The ACT's decision to exclude science from its Composite score, effective September 2025 for the paper test and April 2025 for national online testing, has fundamentally altered the strategic calculus for students choosing between the ACT and SAT. According to Mr. Test Prep, an online test prep service founded by Michael Romano, families who made their testing decision based on the old scoring model should reconsider, because the change shifts which students the ACT now favors.
Under the enhanced ACT, the Composite is calculated solely from English, math, and reading. Science remains a separate section, but its score no longer contributes to the overall Composite. The current test structure includes English with 50 questions in 35 minutes, mathematics with 45 questions in 50 minutes, reading with 36 questions in 40 minutes, and science with 40 questions in 40 minutes. This means a student whose relative weakness was science previously carried that weakness into the Composite; now they do not. Conversely, a student who relied on science to boost their Composite has lost that advantage—a less-discussed consequence that could significantly impact scores and college admissions prospects.
Pacing is another critical variable that differs sharply between the two tests and among ACT sections. English demands 50 questions in 35 minutes, while reading requires 36 questions in 40 minutes. For a student who is accurate but deliberate, these time pressures create very different challenges. As Romano notes, "Two students can know the same material and produce dramatically different scores." None of this nuance appears on a transcript, making it essential for families to measure performance under timed conditions rather than guess.
Romano's position is that guessing at the answer costs a family more than measuring it. That is why his recommendation sits inside 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. Families can book by phone at +1 (650) 575-5867 or through the Mr. Test Prep website.
The preparation itself, known as 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, but it aims to give students a realistic assessment of their strengths.
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. His approach emphasizes self-confidence as a means of elevating more than a score. With the ACT's scoring change, the decision between SAT and ACT is no longer a one-time choice based on old assumptions. Families who re-evaluate could find a better fit for their student's abilities, potentially improving both test scores and college admissions outcomes.
