What is different about the Enhanced ACT?

There are many test format changes, including: The Enhanced ACT is 125 minutes (about 2 hours) instead of ~195 minutes. Similar to the digital SAT, pacing Each section has fewer questions overall, so you actually get more time per question. That means in the ACT English & Reading sections, you can spend extra seconds reading carefully and eliminating answers. In the new ACT math section, there are now four answer options rather than five. The ACT Science section is now completely optional (and the Writing section continues to be optional). You can choose the ACT Core (English, Math, Reading) or add on Science/Writing sections of the ACT, depending on your goals. The Science test can be a great addition if you’re applying to a STEM college. Students can choose between taking the Enhanced ACT as a paper test or digitally. Learn more about the changes in our blog post.

How does Acely compare to an ACT prep course?

Acely is an ACT prep program that offers self-paced, personalized guidance so students can easily pinpoint weaknesses and tackle the new format of the official ACT test. With an online course, students get a broad overview of the basics through learning modules, an ACT study guide, and tutorials. These can be helpful for students starting from scratch. While a course can help cover fundamentals, Acely’s ACT test prep provides: 4,200+ targeted questions that are ideal for drilling weaknesses. 10++ full-length mock exams (far more than the 2 Enhanced exams ACT offers) so you never run out of test-like practice. Personalized, AI-driven study plans that guarantee every minute of your prep counts. Enroll in a course to learn the basics, then use Acely for test-taking strategies that will create real score improvement by your ACT test date.

Enhanced ACT® Prep. Practice Smarter with AI.

Shorter timing, optional science: the Enhanced ACT is different. Study with Acely to guarantee you're practicing the exact, updated format and walking into test day with zero surprises.

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How is the Enhanced ACT® Different?

Shorter Test Length

Fewer Questions

Optional Science Section

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Completely Digital Version

Why the Enhanced ACT® Change is Important

With a shorter format and fewer scored questions, every answer matters more than ever. Old strategies won’t cut it. You need to know the new timing, tools, and layout cold. With Acely’s platform, you’ll get access to everything you need to prepare:

Take a full-length ACT exam or one section
Take the optional Science section
In-depth score report with insights on pacing and accuracy

ACT Study Plan that Adapts in Real Time

Input your baseline ACT score, goal score, and test date, and Acely will create a personalized study plan that dynamically adapts as you practice. The plans are self-paced, but include daily prioritized tasks, so it’s easy to know where to focus.

Create your Free ACT Study Plan

10+ ACT Practice Tests that Mirror the Enhanced ACT

There are only two enhanced ACT practice tests available on ACT’s website. By combining the ACT and Acely’s full-length practice tests, students can complete 1 test per week for 3 months, which helps boost students’ confidence before test day.

Take a full-length ACT exam or one section
Take the optional Science section
In-depth score report with insights on pacing and accuracy

An image of a student on laptop with a sample ACT multiple choice questions over top.

Trustpilot

“By the time test day came, I felt calm and prepared.”

“Acely was monumental in my preparation and if I could do it again, I wouldn't do any of it differently!”

Ani, scored a 35 on the ACT

4,200+ Enhanced ACT Questions for Consistent Practice

All practice questions, hints, and answer explanations are reviewed and verified by Acely’s Curriculum Team for accuracy, difficulty, and structure. The practice problems are consistently updated to ensure students study fully aligned material.

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Progress Dashboards that Keep Students Motivated

Ditch the old prep books that offer zero feedback. Acely’s online ACT prep is built for the new Enhanced ACT. It instantly analyzes your performance, providing the specific, actionable insights you need to see real progress and stay engaged.

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“I felt that Acely was challenging and the most accurate to an actual ACT test.”

Maggie, Acely ACT Student

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$199

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Yearly

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FAQs

Get more insights on the enhanced ACT, goal scores, and more.

There are many test format changes, including:

The Enhanced ACT is 125 minutes (about 2 hours) instead of ~195 minutes. Similar to the digital SAT, pacing

Each section has fewer questions overall, so you actually get more time per question. That means in the ACT English & Reading sections, you can spend extra seconds reading carefully and eliminating answers.
In the new ACT math section, there are now four answer options rather than five.
The ACT Science section is now completely optional (and the Writing section continues to be optional). You can choose the ACT Core (English, Math, Reading) or add on Science/Writing sections of the ACT, depending on your goals. The Science test can be a great addition if you’re applying to a STEM college.
Students can choose between taking the Enhanced ACT as a paper test or digitally.

Learn more about the changes in our blog post.

This all depends on your baseline score, your target score, and your test date.

If you don’t have a baseline score, you can start an Acely trial to take a free ACT practice test and then make your study plan.

To see the most improvement, we recommend studying for at least 3 months for at least 10 hours per week. This can help students boost their score by ~4 points.

With 20 hours of studying per week for 3 months, students can boost their score by more than 9 points. Again, this greatly depends on their starting score.

For best results, we recommend following Acely’s Study Plan that dynamically updates as you take Acely mock exams and work through problems in practice mode.

Acely is an ACT prep program that offers self-paced, personalized guidance so students can easily pinpoint weaknesses and tackle the new format of the official ACT test. With an online course, students get a broad overview of the basics through learning modules, an ACT study guide, and tutorials. These can be helpful for students starting from scratch. While a course can help cover fundamentals, Acely’s ACT test prep provides:

4,200+ targeted questions that are ideal for drilling weaknesses.
10++ full-length mock exams (far more than the 2 Enhanced exams ACT offers) so you never run out of test-like practice.
Personalized, AI-driven study plans that guarantee every minute of your prep counts.

Enroll in a course to learn the basics, then use Acely for test-taking strategies that will create real score improvement by your ACT test date.

This varies depending on the school you’re applying to. This is a great resource to figure out what your target score should be based on a specific school. A great ACT score can boost your college applications significantly.

Don’t forget that you can retake the ACT and submit a superscore to many schools as well. Make sure to research the specific superscore policy for the colleges and universities you’re applying to.