2025: Update on ACT / SAT Changes
This year marked a major change in college admissions testing: the SAT began fully digital exams back in March. Although there were small-scale issues, overall the switch from a paper and pencil exam to a fully digital one happened smoothly. 2025 is set to be another year of major changes.
SAT
I always caution against taking a new test in the first six months because I’ve seen how College Board’s change process can negatively impact students. We are now past the introductory phase.
Overall, I’ve found students like the shorter format of the digital exam. Content-wise, the short reading paragraphs are substantially better than the long passages (especially the “old” passage, if you remember that.) Use of the built-in Demos calculator on all questions beats the old “no calculator” section.
However, the digital SAT isn’t perfect. Most students still don’t understand the significance or strategy of the adaptive scoring. While the exam itself is shorter, having fewer questions means each one “counts” more, making it more challenging.
As a test prep professional, I find a lot of coachable material with the digital SAT. It isn’t an easy test, but most students can find clear areas for improvement with the right strategies. The biggest downside remains the lack of practice material.
ACT — Paper and Pencil
First, I like paper and pencil testing. I think it is beneficial for students for many reasons. First, students are more likely to eliminate answer choices and do important scratch work with a paper exam booklet. Also, I find students read more carefully when they read on paper. These are skills I coach with my digital testers, but if given a choice, I generally recommend the paper test.
For 2025, students will have the option of taking the traditional paper and pencil ACT.
The changes to the paper and pencil version of the ACT will go into effect in September. This is less helpful to current juniors unless they want to take another ACT early in the fall of their senior year. Most changes will be relevant to current sophomores.
The changes to look for:
- Shorter sections with fewer questions
- More time per question
- Optional science section
- Four choices per math question (down from five)
- Some shorter reading selections
Overall, these are all changes that should benefit students.
ACT — Digital
If you read my comments on the SAT above, you know I can’t recommend taking the digital exam this spring. ACT started limited offerings of the digital version last February, but having a small handful of student using the online system at once is very different from trying to get tens of thousands of students testing on the same day, (If you remember crashing AP exams during the pandemic…) I would advise my own child to wait, let ACT work out any possible glitches, and stick to the paper and pencil version.
The digital ACT will mirror many of the changes coming for the paper and pencil test: shorter sections, more time per question, optional science, etc. The digital ACT will also have many features to help students with approved accommodations including a zoom feature to enlarge print and text readers.
ACT — What’s NOT Changing
Both the digital and paper versions of the ACT have some key factors that won’t change:
1. Scoring
The ACT will continue to use the 36 point scoring system. Students who opt out of science (fall for paper, April for digital) will be scored on English, math, and reading.
2. No Adaptive Scoring
Unlike the SAT, the ACT will remain a linear exam. This is good for students.
3. Tested Content
Although passages may be shorter in English and reading, the tested content will remain the same.
4. All Multiple Choice
Unlike the SAT which has student produced response questions in math, the ACT will be fully multiple choice. (I’m not counting the optional essay because no colleges use those anymore; the essay is only a factor if your state uses the ACT as a state-level exam.)
Conclusion
We are still in a time of significant change for standardized testing. Some of the changes have benefited students, but some are problematic for the uninformed test taker. More schools have made the ACT/SAT a requirement for admission and the differences between the ACT and SAT are still significant.