ACT Changes 2025: A Comprehensive Guide for Educational Consultants
As educational consultants at The Krupnick Approach, it’s our responsibility to stay at the forefront of standardized testing developments. The ACT’s recent announcement of significant changes, set to take effect in April 2025, marks a pivotal moment in college admissions testing.
For the April, June, and July 2025 ACTs, all students will have the option of taking the new re-formatted digital ACT or the current (pre 2025) paper/pencil exam.
Starting in September 2025, all students testing on a Saturday, either paper/pencil or digital, will be taking the newly formatted ACT.
These changes will reshape how we advise and prepare our students for the ACT. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore the key updates, their implications, and how we can best position our students for success in this evolving landscape.
Table of Contents
- Updated Test Structure
- More Time Per Question: A Game-Changer
- Integrated Experimental Section: Pros and Cons
- Optional Science Section: A Strategic Opportunity
- Comparative Analysis: New ACT vs. SAT
- Implications for Students and Consultants
- The Krupnick Approach: Our Strategic Recommendations
- FAQs for Parents and Students
- Conclusion: Embracing Change in Standardized Testing
Updated Test Structure
Starting in April 2025, the ACT is implementing a significant overhaul of its structure, primarily aimed at encouraging students to take the test digitally and to provide students with more time per question. Starting in September 2025, all students will be expected to test with this new format. Let’s break down these changes in detail:
| Section | Current Format | Future Format | Time Increase | Key Changes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| English | 75 questions, 45 minutes | 50 questions (40 scored, 10 experimental), 35 minutes | +17% | Fewer questions, slightly less total time |
| Math | 60 questions, 60 minutes | 45 questions (41 scored, 4 experimental), 50 minutes | +12% | Fewer questions, slightly less total time |
| Reading | 40 questions, 35 minutes | 36 questions (27 scored, 9 experimental), 40 minutes | +28% | Slightly fewer questions, more total time |
| Science (Optional) | 40 questions, 35 minutes | 40 questions (34 scored, 6 experimental), 40 minutes | +14% | Same number of questions, more total time |
| Total | 215 questions, 2h 55m | 171 questions (142 scored, 29 experimental), 2h 45m | +19% | Significantly fewer questions, slightly less total time |
These structural changes represent a significant shift in the ACT’s approach to standardized testing. By reducing the number of questions while increasing the time per question, the ACT aims to create a more thoughtful, less rushed testing experience.
More Time Per Question: A Game-Changer
The increased time per question is perhaps the most significant change in the new ACT format. This adjustment addresses one of the most persistent criticisms of the ACT: its reputation as a “speed test” rather than a true measure of academic ability.
Benefits for Students
- Reduced Stress: The extra time can help alleviate the intense time pressure that many students experience, potentially reducing test anxiety.
- Deeper Thinking: Students will have more opportunity to carefully read passages, analyze problems, and double-check their work.
- Better Showcase of Skills: With more time, students can more fully demonstrate their knowledge and problem-solving abilities.
Strategies to Make Use of the Extra Time
- Careful Reading: Encourage students to read questions and passages more thoroughly, looking for nuances they might have previously missed.
- Show Work in Math: With more time per question, students should show all their work, reducing careless errors.
- Review and Revise: Teach students to budget time for reviewing and revising their answers, especially in the English and Reading sections.
Potential Challenges
- Maintaining Focus: Some students might struggle with maintaining concentration for longer periods on each question.
- Overthinking: There’s a risk of students second-guessing themselves with the extra time.
As consultants, we need to help our students find the right balance between using the extra time effectively and maintaining a steady pace through the test.
Integrated Experimental Section: Pros and Cons
The ACT’s decision to incorporate experimental questions into the main sections of the test is a double-edged sword. Let’s explore this change in more depth:
Pros
- More Accurate Test Development: By having students answer experimental questions under real test conditions, the ACT can gather more reliable data for future test development.
- Consistent Test Experience: Students won’t face a separate experimental section, creating a more uniform testing experience.
- Potential for Fairer Scoring: With better data on question difficulty, the ACT may be able to create more consistent and fair scoring scales across different test dates.
Cons
- Increased Impact of Each Question: With fewer scored questions, each one now carries more weight in determining the final score.
- Hidden Experimental Questions: Students won’t know which questions are experimental, potentially causing stress if they encounter particularly difficult items.
- Potential for Increased Score Volatility: Fewer scored questions could lead to greater score fluctuations between test attempts.
Strategies for Navigating the Integrated Experimental Section:
- Consistent Effort: Advise students to approach every question with equal effort, as they won’t know which are experimental.
- Time Management: Teach students to allocate time evenly across all questions, not getting bogged down on any single item.
- Mental Preparation: Prepare students for the possibility of encountering unusually difficult questions, reminding them that these might be experimental and not to let them shake their confidence.
Optional Science Section: A Strategic Opportunity
The decision to make the Science section optional is a significant shift in the ACT’s approach. This change offers both opportunities and challenges for students and consultants.
As consultants, we need to help our students find the right balance between using the extra time effectively and maintaining a steady pace through the test.
- The Science section has long been misunderstood as requiring advanced scientific knowledge when it primarily tests data interpretation and analysis skills.
- Making it optional aligns the ACT more closely with the SAT’s structure.
- Reduced Test Anxiety: Students who struggle with data interpretation or find science intimidating may feel relief.
- Focused Preparation: Students can potentially focus their preparation efforts on fewer sections.
- Broader Appeal: This change might make the ACT more attractive to students who previously favored the SAT.
- College Requirements: Different colleges may have varying policies on whether they require or recommend the Science section scores.
- Potential Disadvantage: Students who excel in data interpretation might lose an opportunity to showcase this skill.
- Evaluate Individual Strengths: Assess each student’s abilities in data interpretation and science reasoning to determine if taking the Science section would be advantageous.
- Research College Policies: Stay informed about how different colleges and programs view the optional Science section.
- Prepare for Both Scenarios: Consider preparing students for the Science section even if they’re unsure about taking it, to keep options open
Comparative Analysis: New ACT vs. SAT
With these changes, the landscape of standardized testing is shifting. Let’s compare the new ACT format with the current Digital SAT to help guide our recommendations to students:
Test Duration
- New ACT (without Science): 2 hours 5 minutes
- New ACT (with Science): 2 hours 45 minutes
- Current Digital SAT: 2 hours 14 minutes
Structure
- ACT: Separate sections for English, Math, Reading, and optional Science
- SAT: Integrated Reading/Writing section and Math section
Scoring
- ACT: Scores range from 1-36 for each section and composite
- SAT: Scores range from 400-1600 (200-800 per section)
Key Differences:
- Time Per Question: The new ACT (with Science) is paced at 1.03 questions/minute. The Digital SAT is paced at 0.73 questions per minute. This means that the new ACT will be paced at 40% faster/question than the Digital SAT. The current (pre-April 2025) ACT is paced at 68% faster/question than the Digital SAT.
- Science Content: The ACT still offers a dedicated Science section, while the SAT incorporates science-related questions throughout.
- Math Focus: The ACT Math section includes more advanced concepts (e.g., trigonometry), while the SAT focuses more on data analysis and algebra.
Considerations for Students:
- Students who prefer a slower pace might consider the new ACT, as it is far less fast-paced the old ACT.
- Those strong in science and data interpretation might benefit from taking the ACT with the Science section.
- Students more comfortable with integrated reasoning might still prefer the SAT’s format.
As consultants, we’ll need to reassess our test recommendations for each student based on these new dynamics.
Implications for Students and Consultants
These changes to the ACT will have far-reaching implications for both students and educational consultants. Let’s explore these in detail:
- Reduced Time Pressure: The increased time per question may alleviate stress and allow for more thoughtful responses.
- Potential for Higher Scores: Some students may see score improvements due to the reduced time constraint.
- Changed Preparation Focus: Study strategies will need to shift to capitalize on the extra time and adapt to fewer questions.
- Decision on Science Section: Students will need to make an informed choice about whether to take the optional Science section.
- Updated Test Prep Materials: We’ll need to revise our ACT preparation materials and strategies to align with the new format.
- Reevaluating Test Recommendations: The changes may alter which test (ACT or SAT) we recommend to different types of students.
- Adapting Timing Strategies: We’ll need to develop new pacing strategies for each section of the test.
- Monitoring College Policies: Staying informed about how colleges adapt their requirements regarding the optional Science section will be crucial.
- Client Education: We’ll need to effectively communicate these changes to students and parents, helping them understand the implications.
- Individualized Advice: More than ever, we’ll need to tailor our recommendations to each student’s strengths and weaknesses.
- Flexible Preparation: Developing adaptable preparation strategies that can be quickly adjusted as we learn more about the practical implications of these changes.
- Data Collection: Gathering data on how these changes impact student performance to inform our future recommendations.
- Professional Development: Ensuring all consultants at The Krupnick Approach are thoroughly trained on the new ACT format and its implications.
The Krupnick Approach: Our Strategic Recommendations
Based on our analysis of the ACT changes, here are our strategic recommendations for The Krupnick Approach:
- Conduct thorough evaluations of each student’s strengths, weaknesses, and learning style.
- Use this data to make informed decisions about ACT vs. SAT recommendations.
- Develop flexible ACT preparation programs that can be easily modified as we learn more about the new format.
- Create modular content that allows for easy updates and customization.
- Emphasize strategies for effective use of the additional time per question.
- Develop exercises to help students maintain focus and avoid overthinking.
- Create a decision-making framework to help students determine whether to take the optional Science section.
- Develop a separate preparation track for students opting to take the Science section.
- Stay abreast of college policies regarding the optional Science section.
- Advise students on how their choice to take or skip the Science section might impact their applications.
- Implement systems to track student performance under the new format.
- Use this data to continually refine our preparation strategies and recommendations.
- Develop clear, comprehensive materials explaining the ACT changes to students and parents.
- Host informational webinars and workshops to address questions and concerns.
- Conduct regular training sessions for all consultants to ensure they’re fully versed in the new ACT format.
- Encourage consultants to take the new digital ACT themselves to gain firsthand experience.
- Leverage digital tools and platforms that mimic the new ACT digital format for practice tests and exercises.
- Explore partnerships with ed-tech companies developing prep materials for the new ACT.
- Emphasize that standardized tests are just one part of the college application process.
- Continue to provide comprehensive support in all areas of college preparation.
The Krupnick Approach: Our Strategic Recommendations
To help address common concerns, we’ve compiled a list of frequently asked questions:
It’s unlikely that colleges will show a preference for one test over the other. Both tests are designed to assess college readiness, and most colleges accept scores from either test equally.
This depends on your student’s grade level and college application timeline. Current juniors should proceed with the current version, while younger students might benefit from waiting for the new format.
The impact will vary by college. Some may require it, others may recommend it, and some may not consider it at all. We’ll keep you updated as colleges announce their policies.
While the additional time per question may benefit some students, it’s important to remember that the ACT will likely adjust their scoring to maintain consistent difficulty levels.
Preparation will focus more on effective time management, in-depth problem-solving, and strategic decision-making. Our updated programs will reflect these changes.
While the core content will remain largely the same, the format and timing strategies will need to be updated. We recommend using updated materials designed for the new format.
ACT, Inc. has not yet released specific information about accommodations for the new format. We’ll provide updates as soon as this information becomes available.
Yes, the paper version will reflect these changes starting in September 2025.
Conclusion: Embracing Change in Standardized Testing
The upcoming changes to the ACT represent a significant shift in the landscape of standardized testing. As educational consultants at The Krupnick Approach, we view these changes as an opportunity to refine our services and provide even more valuable guidance to our students.
The new ACT format, with its increased time per question and optional Science section, has the potential to create a more equitable and less stressful testing experience. However, it also introduces new strategic considerations for students and consultants alike.
Our role at The Krupnick Approach is more crucial than ever. We must:
- Stay informed about the latest developments and college policies
- Adapt our strategies to best serve our students
- Provide clear, accurate information to students and parents
- Continue to offer personalized, expert guidance through the college admissions process
By embracing these changes and proactively adapting our approach, we can ensure that our students are well-prepared and confident as they navigate this new testing landscape. The evolving nature of standardized tests underscores the importance of expert guidance in the college admissions process. At The Krupnick Approach, we are committed to staying at the forefront of these changes, continuously refining our methods, and providing unparalleled support to our students as they strive for academic success.
As we move forward, we invite students, parents, and educators to engage with us, ask questions, and share their experiences. Together, we can turn these changes into opportunities for growth and achievement. The future of standardized testing is here, and with The Krupnick Approach, you’re well-equipped to excel in this new era of the ACT.
FREE
COLLEGE WEBINAR PLANNING SERIES
With a FREE 30-Minute Consultation With One of Our Experts
Latest Updates
How to think About College Applications
If you are like most people, the prospect of making a choice about where to spend the next four
Ace Your Exams with These General Study and Organizational Tips
Whether you’re preparing for the ACT/SAT, graduate-level exams, or just looking to improve youracademic performance, having a solid study
College Super-Scoring, Test Optional Status & Admissions Data
Colleges and universities that “superscore” the ACT or SAT will consider each applicant’s highest individual subject score from all
