A sneak peak at the new Core ACT has finally arrived! Students planning to take the digital version of the ACT this spring now have access to a full-length practice test.
How can I access the new practice test?
Visit ACT’s Online Sample Questions page, where you’ll find both short collections of sample questions and a full practice test. Sample questions are available in standard, text-to-speech compatible, and screen-reader compatible versions, though at this time the full-length practice test is only available in the standard version. You can choose to take the full exam either in a timed or untimed format.
However, it’s important to note that this test is not scored and was intended to provide students with a sample set of representative questions, but is not necessarily representative of the test as a whole. ACT officials have confirmed that they will release a new sample test in March, and that this test will be accompanied by a scoring scale.
If you plan to take the new digital Core ACT in the spring, be sure to familiarize yourself with the test format. Practice using the on-screen tools, work through the unscored sample questions, and take the full-length practice test before your real exam.
That said, you may not want rush to complete this new test immediately. If you’re planning to work with a tutor to prepare for the new ACT this spring, we recommend holding off for the moment, because resources for the new ACT format are limited at this time. Your tutor can recommend the best time to try out this practice test!
What do we know about the new Core ACT?
The information released by ACT thus far indicates that the new test will strongly resemble the computer-based test that has been administered abroad for some time now—but with a few important differences.
Some of the biggest changes will be to timing and section length. The new exam will be shorter, and students will have more time per question. The science section will be optional, so students who choose not to complete this section will complete a significantly shorter exam. Here is the section breakdown.
- English: This will be a 35-minute section with 50 questions, 10 of which will be experimental. Passages will be reduced in length, and every item will now include a question stem.
- Math: This will be a 50-minute section with 45 questions, 4 of which will be experimental. Answers will include choices A-D, rather than A-E.
- Reading: This will be 40-minute section with 36 questions, 9 of which will be experimental. Passages will be reduced in length.
- Science (optional): This will be a 40 minute-section with 40 questions, 6 of which will be experimental. The new science section will include more questions that require science background knowledge.
What on-screen tools can students use?
The digital testing platform’s tools include
- a timer (which can be hidden)
- a highlighter
- an answer eliminator to cross out answer choices you think are incorrect
- an answer masking tool so that you can temporarily hide answer choices
- a line reader that allows you to block out all but a single line of text
- a flagging tool to mark questions for review
- a scientific calculator (for use in math only)
- a magnifier
- a contrast button allowing you to adjust screen colors
- an index that allows you to skip ahead or go back to previous questions
What’s next?
Stay tuned for a deeper dive as Private Prep’s team of experts investigates the ins and outs of each released exam. In the meantime, you can review our other blog posts about upcoming ACT changes, and if you need help figuring out if the digital Core ACT is right for you—and when to take the exam if so—check out our recommendations here.
Looking for help with ACT prep? Contact us to learn how we can help you achieve your ACT goals.
