The Enhanced ACT Is Almost Here: What Students Need to Know (7/22/25)
The final ACT of the old format has now come and gone, and the Enhanced ACT is now right around the corner. Whether you’re preparing to take the test in fall 2025 or helping a student through the process, it’s crucial to understand how this major update will change the ACT experience—and how your prep strategy should evolve to match.
As a professional ACT/SAT tutor, I can help you stay ahead of the curve and make the most of these upcoming changes.
Mostly a Format Change—The Core of the ACT Remains the Same
In addition to structural changes, the way scores are calculated and reported is also evolving. The composite score will now be based solely on the three core sections: English, Math, and Reading. Science will no longer factor into the composite score.
Additionally, superscoring will continue to be supported and emphasized. ACT will automatically generate a superscore for students who have taken the test more than once. This means your highest scores across multiple test dates will be combined into a new, improved composite score. Superscoring is now even more valuable, as students can retake only the sections they wish to improve.
Starting in September 2025 for paper testing, the Enhanced ACT introduces:
Fewer questions overall (from 215 to 171)
More time per question
Streamlined passages in English and Reading
Rebalanced Math section with less geometry and more real-world applications
The online version implemented these changes in April. This is more than a cosmetic update—it’s a shift in how the ACT tests your skills. Students need to adjust their prep plans accordingly.
Why This Matters for Test-Takers
While many of the core skills remain the same (grammar rules, math concepts, reading comprehension), the way students approach timing, stamina, and question interpretation will need to shift. Here’s why:
Pacing strategies must be refined. With fewer total questions and more time per question, students can slow down slightly—but still need to be efficient.
Students can continue to use existing practice tests strategically. While older materials are still highly valuable for building core skills and stamina, it's also important to incorporate new resources that reflect the Enhanced ACT's updated format and structure.
The math section is evolving. With fewer geometry questions and a greater focus on data analysis and algebra, the prep focus needs to reflect these shifts. In addition, the number of answer choices for each math question will be reduced from five to four, which could slightly change how students approach the process of elimination.
The Science Section Is Now Optional
One of the more controversial changes: the ACT science section is now optional. That means students will now choose from the following testing options:
ACT Core (English, Math, Reading)
ACT + Science
ACT + Writing
ACT + Science + Writing
This flexibility can benefit students who feel weaker in science reasoning. However, some colleges may still want to see a science score, so I help each student make this decision based on their target schools.
While it’s now optional, I strongly recommend students still take the science section. Doing so can demonstrate to colleges that you’re going above and beyond. And here’s the good news: the science section is actually one of the easiest to master with my strategies. It requires very little outside science knowledge—nearly all of the questions can be answered by referencing the relevant part of the passage and then applying logic. With a few simple techniques, students can dramatically improve their science scores and strengthen their overall ACT profile.
How to Adjust Your Test-Prep Strategy
Students preparing for the Enhanced ACT should take a more strategic approach. Here’s what I recommend:
Start with an up-to-date diagnostic test. You need to know how your skills align with the new format—not the old one.
Focus on section timing. Although each section is shorter overall, the time per question has increased, changing how students should pace themselves.
Work on decision-making under pressure. You’ll still want to “star” questions you’re unsure about and return to them at the end of a section—this strategy is still effective, even with more breathing room.
Final Thoughts: Embrace the Change
One important date to keep in mind: the first Enhanced ACT will be administered in September 2025, but the first "My Answer Key"—which provides the first real, publicly released test questions in the new format—will be available for the October test. This will give students and tutors invaluable insight into how the Enhanced ACT looks and feels under official conditions.
The Enhanced ACT represents a big opportunity for students who prepare the right way. It’s designed to be more user-friendly and to better assess real college-readiness skills. With proper guidance and consistent prep, many students may find this version of the ACT easier to manage than its predecessor.
If you want to take advantage of the Enhanced ACT’s structure, I’d love to help. Whether you’re aiming for a high score or just want to feel confident heading into the test, I can build a customized prep plan that fits your goals and timeline.
Contact me today to get started with expert ACT/SAT tutoring and take the next step toward college success!
