Students signing up for the June ACT may have noticed surprising language in a “Study Agreement” from ACT: the possibility that they may be assigned a “new ACT test” with fewer questions, or the full-length ACT. Since College Board announced its plan to release a new, fully digital and adaptive version of the SAT, which premiered on March 9th 2024, educators have wondered if ACT would follow in College Board’s footsteps and significantly revise its digital version of the exam.
To date, the digital version of the ACT is simply that: a digital version of the paper-and-pencil test. Whether you circle in a bubble sheet or click a mouse to answer a question, the two ACTs are the same. However, this new language suggests ACT may be in the process of reworking its digital exam, at the very least to be shorter. At this point, we can only speculate about the possible changes (e.g. if this new ACT will include shortened passages, discrete items, or follow the SAT’s multistage adaptive model) and when this new ACT may be released.
Academic Approach will keep you posted as more information becomes available.