Students read, write and answer. They look at numbers, stories and grammar. For three hours, they work to complete the American College Testing (ACT).

Currently, the ACT consists of four sections. English for 45 minutes, math for 60 minutes, reading for 35 minutes and science for 35 minutes, with a total of 215 questions. An additional writing section is also available to students, and the test can be taken either on paper or digitally. 

However, starting in spring 2025, a new version of the test will emerge. According to the ACT website, it will feature a decrease in both length and material. 

The most substantial change is the removal of science from the required sections. Instead, it will become an optional section of the test and, like the writing portion, will be available to add on during registration. 

Other sections of the test will not be excluded from changes. The English and reading sections will include shorter passages and fewer questions, which according to the ACT Website, will allow students more time to answer. A total of 44 questions will be removed from the test in total, decreasing it by up to one-third of its original length. 

Test-taking time will decrease from three to two hours. Both the composite score and individual section scores will continue to be graded on a scale of one to 36.

According to an Instagram poll conducted by @rcrockmedia, in which 200 students answered, 36% plan on taking the ACT. 

For example, Arshia Koul ‘26 will take the ACT this September. 

“I like the changes. They’re getting rid of the science section and then they’re shortening the test,” Koul said. “There’s no science section on the SAT, so it doesn’t help when you’re comparing the two together, and shortening the test also makes it a lot easier.” 

 Other members of the community possess different opinions. 

Nancy Bermudez works at Elite Academics, a tutoring service that includes preparation for standardized testing. She has been tutoring students in the ACT for seven years. Unlike Koul, she isn’t fond of the changes to come. 

“I don’t know if shorter is necessarily better, [if] taking the science out will be great? I think it’ll be pretty biased after it’s taken out, like it’ll be very humanities focused,” Bermudez said. “Colleges will, I mean, they’re going to come up with a plan, you know, so at the end of the day, I don’t know how optional the science test will be. I think it might hurt you in some situations, or maybe, if you are majoring in science, they may still require it. 

Bermudez also points out how a decreased test length may prove harmful to students’ scores. 

“If they are making it shorter, they’re going to cut back the number of questions, so those questions might weigh a little bit more heavily, right? So, not as much room for error, I guess,” Bermudez said. 

The biggest concern for Bermudez is whether or not a decrease in the test difficulty will affect test takers’ work ethic. 

“I think we’re going to have to do a lot of convincing students that they do actually need to take the science section, you know? It’s kind of like, it’s better to do it now, cover your bases just in case,” Bermudez said. “I guess it’s a little too early to tell, but I think at the end of the day, it really won’t change too much of how schools will look at candidates. So I think it’s better to be safe than sorry.”

According to the ACT website, the organization aims to create a more flexible, open test that allows its takers to focus on certain sections and thrive. For some, these changes are something to look forward to. For others, they’re something to dread.