Since September 2025, the ACT's enhanced Composite score has been calculated using only English, math, and reading, with Science remaining a separate section that no longer contributes to the overall score. According to Mr. Test Prep, an online ACT test prep service founded by Michael Romano, this change means that students who once relied on Science to boost their Composite have lost that advantage, while students who struggled in Science no longer see that weakness reflected in their Composite. The company is urging families to revisit a decision that may have been made based on the old scoring model.
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 current test structure includes English (50 questions in 35 minutes), Mathematics (45 questions in 50 minutes), Reading (36 questions in 40 minutes), and Science (40 questions in 40 minutes). Mr. Test Prep notes that pacing varies sharply between sections and between the SAT and ACT, and that a student who is accurate but deliberate may perform differently depending on the test's time constraints. None of this appears on a transcript, the company emphasizes.
"Two students can know the same material and produce dramatically different scores," Romano said in a statement. His position is that guessing at the answer costs a family more than measuring it, which is why the company offers a direct SAT vs. ACT recommendation within a free two-hour trial session rather than behind a paid program. The session includes a diagnostic test, after which 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. He then emails a written proposal.
The preparation itself, delivered via two-hour Zoom sessions, covers content, question logic, and pacing through the Mr. Test Prep Method™, while 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 company explicitly states that the system does not promise perfect performances, does not eliminate nervousness, and does not 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. Families interested in the free trial can book by phone at +1 (650) 575-5867 or through the Mr. Test Prep website. Sessions are held online for students in Palo Alto, the Bay Area, and beyond.
The change to the ACT Composite carries implications for students nationwide: a decision between the SAT and ACT that was made before September 2025 may no longer be optimal, and families may benefit from a fresh diagnostic to determine which test now plays to a student's strengths. For the test preparation industry, the shift underscores the growing importance of data-driven recommendations over generic advice, as section-level pacing and scoring changes can materially affect outcomes.
