The Enhanced ACT: What Changed? What Do People Think About It?

The ACT implemented a new format in April 2025 which made the science section optional for an additional $4 fee. This change also reduces the time per question, the amount of questions per section and the overall duration of the ACT. 

The first version implemented was the national online ACT in April 2025 while the national paper and international version will be implemented September 2025. This “new” ACT will not be used for “school day testing” until spring of 2026. 

The more specific changes in this version of the ACT will include 75 less questions, 44 less minutes, added time per question, four answer choices (rather than five) in the math section, shorter reading passages and an optional science portion.

“Even though their scores are going to be higher, scores are going to nationally go up as well, so I don’t think it’s going to give us any kind of competitive edge. And I also feel like it is not preparing students as well as the old test,” said Mrs. Amber Judkins, Mt. Juliet High School’s (MJHS) ACT Prep Teacher and Coordinator.

To compare the older and the enhanced version, the English section had 75 questions to complete in 45 minutes; now, it is 50 questions in 35 minutes. Students will now have 42 seconds per question in the English section, an increase of six seconds from the previous version’s 36 seconds per question.

“It would definitely be more time efficient with people taking it and having to race against the time. It wasn’t that hard before because most of the questions you could answer in a few seconds because it was mainly grammar. It’s good that it’s less amount of questions as to not overwhelm the students,” said a MJHS junior, Omar Rojo-Delacerda.

In the previous version’s math section, test takers were given 60 minutes and 60 questions. The new math section contains 45 questions in 50 minutes. Where test takers had one minute per question, they now have approximately one minute and seven seconds. Also, instead of having five answer choices, students are given four to choose from. 

“I like it because it gives students more time per question, and I feel like most students run out of time on the math section. It kind of saves some of your energy for the questions after in the different sections because you don’t have as many questions to answer. Your brain doesn't feel as dead when you're going into your final sections,” said Claire Warta, a MJHS senior.

As for reading, the former exam allowed 35 minutes to complete 40 questions, but now, there are 40 minutes for 36 questions. It gives students 67 seconds per question compared to the previous 52 seconds per question.

Also, the science portion used to be mandatory with 40 questions to complete in 35 minutes. As of April, it is optional and 40 minutes for 40 questions. Now it is one minute per question compared to 52.5 seconds per question that were given before. 

“I’m … really upset that they’re taking off the science because everybody needs to take science. And a lot of people, even if they really struggle with, like, reading or English, their science will bring their composite up. And I’m also afraid a lot of people won’t take science, thinking they don’t need it, and they’re going to major in something stem related or math related or science related and it just will end up that they needed something that they didn't take,” said Mrs. Judkins.  

The writing section, though, has stayed the same throughout these changes. It is still 40 minutes for one essay. Test takers will still have to pay an additional fee for the writing section.

Without the writing, the duration of the test would be two hours and 55  minutes, and now, it has been reduced by 50 minutes to now be two hours and five minutes.

To continue, since the science is now optional, it is not included in the composite score. Even if someone chooses to take the science portion, it will still not be added to the composite and instead just be scored separately. 

“I think the fact that the ACT science was taken out was good because the skills tested in that specific section are tested all throughout the other parts, so it does not show a student's true science capabilities,” said Leonardo Rodriguez, a senior at MJHS.

Overall, there are different perspectives and opinions on how this enhanced version will impact students from both teachers and students.