Last updated: Tuesday, July 23, 2024

Standardized tests play a large role in the college admission process, even among schools that are test optional. The Princeton Review understands that importance and for over forty years has helped students prepare for the various iterations of tests like the SAT and ACT.

To beat the test, students need to know the test, and we’ve spent the last two years covering the SAT’s transition to a digital, computer-adaptive environment—every step of the way.

Now, it’s time to talk about the recently announced news that the ACT, too, will be changing for some test-takers in Spring 2025 and for others by Spring 2026. While information is still sparse, here’s what ACT has announced so far:

Just as the ACT Writing section is no longer mandatory, so too will the Science section now be optional, so students can focus on what their chosen colleges are looking for.

A high score on the ACT will continue to be a 36, though schools may adjust the composite score ranges of the students they admit each year. The composite will now be the average of the three “core” subjects—English, Math, and Reading.

Unlike the SAT, the ACT will give students the option to take either a pen-and-paper or computer-based version of the test.

The English and Reading sections will have shorter passages, and the test will have fewer questions overall, which should help students who were losing focus by the third hour of testing.

Students who want to get a head start on studying for the ACT can still benefit from The Princeton Review’s prep courses and books, as no changes to content have been announced. If anything, studying for a longer version of the exam will have you more prepared, much like runners who train for a marathon by carrying weights.

As more information becomes available, we will continue to update this page. Until then, just know that no matter what kind of changes to the ACT are made, The Princeton Review has your back.

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