The ACT Just Got Shorter. Here's What It Means for Your Student

The ACT is changing again, and this time the news is landing differently for families already stressed about college costs. Starting in September 2025, students who take the ACT online will see the test shrink dramatically. The English section drops from 75 questions to 50. Math falls from 60 to 45. Reading goes from 40 to 36. Science stays at 40. Total testing time on the online version drops to roughly two hours, down from nearly three. For students who take the test on paper, though, nothing changes. Same length, same timing, same format. That two-tier system has parents and counselors asking an obvious question: which version is easier, and which one do colleges actually prefer? The short answer is neither. Colleges don't see whether a student tested online or on paper. The score report looks identical either way. But the shorter online test may give students an edge simply because fatigue is one of the biggest score killers on standardized tests. Fewer questions means less mental drain, and a sharper brain in the final stretch often means a higher composite. There's a money angle here too. The ACT costs $68 without the optional writing section, or $93 with it. Fee waivers cover two free tests for eligible students, but many families don't know they qualify. If your household income falls within certain thresholds, or if your student receives free or reduced-price lunch, they likely qualify for waivers that also cover unlimited score reports and application fee waivers at hundreds of colleges. That matters because the average student takes the ACT more than once. Retaking is one of the most reliable ways to raise a composite score, but each retake is another $68 out of pocket. Waivers turn that into a free do-over. The timing question is just as important. Test dates fill up fast in the fall, and students applying for early decision typically need scores by October or November. Registering late can mean driving to a testing center two hours away, plus a $40 late fee on top of the base price. Families who plan ahead save both money and stress. Here's the part that surprises most people: the ACT still sells an official prep program, but it's not the only game in town. Free resources from Khan Academy and the ACT's own website cover the same ground. Students who grind through a handful of full-length practice tests, timed under real conditions, tend to improve more than students who pay hundreds for a prep course. One more shift worth noting. The science section is now optional on the online test, meaning students can skip it entirely if their target schools don't require it. That's a huge time save, and it lets students pour energy into the sections that actually move their composite. The bottom line: the ACT is getting friendlier, but only for families who understand the new rules. Know your waiver eligibility. Register early. Practice under timed conditions. And if your student struggles with test fatigue, the online version may be the smarter bet. **Our take:** The ACT is quietly making itself easier to afford and easier to finish, but only for students whose families do the homework first. Treat the registration deadline like a bill due date, and treat fee waivers like the free money they are. The families who plan ahead will save hundreds and score higher. The ones who don't will pay for the privilege of learning the same lesson twice.