Your Student’s SAT or ACT Isn’t the Same Test You Remember

Your Student's SAT or ACT Isn't the Same Test You Remember

If your student is a sophomore or junior right now, they’re preparing for a pair of tests that look meaningfully different from the ones you might remember. Both the SAT and the ACT have undergone significant overhauls, and the changes affect not just how the tests are structured, but how students should prepare for them.

This isn’t cause for alarm. But it is worth understanding. The families who tend to feel most caught off guard are the ones who assumed the tests were still the same.

The SAT went fully digital, and the format changed with it

As of March 2024, the SAT is entirely computer-based. Students no longer take it on paper. But the shift to digital wasn’t just cosmetic. It came with structural changes that affect how the test works from the inside out.

The test is shorter. Where students once sat for close to three hours, the digital SAT now runs about two hours and fourteen minutes. The question count dropped from 154 to 98. That means each question carries more weight, and there’s less room to recover from a rough start.

The bigger change is adaptive testing. The SAT now adjusts in real time. Each section, Reading & Writing and Math, is split into two modules. How a student performs in the first module determines the difficulty of the second.

A strong first module unlocks harder questions, which are weighted more heavily in scoring. A weaker first module leads to easier questions, but also puts a ceiling on how high the final score can go.

What that means practically: two students sitting in the same room may be working through entirely different questions, depending on how their first modules went. The 1600-point scale hasn’t changed, but the path to any given score is now different for every student.

Here’s a quick summary of what changed on the SAT:

Format: Fully digital, taken on a laptop or tablet using the Bluebook app
Length: About 2 hours and 14 minutes, down from nearly 3 hours
Questions: 98 total, down from 154
Structure: Two sections (Reading & Writing, Math), each split into two adaptive modules
Adaptive testing: Module 1 performance determines the difficulty of Module 2
Calculator: Allowed on the entire math section, including a built-in Desmos calculator

Scoring: Still out of 1600, but each correct answer carries more weight

The ACT made its own major changes, and they’re still rolling out

The ACT has historically been known for its grueling pace. A lot of students who struggled with it weren’t struggling with the content. They were struggling with the clock. That’s changing.

Starting in 2025, the ACT shortened its core test from roughly three hours to just over two hours. The total question count dropped by 44 questions, and students now have up to 27% more time per question depending on the section. For students who’ve always had the knowledge but lost points to pacing, that’s a significant shift.

The other major change: the Science section is now optional. Whether a student should include it depends on their college list and goals. That’s a decision worth making deliberately, and one a good tutor can help navigate once the full picture is clear.

A few things that didn’t change: the 1-to-36 scoring scale, the option to take the test on paper or digital, and superscoring across test dates. The test is also not adaptive. Unlike the SAT, every student works through the same linear format.

Here’s a quick summary of what changed on the ACT:

Length: Just over 2 hours for the core test, down from roughly 3 hours
Questions: 171 total (down from 215), or 131 if skipping Science
Science section: Now optional; no longer included in the composite score
Composite score: Now calculated from English, Math, and Reading only
Math answer choices: Reduced from five options to four
Passages: Shorter in both English and Reading sections
Format options: Still available as paper or digital; not adaptive
Rollout: Digital online tests updated April 2025, paper tests September 2025, school-day testing spring 2026

Why prep materials matter more right now than usual

Here’s where parents sometimes underestimate the situation. Test prep resources, books, practice tests, tutoring programs, take time to catch up after a format change. A student working from outdated materials is practicing for a test that no longer exists.

That gap has always been true after updates, but it matters more right now because both tests changed simultaneously, and the changes are still phasing in. A student preparing for the ACT’s school-day test in spring 2026 is preparing for a format that barely exists yet in published prep materials.

On the digital SAT, the adaptive structure adds another layer. Students need to practice within the actual format, not just review content in isolation. The strategy for a test that adjusts based on your performance in real time is genuinely different from the strategy for a fixed test. Module 1 sets the ceiling. Students who don’t understand that going in can leave points on the table they didn’t know they were leaving.

This is part of why working with a tutor who knows the current formats matters more than it used to. Knowing which practice materials are actually current, and how to use them in a way that reflects how the test now works, is part of what good preparation looks like right now.

What this doesn’t mean

A new format doesn’t mean a harder path. In some ways, both tests have moved in a student-friendly direction: shorter, less physically exhausting, with more time per question on the ACT and built-in tools on the digital SAT.

It also doesn’t mean students need to panic or start over. The underlying skills, reading comprehension, mathematical reasoning, pacing under pressure, still matter. What’s changed is the environment those skills are applied in, and the strategy that fits that environment.

What it does mean is that preparation benefits from someone who knows the current format well. A tutor working off last year’s playbook isn’t the same as a tutor who understands how adaptive modules work, or how to help a student decide whether to include the ACT Science section based on their specific college list.

A note on timing

Both tests now make a case for starting prep earlier than felt necessary before. On the adaptive SAT, early practice helps students understand how the module system works, not just whether they know the material, but how to approach Module 1 with the right level of intention. On the ACT, students now have a genuine decision to make about whether to include the Science section, and that decision is easier when there’s time to think through it rather than make it under deadline pressure.

Starting that conversation in sophomore year, even informally, tends to go better than starting it junior spring when the calendar is already full.

Some things worth exploring together

You don’t need to be a test expert to have a useful conversation with your student about this. The goal isn’t to quiz them. It’s to find out what they know, what they don’t, and what might be worth looking into together.

Look up the current format for the test your student is planning to take. Ask them to walk you through it. If they haven’t seen it yet, explore it together at the College Board site or ACT.org. You might both learn something.
Ask what kind of practice they’ve done so far, and whether those materials feel like they match the test as it exists now.
For ACT students, look up a few of the schools on their list together and see whether they ask for or recommend a Science score. That one piece of information changes the whole prep plan.
Talk about timing. Ask them when they’d ideally want to take it, then work backwards together. Most students underestimate how much runway they need once school, extracurriculars, and life fill the calendar.

None of this needs to be a formal sit-down. It works better as a casual conversation that opens into a bigger one over time.

Where to register and what to expect

When your student is ready to sign up, both tests offer registration through their official sites.

For the SAT, registration is handled through the College Board’s SAT registration page. Students create a free account, choose a test date and location, and download the Bluebook app to their device before test day. Both tests are offered numerous times throughout the year, and seats at popular testing locations do fill up. Having a plan well in advance makes a real difference, and that’s exactly where working with Jamie The Scholar can help.

For the ACT, registration is through ACT.org. Students can choose between digital and paper formats at registration, and decide at that point whether to add the optional sections.

Both tests have registration deadlines several weeks before each test date, but it’s best to sign up months in advance. Seats at popular testing locations fill up well before the official deadline, and waiting until the last window leaves little room to adjust if something comes up.

How Jamie The Scholar can help your student prepare for the new SAT and ACT

Every student comes to test prep differently. Some are starting fresh and need help figuring out which test even makes sense for their goals. Some have taken the test before and are trying to understand why the experience felt different than expected. Some are aiming for a score that opens up scholarship opportunities, and need a structured plan to get there.

What all of them have in common is that the preparation that works looks different for each one. That’s what Jamie The Scholar is built around. Our tutors don’t hand students a generic study plan and send them off. They build a personalized program, one that accounts for where the student is starting, what the current test actually looks like, which format fits their strengths, and what timeline makes sense given everything else going on in their lives.

That means helping students understand how the SAT’s adaptive module structure works and how to approach it with intention. It means helping families think through the decisions the new ACT now puts in front of them, from optional sections to format choices, before those decisions get made under deadline pressure. And it means adjusting the plan as the student grows, because good test prep isn’t static.

If your student is beginning to think about the SAT or ACT, or if something about their preparation feels off and you’re not sure why, we can help you figure out exactly what they need and build the right strategy around it.

Visit jamiethescholar.com or call us at 888-577-3224 for a free consultation to get started

What to Do If You’re Not Happy with Your SAT or ACT Score (and When to Submit It)

Has your child studied, showed up on test day, and waited anxiously for their SAT or ACT results only to feel disappointed when the scores arrived? If that sounds familiar, you’re not alone.

Many students don’t reach their target score on the first try, and the pressure to perform can feel overwhelming. But here’s the truth: a single test score isn’t the final word on college admissions, and there are smart ways to move forward. While a handful of students walk in and magically score a 35 or a 1570, most need to study and retake the exam three to five times to truly reach their potential.

What To Do When a Score Falls Short

A lower-than-expected score can feel discouraging, but it’s also an opportunity. Here are three steps students can take:

1). Retake the Test with a Focused Plan

First, reflect on what went wrong. Was timing an issue? Did nerves get in the way? Were there specific sections that felt especially hard? Once the obstacles are clear, students can address them directly. This could mean practicing pacing, reviewing tricky math concepts, or building confidence through repetition.

2).Work with a Tutor

At Jamie the Scholar, our SAT and ACT tutors personalize their approach based on each student’s strengths and challenges. With expert guidance, students can transform their weak spots into strengths, raising their scores more efficiently than trying to do it on their own.

3). Use Superscoring to Your Advantage

Many colleges superscore, meaning they combine the highest section scores from multiple test dates. For example, if your child earned a higher math score on their second try and a better reading score the first time, the school will take the best of both.

Understanding What “Test-Optional” Really Means

In recent years, many colleges have adopted test-optional admissions policies. That means students can choose whether or not to submit SAT or ACT scores as part of their application. But test-optional doesn’t mean test-unimportant.

If your child’s score is at or above a college’s middle 50% range, the range in which the middle half of accepted students scored, it’s often worth submitting. Scores in this range can strengthen their application, especially if other areas (like GPA or extracurriculars) are average. However, if the score falls well below that range and doesn’t align with the student’s academic profile, holding it back may be a better strategy.

Even at test-optional schools, test scores can still serve a purpose. A strong SAT or ACT score might boost your child’s eligibility for merit-based scholarships, increase their chances of being invited to honors programs, or provide added context when their GPA isn’t as strong. Submitting a score isn’t always necessary, but when it works in your child’s favor, it can quietly move their application from the “maybe” pile to the “let’s take a closer look” stack.

Strategic Planning Makes All the Difference

Sometimes a lower score isn’t the issue—it’s how the college list is built around it.

That’s where experts like Jackie Postelnick at Conscious College Planning come in.

Jackie helps students create a college list that reflects their values, strengths, and goals, taking into account everything from academic fit to financial aid and merit scholarship potential.

She also helps families navigate test-optional policies strategically, so students submit scores where they add value and hold them back where they don’t.

Supporting Your Student’s Next Steps

Whether your student is just starting their test prep process or aiming to hit a target score, we’re here to support them every step of the way.

One test score doesn’t define your child’s potential, and it definitely shouldn’t define their future. With the right support and strategy, students can move forward with clarity, confidence, and a strong college application.

If your student could use extra support, we’re here to help:

Work with Jamie the Scholar to boost their test prep and confidence.
Connect with Jackie Postelnick to build a thoughtful, balanced college list that reflects your child’s unique path.

There’s always a way forward, and we’re ready to walk it with you.

Test Prep in the Real World

Test prep is oftentimes the bane of a high schooler’s existence. It’s usually relegated to the corner of a student’s life, while other commitments take priority. It’s easy for teenagers to see ACT/SAT tutoring as more work. It’s harder for them to see it as extra support for getting ready for post-high school life.

Seeing test prep only as a method to get the desired score is understandable and vital, but it can rob students of gaining more out of their efforts.

This is why, at Jamie the Scholar, we make sure that students see that what they’re learning is relevant to real-life situations. Here are three ways that students’ test prep efforts with our team help them even after they achieve their goal scores.

1. The Verbal Sections Train Students to Derive Meaning

As students study for the Verbal sections of their exams, they learn to grasp the main points of what they’re reading. This is a key way that people gain new knowledge, even as adults. As our lives become fuller, knowing the main ideas of what we read is how we know that we’re reading efficiently.

The more challenging questions, like the ones requiring inferences, push students to pay attention to what is unsaid. In addition, students have to process the information in front of them in order to arrive at their own conclusions.

This skill is like “reading the room” when you arrive at a social event. You walk in, there is a lull in the atmosphere, and everyone who’s there is silent, disconnected from each other, and on their phones— no one would need to tell you that people aren’t enjoying themselves, so you’d likely want to spend your time somewhere else!

2. The Math Sections Help Students Use Information to Their Advantage.

The Math sections help students to sharpen their logical thinking skills. In other words, they learn to leverage numbers and information in order to arrive at a specific result.

Just as students solve problems on these exams, they will continue to solve problems in their lives. Math-focused test prep sessions often exemplify this.

For example, both tests feature questions involving graphs, which require students to spot trends and make predictions. This is a skill that entrepreneurs use in order to predict future sales and growth trajectories of their businesses.

Along with data-related questions, the questions that focus on arithmetic help students work accurately with numbers. Shopping is the real-world context of this life skill because numbers-based reasoning is important for splitting a restaurant bill amongst friends or determining whether a concert ticket purchase fits into your personal budget.

3. Both Exams Help Students Think Ahead About College and Career Choice.

Students taking the ACT complete an Interest Inventory, which helps students to understand potential college majors and occupations that match their preferences. Similarly, students taking the SAT complete the Student Data Questionnaire, which asks about similar information.

Those results are then used for connecting students with scholarship opportunities and colleges that are a strong fit for them. These questionnaires give students a chance to remember their own preferences, aside from the influence and social comparisons involving their peers.

Achieving the goal score is the focal point of test prep tutoring, but gaining self-knowledge and refining real-world skills is how those tutoring hours benefit students even after they finish high school. Students can use those skills and self-awareness both now as teenagers and as adults making their way in the world.

Ready to Build Skills That Last Beyond Test Day? Work With Us!

At Jamie The Scholar, we prioritize both the numbers and the high-level abilities that equip students for life after high school. Our personalized approach helps students not only reach their goal scores, but also strengthen the real-world thinking skills they’ll need in college, careers, and beyond.

Whether your student is just starting their test prep process or aiming to hit a target score, we’re here to support them every step of the way.

Join the many families who have seen their teenagers achieve their goal scores and also grow in confidence and independence with our expert guidance. Contact us today to learn how we can help your student succeed — both on test day and in the future!

Test preparation books for the SAT and ACT

How Your SAT/ACT Score Really Affects College Admissions (and Scholarships!)

Are you confused about whether SAT or ACT scores still matter? With shifting college admissions policies, it’s understandable why parents and students often wonder if standardized tests are worth the stress. Here’s the simple truth: despite recent changes, these scores can still significantly impact your child’s admissions chances and scholarship opportunities.

Do Colleges Still Care About SAT/ACT Scores?

Colleges across the country approach standardized tests differently:

Test-Optional: Schools like Bowdoin College and Bucknell University let students decide if they want to submit scores. Other institutions, such as the University of Denver and the University of Chicago, also offer flexible admissions options that do not require standardized test scores.
Test-Required: Institutions like Florida’s public universities still require SAT or ACT scores for admission.
Test-Blind: The University of California system no longer considers SAT/ACT scores in its admission process, even if submitted.

Understanding these policies can help you decide whether investing time in test preparation makes sense for your child. In fact, more than 80% of U.S. four-year institutions are test-optional for Fall 2025. But what does test-optional really mean?

Why SAT/ACT Scores Still Matter

Standardized test scores are only one piece of the college admissions puzzle, but they remain influential, especially at competitive schools. Admissions committees consider various factors, such as:

GPA and class rank
Course rigor (AP, IB, Honors)
Extracurricular activities and leadership roles
Letters of recommendation
Personal essays

Even with these considerations, a strong SAT or ACT score can significantly enhance your child’s application, providing a competitive edge over similarly qualified applicants. They also demonstrate a student’s readiness to handle college-level work, giving admissions officers additional confidence in their ability to succeed.

Scholarships and Financial Benefits

The financial impact of a high SAT or ACT score can be considerable. Many colleges offer automatic merit-based scholarships to students meeting specific GPA and test-score thresholds. For example:

At the University of Tennessee, a student with a 26 ACT might gain admission without scholarships. However, if that student improves their score to a 32 ACT, they automatically qualify for a renewable $13,000 annual scholarship, totaling $52,000 over four years.

Other school examples include Miami University of Ohio, Arizona State University, the University of Alabama, and the University of Missouri (Mizzou), all of which offer significant scholarships based on standardized test performance.

Top-tier universities, like the University of Notre Dame and the University of Chicago, also offer merit scholarships to students with exceptional SAT or ACT scores. Simply put, better scores can translate into significant financial savings.

Taking the Next Step

Improving SAT or ACT scores not only opens up more admissions options, but can also lead to meaningful financial aid through merit scholarships. With the right support, students can feel more confident in both the testing process and their overall college planning journey.

At Jamie the Scholar, students receive expert SAT/ACT tutoring designed around their unique strengths and challenges. And with guidance from experts like Jackie Postelnick at Conscious College Planning, families can craft thoughtful, well-matched college lists that set the stage for long-term success.

When tutoring and planning work together, students thrive—and their college applications show it.