In recent weeks, I have had a couple of parents reach out to me concerning the new ACT test. These parents are forward thinking: they have freshmen or sophomores who want to get started in ACT prep early, and are worried that if they prepare for the "old" (though still current) ACT that it will be a waste of time.
If you don't feel like reading on (or you can watch this week's YouTube video on it here), here is the short answer: it isn't a waste of time.
However, before I explain, let me take a small step back. The ACT is making what it calls "Enhancements" (aka changes) to the test. These changes begin for students taking the computer or online version of the test in April of 2025. Beginning with the September 2025 test, all students (paper or online) will be taking this new version.
The highlights of the new version? No Science test at all (it is optional), only 4 answer choices in math (as opposed to 5), less overall questions, and an overall shorter test time-wise.
Now, to the question at hand: how to prepare for this test? Well, since the ACT released just in the last couple of weeks its first practice test with the "Enhancements", I can say that the ACT's public stance over the last few months, that the new test will be substantially the same as previous tests, is definitely true.
In other words, it really is the same types of questions and the same content knowledge requirements that are still required in English, Math, and Reading. And, because the test is simply a little shorter, the same strategies still apply to these three tests.
So, however you have been prpeparing, or whatever you can find to help you prepare (I hope you choose my program or books!), rest assured that it is still good preparation!
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If you want some free ACT prep cheat sheets that lay it all out in a few pages, then click here!
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