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Preparing Students for the Enhanced ACT: A Timeline for Educators

  • February 4, 2025

The ACT® is set to undergo significant changes, impacting both national test dates and school and district test administrations. Educators need to be aware of these changes to effectively prepare their students. Here’s a breakdown of the timeline and preparation strategies.

  • Enhanced ACT: Key Dates for School and District Test Administrations
June 2024

ACT completed a linking study to align the new test format on a common scale. A linking study is used to ensure assessments that vary in format can be aligned on a common scale.

October 2024

A dual mode study was conducted to ensure consistency between online and paper tests. Approximately 8,000 students participated and received a college-reportable score.

April 2025

Soft launch of Enhanced ACT for national test dates. Students can choose online format and get the new test format, or go with paper and stick with the prior format. Science section is optional for online test-takers.

Note: This only affects national test dates (not state and district test administrations).

September 2025

All national and international test administrations will use the new format regardless of whether you paper vs. online format.

Spring 2026

School and district test administrations will transition to the new format. This means that the 2025-26 school year will be a critical period for preparing students for the Enhanced ACT. All ACT test administrations will follow the new format moving forward.

  • Preparation Timeline for Educators
  • Current School Year (2024-2025)
  • Early 2025: Familiarize yourself with the upcoming changes. You can start by checking out the ACT website and the MasteryPrep Guide to the Upcoming ACT Changes.
  • Spring 2025: Continue preparing students for the current ACT format. Use existing resources and practice tests tailored to the current structure to ensure student sare well-prepared for the tests in the 2024-25 academic year.
  • After Spring 2025 Test Day: After the Spring 2025 school test day, discuss the upcoming changes with students who will be participating in a national test administration.
  • Transition Period (Summer 2025)
  • Summer 2025: Develop a comprehensive plan for transitioning to the Enhanced ACT. This includes updating teaching materials, practice tests, and preparation strategies. [Note: MasteryPrep will provide updates in Spring and Summer 2025 about how we are adapting our products and services to align with the new Enhanced ACT format.]
  • Predictable Success
  • Fall 2025: Begin full-scale preparation for the Enhanced ACT. Integrate new practice tests and resources into your curriculum that reflect the changes in question types, time allocations, and optional Science section.
  • Ongoing: Regularly review and adjust preparation strategies based on student feedback and any further updates from ACT.
Early 2025

Familiarize yourself with the upcoming changes. Visit the ACT website and check our the MasteryPrep guide to the upcoming changes here.

Spring 2025

Continue preparing students for the current ACT format. Use existing resources and practice tests tailored to the current structure to ensure they are well-prepared for the tests in the 2024-25 academic year.

After Spring Test Day

After the Spring 2025 school test day, discuss the upcoming changes with students who will be participating in a national test administration.

Summer 2025

Develop a comprehensive plan for transitioning to the Enhanced ACT. This includes updating teaching materials, practice tests, and preparation strategies.

Fall 2025

Begin full-scale preparation for the Enhanced ACT. Integrate new practice tests and resources into your curriculum that reflect the changes in question types, time allocations, and optional Science section.

RELATED READING:

The Complete MasteryPrep Guide to the Upcoming ACT® Changes

At MasteryPrep, we want to ensure schools and districts are aware of these changes, which students on national test dates will start experiencing these as early as April 2025.

  • Why Start Early?

Starting early gives educators ample time to adjust their teaching materials and methods to the new format. It also allows students to gradually acclimate to the changes, reducing stress and improving their performance on the test.

  • Key Changes to Prepare For
  • Reduced Number of Questions and Increased Time Per Question: Educators need to emphasize time management and deeper understanding of each question.
  • Optional Science Section: Students should be aware that the Science section is optional and how it will affect their composite scores.
  • Rebalanced Reporting Categories: Adjust study plans to focus more on the skills and topics that will be more heavily weighted in the new format.

By following this timeline and preparation strategy, educators can ensure their students are well-prepared for both the current and Enhanced ACT formats, setting them up for success in their college admissions journey.

Learn More About the Upcoming ACT Changes

Watch a webinar recording featuring Craig Gehring, CEO and Founder of MasteryPrep, and Oliver Pope, Chief Product Officer, to learn more about the upcoming changes and what educators should expect.
Watch Now

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ACT® is the registered trademark of ACT, Inc. Some items in MasteryPrep programs are the copyrighted content of ACT, Inc. and are reproduced with permission. SAT® is a trademark of the College Board. MasteryPrep LLC has no affiliation with College Board MasteryPrep SAT programs are not approved or endorsed by College Board. The Texas Success Initiative Assessment 2.0 (TSIA2) is an ACCUPLACER® exam, which is a trademark of College Board. MasteryPrep has no affiliation with College Board or the Texas Success Initiative (TSI), and the TSIA2 Mastery program is not approved or endorsed by College Board or the TSI. WorkKeys® is a registered trademark of ACT, Inc. The WorkKeys programs are not approved or endorsed by ACT, Inc.

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