New for the ACT® in the Fall of 2020

The ACT® is one of two national tests that are designed to judge college entrance preparedness. Taking either this exam or the SAT® is a rite of passage for many high school juniors and seniors, and the testing process generally experiences little change. But, beginning in the fall of 2020, you will see several slight differences. The ACT® has announced that, beginning in September 2020, there will be some small changes to the testing process, particularly involving the reporting of scores. Here is an overview of these changes:

Section Retesting

The first big change will be the allowance of section retesting. In the past, if a student wanted to improve his or her ACT® score, he or she would have to retake the entire test. Now, the student can simply retake specific sections. This will allow students to study more narrowly focused material and will give them a shorter testing time during the retake.

A Superscore

The ACT® is also introducing what’s called the superscore. This score applies to students who have taken the exam more than once. Previously, students had to choose only one score total to use for college admissions. Starting in 2020, students can use a composite score, which takes their best individual test results across multiple test attempts and reports only those scores. The superscore is expected to allow students to reflect their very best test results when applying for admission or scholarships.

Online Testing

The ACT® will also begin allowing students to choose whether to take the National ACT® test using paper and pencil or online. When the test is taken online, results can be available as soon as two business days post-completion. This feature offers students more flexibility in choosing their preferred testing method, and it provides for faster results so testees can make more informed decisions about retaking the exam or moving forward with their current scores.

According to the ACT®, these changes were implemented to better serve students by offering more flexibility. The organization believes that, cumulatively, the changes will help students achieve their maximum potential.