Major 2025 ACT Changes Continue in 2026: Shorter Test, Optional Science Section

The landscape of standardized testing is currently undergoing its most significant transformation in decades. For years, the ACT was known for its breadth and grueling Science section—a “trial by fire” that tested a student’s ability to answer a wide array of questions under time pressure. However, since the Spring 2025 testing cycle, the ACT has pivoted to meet the demands of a new generation of applicants, and the updated version continues to be used in 2026.

At The Best Test Prep, we stay at the forefront of these changes to ensure our students aren’t just reacting, but are proactively taking advantage of them. The ACT’s shift to a shorter, more flexible format has been a game-changer, so understanding these updates is critical for any motivated student looking to maximize their score and strengthen their college applications.

The “Core” Redesign: More Time, Less Fatigue

The headline change has been the dramatic reduction in test length. The core ACT—now consisting of English, Math, and Reading—has been shortened from three hours to roughly two. This change isn’t just about getting students out of the testing center earlier; it is a fundamental shift in how the test measures cognitive endurance versus academic skill.

In the previous version of the ACT, students often struggled with “test fatigue,” leading to a dip in performance during the final sections. In addition to reducing the total number of questions in the core sections by 44, the ACT has effectively increased the time allotted per question by roughly 22%.

For example, in the Reading section, students now have more time to engage with passages before answering questions. In the Math section, reducing the number of answer choices from five to four aligns the ACT with other standardized tests and statistically improves the odds for students who need to make an educated guess on more difficult problems.

The Science Section: From a Requirement to an Option

Perhaps the most controversial and discussed change has been the status of the Science section. Starting in spring 2025, the Science section became officially optional. This means that for the first time in the history of the exam, the Science score is no longer factored into the ACT Composite score, which is now the average of only the English, Math, and Reading scores. 

For students who would struggle with the Science section’s rapid-fire data interpretation requirements while fatigued towards the end of their test, this is a massive relief. However, the Science section isn’t disappearing—it remains available as a standalone elective, much like the Writing section. Students who choose to take it receive a separate category score that colleges can view as an additional data point.

The Strategic Choice: Should You Take the Science Section?

Because we cater to highly motivated students, our advice at The Best Test Prep is nuanced: “optional” does not always mean “ignore.” While you can now achieve a perfect 36 Composite score without touching the Science section, it still can hold enormous value for applicants. Though not quite as grueling as it once was, like the Writing section, scoring well in it is a very impressive accolade that’s difficult for admissions officers to ignore. Never forget that admissions are a competition with a human element, so if everything else is equal but one applicant has an impressive Science score while another didn’t take it at all, the former is likely to be admitted over the latter. 

Of course,  a student’s planned course of study matters. If you’re aiming for a STEM-heavy program (such as engineering at MIT or physics at Caltech), we definitely recommend taking the Science section. Admissions officers at these elite institutions have indicated that they value the Science score as a predictor of a student’s ability to handle lab-based data and to reason scientifically. Conversely, if you are a humanities-focused student, opting out of the Science section allows you to pool all your energy and focus into the core sections, potentially resulting in a higher Composite score.

Quality Over Quantity: The Impact on Scoring

With fewer questions on the exam, the margin for error has tightened. Since 2025, every single question on the ACT has carried more weight. In the old format, you might have been able to miss several questions in the English section and still walk away with a high score, but under the new guidelines, even a few careless mistakes could result in a more significant score drop.

Precision is now the name of the game. At The Best Test Prep, we place a heavy emphasis on the mastery of all material that the ACT covers and razor-sharp test-taking mechanics needed to translate that material into points on the test.

Preparing for the 2026 Cycle

The recent changes are the ACT’s answer to the Digital SAT. By offering a more streamlined, less exhausting experience, the ACT remains a formidable alternative for students who prefer a straightforward, curriculum-based exam.

As you prepare for your 2026 test dates, remember that your strategy must evolve alongside the test. Focus on mastering the core English, Math, and Reading sections, and make a deliberate, strategic decision about the Science section based on your situation. The “Enhanced ACT” is here, and with the right preparation, it offers a clear path to college admissions.