The ACT is changing in 2025. The new “enhanced ACT” is an updated version of the exam that adds more choice and flexibility for test-takers. It allows students to pick which sections matter to them, making it a more tailored and less daunting experience.
Why does this matter? Because it gives students more control over how they show their skills—and it could impact how they prepare, how they test, and how they stand out in the college admissions process.
In short, if you’re planning to take the ACT in 2025 or later, you need to understand these changes now.
The Enhanced ACT introduces a smarter, more flexible approach to testing. It’s built to match how students learn today—and it gives them more control over their experience.
One of the biggest changes is that students can now pick which sections they want to take. In the old version, every test-taker had to complete all four sections — English, Math, Reading, and Science.
In the new version, you can focus only on the sections that matter for your college or career path. This means if a program doesn’t require Science or if you’re stronger in Math and Reading, you can skip the sections you don’t need.
The test becomes more personalized, making it less about doing “everything” and more about doing your best where it counts.
Here’s a quick comparison to help you see how the two versions differ in terms of section requirements and delivery method:
Each section has been tightened and refined. The questions are designed to measure understanding, critical thinking, and problem-solving rather than rewarding sheer memorization.
The enhanced ACT doesn’t just change the questions. It changes how your performance is measured and how long you have to complete the test. These adjustments are designed to make the exam fairer, less exhausting, and more aligned with how students learn today.
First, the total test time has been reduced.
Shorter sections and a more focused design mean students can give their best effort throughout the exam, without burning out by the end. It’s still a challenging test, but one that respects your focus and energy.
The biggest shift, however, is in the way you’re scored.
In the past, every test-taker received a composite score across all sections, regardless of their strengths or interests. Now, you can choose which sections to take — and your score will reflect only those areas. This gives students a chance to highlight their abilities, rather than being weighed down by sections that aren’t relevant to their future studies or careers.
For example, if you’re pursuing a major that doesn’t require Science, you can skip that section altogether, and your composite score won’t be impacted.
Conversely, if you want to showcase strength in Math and Reading, your final results will be based on those sections alone.
The optional Writing portion remains available for students who want to demonstrate their writing and critical thinking abilities.
Suppose a student chooses to take only the Math and Reading sections. Let’s say they score 32 in Math and 28 in Reading. Their final composite score would be the average of those sections — in this case, (32 + 28) ÷ 2 = 30.
If another student takes three sections — Math (31), Reading (29), and Science (27) — their composite would be (31 + 29 + 27) ÷ 3 = 29.
This approach gives students the freedom to focus on areas that matter for their future, rather than being weighed down by sections that aren’t relevant. The result is a more accurate picture of their abilities and a better fit for the path they want to pursue.
These changes mean that the ACT becomes a more tailored experience. It gives students more control, allows for deeper focus, and ultimately produces a score that truly reflects their abilities and goals. In short, the new ACT is not just a test — it’s an assessment built for the way students learn and perform best.
This approach gives students the freedom to focus on areas that matter for their future, rather than being weighed down by sections that aren’t relevant. The result is a more accurate picture of their abilities and a better fit for the path they want to pursue.
These changes mean that the ACT becomes a more tailored experience. It gives students more control, allows for deeper focus, and ultimately produces a score that truly reflects their abilities and goals. In short, the new ACT is not just a test — it’s an assessment built for the way students learn and perform best.
The new format brings changes to timing, questions, and scoring, making the test more flexible and tailored to students’ needs. The table below shows a side‑by‑side comparison of the old and new versions of the ACT:
These timing and format changes reflect how testing is evolving, especially in a digital-first environment.
Similar to the Digital SAT changes, the Enhanced ACT helps students test smarter, not harder. Knowing these details helps you plan your time more efficiently and feel confident going into test day.
Use these insights to shape your study schedule, explore digital ACT tips, and make informed choices about optional sections.
For many students, the ACT has always felt like a one-size-fits-all test. But the enhanced ACT changes that by offering more flexibility, smarter scoring options, and an updated test-taking experience.
These differences aren’t just cosmetic; they affect how students study, what colleges see, and how results are calculated.
That’s why taking ACT diagnostic tests early on is more important than ever to identify strengths and create a focused prep plan tailored to this new format.
Regular ACT English: The traditional test focused heavily on grammar, punctuation, and usage, making up roughly 55% of the questions. Another 32% tested production of writing (organization, unity, and cohesion) while about 13% targeted knowledge of language (style, tone, and vocabulary).
Total: 45 minutes, 75 questions.
Enhanced ACT English: The new version is shorter and more balanced. It still evaluates grammar and usage, but gives more weight to production of writing and knowledge of language, making these sections roughly equal in focus. Students have less total time but must be just as sharp across both areas.
Total: 35 minutes, 50 questions (plus ~10 field-test questions not scored).
Regular ACT Math: The traditional test covered algebra, geometry, and some trigonometry, with an emphasis on procedural fluency and problem-solving. Students had to work quickly to complete all questions.
Total: 60 minutes, 60 questions.
Enhanced ACT Math: The new version is slightly shorter and focuses more on applying math to real-world scenarios. It still covers algebra, geometry, functions, and statistics/probability, but includes more context-driven questions.Total: 50 minutes, 45 questions (plus ~4 field-test questions not scored).
Regular ACT Reading: The traditional test featured four passages (literary narrative, social science, humanities, and natural science) with ten questions per passage. It emphasized comprehension, inference, and reasoning under tight time constraints.
Total: 35 minutes, 40 questions.
Enhanced ACT Reading: The updated version allows more time per passage by slightly reducing the number of questions. It still emphasizes comprehension and inference, but also encourages deeper analysis and synthesis of ideas across the text.Total: 40 minutes, 36 questions (plus ~9 field-test questions not scored).
Regular ACT Science: This section required students to answer 40 questions in 35 minutes. It tested critical thinking, data interpretation, experimental design, and the evaluation of scientific models — not specific scientific knowledge.
Total: 35 minutes, 40 questions.
Enhanced ACT Science: Science is now an optional section. The format and focus remain largely the same — interpreting data and analyzing experiments — but students have more time, making it a better fit for those applying to science-focused programs.
Total (if taken): 40 minutes, 40 questions (plus ~6 field-test questions not scored).
The enhanced ACT doesn’t just look different—it genuinely affects how students perform and how they prepare. With optional sections, digital formats, and superscoring, the updated version allows students to approach the test more strategically. This change can lead to less test-day pressure, better focus, and higher scores in their strongest areas.
Here’s how the changes can impact performance:
Let’s say two students are preparing for college.
One takes the regular ACT and studies all five sections equally, even though they’re already strong in Science.
The other student chooses the enhanced ACT, skips Science, and spends that extra time reviewing grammar rules, practicing timed reading passages, and solving tricky algebra problems.
As a result, the second student performs better where it counts and scores higher overall, because their prep was aligned with what the test measured.
In summary, the enhanced ACT allows students to prepare smarter, not harder. It rewards intentional study, reduces unnecessary pressure, and gives students the tools to focus on what matters most, leading to stronger scores and better outcomes.
The enhanced ACT brings in changes like optional sections, digital formats, and superscoring. But what’s the reason behind this shift?
This new approach makes the ACT more student-friendly, performance-driven, and better aligned with modern college admissions priorities.
The enhanced ACT may be more flexible, but it still requires thoughtful, focused preparation. Here’s how students can approach the updated format with confidence and clarity:
When it comes to digital test prep, EdisonOS stands out as a complete and intelligent solution tailored for modern learners. Whether you're studying at home or on the go, EdisonOS helps you ace the online ACT with tools designed for the Enhanced ACT format.
What makes EdisonOS unique?
The launch of the enhanced ACT is reshaping how students, tutors, and colleges think about standardized testing. Its goal was to give students more control and make the test more relevant — but its early rollout has been met with a mix of optimism, skepticism, and confusion.
With the ability to pick sections that matter and an overall shorter test, students can focus on their strengths and reduce fatigue. The optional Science section and increased time per question have been popular changes, allowing test‑takers to work more methodically. In theory, this creates a better experience for students and a more tailored measure for admissions.
Although the ACT claimed a successful launch, student and industry feedback told a different story. ACT announced that over 16,000 students participated in the first Enhanced ACT on April 5, 2025, describing it as a “vote of confidence” for its new format.
However, many test‑takers faced serious technical issues:
Tutors and prep companies responded with skepticism. PM Tutoring openly recommended avoiding the digital version until its glitches were resolved, advising students to “take the paper format as long as it’s offered” because its scaling is better understood. Other tutoring firms echoed the sentiment, urging students to “stay away from the digital ACT for a few months” until the test’s kinks were worked out.
Even in the college admissions space, reactions have been mixed. Some admissions teams view the new version as too streamlined and have expressed skepticism about its ability to measure proficiency reliably, especially with fewer questions and embedded field test items making scaling more volatile.
Meanwhile, students are grappling with confusion about which version to take and uncertainty about how colleges will accept the new scores.
As of early 2025, most colleges have yet to release definitive policies for the enhanced ACT. The trend suggests a cautious “wait‑and‑see” approach. Admissions teams recognize the benefits — more focus, more student choice, and an experience that mirrors modern learning environments.
But with questions about reliability, harder math questions, and widespread technical glitches, many institutions are still evaluating how (or if) these scores will fit into their review process.
The Bigger Picture
The enhanced ACT is an ambitious attempt to modernize standardized testing. Its promise — making the test more flexible, fair, and aligned with student interests — is sound. But its execution has been shaky. Technical issues, harder questions, and a lack of clarity about college policies have left students and educators wary.
This uncertainty creates an opening for trusted platforms like EdisonOS, which can help students and institutions navigate the transition, providing reliable practice materials, guidance, and support until the ACT delivers a polished and stable experience.
In short, the enhanced ACT has reshaped the conversation — and those who can help students adapt will have a pivotal role in its future.
The enhanced ACT marks a new chapter in standardized testing — one that promises more choice, a sharper focus, and a test better aligned with the way students learn today.
But its early rollout has been met with both optimism and skepticism. Technical glitches, harder questions, and uncertainty about how colleges will interpret the new scores have left many students and families questioning their next move.
The good news is that this doesn’t have to be a roadblock. By focusing preparation on the sections that matter, practicing with official or trusted materials, and staying alert to evolving college policies, students can approach this new version of the test with clarity and confidence.
As the ACT refines its format and more guidance emerges, those who adapt quickly and intentionally will be well positioned to make the most of the changes.
In the end, the enhanced ACT is more than just a test — it’s an opportunity for students to showcase their strengths in a more personalized, flexible way. Stay informed, stay prepared, and trust that with the right approach, you can make this new version of the ACT work to your advantage.
The enhanced ACT is an updated version of the ACT with optional Science and Writing sections, digital test options, and flexible retesting.
The enhanced ACT format rolls out nationwide starting in September 2025.
If your child is testing before fall 2025, stick with the regular ACT; otherwise, prepare for the enhanced ACT, especially if they prefer digital testing or superscoring.
Yes, starting September 2025, students can choose between digital and paper-based formats for the enhanced ACT.
No, the difficulty level is similar—the changes mainly offer more flexibility and targeted prep options.
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