Changes made for the ACT Exam

(AP) – The science section will be optional on the ACT exam, and the exam duration will be decreased, the organization announced earlier this week.
The writing section was made optional in 2005. Students can now opt between several versions of the test: the ACT core exam (which includes reading, math and English), the ACT plus writing, the ACT plus science or the ACT plus science and writing.
The average score from the core subjects will generate the composite score. All subjects will still be scored on a scale from 1 to 36. Students will continue to be able to choose between taking the test online or with paper and a pencil.
The duration of the core exam will be reduced from three hours to two hours by making reading passages shorter and cutting out 44 questions total.
The changes will start with online testing in spring of 2025 and “school-day” testing in spring of 2026.