Is the ACT getting harder?
Asked by: Wallace Reichert | Last update: October 27, 2025Score: 4.4/5 (11 votes)
The ACT tests given today seem to be harder and more time intensive than ones given before 2010. (Lucky you.) Most of the changes are seen in the Science and Reading sections, where the questions are getting more complex and time-consuming.
Will the new ACT be harder?
The new test will have 44 fewer total questions and shorter English and reading passages. Even though the test will be significantly shorter, examinees will have more time per question because they've cut so many questions. Early indications suggest that the test questions are not going to get harder.
What are the changes to the ACT in 2024?
Key Takeaways:
Another college admissions test is getting a revamp. Like the SAT – for which a new format was launched in March 2024 – the ACT is undergoing some adjustments, including a shortened format, optional science section and ability for students to choose between the paper and digital versions.
What is a perfect ACT score in 2024?
Getting a perfect composite score of 36 on the ACT is extremely difficult but not impossible. On average, less than 1% of students achieve a perfect score each year.
Has anyone gotten a 36 on the ACT?
Unsurprisingly, a full 36 is the rarest score of all—just 0.22% of all test takers earned a perfect ACT score.
My Ultimate Guide to the ACT/SAT - *best* tricks w/ MINIMAL studying
Did Will Smith get a 1600 on the SAT?
Will Smith SAT score was a perfect 1600. A rare score few people have earned. Despite this incredible score, Will chose not to attend college, did not even enroll, and decided to pursue his career in music.
Is 27 a good ACT score?
Is a 27 ACT Score (85th Percentile) Good? A 27 ACT score puts you a good deal about the national average (20.8) and makes you eligible for acceptance at a vast majority of schools. It also makes you competitive at some selective institutions, as well as eligible for merit aid!
Is 14 a good ACT score?
Scores below a 15 on the ACT are considered low at just about any four-year college. You can overcome low scores with a great GPA or an outstanding college application. But even if you're accepted, the school may ask you to take some remedial courses before enrolling.
Is 35 ACT good for Harvard?
ACT Requirements for Harvard
At Harvard, the typical ACT score is 34. Harvard is now Very Competitive for ACT scores with this score. ACT scores range from 33 to 35, with 35 representing the 75th percentile.
How competitive is a 32 ACT?
A 32 ACT score is considered quite strong and is generally in the 95th percentile, meaning you scored higher than 95% of test takers. This score is certainly competitive at many colleges and universities, including some top-tier schools.
Is the ACT dropping science?
Beginning in April 2025, students who choose to take the ACT online will see an updated format that's shorter and lets you choose whether to include the science section, allowing for greater flexibility while maintaining the accuracy and reliability colleges rely on.
Is the ACT easier than it used to be?
Relatively speaking, the ACT has gotten “harder” over the years. As students start to do better on ACT, the test-makers gradually adjust the difficulty level of the test. And students have gotten better. In 1970, the average composite score nationwide was 18.6.
Is there writing on the ACT 2024?
Overview of the A C T
The A C T test consists of four multiple-choice sections—English, mathematics, reading, and science—with an optional writing section.
What is the hardest subject in ACT?
Different students may find different sections of the ACT challenging depending on their strengths and weaknesses. However, many students report that the Science and Math sections tend to be the most challenging.
How many students fail the ACT?
However, a record number of students are failing to meet any of the ACT's benchmarks. 43 percent of the class of 2023 failed to meet any ACT college-readiness benchmarks, and only 21 percent met all four (English, math, reading, and science).
Does the ACT get progressively harder?
When those skills and constructs become more complicated and difficult over time, the ACT reflects that. Those changes tend to occur very gradually, however, not usually within a two to three year span.
Is 33 ACT good for ivy?
A 33 is on the lower end of the middle 50% range for Ivy League schools, but it's still within the range. It should be high enough to at least get your application read, provided that your GPA and course rigor are also similar to that of accepted Ivy League students.
Should I submit a 32 ACT to Yale?
Average ACT: 34
The 25th percentile ACT score is 33, and the 75th percentile ACT score is 35. Even though Yale likely says they have no minimum ACT requirement, if you apply with a 33 or below, you'll have a very hard time getting in, unless you have something else very impressive in your application.
What is a perfect ACT score?
What is a Perfect ACT Score? A perfect ACT score is 36. This is the highest possible score a student can achieve on the test. The ACT is scored on a scale of 1-36, with each section receiving a score between 1 and 36, and then a composite score is calculated by averaging the scores from the four required sections.
Is a 1200 ACT score good?
For example, a score in the 75th percentile (approximately a 1200 on the SAT or a 24 on the ACT) would likely be strongly considered at most competitive colleges, while applicants scoring in the 90th percentile or higher (a 1350 on the SAT or a 29 on the ACT) would likely be well received even at highly competitive ...
Is 10 a bad ACT score?
Generally, a score of 8 or higher is above average (90th percentile), and a score of 10 or higher is excellent (99th percentile).
Is 27 a low ACT score?
ACT Test Score Ranges
Each section has a test score range of 1-36: Below Average Score Range: 1-16. Average Score Range: 17-24. Above Average Score Range: 25-36.
Is a 28 bad on ACT?
Is a 28 ACT Score (88th Percentile) Good? A score of 28 places you in approximately the 88th percentile of all high school students. With a 28, you're an extremely competitive candidate at a majority of schools, as well as able to consider applying to more selective institutions as well.
Is 1280 a good SAT score?
A 1280 SAT score is a solid score and can make you a competitive applicant at a variety of schools. While it may be below the average for highly selective colleges, there are many good schools where you would be a strong candidate.
Is the ACT or SAT harder?
15. Level of Difficulty: Is the ACT Test Harder Than the SAT Test? In general, the tests are too similar to determine whether one test is harder than the other.