![This May, student's exams will shift away from the paper and focus on the computer. "Environmentally, the resources to create and ship paper exams is a lot, [and] that will now be eliminated," Test coordinator Jessica Brawner said.](https://lancerfeed.press/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/AP-Exams-Featured-photo-1200x800.jpg)
Starting in the spring of 2025, the ACT science portion will no longer be a required part of the standardized test. However, this change will not be introduced to school-wide test administration until 2026, meaning juniors taking the ACT offered by LHS in April will still be required to complete the science portion.
This has happened before to the writing portion of the ACT, which became option in 2005.
Because of this change, students can now sign up to take either the ACT, the ACT plus science, the ACT plus writing or the ACT plus science and writing according to an article released by Jane Godwin, CEO of ACT.
Students who take the ACT plus science will not have their science score affect their core ACT score.
Science teacher Jennifer Jones recommends her students to take the ACT plus science test.
“You have nothing to lose and you want to know your level of understanding so that when you go to college, you’re ready to go,” she said.
Similarly, science teacher Scott Holtmann said it’s unfortunate the science portion is optional.
“I think it’s a valuable part of the test because the critical thinking skills that are demonstrated in the science section are important skills to bring to college,” Holtmann said.
With this change, the exam will continue to grade with its 1-36 scale. Additionally, student’s will be allowed to take the test digitally rather than with pencil and paper.
With the science section now being optional, the core test length is reduced by one third. Instead of the whole test lasting three hours, now it will only last two. The core ACT test will also shorten its length by a total of 44 questions and have shorter passages on the English section, giving students more time to answer the questions.
“This change is designed to make the testing experience more manageable for students, enabling them to perform at their best without the fatigue that often accompanies longer exams,” Godwin said in the article.
