a separate Science score (1-36) and a STEM score that averages Math and Science. About 90% of tracked colleges are making science optional.
When you register for the ACT, you choose whether to add the science section for an additional $4. If you opt in, you sit for 40 extra minutes after the Reading section. Your composite score is still calculated from only English, Math, and Reading — science cannot hurt your composite. The science score and STEM score appear as separate line items on your score report.
While most colleges don't require it, a handful of notable institutions do. Check your target schools' policies before deciding.
| College | Science Policy | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Georgetown University | Required | Requires all ACT sections including science |
| Boston University | Required | Requires science section for all applicants |
| Pomona College | Required | Requires science section scores |
| Marquette University | Required | Requires ACT science section |
| Duke University | Recommended | Recommends science for competitive applicants |
| Military Academies | Required | West Point, Naval Academy, Air Force Academy require all sections |
| Most Other Colleges (~90%) | Not Required | Accept core ACT composite without science |
Your decision comes down to three factors: Do any of your target colleges require or recommend it? Are you applying to STEM programs where a strong science score strengthens your application? And will 40 extra minutes of testing cause fatigue that could hurt your core section performance?
The ACT new composite score is now the average of three sections instead of four. This fundamental shift means each section — English, Math, and Reading — carries 33% of your composite instead of the old 25%. A weak section hurts more than it used to.
Your composite is calculated by averaging your English, Math, and Reading scores and rounding to the nearest whole number. The scale remains 1-36. Because science is excluded, students who previously relied on a strong science score to balance a weaker section will need to adjust their preparation strategy.
Worked Example
A student scores English 28, Math 32, Reading 26 on the enhanced ACT and also takes the optional Science section, scoring 30.
If you take the optional science section, you also receive a STEM score — the average of your Math and Science scores. This can be valuable for engineering, pre-med, and other STEM applications. Superscoring works across old and new formats, meaning you can combine your best section scores from different test dates regardless of which ACT version you took.
The enhanced ACT includes unscored field-test items embedded throughout each section: 10 in English, 4 in Math, 9 in Reading, and 6 in Science. These experimental questions look identical to scored questions — you won't know which ones they are. They don't count toward your score but do add to the total number of questions you answer, which is why the actual question count you'll encounter is slightly higher than the scored question count.
Enter your section scores to see your composite and how it compares to the old 4-section calculation.
Beyond the timing and question count changes, the new ACT test 2025 introduces structural shifts within each section that affect how you approach the material.
The English section now includes explicit question stems — prompts like "Which choice is least redundant in context?" — rather than relying solely on underlined portions. This actually helps you understand what each question is asking. Passage lengths are also mixed, with both shorter and longer texts, instead of the uniform-length passages in the old format.
Math questions now have four answer choices instead of five. This seems like a small change, but it shifts the guessing probability from 20% to 25% per random guess. With 45 questions in 50 minutes instead of 60 in 60, you get slightly more time per question. The content coverage remains the same — pre-algebra through trigonometry — but expect the questions to lean harder since easier items were trimmed.
Reading is the section that arguably improves the most. You get 40 minutes for 36 questions — over a minute per question compared to roughly 53 seconds before. Passages now vary in length (650-800 words) and appear as one Literary Narrative plus three Informational passages in random order. The extra time per question is substantial and should reduce the frantic pacing that characterized the old Reading section.
The ACT 2025 2026 updates are rolling out in phases, so when you take the test determines which format you get.
The transition isn't instant — it depends on how and when you test. National online Saturday tests switched to the enhanced format in April 2025. All national Saturday testing (both online and paper) follows in September 2025. School-day testing transitions in spring 2026. The writing section remains unchanged throughout this rollout.
| Date | Testing Format | Who's Affected |
|---|---|---|
| April 2025 | Online Saturday testing | National test-takers registering for online ACT |
| September 2025 | All Saturday testing (online + paper) | All national Saturday test-takers |
| Spring 2026 | School-day testing (online + paper) | Students taking ACT during school hours |
The modular structure means you only pay for what you take. The core ACT costs $68 and includes English, Math, and Reading. Adding the optional science section is just $4 more. The optional writing section adds $25. Fee waiver programs continue to apply for qualifying students.
| Test Option | Cost | What's Included |
|---|---|---|
| Core ACT (English, Math, Reading) | $68 | Composite score + section scores |
| Core ACT + Science | $72 | Composite, section scores, Science score, STEM score |
| Core ACT + Writing | $93 | Composite, section scores, Writing score |
| Core ACT + Science + Writing | $97 | All scores |
The good news: the knowledge and skills being tested haven't changed. The format has. Here's how to adapt your preparation for the enhanced ACT format.
The Official ACT Prep Guide 2025-2026 contains four new practice tests designed for the enhanced format. ACT also offers one digital practice test on their website. These are your best resources for experiencing the new question counts and timing firsthand.
Older practice tests remain valid — the same knowledge is tested. To simulate the enhanced format, adapt them as follows:
Worked Example
You have an old ACT practice test (pre-2025 format) and want to simulate the enhanced format conditions.
Since each section now carries 33% of your composite, identify your weakest section among English, Math, and Reading and give it disproportionate study time. Under the old format, a weak section could be partially offset by four-section averaging. Now, every section matters more. Decide early whether to take the optional science section so you can plan your study time accordingly. If you're taking science, practice the full 165-minute test to build stamina.
Make sure you understand the key changes before test day. Try these questions about the enhanced ACT format.