The ACT is following in the footsteps of the SAT in creating an online version of the test and changing the test format. Starting online only in April the ACT will offer the science section as test optional. The composite score of the test will only consist of the average of the math, reading, and english scores. ACT is also reducing the test length by 44 questions and reducing the time from 195 minutes to 125 minutes. The answer choices for the math questions will be reduced to 4 answers instead of 5. This will allow the students more time per question and hopefully reduce the stress of the longer test. The paper version of the test will not change until September of 2025. In the fall of 2025 all composite scores will be changed to the average of the three scores. Super scoring will still continue to allow students to get their best possible scores to be sent to colleges.
What does this mean for our Juniors as they start signing up to take the ACT? ACT will release the test preparation materials for the new test sometime early next year. The most recent ACT test prep book for 2024-2025 has the same format as the current test. When the SAT was changed it had been used in Europe for a couple of years before being given in the US. As far as I know this new ACT will be used for the first time in April. No one knows if the questions will have the same level of difficulty or how the scores will compare to the current ACT. This makes it difficult for parents and students to decide whether to take the current ACT or wait for the new version. As a parent, I am leaning towards having my daughter take the current version in the fall and see how she scores. I am leery of a new test that has not been used before and currently has no practice materials to prepare. I would rather have usable scores on the current version and then wait and see what the overall scores are like on the new test. Students can always take the online version June or July of 2025 if the test scores seem to be higher. We will have to wait and see as this evolves whether or not the online test is ready to go in April. As with the online SAT there are bound to be glitches that first test as everyone tries to sign in on the same site. Every parent will have to decide which version of the test they think will be best for their child. Nothing like adding in another uncertainty in the college admissions process!
Kommentare