The enhanced ACT is shorter than the older version: it has 44 fewer questions, more time per question, an optional Science section, and a Composite score built from just English, Math, and Reading. If you have seen older guides that describe a longer four-section test, do not worry. The content and the 1 to 36 scale are the same. The structure is what changed.
What actually changed
The simplest way to think about it: the ACT trimmed the test, gave you a little more breathing room per question, and made Science a choice instead of a requirement. Here is the section-by-section picture.
- English: 50 questions in 35 minutes (the older test had 75 questions in 45 minutes).
- Math: 45 questions in 50 minutes, with four answer choices per question instead of five (the older test had 60 questions in 60 minutes).
- Reading: 36 questions in 40 minutes across four passages (the older test had 40 questions in 35 minutes).
- Science: 40 questions in 40 minutes, and now optional (the older test had 40 questions in 35 minutes and counted it toward your Composite).
- Writing: still an optional 40-minute essay, scored separately, just like before.
The biggest change: Science is optional
This is the headline. On the older ACT, Science was one of four sections averaged into your Composite. On the enhanced ACT, your Composite is the average of English, Math, and Reading only, rounded to the nearest whole number. Science is now a separate, optional section. If you take it, you get a standalone Science score plus a STEM score (the average of your Math and Science), but it does not move your Composite.
Whether you should take Science depends on your colleges and goals, so it is worth a few minutes of research. We walk through that decision in is the ACT Science section optional now and which colleges still want an ACT Science score.
A shorter test, calmer pacing
Because the question count dropped more than the time did, you actually get a bit more time per question on the enhanced ACT, even though the whole thing is shorter. The three core sections take about 125 minutes together, so you can finish the part that makes up your Composite in roughly two hours, rather than the close-to-three-hour experience of the older test. Adding Science or the optional essay extends your day.
What did not change
It is easy to panic about a redesign, but a lot stayed exactly the same, and that is good news for your prep:
- The 1 to 36 scoring scale for each section and the Composite.
- The underlying content and difficulty. The grammar, math, and reading skills tested are the same ones students have always studied.
- No penalty for wrong answers, so it still pays to answer every question.
- The optional Writing essay and how it is scored.
That means almost everything in our section guides still applies. If you are just getting started, see how to study for the ACT.
How it affects your score strategy
With Science out of the Composite, each of the three core sections carries more weight than it used to. One weak section is a little harder to hide when you are averaging three scores instead of four, so balanced prep across English, Math, and Reading matters more. To set a target, read what is a good ACT score.
Digital or paper?
You can take the enhanced ACT on a computer or on paper, and both versions test the same content. The choice mostly comes down to your comfort and a few practical differences, which we cover in should you take the digital or paper ACT.
The bottom line
The enhanced ACT is shorter and more flexible, but it tests the same skills on the same scale. Learn the new structure, decide whether Science fits your plans, and prep the three core sections with confidence. The test changed shape, not substance.
Start practicing
Start with a free diagnostic, then drill your weak spots with 15-question quizzes and track how you're doing across Reading, English, and Math. Compare plans whenever you're ready to go further.
This article offers general ACT prep guidance. The ACT can change from year to year, including its format, scoring, policies, test dates, and fees, so always confirm the latest details on the official ACT website at act.org before you make decisions. ACT® is a registered trademark of ACT, Inc. thirty-six is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by ACT.