ACT Science Section: Now Optional (2025 Onward)
- Rebecca Beard
- Mar 10
- 3 min read
The ACT Science section is becoming optional as part of a major update to the exam format. Starting in spring 2025, students can choose whether or not to take the Science portion – similar to how the ACT’s writing essay has long been optional
. English, Math, and Reading will remain the three core required sections, and the ACT’s Composite score will now be calculated from those three subjects only
. The Science section, if taken, will still be scored on the 1–36 scale but reported separately (it will no longer factor into the composite)
. ACT’s official announcement emphasizes that this change is meant to give students more flexibility to focus on their strengths while maintaining score reliability for colleges
. The new format rolls out for online ACT administrations in April 2025 (with a shorter two-hour test duration), and by September 2025 it will apply to all test dates (including paper-based exams)
. In summary, from 2025 onward students have the option to skip the Science portion of the ACT without invalidating their test – their composite score will simply be based on the other sections.
Impact on Florida’s Bright Futures Scholarship Eligibility
Florida’s Bright Futures Scholarship program (administered by the Florida Department of Education) sets specific academic criteria, including minimum scores on college entrance exams, for students to qualify. Notably, Bright Futures requires a certain ACT composite score for eligibility (e.g. 29 for the top-tier Florida Academic Scholars award, as of recent guidelines). Importantly, the program’s official definition of the ACT composite score has included all four subject sections: English, Math, Reading, and Science
. In other words, under current rules a student’s ACT score for Bright Futures must come from a full ACT test with the Science section.
How does the ACT’s new optional Science policy affect this? So far, Florida’s Bright Futures program has signaled that it will continue to require the Science section despite ACT making it optional
. In fact, guidance from the scholarship program indicates they plan to “retain the use of science” in calculating students’ scores
. This means that a student who skips the Science portion could face a serious disadvantage or even ineligibility when applying for Bright Futures. Without a Science score, the ACT composite might not meet Florida’s established scholarship criteria (since the composite is traditionally based on four sections)
Key points for Florida students:
Bright Futures requirements (current): Must earn a minimum ACT composite, which by definition includes the Science subscore
floridastudentfinancialaidsg.org
. Florida’s Department of Education has not announced any change to this requirement as of the latest updates.
Science Section Needed: Florida officials have indicated they will still use the Science section in evaluating ACT scores for Bright Futures
. Therefore, an ACT taken without Science may not fulfill the scholarship’s test score requirement.
No direct penalty, but a restriction: If a student omits the Science test, they might simply lack a qualifying composite score for Bright Futures. There isn’t an explicit “penalty,” but practically it could disqualify the student from the scholarship due to not meeting the test score threshold.
Recommendation: Students aiming for Bright Futures should take the Science section even though it’s optional. This ensures they receive a composite score that Florida will recognize and keeps them on equal footing with other applicants. Skipping Science could put one’s Bright Futures eligibility at risk, especially since most other college-bound students in Florida are expected to continue taking the Science portion to meet scholarship and admissions expectations
.
In summary, the ACT’s policy change makes the exam more flexible nationally, but Florida’s Bright Futures scholarship still expects a complete ACT score with Science. Until Florida’s Department of Education updates its scholarship criteria (if it chooses to), students should not treat the ACT Science section as optional for Bright Futures purposes. Failing to include Science could mean not reaching the required composite score and thus missing out on the scholarship opportunity
. Always check the latest official guidance from Bright Futures/FDOE, but as of the most recent updates, taking the Science section remains the safest path for scholarship eligibility.
Sources: ACT official announcement of test changes
; Florida Bright Futures Handbook (eligibility criteria)
; Compass Education Group guidance on Bright Futures and ACT Science
.
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