Blogs on ACT/SAT

The ACT is evolving to provide students with more flexibility, accessibility, and efficiency. Starting in 2025, the test will undergo significant changes to improve the overall testing experience. This comprehensive guide will cover all the new updates, compare them with the previous format, and address common questions. Starting in April 2025, students who choose to test online will have more flexibility and choice, experience a shorter test, and get more time to respond to each question. Beginning with the September 2025 test, all students testing on a Saturday, either online or on paper, will experience these benefits. Schools and districts will have these options starting in spring 2026. Overview of Key Changes in ACT The upcoming changes aim to streamline the testing experience while providing more options for students. Here’s a breakdown of the major updates and how they compare to the previous format: 1. Fewer Questions, Same Challenge Starting in 2025, the ACT will feature a notable reduction in the total number of questions across all sections. The test, long known for its fast pace, is adapting to allow students more time per question. Here's a quick breakdown of the changes: English Section: Reduced from 75 to 50 questions. Math Section: Dropping from 60 to 45 questions. Reading Section: Going from 40 to 36 questions. Science Section (optional): No change; 40 questions 2. Shortened Test Duration One of the most notable changes is the reduction in test duration. The total number of questions will be reduced by 44, cutting down the overall test time from 195 minutes to 125 minutes. This shorter test is designed to reduce fatigue and improve focus, allowing students to complete the exam more efficiently. Previous Format: Up to 195 minutes with five sections (including a separate experimental section). New Format (2025): Reduced to 125 minutes. The experimental questions are now integrated into the scored sections,  eliminating the separate fifth section. Benefit: The shorter test duration reduces fatigue and helps students stay focused throughout the exam. 3. Optional Science Section Previous Format The Science section was mandatory and part of the Composite score. New Format (2025): The Science section becomes optional. Students can choose whether to take it, and the Composite score will only include  English, Math, and Reading. The Science score will be reported separately if taken. Benefit: This change allows students to tailor the test to their academic strengths and career goals, offering flexibility. 4. Fewer Answer Choices in Math Previous Format: Math questions had five answer choices. New Format (2025): Math questions will now have four answer choices. Benefit: Simplifying the decision-making process can reduce the likelihood of guessing and help students focus more on solving the problems. 5. Revised Composite Score Calculation Previous Format: The Composite score was based on English, Math, Reading, and Science. New Format (2025): The Composite score is now calculated using only English, Math, and Reading. If  the Science section is taken, its score will be reported separately. Benefit: This adjustment highlights students’ strengths in core academic areas while providing flexibility in how they approach the test. 6. Increased Time Per Question Previous Format: Time per question was more limited, contributing to a rushed testing experience. New Format (2025): More time is allocated per question across all sections. Benefit: Students can approach each question more thoughtfully, reducing stress and improving accuracy. 7. Optional Writing Section Previous Format: The Writing section was optional but included in the overall testing time if chosen. New Format (2025): The Writing section remains optional, with no changes to its structure or timing. Benefit: Students have the flexibility to decide whether to include the Writing section based on their needs. 8. Integration of Experimental Questions Previous Format: Experimental questions were placed in a separate fifth section, which was unscored. New Format (2025): Experimental questions are now integrated into the scored sections, seamlessly  blended into the test. Benefit: This integration eliminates the need for an extra section, reducing overall test time and improving the flow of the exam. Implementation Timeline: April 2025: The updated format will be available for students choosing to take the ACT online during national test dates in the U.S. September 2025: The changes will apply to all students, including those taking the paper-based test and international test-takers. Spring 2026: Schools and districts will have the option to implement these changes for their students. What’s Not Changing ACT Scale: The score scale remains 1-36. Benchmark Standards: No changes to ACT benchmarks or state-specific achievement standards. Score Reporting: Scores from tests taken prior to the new format will not change. Predictive Validity: The ACT’s ability to predict success in first-year college courses remains unchanged. Testing Formats: Both paper-and-pencil and online testing options will continue to be available. Old vs. New ACT Format Enhanced Features of the Online Testing Platform In addition to these changes, the online testing platform introduces several new tools and features to improve the test-taking experience: Answer Elimination Tool The Answer Elimination Tool on the ACT online test is designed to help test-takers eliminate incorrect answer choices during the multiple-choice sections, improving the chances of selecting the correct answer. Answer Masking Tool The Answer Masking Tool is designed to help students focus more effectively on the question itself by hiding the answer choices. Scientific Calculator The Scientific Calculator is a built-in tool available for use in the Math section. It is designed to assist test-takers in solving more complex mathematical problems that require advanced functions. Highlighter Tool The Highlighter Tool is a feature designed to help students emphasize key information in the test content, particularly in reading and passage-based questions. Line Reader Tool The Line Reader Tool is designed to assist students in focusing on one line of text at a time, helping them stay organized and avoid distractions. This tool is particularly useful for students with reading difficulties or those who benefit from visual tracking support. Magnifier Tool The Magnifier Tool is an accessibility feature designed to assist students who may have visual impairments or those who need to zoom in on specific parts of the test to see the content more clearly. Text-to-Speech Tool The Text-to-Speech Tool is an accessibility feature that reads the test content aloud to students, providing an auditory option for those who may benefit from listening to the text rather than reading it visually. This tool is especially useful for students with visual impairments, learning disabilities, or those who struggle with reading comprehension. Time Remaining Indicator The Time Remaining Indicator is a crucial feature on the ACT online test that helps students keep track of the time left to complete their test. Mark for Review The Mark for Review feature allows students to flag questions that they want to revisit later during the test. Contrast Tool The Contrast Tool on the ACT online test is an accessibility feature that helps improve readability for students with visual impairments or those who have difficulty distinguishing between text and background colors. FAQs About the ACT Changes 1. Who should take the Science section? Students aiming for STEM fields or planning to take science courses in college should consider taking the Science section. It allows them to demonstrate their proficiency in scientific reasoning and data interpretation. 2. How will the composite score be calculated? The Composite score will now be calculated using the English, Math, and Reading sections only. If students choose to take the Science section, its score will be reported separately. 3. What about superscoring? Starting April 2025, Superscoring will include the highest scores from English, Math, and Reading. This method ensures that students' best performances are reflected in their Composite score. 4. How will experimental questions affect the test? Experimental questions will be integrated into the scored sections, but they will not impact a student's score. These questions are used to test future exam content. 5. Will scores be delivered in the same timeframe? Yes, score delivery will remain within the usual two-to-eight-week window. Students can expect their results in the same timely manner as before. 6. Is the Writing section still optional? Yes, the Writing section remains optional. Students can choose to take it based on their college application requirements or personal preference. 7. Will there be new test prep materials? New practice tests and preparation materials aligned with the updated format will be available by early 2025. Current materials still provide valuable preparation as the core knowledge and skills assessed by the ACT remain unchanged. Conclusion: Why These Changes Matter The ACT’s new enhancements are designed to create a more flexible, accessible, and efficient testing experience. By reducing the overall test length, providing more time per question, and offering optional sections, the ACT is tailoring the test to better meet the needs of today's diverse student population. These updates ensure that students can showcase their abilities in a supportive environment, paving the way for academic and career success. Whether opting for the online format or sticking with traditional paper testing, these changes reflect the ACT’s commitment to evolving with the educational landscape. Related blogs: ACT vs SAT: Which test should you take?Overview of ACTDigital SAT Scoring Decoded: Scoring, Parameters, and Tips to Improve Your Score

The digital SAT has caused a stir among students preparing for it and also among tutors/teachers helping them prepare for it. The new SAT will now be a Multi-stage Adaptive Test with two modules per section. Though the Math section remains pretty much the same (except that calculators are now allowed for the entire section), the Verbal section has changed a lot. It will only have one section called the Reading and Writing section and instead of long passages with multiple corresponding questions, it will have short and discreet passages and questions. You can read an extensive explanation of the changed testing pattern and specifications here. With the SAT going digital outside the US in 2023, there was a dearth of practice resources for students and tutors. So, Vibrant Publishers released the first-ever digital SAT practice resources: Practice Tests For The Digital SAT, Digital SAT Reading and Writing Practice Questions, Digital SAT Math Practice Questions, Mock Test #1, and Mock Test #2. These resources compile 1000+ practice questions, answer explanations, and distractor explanations for the Reading and Writing and Math sections. Along with these resources, Vibrant Publishers is adding a new book – Digital SAT Supreme Guide – to an already vast expanse of resources for the Digital SAT. The book is an all-inclusive guide for students and tutors alike. The book is filled with lucid explanations, ample practice drills, full-length tests, and much more. Request the Advance Review Copy of the book on Netgalley to have an early look at the book. The book is going to be out in September 2024! If you’re a tutor, these resources will be assets in preparing your pupils for the new test. Read on to find out how you can make the most out of them.   Instruct and Inform Before beginning to gear up your students for the digital SAT, you may need to explain to them the new MST model, various question domains for the Reading and Writing and Math sections, go still deeper to explain each skill/knowledge (sub-categories in the domains), and the tests’ other features. For this, you can use the dedicated introductory chapters in each book to give your students a thorough understanding of the digital SAT. You can elaborate on each question type with a supporting sample question too. This extensive explanation will lay a strong foundation for further teaching.   Give Comprehensive Practice With a huge bank of 1000+ practice questions at your disposal, you can give comprehensive practice to your students. These questions can be used in different ways to cater to different needs – as model and practice questions for teaching a particular topic, for curating specialized tests, for giving module-wise practice tests from Practice Tests For The Digital SAT, and even for using them as home assignments.   Use Questions for Structured Practice The two practice questions books can be used to practice each question type asked in the Reading and Writing and Math sections of the new test. These resources will enable you to give a structured practice to your students. The explanations for the correct as well as incorrect choices can be used to elaborate on how to arrive at the right answer and eliminate the wrong ones.The difficulty-wise segregation is also a plus point if you want to first give practice of easy questions and then slowly move on to medium and difficult ones.    Test with Full-length Mock Tests After finishing the practice phase, instill confidence in your students with five full-length practice tests that are replicas of the real SAT. Providing practice tests will reveal a student’s weak areas and will give them a chance to work on and improve them. The full-length Mock Tests can be utilized when the test day is near. For these Mock Tests, you can time your students and encourage them to complete the tests within the specified time limit of the digital SAT. The tests will also reinforce the teachings and give an authentic testing experience.  Happy Teaching!   Join our WhatsApp group to get access to free practice questions daily 

Ability to add large numbers quickly in your head is a neat trick – helpful when you are grocery shopping or trying to figure out how many runs your favorite player has made in a series.Adding 397 to 918 in your head may sound tricky.It is easier to handle numbers when they are rounded off.So 397 becomes 400 and 918 becomes 920.It is now easier to add 400 to 920. The total is 1320.To arrive at the original equation, we have to figure out how much we added to our original numbers.400 – 397 = 3 and 920 – 918 = 2. So we have added a total of 5 to our original numbers.So we subtract  5 from 1320.1320 – 5 = 1315.So 397 + 918 = 1315.Get lots of Math practice problems for standardized tests like the SAT, ACT, GRE and GMAT in the Test Prep Series books of Vibrant Publishers.