Advice for the New Digital ACT

The ACT is changing. Well, sort of.

In April 2025, students will have the option to take the Digital ACT. But don’t worry. Students can still opt to take the paper ACT. The paper ACT will not reflect the new changes listed below…until the Fall of 2025.

HERE ARE THE KEY CHANGES:

• It’s DIGITAL

• Reduced number of questions overall (44 fewer)

• Reduced test length. Students can receive their college-reportable Composite score after 125 minutes of testing, rather than up to 195.

• More time per question.

• Students can now choose to take the ACT National test with or without the science section. (check with target colleges to see if they require the science section)

If you're gearing up for the ACT, here’s my advice: stick with the Traditional ACT (aka the classic paper test) for now. I know the Core ACT is rolling out this April—it’s shorter, and the science section is optional—but trust me, we don’t want to be guinea pigs for a brand-new test format. Anytime a big change happens, there are glitches, tech issues, and policies that colleges haven’t figured out yet.

Another big problem? There are almost no practice materials for the Core ACT right now. Test prep is all about strategy, and if you can’t practice with real tests, you’re walking in blind. The Traditional ACT, on the other hand, has tons of official practice tests available, which means you can prepare with confidence.

So what should you do? Sign up for the paper test and include the science section when you register. Why? Because colleges are still deciding how they’re handling the science-optional Core ACT. If you take the Traditional ACT with science, you’re covering all your bases.

Moral of the story? Don’t overcomplicate things. Take the test that’s tried and true, get your best score, and move on. You’ve got bigger things to focus on—like getting into the school of your dreams.

Got questions? Reach out to us: info@satelliteprep.com