Key facts about the Enhanced ACT
~2h 5m
Down from ~2h 55m
Optional
No longer in composite
E + M + R ÷ 3
Science excluded
Why did the ACT change?
The ACT began rolling out the Enhanced format with online national testing in April 2025, extending to all paper testing by September 2025. The organization cited student and educator feedback requesting a shorter, less fatiguing test that still measures the same core academic readiness.
Rather than a full redesign of content difficulty (like the recent digital SAT overhaul), the ACT changes focus heavily on test length, section structure, and optionality. The underlying skills tested in English, Math, and Reading remain consistent with prior versions. Because the difficulty remains stable, historical percentile benchmarks and college score expectations have not shifted dramatically.
Old ACT vs Enhanced ACT: every change
Shorter test time
Before (pre-2025)
~2 hr 55 min (core sections)
Now (Enhanced ACT)
~2 hr 5 min (core sections)
Total time spent in the test room dropped by nearly 50 minutes for the core English, Math, and Reading sections, significantly reducing test-taker fatigue. You now have more time per question, making the test feel less like a sprint.
Science section
Biggest changeBefore (pre-2025)
Required, part of composite
Now (Enhanced ACT)
Optional, separate STEM score
Science is no longer mandatory and does not affect your composite. It pairs with Math to form an optional STEM score for students who want to showcase science readiness to engineering or pre-med programs.
Composite formula
Before (pre-2025)
Avg. of English, Math, Reading, Science
Now (Enhanced ACT)
Avg. of English, Math, Reading only
Dropping Science from the composite means English, Math, and Reading now each carry exactly 33.3% of the weight in your headline score, up from 25%. Strong readers and mathematicians benefit greatly from this shift.
Fewer questions
Before (pre-2025)
215 total core questions
Now (Enhanced ACT)
Significantly reduced question counts
Question counts were trimmed across English, Math, and Reading. The difficulty of the questions remains the same, but the reduction allows for deeper focus and fewer careless errors caused by rushing.
Reporting categories
Before (pre-2025)
Composite + 4 section scores
Now (Enhanced ACT)
Composite, section scores, STEM score, ELA score
New optional STEM (Math + Science) and ELA (English + Reading + Writing) scores give colleges a more granular view of your specific academic strengths without altering the core 1-36 composite.
The Math Behind the New Composite
Removing the Science section from the core composite fundamentally changes how your score is weighted. Previously, each section accounted for 25% of your final score. Now, the remaining three sections carry significantly more weight.
Old Weighting (÷ 4)
- English25%
- Math25%
- Reading25%
- Science25%
New Weighting (÷ 3)
- English33.3%
- Math33.3%
- Reading33.3%
- ScienceExcluded
The Takeaway: If you excel in ELA (English/Reading), this format heavily favors you, as language skills now dictate 66.6% of your composite score. If Science was historically your strongest subject, you will need to double down on Math to maintain a high STEM profile.
Should you still take the Science section?
Since Science no longer affects your core composite score out of 36, the decision to sit for the extra section comes down to your intended major and target colleges.
Take it if you're applying to:
Engineering, pre-med, computer science, or any STEM program where admissions or scholarship criteria specifically reference a STEM score. It is also worth taking if you are naturally a strong science student—providing an extra data point of excellence on your application rarely hurts.
Skip it if you're applying to:
Humanities, business, nursing, or liberal arts programs with no heavy STEM emphasis. Skipping it shortens your test day significantly, saves you money on registration, and has zero effect on your headline composite score.
How to prepare for the new format
Adjust Your Pacing Strategy
With fewer questions and a shorter overall time, the "minutes-per-question" ratio has increased. Take updated practice tests to get a feel for this new, slightly more relaxed pacing. Do not rush out of habit.
Double Down on English & Reading
Combined, the reading-heavy sections now make up 66.6% of your composite score. If you previously relied on Science to boost a lower Reading score, you will need to shift your study focus heavily toward grammar rules and reading comprehension.
Make an Early Decision on Science
Research your target colleges and majors early. If none require the STEM score, you can completely eliminate Science from your study plan, freeing up dozens of hours to perfect your Math and English concepts.
See your Enhanced ACT composite
Our calculator is fully updated for the new Enhanced ACT formula. Enter your raw English, Math, and Reading scores to see how the new 3-section average affects your final score and national percentile.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Enhanced ACT?
The Enhanced ACT is the redesigned version of the ACT that rolled out starting with national online testing in April 2025 and full paper testing by September 2025. It is shorter, makes the Science section optional, and changes the composite score to an average of English, Math, and Reading only.
Is the Enhanced ACT shorter than the old ACT?
Yes. Core testing time (English, Math, Reading) dropped from about 2 hours 55 minutes to approximately 2 hours 5 minutes. The total question count for the core sections was reduced, and each section now gives test-takers more time per question on average.
Is Science still on the ACT?
Science is now optional. Students choose whether to take it. If taken, Science is reported as its own scaled score and combines with Math to produce a separate STEM score, but it no longer factors into the main composite score.
How is the Enhanced ACT composite calculated?
The composite is the average of your English, Math, and Reading scaled scores (each 1–36), rounded to the nearest whole number. This differs from the pre-2025 ACT, which averaged four sections including Science.
Should I take the Science section if it is optional?
Take Science if you are applying to STEM-heavy programs, engineering, or pre-med tracks, since some admissions committees and merit scholarship criteria still look at STEM scores. If your target schools do not emphasize STEM readiness, skipping Science shortens your test day with no effect on your composite.
Do colleges know if I took the old ACT format or the Enhanced ACT?
Yes, score reports indicate which format was taken and colleges are aware of the national transition. Admissions offices are adjusting their review processes accordingly, and composite scores remain comparable in meaning even though the underlying formula changed.
How does superscoring work with the Enhanced ACT?
Colleges that superscore will continue to take your highest section scores across multiple dates. If you submit a mix of old (4-section) and new (3-section) test scores, the ACT provides a standardized conversion so colleges can calculate your new 3-section composite superscore accurately.
Is the Enhanced ACT cheaper if I skip the Science section?
Yes, opting out of the optional Science section generally reduces your registration fee, operating similarly to how the old optional Writing section was priced.