Key Takeaways

  • The enhanced ACT debuted internationally on September 6, making the science section optional and reducing the test duration from three hours to two.
  • This year’s changes also include a new online version that debuted in April, with more centers offering both paper and online testing.
  • The test now has 44 fewer questions, requiring only 125 minutes to complete the core sections: English, Math, and Reading.
  • Students find the new format more manageable, allowing them to check answers and focus on accuracy instead of rushing.
  • The next ACT test date is October 18.

September 6 marked a pivotal moment for high-school students: The new, enhanced ACT made its debut internationally. With the science section now being optional for everyone, the test has shrunk from three hours to two.

The standardized test has undergone several changes this year, with the ACT debuting its new online version in April 2025. This included the new optional science section, but the online version was only given out at select locations.

Starting with the September ACT, the enhanced test is now offered worldwide with changes applied to the paper and pencil version, and more centers are offering online testing. Students still have the choice to test either on paper or online.

The test consists of 44 fewer questions in the core section of the test (English, Math and Reading), bringing the required test time to only 125 minutes, instead of 195.

These new enhancements are meant to make the ACT easier for students. In the past, the ACT has been known to have shorter times per question, and students have struggled with time requirements.

However, with these changes, students said that they found this test easier time-wise. Jackson Zhao, a senior at Chattahoochee High School who took the ACT this past Saturday, said “having less questions per section allowed me to actually have time to check over my answers compared to when I took it in March.”

Students seem to welcome the changes, describing the enhanced ACT as more approachable and less draining than in previous years. For example, Chattahoochee senior Matthew Wojcik, said that the shortened time is helpful. “It keeps the fast pace of the ACT while shrinking the workload,” he said.

With the test trimmed down, many students feel less pressure to rush through problems and can focus more on accuracy rather than just speed. Wojcik said “time was not an issue at all,” and he said that he felt confident coming into this new test.

The next test date for the ACT is October 18.