Okay besties, grab your Stanley cups and sit down because the ACT just did a whole rebrand and honestly? It's giving "we listened to the haters." 💅
For decades, the ACT has been that one standardized test living rent-free in every high schooler's nightmares. You know the vibe: 36 on the brain, four-hour brain fog, and a science section that made zero sense unless you were literally a scientist. But plot twist — the ACT is switching things up starting in 2025, and the internet is lowkey shook.
Here's the tea. ☕
First up, the science section? It's not gone-gone, but students can now flex and choose whether to take it. That's right — the science section is now optional, like a group project where one person does everything. If science isn't your era, you can skip it entirely and still walk away with a composite score. No cap.
But wait, there's more. The test is also getting shorter. The ACT is trimming down the number of questions across the board, which means less time in that cold, fluorescent-lit testing center and more time doing literally anything else. We're talking about cutting the English, math, and reading sections down, so you're not stuck there until your hand cramps into a claw.
And for my overachievers who love to grind — yes, you can still take the science section if you want that STEM flex on your college apps. It's all about options now. Choose your own adventure, but make it standardized testing.
The internet had thoughts, obviously. Twitter (sorry, X) exploded with takes ranging from "finally, they get it" to "too little too late, I already suffered." One user wrote, "The ACT really said 'we're not like other tests' and honestly, it's kind of working." Another posted, "Optional science section? My chem teacher is gonna be so mad rn." 💀
But real talk — why is this happening? Blame the pandemic-era test-optional movement. Colleges went test-optional in 2020 and a lot of them just... never went back. Suddenly the ACT and SAT had competition, and it wasn't just each other. It was the entire vibe of "do I even need this?" So they had to evolve or get left in the dust. Survival of the fittest, but for standardized tests.
The new ACT rolls out for national testing in spring 2025, with online testing options too. So if you're a junior or sophomore, this is your moment. If you're a senior who already took it — my condolences, you were the beta test. 🫡
Here's my take: This is a W for students, period. The old ACT was bloated, stressful, and honestly kind of outdated. Making it shorter and giving people a choice? That's the move. It's not perfect — standardized tests still have their issues — but at least they're finally reading the room.
So yeah, the ACT just pulled a major glow-up. Now if only they could do something about those 8 AM testing times. A girl can dream. 💭✨