The 2025 Enhanced ACT Explained
Written by: Eric Kim, Founder of Matter
Updated:
June 18, 2026
Introduction
As of the national transition in September 2025, the ACT Science section is optional, and the Composite score is now the average of English, Math, and Reading only. ACT calls the redesigned test the “enhanced ACT.”
This is Matter’s parent guide to what changed, what it means for your child, and when it took effect. The ACT is published by ACT Inc. For the full orientation, start at our ACT Resource Hub.
What changed with the enhanced ACT
ACT confirms four changes that matter to families
Science is optional. It no longer counts toward the Composite.
Composite is the average of English + Math + Reading only, even if you take the Science section.
A shorter, streamlined test, with shorter passages and more time per question.
Math answer choices dropped from five to four on the enhanced test.
Section scores still report on the familiar 1–36 scale, and ACT states that enhanced scores are comparable to and interchangeable with legacy scores (Enhancements for Higher Ed).
The enhanced ACT at a glance
The enhanced ACT has three required multiple-choice sections, one optional multiple-choice Science section, and one optional essay.
SECTION
QUESTIONS
TIME
REQUIRED?
English
50
(40 scored)*
35 min
Required
Mathematics
45
(41 scored)*
50 min
Required
Reading
36
(27 scored)*
40 min
Required
Science
40
(34 scored)*
40 min
Optional
Writing (essay)
1 essay
40 min
Optional
Total testing time: 2 hours 5 minutes (required sections only)
*The “scored” count is lower than the total because each section embeds field-test (experimental) questions that do not count toward the score.
Is the Science section optional?
Yes, Science is now an optional add-on. When your child takes it, Science is reported as a standalone 1–36 score and does not feed the Composite.
Matter perspective: whether your child should take Science is a college-by-college decision, not an ACT rule. Some colleges still want a Science score, particularly for STEM-heavy programs. Check each target college’s testing requirements before opting out. Taking Science also unlocks the STEM score, which we cover in the ACT Score Report Guide.
How the Composite changed
The Composite is now the average of the English, Math, and Reading sections only, rounded to the nearest whole number.
One thing didn’t change. Each section is still scored 1 to 36. ACT does not recalculate scores earned before the conversion. A legacy four-section Composite stays as it was reported.
A shorter, streamlined test
ACT claims that the enhanced test uses shorter passages and gives more time per question, improving the testing experience without changing difficulty or how scores are interpreted (Enhancements for Higher Ed).
SECTION
OLD ACT
ENHANCED ACT
English
36 sec/q
42 sec/q
Math
60 sec/q
66.67 sec/q
Reading
52.5 sec/q
66.67 sec/q
Science
52.5 sec/q
60 sec/q
When the changes took effect
ACT rolled the enhanced test out in stages (Enhancements for Higher Ed)
Spring/summer 2025 (online): national online testing in April, June, and July 2025 used the new Composite, with Science optional.
Through summer 2025 (other events): state and district, international, and paper-based national ACT events continued to report the legacy four-section Composite.
September 2025: the national transition point. Every test administered from September 2025 onward uses the English/Math/Reading Composite, online and paper alike.
What it means for your child
For most families, the enhanced ACT is a shorter test with one real decision attached. That decision is whether to take optional Science and/or Writing. Base it on your child’s target colleges and intended major, not on the test alone. If any target school requires or strongly recommends Science, take it. If none do and your child’s strengths are English, Math, and Reading, the core three may be enough.
Common questions about the enhanced ACT
Does skipping Science lower the Composite? No. Science does not count toward the Composite, whether or not your child takes it.
Is the Writing essay also optional? Yes. Writing is optional and, like Science, does not affect the Composite.
Are enhanced scores comparable to older ACT scores? ACT states enhanced scores are comparable to and interchangeable with legacy scores, and pre-conversion scores are not recalculated.
Is the ACT adaptive now? No. The ACT is linear. Every student at a given administration sees a comparable test, with no mid-test difficulty shifts.
Knowing what changed, the next step is deciding which format to sit for and reading the score report you get back. For those and the full set of guides, return to the ACT Resource Hub.