Maximize Your ACT Success This September and Beyond!
The September ACT is here and unlike its counterpart the SAT it remains a paper and pencil exam, but not for long. This exam holds just just as much weight as the SAT in the college admissions process! With comparable math and English sections, the ACT does currently differ from the SAT with its additional science portion. This test is a great option for students who enjoy science and have strong reading comprehension skills! It is a fast paced exam, so students should work on developing strong test taking and time management skills. These are skills that they will carry with them throughout their educational journey. However, the September ACT and December ACT test dates are some of the last few paper and pencil exam dates available!
Changes to the ACT are Eminent
Recent changes announced this summer underscore the ACT’s commitment to student flexibility and well-being. Starting in Spring 2025, students will have the option to choose whether to take the science section, mirroring the optional writing section format, which was a previous ACT update. This change allows students to focus on their strengths, opting for the core English, reading, and math sections that contribute to their Composite score, or adding science and writing for a more comprehensive assessment. The Composite score will still be calculated on a 1-36 scale, ensuring consistency and reliability. Moreover, the ACT has shortened the test length by up to one-third, depending on the version students choose. The revised core test will now take just two hours instead of three, with fewer questions and shorter passages in the English and reading sections. This adjustment aims to reduce fatigue, enabling students to maintain focus and perform optimally.
Read the CEO of the ACT, Janet Godwin’s, full update here
The AJ Approach to the ACT
With over twenty years of experience, AJ Tutoring is well prepared to support students ahead of the paper and pencil exam dates (and digital)! We offer flexible and highly customized test preparation to our ACT students. Our one-on-one approach allows our tutors to pinpoint what areas of the test your student needs to concentrate on all while leveraging their areas of strength to lead to score improvement. Our curriculum team has worked tirelessly to update our approach and tutors to align with the new digital test version. The digital test will require new strategies as opposed to the paper and pencil exam, and our tutoring team is ready to lead your student to success. Our team is also still helping students prepare for their paper and pencil exam date!
Next Steps for ACT Preparation
AJ Tutoring is ready to help families navigate this ever changing test preparation landscape. Whether that is for paper and pencil ACT preparation, DACT or DSAT preparation, our tutors are standing by to offer support. Still unsure of which test your student should take? There are several options available that can help you with that decision!
Take an ACT Diagnostic
Connect with an AJ College Counselor
Talk to an AJ Director to get advice
Whatever decision you make, AJ Tutoring is here to help!
