What's on the ACT Science Section? Everything Students Need to Know in 2026

Important scoring change
Starting September 2025, the ACT composite score is calculated from English, Math, and Reading only. Even if you take the Science section, that score will not be part of your composite. It appears as a standalone score and counts toward your STEM score alongside Math — but it no longer moves your 1–36 composite number.

So What's Actually on the ACT Science Section?

Despite everything that's changed around it, the Science section itself is largely the same as it's always been — and that's actually great news for students prepping right now. The content, question style, and passage types are all very similar to the legacy test.

Here's the most important thing to understand about ACT Science: it is not a science knowledge test. You don't need to have memorized the periodic table or know the stages of mitosis. What it tests is your ability to read, interpret, and reason through scientific information — graphs, tables, experimental data, and competing scientific viewpoints.

The section has three distinct passage types, each of which requires a slightly different approach:

Each passage type demands a different reading strategy — which is exactly why knowing which type you're looking at before you start reading is so important.

What Skills Does ACT Science Actually Test?

The ACT Science section tests three core skill areas. In the Enhanced ACT, you may see a slightly higher proportion of questions in the first two categories: 

• Interpretation of Data — Reading graphs, tables, and figures to identify trends, make comparisons, and draw conclusions directly from the data.
• Scientific Investigation — Understanding how experiments are designed, what variables are being controlled, and what the results mean in context.
• Evaluation of Models, Inferences, and Experimental Results — Analyzing scientific theories, making predictions, identifying assumptions, and comparing competing explanations. 

Notice that none of these require you to recall specific science facts. They require you to think like a scientist — which is a skill that can absolutely be learned and practiced.

"ACT Science isn't testing what you know. It's testing how well you can read, reason, and move through data under time pressure." 

What's New in the Enhanced ACT Science Section?

While the content has stayed largely the same, there are a few notable changes worth knowing: 

• 5 more minutes — The section is now 40 minutes instead of 35, giving you slightly more time per question. This doesn't make the section easier, but it does reduce the extreme time pressure students used to feel.
• At least one engineering and design passage — The Enhanced ACT now guarantees at least one passage featuring engineering and design topics, reflecting a broader push toward STEM relevance.
• Slightly more emphasis on Interpretation of Data and Scientific Investigation — The frequency of questions in these two categories has increased slightly compared to the legacy test.
• No more standalone experimental section — The old ACT had a mandatory 5th section with unscored experimental questions. That's gone. A small number of unscored questions may now be embedded within the regular sections — but you won't know which ones they are.

Good news for prep

Because the Science content and question style are largely unchanged from the legacy ACT, all existing ACT Science prep materials — including full-length practice tests — are still highly relevant and useful. You don't need to start from scratch. 

Should You Take the ACT Science Section?

This is the question every student is asking right now — and the honest answer is: it depends. Here's a clear breakdown to help you decide: 

One important note: if you take the Science section, the score will appear on your report regardless. You can't submit your ACT scores without the Science section included — so think carefully before you opt in.

How Is the Section Scored?

The ACT Science section is scored on the same 1–36 scale as every other section. But here's what's changed under the Enhanced ACT:

• Science no longer affects your composite score. Your 1–36 composite is now the average of English, Math, and Reading only.
• Science still produces a standalone section score. Colleges can see it — and some will pay close attention to it, especially for STEM applicants.
• Science still feeds into your STEM score. The STEM score is the average of your Math and Science scores, and it remains a useful signal for science and engineering programs.
• Science is not included in your ACT Superscore composite. But your individual section score can still be seen on your report, and some colleges may have their own policies that differ from ACT's official calculation.

What Does This Mean for How You Prep?

If you're planning to take the Science section — which we'd generally recommend — the prep approach hasn't fundamentally changed. The same strategies that worked on the legacy ACT still apply:

• Learn the three passage types and practice recognizing them instantly — because your reading approach should change depending on which type you're looking at.
• Practice graph and table reading as a core skill. Most points in this section are won or lost on whether you can read a visual accurately under time pressure.
• Use strategy for every question — not just your gut. The difference between students who improve and students who plateau is almost always whether they have a repeatable 
• Simulate real conditions. With 40 questions in 40 minutes, pacing is still critical. Practice with a timer from day one.

Vibrant’s upcoming book ACT Science Practice Questions is built around one idea: a strategy for every question. Every passage type is covered, every explanation shows you the move — not just the answer. Whether you're prepping solo, with a tutor, or in a classroom, this is the structured path to a confident ACT Science score. The book includes:

• 500+ Questions
  
• Strategy-based Explanations
  
• All 3 Passage Types 
  
• Diagnostic Test  
  
• Full-length Test  
  
• Study Plans

The Bottom Line

The Enhanced ACT has made Science optional — but optional doesn't mean irrelevant. For many students, especially those eyeing STEM programs or competitive schools, a strong Science score is still a meaningful part of their application.

What hasn't changed: the Science section still tests the same core skills it always has. Reading data. Analyzing experiments. Comparing viewpoints. And doing all of it under time pressure.

The good news is that these are all learnable skills — and with the right strategy for each passage type, the ACT Science section becomes one of the most improvable parts of the entire test.

Know the test. Learn the strategies. Then go take it with confidence.

Also read:
Digital SAT Scoring Decoded: Scoring, Parameters, and Tips to Improve Your Score
Boost Your Digital SAT Reading and Writing Score: 8 Proven Tips with Examples
Changes in the ACT: What’s New in 2025 and How It Compares to the Past