ACT Test Changes
Entropy: where order tends to disorder. This might not be the case with a special nation-wide change.
The ACT, formerly known as American College Testing, announced on Tuesday, October 8, 2019, that those who have taken the test at least once will be able to retake certain sections of the test rather than the whole thing over again. Also, one can take the test online at an official testing center. These changes will take effect in September of 2020.
According to the ACT’s research, students scored around three points higher if they retake their test than those who do not. Senior Nicholas Suffern said, “I think [this change] is great for the students. There was really no reason to be in a four-hour class just to boost a section for your super score.
“I really wish I could have taken advantage of these changes,” Suffern said. “By the end of a test, I would always feel so mentally drained. If I could just take one section, I would feel so much calmer heading in and out of the test.”
The new ability to take single sections might bring importance to super scoring. “These changes are obviously in the minds of students thinking about their super score,” Junior Aiden McNally said. “I think it will be very beneficial for those who need to super score because it puts a lot less stress on them.
“The ACT is honestly super overwhelming,” McNally said. “There are people like me who do not test very well. These changes are important because a difference of a few points on the ACT shouldn’t determine which colleges I can and cannot get into.”
The other change deals with having the option to take the test online or on paper. Junior Ty Dahlem said, “There are good and bad things about this, but I believe the good outweighs the bad. Some people do better on the computer so they should have that chance. The ACT is showing some sort of empathy towards the students who take this extremely difficult exam.
“The bad, however, is that there might be more room for distractions,” Dahlem said. “I sometimes get distracted by just being on a computer. These students are in there for around four hours, and most people our age have a tendency to get distracted after a lengthy time like that.”
Suffern believes people should seek alternatives to difficulties in life. He said, “I’ve taken the SAT, and I think everyone who struggles on the ACT ought to give the SAT a shot. My ACT score is only a 25, but my SAT is a 1420. I’m not sure why, but I just like the SAT more. If you’re struggling with the ACT, even after these changes, try out the SAT.”
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