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How does scoring work on the Enhanced ACT?

The most important change: the Science section is no longer part of the Composite score. The ACT Composite is now an average of English, Reading, and Math only, with Science reported as a separate, optional score.

What about prior ACT Composite scores that include Science? Is Science still included for those?

ACT is not recalculating old Composite scores—once you have a Composite from the classic ACT, it remains unchanged. However, if your student takes the Enhanced ACT, their superscore from the ACT will be recalculated using only English, Math, and Reading, even if some of those section scores came from classic ACT administrations. The key distinction is that ACT's own Superscore Report now excludes Science from its Composite calculation, but colleges retain access to all underlying section scores and have discretion over how they evaluate them.

My child is a junior and currently prepping for the ACT. Should they take the ACT Science section?

Our recommendation: it depends. While Science no longer affects the Composite score, a number of colleges still require or recommend it for the Fall 2026 application cycle. Schools that explicitly require Science this cycle, for example, include Georgetown, Boston University, and Pomona; schools that strongly recommend Science include Duke and University of Michigan. For students planning to apply to 10-12 schools, the likelihood that none will recommend Science is low. Having the score provides valuable optionality; it's better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it.

However, unless the Science section forms an important piece of the student’s application, no individual college Science section policy consideration is going to outweigh the benefit of optimizing the Composite score. That is, even if Science is recommended for a student, it should be de-prioritized in favor of the core sections until the target Composite score has been reached. And for juniors prepping now, there will be time for additional sittings to book a Science score if necessary

Specific considerations:

• STEM applicants should certainly take the Science section. Many STEM-focused universities recommend it, and a strong Science score naturally complements a STEM-focused application.
• Non-STEM applicants have more flexibility. As one’s college list—and those colleges’ policies re: ACT Science—evolve, it’s still important to keep an eye on the Science section, but it shouldn’t be a priority until the target Composite score is on the books.

What if my 11th grader already reached their target score on the old ACT with Science?

Current 11th graders who took the old ACT early should consider their Composite without Science to be on the safe side. If Science is pulling up your Composite—meaning removing the Science score would lower the Composite—consider retaking the ACT so your superscore reflects where you want it to be from the core sections (English, Reading, and Math).

Can my student superscore across the classic ACT and the Enhanced ACT?

In most cases, yes. ACT's own Superscore Report will combine the highest section scores from any test event, whether classic or Enhanced. Most colleges are expected to superscore across versions, as they did when the SAT transitioned to its new format in 2024. However, there are exceptions: Harvard, for example, has stated it will only superscore classic scores with classic scores and Enhanced scores with Enhanced scores. Check the policies of your student's target schools to be sure.

Are there any other considerations with the Enhanced ACT's scoring?

Yes. With fewer questions on the Enhanced ACT, each one carries more weight, which can make scores less stable from test to test—even for consistent performers. We recommend students plan to sit for multiple official administrations to ensure they have sufficient opportunity to show their best. Most students benefit from taking their chosen test 2-3 times: the first attempt establishes a baseline, the second typically shows additional improvement, and a third attempt can fine-tune scores if necessary.

That said, beyond a few sittings, quality preparation between tests matters far more than the number of attempts. Forum's tutors will develop a strategic testing calendar that aligns with your student's prep progress, school schedule, and application timeline.

One additional note: some experts recommend paper testing over digital where available, as the digital format has experienced occasional technical issues with calculators and highlighting features. Colleges do not distinguish between paper and digital scores.