Do you feel overwhelmed with the need to know tons of material when taking the ACT exam? Imagine being able to take each section individually. Students taking the ACT next year, as of the September 2020 exam and beyond, will have the ability to retake individual sections of the ACT exam instead of retaking the entire test. This is beneficial to students applying to college because they will have a greater chance to submit a higher score and increase their chances of getting into the college of their dreams. 

Next year, students will not only be able to increase their scores but will put less pressure upon themselves as well. The ACT consists of an English section, a math section, a reading section, and a science section. Retaking all sections in one sitting can burden a test taker by overwhelming him/her with a ton of material. Brooke Lang, a senior, stated, “I wish they permitted ACT test takers to retake the ACT exam by individual section this year because I am not the best at math, but I am stronger in English. If I got to retake math by itself, my score would most likely be higher.” If you are content with the other composite scores, why should you have to take every section again just to increase one? 

With the implementation of this new practice, it will also be much easier to study. Studying for an individual section will allow test takers to maximize their attention on an area they need to improve skills on, rather than diverting attention on those they do not. Stress will be significantly decreased. As stated by senior Camden Hetrick, “I wish I was able to retake individual sections of my ACT because I believe that would have enabled me to receive a better score in the end. Only having to focus on one section takes a huge load off a student’s shoulders, and I believe it will improve their scores.” 

Students who are currently taking the exams will not benefit from the same advantage that test takers next year will get to experience. Currently, students are still only permitted to retake full exams, which can be costly. Retaking the whole test can cost up to $68, including the optional writing section. With the allowance of individual section tests, a new price will be set by the ACT board. The price is yet to be announced, but it will not be the same as the full exam because the section exams are only a quarter of the official test. This will benefit everyone retaking the ACT, especially those who struggle to find the money to pay for the exam to begin with. With the opportunity to spend less, test-takers who cannot afford to pay for another full exam can save money and just take the section exam instead. This appears to be more attractive to the public because the ACT is taking test takers into consideration and allowing them to possibly put money towards a practice book, an online tutoring subscription, or even a tutor instead. According to the U.S. News article entitled “ACT Allows a Students to Retake Individual Test Sections,” “From the last two years, the number of students taking the ACT has dropped- this, after more than a decade of consecutive climbs.” With more students taking the SAT than ever before, the ACT had to put some new policies into effect. According to junior Carly Tucker, “I would definitely plan on taking the ACT over the SAT next year due to the new testing policies. If the ACT offers the advantage of retaking individual sections, I would rather put effort into that test.” 

The ACT’s  new testing policies are set to go into effect in September 2020. The possibility of other new policies is on the rise as well. Choosing between digital and paper versions of the ACT, the ACT itself calculating a “super score,” and, obviously, the ability to take the test by individual section are all new ideas being put into action.