ACT changing college admissions test; local experts discuss what this means for Central Texas students

TEMPLE, Texas (KWTX) - The ACT, a standardized test used for college admissions, is changing in the spring, and Central Texas instructors, college planners and school districts say the change could make testing more manageable for students.

The ACT is a nearly three-hour long standardized test with four core sections: English, math, reading and science. The writing portion is optional. As of 2024, students could take the test online or on paper.

In Spring 2025, the ACT will be nearly two hours with three core sections and an optional science portion.

“The test is going to be shorter, the passages are shorter,” Temple ISD Director of 504 and Counseling Amanda Necessary said. “That will allow students to have more time to answer each question.”

Necessary said that the option of taking the science and writing portions will allow students the choice to show their strengths.

“The beauty of that is it allows flexibility for students to be able to showcase their strengths in the best way possible,” she said.

Morgan Williams, who is a college planner and owner of Class 101 in Waco, said students should be intentional and do their research before selecting which test or sections to take.

“I think, for students, what it means is they need to do their research,” Williams said. “They need to be prepared as far as what format of test they want to take, what subjects they want to take. They also will be on the lookout for colleges to release their requirements as far as what they want to see from a test.”

Carol Paull, who is the instructor at Kumon in Waco and Harker Heights, said students who want to major in STEM should consider taking the science portion.

“If you’re not strong in science, but you do want to have a high ACT score, then that science portion is optional,” Paull said. “I suggest for our STEM majors to always include the science because math and science is what’s really going to set you apart from your peers.”

Paull expects the reason for the ACT Test changing is the evolution of education following the pandemic. Many colleges made the test optional, but, now, many schools require an ACT or SAT score.

Baylor University states “We holistically review a student’s entire application and have no minimum GPA or SAT/ACT requirements for admission. However, we also have a very large applicant pool. Due to the volume of applications we receive, Baylor values standardized test scores as distinguishing factors in a student’s application.”

Texas A&M Admission Department states it “is test optional and will not require ACT or SAT scores for freshman applicants. We encourage students who have test score to send them. The submission of test scores will not create any unfair advantage or disadvantage for those students who provide them.”

“I think, across the board, we have noticed that students’ focus have declined since COVID,” Paull said. “For helping colleges gage where a student’s background is, they do need standardized testing, which is why we’ve brought back the SAT and the ACT. Once you go into college and if you want to do stem, you’re going to have to have a strong foundation in math and science.”

Temple ISD said most of its students take the SAT. The school offers an SAT School Day, and the district funds assessment of all juniors in the Spring.

However, now that the ACT is shorter with an optional science section, the district’s Chief Academic Officer, Renota Rogers, said more students could decide to try the ACT Test.

“With ACT making some similar changes as SAT did in the past year, I think that it’s possible we’ll see more students maybe taking the ACT,” Rogers said. “I think you might especially see that with students who are maybe pursuing studies in the STEM field because they will have that option of adding the science test score.”

Williams emphasized that more students could lean more toward taking the ACT.

As far as the difference between the new SAT and the new ACT, there are many similarities. Both are around two hours. Both can be taken online; however, the SAT is now only administered digitally.

However, the new SAT has a reading, writing and math section; while the ACT has a reading, English and Math section with optional science and writing sections.

The SAT has multiple choice and student-produced responses, and the ACT has only multiple choice.

The SAT is also College Board and follows a similar style as AP exams, according to Williams.

“The difference as far as students making their decision now, a lot of it has come down to where their strengths lie as far as, are they stronger readers? Are they stronger with math? Are they more logical problem solving type thinkers? Or are they a little more by the book,” Williams said. “What has driven the decisions lately for some students is the difference in timing and the difference in the length of the test.”

Williams said the change to the ACT should be an advantage to students who have trouble focusing for long periods of time. It may also benefit students who do not test well in science or writing.

Students who are taken the ACT in 2024 will not see these changes. However, students who are preparing to take the test in the Spring will take the shorter, science-optional exam.

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