ACT 2025-26 Test Dates and Enhanced Analysis

Digging deep into the upcoming changes to the ACT

ACT released two important documents this week. First, we finally received the national administration schedule for the 2-25-26 academic year. Note that today is the deadline to register for the April ACT!

Second and more valuable in many ways was a Comparison of the Legacy and Enhanced ACT® Test, which presented the new test structure and content redistribution. This is to say that ACT is keeping all of the legacy (current) Reporting Categories but shifting some priorities. If this topic interests you, I recommend diving into my full analysis of ACT Enhancement Content Rebalancing. Here are the main points:

• ENGLISH: Items testing Production of Writing (topic development and organization, unity, and cohesion) and Knowledge of Language (word choice, style and tone) will be more common.

• MATH: Test takers will see far fewer Integrating Essential Skills items—the ones that test mastery of concepts typically learned before 8th grade—and maybe less wordy problems.

• READING: Shorter passages!

• SCIENCE: Optional as far as ACT is concerned. Look for the addition of an engineering and design passage and the inclusion of more items requiring scientific background knowledge.

Last but not least, anyone sitting for the March 8 SAT should be taking a full practice test in Bluebook this week. Consider that your dress rehearsal for opening night of an important performance. Contact us to schedule a review if you haven’t already!