The ACT no longer includes science in its Composite score, a change that alters which students the exam favors and, according to Mr. Test Prep, warrants a fresh look at the SAT versus ACT decision for many families. Starting September 2025, all ACT tests use an enhanced Composite based solely on English, math, and reading, while science remains a separate section that does not count toward the Composite. The enhanced ACT was first available for national online testing in April 2025 and for the ACT National Saturday paper test in September 2025.
The shift cuts both ways. Students whose relative weakness was science previously saw that weakness drag down their Composite; now it does not. Less discussed is the reverse: students who relied on science to lift their Composite have lost that advantage. Pacing also differs sharply between the two tests and among ACT sections—English asks 50 questions in 35 minutes, while Reading asks 36 in 40 minutes—so a student who is accurate but deliberate may perform very differently on each exam. These factors are invisible on a transcript, yet they can significantly affect scores.
“Two students can know the same material and produce dramatically different scores,” said Michael Romano, founder of Mr. Test Prep, an online ACT test prep service. Romano’s position is that guessing at the answer costs a family more than measuring it. That is why his recommendation sits in a free two-hour trial session rather than behind a paid program. The session includes a diagnostic test and a direct SAT vs. ACT recommendation, held online for students in Palo Alto, the Bay Area, and beyond. Afterward, Romano holds a Zoom call with the parent and student to discuss diagnostic results, which tests to take and when, preparation frequency, and target scores, then emails a written proposal.
The preparation itself, the Mr. Test Prep Method™, covers content, question logic, and pacing across two-hour Zoom sessions. A-Game Access™ addresses performance under time pressure through four components: A-Game, The Nine, the A-Game Cue, and Smile Into the Action. The system does not promise perfect performances, eliminate nervousness, or guarantee outcomes. Romano graduated from Duke University in 1991 with a major in Psychology, has worked with students since 1997, and has taught more than 4,000 SAT, ACT, and PSAT students.
For families weighing which test to take, the change means a decision made under the old math deserves a second look. The free trial can be booked by phone at +1 (650) 575-5867 or through the Mr. Test Prep website.
