ACT Science: Optional, Required, or Somewhere in Between? What Families Need to Know
The ACT has made one of its biggest changes in years, and it’s creating plenty of confusion for students and parents.
For decades, the ACT consisted of four sections: English, Math, Reading, and Science. All four contributed equally to a student’s Composite score.
Not anymore.
With the redesigned ACT, Science is now optional and no longer contributes to the standard Composite score. But should students skip it? And what do Florida universities, scholarship programs, and colleges nationwide think?
The answers may surprise you.
First, What Exactly Changed?
Beginning in 2025, the ACT introduced a new scoring system. The Composite score now averages just three sections: English, Math, and Reading.
Science remains available as an optional section. Students who take it receive separate Science and STEM scores.
Consider a student with these results:
| Section | Score |
|---|---|
| English | 30 |
| Math | 29 |
| Reading | 31 |
| Science | 24 |
Under the old system, this student’s Composite would have been 29. Under the new system, it’s 30.
Science hasn’t disappeared. It simply no longer affects the standard Composite.
This is particularly welcome news for students who do well in the other sections but struggle with Science’s graphs, experiments, and data interpretation.
What About Florida Universities?
For Florida families, the news is relatively straightforward.
Florida’s public universities, including the University of Florida, Florida State University, UCF, and FIU, no longer require ACT Science for undergraduate admission.
These schools accept the redesigned three-section Composite score.
However, there’s an important distinction: Florida public universities still require standardized test scores for freshman admission. Students must submit an ACT, SAT, or CLT score, but ACT Science itself is optional.
Florida hasn’t gone test-optional. It’s gone Science-optional.
The Bright Futures Twist: Science Might Actually Help
Here’s where things get interesting.
Beginning with the 2025–26 graduating class, Florida’s Bright Futures Scholarship Program made ACT Science optional.
However, students with a Science score get an additional opportunity. Bright Futures calculates their ACT average both with and without Science, then uses whichever average is higher.
A strong Science score could help a student meet a scholarship threshold, while a lower score won’t hurt the calculation.
For students close to qualifying for Florida Academic Scholars or Florida Medallion Scholars, that difference could be significant.
It’s an excellent example of why optional doesn’t necessarily mean irrelevant.
What Are Colleges Outside Florida Doing?
Nationally, policies vary, even among prominent Southeastern universities.
Duke University (North Carolina) encourages students to include ACT Science, especially those considering STEM majors. Although it’s not required, Duke may consider the score as additional admissions information.
Vanderbilt University (Tennessee) doesn’t require Science. However, it will include a student’s Science score in its ACT superscore calculation if doing so improves the result. Science can help, but it won’t hurt.
Emory University (Georgia) accepts both the traditional four-section ACT and the redesigned version without Science. It considers submitted Composite scores regardless of whether students took the optional section.
These examples illustrate an important point: even when Science isn’t required, colleges may treat the results differently.
Students applying to selective universities should always check individual admissions policies.
So, Should Students Still Take ACT Science?
At Broward Tutorial Services, we believe this should be an individual decision rather than a blanket recommendation.
For students focused primarily on Florida public universities, Science may offer little direct admissions benefit. Skipping it shortens the test and allows students to concentrate on the sections that determine their Composite.
However, students who excel at interpreting graphs, analyzing experiments, and working with data may perform well with relatively little additional preparation.
Students pursuing STEM programs may benefit from demonstrating another academic strength, while Florida students seeking Bright Futures scholarships could gain an extra opportunity to improve their qualifying score.
And remember, ACT Science isn’t primarily a test of memorized scientific facts. It’s largely about reading, reasoning, and interpreting information under time pressure. Some students discover they’re better at it than expected.
The Bottom Line
ACT Science hasn’t disappeared, but its importance has changed considerably.
For most Florida college applicants, it’s no longer a required part of the admissions equation. Nationally, policies vary, and students should consider their individual college lists.
Our advice? Before automatically registering for Science, try a practice section, evaluate your results, and consider your college and scholarship goals.
At Broward Tutorial Services, we help students navigate the changing SAT and ACT landscape, choose the right tests, and develop preparation strategies tailored to their strengths.
Visit browardtutorial.com or call 954-645-PREP (7737) to learn more.
