Kaplan Comments on Major Changes to the ACT® Exam, Set to Launch in 2025

Rhea-AI Summary

Kaplan comments on major changes to the ACT® exam set to launch in 2025. The test will be reduced from three to two hours, with shorter passages and fewer questions. Science section will become optional, offering flexibility for students to showcase their strengths. These changes come amid a trend of top universities reinstating standardized test requirements post-COVID.

Kaplan's 2023 survey reveals that 15% of test-optional schools are considering or will definitely reinstate the requirement. Additionally, 67% of these schools state that competitive test scores enhance applications. Kaplan plans to educate stakeholders about these changes and update their preparation courses accordingly.

Positive

• Reduced test duration from 3 to 2 hours, potentially improving student performance
• Increased flexibility with optional Science section
• Trend of top universities reinstating standardized test requirements
• 67% of test-optional schools say competitive scores help applications

Negative

• Significant changes may require extensive revision of test preparation materials
• Potential confusion for students and educators during transition period

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- The following statement about ACT’s announcement on sweeping changes to the ACT test set to begin rolling out in spring 2025 comes from Heather Waite, director of college admissions programs, Kaplan:

“These represent some of the most significant changes to the ACT in its more than 60-year history, with many aspects from its length to content seeing revisions. In general, we think these changes are student-friendly, especially the testing time being cut from three to two hours. The test will include shorter passages on the Reading and English sections and fewer questions in each section – 44 fewer questions in all, allowing test takers more time to thoughtfully answer each question. While the new ACT will still challenge test takers’ time management skills and remain an experience they have to prepare for, it won’t be quite the marathon it has been.

“Another major change to the exam will be the Science section no longer being mandatory. Like the Writing section, which had already gone optional, Science will be offered as a separate section with its own score, meaning that test takers can choose to take the ACT, the ACT plus Science, the ACT plus Writing, or the ACT plus Science and Writing. This additional flexibility allows students to highlight their academic strengths to colleges that they alone decide on. Keep in mind that the test does become longer if you take these additional stand-alone sections.

“These changes come at a time of big developments on the college admissions landscape, including the recent trend of many top colleges and universities — including Harvard, Yale, Dartmouth, Brown, the University of Texas, and Caltech — to reinstate the standardized test requirement, which they had dropped during the COVID pandemic. And results from Kaplan’s 2023 college admissions officers survey find that these schools will most likely not be alone for long. Of the more than 200 test-optional schools Kaplan surveyed late last year, 15 percent said they are considering reinstating or will definitely reinstate the requirement. The survey also finds that among these same test-optional schools, 67 percent say if a student submits a competitive college admissions exam score, it helps their application.

“Over the next few months, Kaplan will do what it does best whenever there’s a test change of this magnitude: educate students, parents, and high school counselors about what this means for them and revamp our courses to make sure we effectively prepare students for Test Day.”

Contact russell.schaffer@kaplan.com to speak with a college admissions expert.

ACT® is a registered trademark of ACT, Inc. Kaplan is the official partner for live online prep for the ACT.

About Kaplan

Kaplan, Inc. is a global educational services company that helps individuals and institutions advance their goals in an ever-changing world. Our broad portfolio of solutions help students and professionals further their education and careers, universities and educational institutions attract and support students, and businesses maximize employee recruitment, retainment, and development. Stanley Kaplan founded our company in 1938 with a mission to expand educational opportunities for students of all backgrounds. Today, our thousands of employees working in 27 countries/regions continue Stanley’s mission as they serve about 1.2 million students and professionals, 15,000 corporate clients, and 3,300 schools, school districts, colleges, and universities worldwide. Kaplan is a subsidiary of the Graham Holdings Company (NYSE: GHC). Learn more at kaplan.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240717486999/en/

Press Contact: Russell Schaffer, russell.schaffer@kaplan.com

Twitter: @KaplanEdNews

Source: Kaplan, Inc.

FAQ

What are the major changes to the ACT exam announced for 2025?

The ACT exam will be reduced from 3 to 2 hours, feature shorter passages, fewer questions, and make the Science section optional. These changes are set to launch in spring 2025.

How will the Science section change in the new ACT format?

The Science section will become optional, similar to the Writing section. Students can choose to take the ACT with or without the Science section, offering more flexibility in showcasing their academic strengths.

What percentage of test-optional schools are considering reinstating standardized test requirements?

According to Kaplan's 2023 survey, 15% of test-optional schools are considering or will definitely reinstate standardized test requirements.

How do competitive ACT scores impact applications at test-optional schools?

Kaplan's survey found that 67% of test-optional schools say if a student submits a competitive college admissions exam score, it helps their application.