Okay so boom. The ACT just dropped its latest data and the numbers are giving flop era energy. Like, actually concerning levels of yikes. 📉
Here's the tea: average ACT composite scores hit a THIRTY-YEAR LOW. We're talking 19.4 out of 36. That's the lowest since 1991, which is literally before most of us were even a glitch in the simulation. The class of 2025 is out here struggling and the grown-ups are acting brand new about it.
But wait, it gets spicier. 🍵
The number of students taking the ACT has also cratered. Back in 2020, like 1.7 million kids took it. Now? We're hovering around 1.2 million. That's a massive dip. And honestly? It makes sense. Colleges went test-optional during COVID and a lot of them just... never went back. So students are like "why would I stress over a Saturday morning exam when I can just submit my 3.8 GPA and call it a day?"
Fair. Honestly valid. No notes. 💅
But here's where the plot thickens like a bad smoothie. The students who ARE still taking the ACT? They're scoring lower. Especially in math and science. Reading and English are holding steady-ish but STEM is in shambles. And the gap between high-income and low-income students? Still massive. Still growing. Still a whole mess.
Educators are blaming a bunch of stuff. Pandemic learning loss (obvi). Chronic absenteeism. Grade inflation. The general vibe shift where everyone's brain is fried from doomscrolling and nobody can focus for three hours straight. Relatable honestly. My attention span is cooked too. 😭
But some experts are saying maybe the test itself is the problem. Like, is a standardized exam from the 1950s really the best way to measure if a kid is smart or ready for college? Or are we just traumatizing teenagers for no reason?
The ACT folks are sweating. They're pushing harder on digital testing, shorter exams, more flexible options. They even launched an online version that's like two hours instead of three. Trying to stay relevant like a brand that just discovered TikTok in 2025. A little late bestie but okay.
Meanwhile, colleges are watching this all unfold like a group chat that's been on mute. Some are bringing back test requirements (looking at you, MIT, Georgetown, Dartmouth). Others are staying test-optional forever. It's giving choose your fighter.
So what does this mean for you if you're a high schooler? Honestly? The game is changing. Tests matter less. Essays, extracurriculars, and your actual personality matter more. Which is kinda slay if you think about it. You're more than a number. You always were. 💯
But also maybe still study for the ACT. Just in case. Because life is unpredictable and so are college admissions offices.
**The Bottom Line:**
The ACT is in its flop era and honestly the whole system might need a glow-up. Standardized testing had a good run but the vibes are off and the data doesn't lie. Maybe it's time we stopped judging kids by a bubble sheet and started actually seeing them. Just a thought. 🤷