A Make or Break Moment for the ACT?

This September marks the first time all weekend testers will sit for the “enhanced” ACT, a redesigned version of the exam designed to be more student-friendly than the legacy test: fewer questions, more time per question, and a now-optional science section that no longer counts toward the composite.

But the rollout has been rocky. Families have complained about scarce practice materials, unclear communication, and uncertainty around scoring. From where I sit, the perception of the ACT has taken a real hit. At Franklin Yard, the share of our students choosing the ACT dropped from 39% in August 2024 to 27% this August. Kentucky’s recent move from ACT to SAT for state testing hasn’t helped the optics either.

Meanwhile, the College Board weathered its own messy transition to the digital SAT—technical glitches, buggy software, and all—and still came out ahead. The number of SAT testers grew in 2024, and while we don’t yet have national data for 2025, interest has remained strong among the families we work with.

That doesn’t mean the ACT should be written off. For some students, it’s still the better test. The SAT leans heavier on dense reading and unconventional math reasoning, while the ACT rewards speed and straightforward problem-solving. The risk now is that students rule out the ACT because of its reputation rather than their own results. The smarter move is to try both tests and see which one plays to your strengths.

The next few months will determine whether the ACT stabilizes or slides into permanent second-tier status. And that matters. A testing landscape with only one major player would be worse for families.

So yes—I’m rooting for the ACT to find its footing.