The Enhanced ACT Made Registration Trickier – Here’s How Families Can Register Confidently
Learn how to register, compare paper vs online testing, navigate optional Science and Writing, find seats, and use My Answer Key to boost scores with an expert ACT tutor at North Avenue Education.
If your student is planning to take the ACT this year, you may have noticed that registering feels more complicated than it used to. Since the “Enhanced ACT” rollout (paper testing beginning September 2025), families are navigating more choices—different testing formats, optional sections, and test-center availability that can change depending on what you select.
The good news: the new system can work in your favor once you understand the rules of the road. Below is a clear, parent-friendly guide to choosing the right setup, finding a seat, and making smart decisions about optional sections like Science and Writing.
North Avenue Education works with many college-bound students each year, and we’ve found that a little proactive planning goes a long way—especially for high-demand test dates and test centers.
What changed with the Enhanced ACT?
ACT has been rolling out enhancements in phases. Online national testing began earlier in 2025, and paper national testing shifted to the enhanced format in September 2025. The headline change is that the ACT is designed to be more flexible, with more student choice at registration. You can read ACT’s overview here.
One major practical implication: registration now involves more decision points, and availability can depend on what combination of format and sections you choose.
Understanding your ACT student’s “menu of options”
When students register, they typically choose:
Testing format (where and how the test is delivered)
Common options include:
In-person paper testing (traditional booklet)
Computer-based testing at a test center (often called “online,” but it’s still taken at a physical test site)
Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) at a test center (available at some locations)
ACT’s own guidance makes this clear: even “online” testing happens at a test center, not at home.
Sections (what’s included on test day)
Under the enhanced setup, families may see options such as:
Core ACT (English, Math, Reading)
Optional Science
Optional Writing (the essay)
Or both Science & Writing
For many students, the right answer is to keep it simple (core ACT). But there’s a catch: seat availability can change based on what you select, even at the same test center.
What is the “core” ACT? Do students still need Science and Writing?
The “core” ACT is:
English
Math
Reading
Science and Writing are now commonly treated as optional add-ons in the registration flow. ACT’s enhancements also emphasize flexibility and choice across sections.
Do students need Science or Writing? It depends on the student’s college list and goals.
Writing (Essay): Most colleges do not require it, and it’s often unnecessary unless a specific program recommends it.
Science: Some students benefit from taking it (especially STEM-leaning students or those applying where Science is recommended), but many students can focus on the core sections without disadvantage – again, depending on their college list.
A practical approach: confirm expectations with your student’s school counselor or independent counselor and then register strategically.
Why seat availability changes when you add sections
Families are often surprised to find the following:
A test center appears “full” for the core ACT, but…
Seats appear if you add Science and/or Writing.
This isn’t a glitch. Test centers have limited capacity, and optional sections can affect staffing, timing, and room configurations—so the inventory can be different for different combinations.
A strategy that often helps families secure a seat
If the core-only option is full, one commonly successful approach is:
Register for a version that includes Science and/or Writing (if it’s the only available seat), and then
On test day, the student may be able to decline the optional section(s) when instructed by the proctor.
In many cases, students can still receive valid core scores even if they don’t complete the optional section(s). Policies can vary slightly by site, so students should follow proctor instructions on test day.
This “register for the seat you can get” strategy is especially useful when families are up against deadlines or when nearby centers fill months in advance.
(For our internal guidance that informs how we counsel families through these scenarios, see: )
Paper vs. computer-based: which is better?
The content and scoring are intended to be consistent, but the experience differs—and experience matters on test day.
Why many students still prefer paper
Paper testing often offers:
Easier annotation in Reading/English passages
Faster navigation (no ar feel that reduces friction for many students
Why some students prefer computer-based
Computer-based testing can offer:
A streamlined digital experience for students comfortable working on a screen
Useful built-in tools (depending on ACT’s current platform and allowed tools)
Potentially different seat availability than paper at certain centers
ACT explains how computer-based testing and BYOD selection works in registration here.
Our practical take: if your student is a strong paper test-taker (especially in Reading and English), paper is often the safer default—when available. If availability is tight, we pivot to the format that creates the best seat options and then adjust prep accordingly.
Can you switch formats after registering?
Usually, switching formats isn’t simple. Often it requires canceling and re-registering—which is risky when seats are limited.
That’s why we recommend making the format decision thoughtfully the first time and registering early.
To check official policies and current test dates/deadlines, use ACT’s official registration hub:
“My Answer Key” (formerly TIR): the single most useful add-on for score growth
If there’s one optional service we strongly encourage families to plan around, it’s ACT My Answer Key (formerly Test Information Release / TIR).
When available for a test date, My Answer Key can let students see:
The questions
Their answers
Which were correct vs. incorrect
That level of detail is incredibly valuable for targeted improvement – especially between the first and second official ACT.
ACT’s official My Answer Key page is here. If you want to go deeper on how families use it strategically, we also recommend our own article from the blog archives.
Accommodations: start early and expect multiple steps
For students who test with accommodations, registration is not just “checking a box.” It typically triggers a process that involves:
Indicating supports are needed during registration
Completing required forms and documentation through the school
Waiting for an approval decision
ACT’s educator-facing accommodations overview is here.
Planning guidance: accommodations can meaningfully affect test center options and timing. Families pursuing accommodations should start as early as possible so registration constraints don’t become the limiting factor.
What to do if nothing is available nearby
If your preferred center is full, your best next steps are usually:
Expand your radius (look farther than your zip code’s closest sites)
Try alternate formats (paper vs. computer-based vs. BYOD)
Try adding optional sections to see if it opens up seats
Monitor periodically (openings do happen)
If you’re unsure, contact ACT or work with a trusted prep partner who can troubleshoot quickly
How North Avenue can help
Registration is only one piece of the puzzle – but it’s an important one. We help families make decisions that align with:
Their student’s learning profile
Their college list (and any school-specific testing expectations)
The reality of local seat availability and deadlines
A smart score-growth plan across multiple sittings
If you’re mapping out an ACT plan, contact us today to speak with a program advisor about connecting your student with an expert ACT tutor!
