Ever since ACT’s CEO Janet Godwin’s July announcement that the the ACT is changing, the rumors have been swirling. After all, the introduction of a completely revamped exam marks a critical moment in ACT history. While the SAT has undergone numerous revisions over the past few decades, the ACT has essentially remained the same, albeit with the addition of an essay. Even the recently introduced computer-based version retains the format and structure of the original paper-based test—it’s just on computer instead. The truth is, if you randomly select an ACT science question from 20 years ago, there’s a pretty good chance that it’s still valid practice for today’s ACT.
All of that is about to change though, and as facts about the upcoming new ACT trickle through the internet, so does misinformation. So, fact or fiction? Here’s the truth about five common myths about the new ACT.
Myth #1: The ACT is changing NOW
Fact: The earliest changes to the exam won’t roll out until the April 2025 administration in the United States. If you’re taking the ACT before that time, you’ll be taking the exact same exam that students have come to know and love (or not) in past years, though U.S. test-takers do have the option to take it on paper or computer—an option added earlier this year. For students testing outside of the U.S., nothing is changing until September 2025.
Myth #2: The new digital ACT will be the same as the computer-based ACT already available
Fact: The new digital ACT will vary significantly from the computer-based exam currently administered. The new exam will feature shorter English and Reading passages and will be shorter as a whole—approximately two hours long as compared to the nearly three-hour length of the current exam. The Science section will also become optional and no longer factored into the composite score. We’ll know more in the months to come, but what we do know is that the new digital ACT will not be just a computer-based version of your parents’ ACT.
Myth #3: Only the computer-based version of the exam is changing—not the paper-based version
Fact: The rollout of the new ACT is occurring in stages. It’s true that in the United States the current computer-based version of the exam is changing in April of 2025 but that U.S.-based students will still continue to have the option to take the same version of the paper-and-pencil test that exists now. However, ACT has announced that starting in September 2025 it will release a new paper version that mirrors the shorter format and structure of the upcoming new digital ACT. Students will still be able to take the exam using bubble sheets and test booklets, but it won’t be the same exam they’re taking today.
Myth #4: What? The ACT isn’t changing!
Fact: The ACT is scheduled to change markedly in the coming year! U.S.-based students preparing to take the exam on computer in April 2025 should gear up to see a brand new test. Students preparing to take either the paper version of the test or an ACT administered abroad should prepare to see the new version in September 2025. You can read about the changes here.
Myth #5: You won’t be able to take the ACT on paper after September 2025
Fact: ACT has announced that it’s committed to continuing to provide a paper version of the new test for U.S.-based students who prefer not to test on computer—at least, for the foreseeable future. For some years now, students testing abroad have only had the option of testing on computer, and all evidence indicates that will continue to be the case.
ACT Timeline
So, in a nutshell, what’s happening? Here’s the timeline for the rollout of the new ACT.
- April 2025: The new digital ACT is rolled out for National online testers. Students taking a paper version of the exam and students testing abroad will continue to receive the same exam as in past years.
- September 2025: The new digital ACT is rolled out abroad, and students taking the paper-and-pencil test will receive a new version of the ACT that mirrors the structure of the new digital exam.
- Spring 2026: State and District test-takers will begin receiving the new version of the ACT.
Check out our ACT Hub to learn more about how the content of the exam will change.
What does this mean for students?
If you’re part of the 2026 graduating class in the United States and are concerned about how to begin your test prep journey, you have a few options. Here are a few different test prep paths to consider so that you can navigate the changes:
- Focus on the SAT. The digital SAT is now a known quantity. It’s been administered a number of times and the College Board has released multiple practice tests on their BlueBook app, which means you have prep resources available.
- Prep for the current paper version of the ACT. Remember, the paper version won’t change until September 2025, so you still have time to prep for and take that version of the test.
- Try the new digital version of the ACT as an add-on at the end of junior year. If you’re feeling relatively confident about your SAT or ACT prep but want to see whether you might fare better with the new, digital ACT, it might be worth trying—with the understanding that your focus until that time is on prepping for one of the existing exams.
We are here to support you through the test prep process, no matter your chosen testing format. Contact us to schedule a free consultation and find out how we can help.
