ACT Composite Change Reopens SAT vs. ACT Decision for Texas Families

Texas families weighing the SAT versus the ACT have a new variable to consider: the ACT Composite no longer includes science. Starting in September 2025, the enhanced ACT Composite is calculated solely from English, math, and reading, even though science remains a separate section. The change, first available for national online testing in April 2025 and for the paper test in September 2025, shifts the strategic calculus for students and their parents.

Mr. Test Prep, an online ACT test prep service founded by Michael Romano, is urging families to revisit their test choice because a decision made under the old scoring model may no longer hold. The company's free two-hour trial session includes a diagnostic test and a direct SAT vs. ACT recommendation. Sessions are conducted online for students in Palo Alto, the Bay Area, and beyond.

The impact is straightforward: students who previously struggled with science no longer see that weakness drag down their Composite, while students who relied on science to boost their score lose that advantage. Pacing differences between the two tests further complicate the picture. The ACT English section asks 50 questions in 35 minutes, while Reading requires 36 questions in 40 minutes. For accurate but deliberate test-takers, these time pressures can produce dramatically different results. As Romano puts it, "Two students can know the same material and produce dramatically different scores."

Romano's approach emphasizes measurement over guesswork. The free trial is designed to give families concrete data rather than assumptions. After the diagnostic, Romano holds a Zoom call with the parent and student to review results, discuss which tests to take and when, plan prep frequency, and set target scores. He then emails a written proposal.

Preparation through Mr. Test Prep covers content, question logic, and pacing across two-hour Zoom sessions via The Mr. Test Prep Method™. 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. Families interested in the free trial can book by phone at +1 (650) 575-5867 or through the Mr. Test Prep website.

For Texas businesses and universities that rely on a steady pipeline of college-ready talent, the ACT change matters because it could reshape which students submit which scores. Students who once avoided the ACT due to science may now find it more favorable, while others may need to switch to the SAT to maximize their Composite. Either way, the decision now demands fresh data—and for families, that means re-running the comparison rather than relying on outdated assumptions.