Illinois Says Hello Again to the New (and Improved?) ACT
Illinois students have long been required to take a standardized test as a high school graduation requirement. In a significant shift recently announced by the Illinois State Board of Education, that test for Illinois high school Juniors will be the ACT starting next Spring. This change follows a $53 million contract awarded to ACT Inc. over six years, replacing nearly a decade of SAT testing.
Why the Switch?
State Board of Education Chairman Stephen Isoye cited cost as the primary reason. State Superintendent Tony Sanders added that the ACT aligns with Illinois Learning Standards, offers secure online testing, and reduces the administrative burden on school districts.
Illinois switched to the SAT in 2016, renewing the contract several times. Returning to the ACT means familiar territory for many. The state board will collaborate with ACT Inc. to support schools, prepare teachers, and communicate with students and families about the change.
This shift occurs as colleges reassess their admissions processes post-pandemic, with many reinstating entrance exam requirements. Returning to the ACT could impact college admissions strategies and student preparation efforts statewide.
Next Steps:
Educators and administrators must quickly adapt to the new ACT requirements. The state board's support will be vital for a smooth transition as districts attempt to ensure student preparedness. Sanders promised this support in his weekly message to school administrators, “We will help you prepare teachers for the transition and help you communicate with students and families so you can continue doing your best work in teaching and learning,”
In the months ahead, Illinois educators, students, and families will undoubtedly navigate this return to the ACT with mixed emotions. While change often brings challenges, it also presents opportunities for growth and improvement. As Illinois says hello again to the ACT, the collective effort of the education community will be key to ensuring that students are well-prepared and equipped for success in their academic journeys
ACT Changes:
Here’s what we currently know:
1. The Science section will be optional. The remaining three sections (English, Reading, and Math) will continue to be scored out of 36 points. The three scores will be averaged to calculate a student’s composite score.
2. The online version will be shortened by up to one-third. The new test will be just over two hours in total, several minutes shorter than the digital SAT. The Reading and English sections will include shorter passages and 44 fewer questions, with students having more time per question. The knock on the ACT has always been the need for strict time management, and this adjustment will provide 22% more time per question.
Big Questions Remain:
Currently, students can choose between the online and paper versions of the ACT. However, the word is that the paper-and-pencil test will keep the current timing structure and the mandatory science section until September 2025. So, the first obvious question involves how admissions departments will reconcile two separate ACT tests. Will students who take both the paper-and-pencil tests and the shortened digital exam be able to superscore their results? Will the already tricky process of finding seats at nearby test centers become even more challenging? Will the staggered rollout of the shortened digital exam and the fact that students can choose between two different versions further complicate the already tenuous conversion of SAT and ACT scores?
The first Saturday administration of the revised test will be in the Spring of 2025, and they won’t appear in the schools’ administration until the Spring of 2026. Let’s hope we don’t have to wait that long to get all these questions answered.