If you're prepping for the ACT in 2026, you're taking a meaningfully different test than students took just two years ago. The redesign — officially called the Enhanced ACT — rolled out in stages between April 2025 and spring 2026, and by now it's the only version of the test available. Here's exactly what changed, what stayed the same, and what it means for your prep and your score.
The Enhanced ACT is a shorter, restructured version of the exam that ACT introduced starting in 2025. The three core content areas — English, Math, and Reading — are unchanged in subject matter and difficulty, and the 1–36 scoring scale stays the same. What changed is the number of questions, the timing per question, whether Science counts toward your composite, and the number of answer choices in Math.
| Feature | Legacy ACT | Enhanced ACT (2025+) |
|---|---|---|
| Core questions (Eng/Math/Reading) | 215 | 131 |
| English section | 75 questions / 45 min | 50 questions / 35 min |
| Math section | 60 questions / 60 min, 5 choices | 45 questions / 50 min, 4 choices |
| Reading section | 40 questions / 35 min | 36 questions / 40 min |
| Science section | Required, 40 questions / 35 min, counted in composite | Optional, 40 questions / 40 min, NOT in composite |
| Composite calculation | Average of 4 sections | Average of 3 sections (Eng/Math/Reading) |
| Core test time (no Science/Writing) | ~175 min | 125 min |
| Time per question | Baseline | ~18–22% more |
If you opt into the Science section, your score report shows a separate Science score plus a STEM score — the average of your Math and Science scores — but neither factors into your Composite. The optional Writing section is unchanged and still scored separately on its own 2–12 scale.
This is now a real decision rather than a formality. Take it if any of the following apply:
Skip it if none of your target schools ask for it and you'd rather have a shorter, less fatiguing test day — since Science no longer affects your Composite at all, there's no scoring downside to leaving it out.
| Date | What changed |
|---|---|
| April 2025 | Enhanced format launches for online National Saturday testing |
| September 2025 | Enhanced format extends to paper National Saturday testing; new 3-section Composite applies to all national test dates |
| Spring 2026 | Enhanced format rolls out to School Day (state/district) and international testing, completing the transition |
As of 2026, the rollout is complete — every ACT administered anywhere, in any format, uses the Enhanced structure. If a guide or practice book still describes the 215-question, 4-section test as current, it's out of date.
Mostly yes. The underlying content — grammar and rhetoric rules in English, algebra through precalculus in Math, comprehension strategies in Reading — hasn't changed. What you should update is your pacing: practice full, timed sections using current Enhanced-format materials so your internal clock matches the real test, and get used to 4-choice Math questions instead of 5 (elimination strategy shifts slightly — a blind guess is now a 25% chance instead of 20%). Older materials remain useful for content review; just don't rely on them for timed practice.
Yes, in one specific way: because Science is no longer part of any Composite, your superscore composite now only ever combines your best English, Math, and Reading scores — regardless of which test date or format they came from. ACT still combines section scores across both Legacy and Enhanced test dates in a single superscore report, so if you have scores from before and after the transition, they can still be combined into one composite.
Have scores from more than one ACT sitting? Combine your best sections into your superscore.
Use the ACT Superscore Calculator →Not exactly — it's more accurate to call it less exhausting rather than less difficult. The individual questions are drawn from the same content pool at the same difficulty level as before. With fewer total questions, each one carries more relative weight toward your section score, which can make a single careless mistake slightly more costly. The tradeoff is more time to think per question and a shorter overall sitting, which many students find reduces fatigue-driven errors in the back half of the test. Net effect on your actual score will vary by student — the best way to know is a full-length, timed Enhanced-format practice test.
Is the Legacy ACT still offered in 2026? No. As of spring 2026, the rollout to all testing formats (national Saturday, School Day, and international) is complete. Every ACT administered in 2026 uses the Enhanced format — there is no option to take the old 4-section version anymore.
Is the Enhanced ACT easier than the old ACT? The content and difficulty of individual questions are largely unchanged — same subject matter, same 1–36 scoring scale. What changed is the format: fewer total questions, more time per question, and one fewer answer choice on Math. Some students find this less fatiguing, but each remaining question also carries more weight toward your score, so the format isn't simply "easier."
Should I skip the optional Science section? It depends on your target schools and major. If none of your target colleges require or recommend a Science score and you're not applying to a STEM-heavy program, skipping it shortens your test day with no downside. If you're applying to schools that still request Science (some do), or STEM programs where a strong Science/STEM score strengthens your application, it's worth taking.
Do old ACT prep books and practice tests still work for the Enhanced ACT? Mostly, yes. The subject matter, question types, and difficulty level haven't changed — only the number of questions per section, the timing, and Math's answer choices (4 instead of 5). Older materials are still useful for content review, but you should do your timed, full-length practice using current Enhanced-format materials so your pacing matches the real test.
Does the format change affect ACT superscoring? Yes, in one specific way: the superscore composite itself now only combines English, Math, and Reading, since Science is no longer part of any composite. ACT will still combine your best section scores across both Legacy and Enhanced test dates in a single superscore report. Use our ACT Superscore Calculator to combine scores from multiple sittings, including a mix of old and new format tests.
ACT Score Calculator — calculate your composite from a single test's section scores.
ACT Superscore Calculator — combine your best sections across multiple test dates, old or new format.
What Is a Good ACT Score? — percentile benchmarks by college tier under the current scoring system.