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The Enhanced ACT Linking Study Report. ACT Research. Research Paper. R2515

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Title: The Enhanced ACT Linking Study Report. ACT Research. Research Paper. R2515
Language: English
Authors: Dongmei Li, Shalini Kapoor, Ann Arthur, Chi-Yu Huang, YoungWoo Cho, Chen Qiu, Hongling Wang, ACT Education Corp.
Source: ACT Education Corp. 2025.
Availability: ACT Education Corp. 500 ACT Drive, P.O. Box 168, Iowa City, IA 52243-0168. Tel: 319-337-1270; Web site: http://www.act.org
Peer Reviewed: N
Page Count: 25
Publication Date: 2025
Document Type: Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education
Postsecondary Education
Descriptors: College Entrance Examinations, Testing, Change, Scoring, Test Format, Test Length, Test Items, Construct Validity, Psychometrics, Weighted Scores, Reaction Time, Testing Accommodations, Comparative Analysis, Computer Assisted Testing, College Readiness
Assessment and Survey Identifiers: ACT Assessment
Abstract: Starting in April 2025, ACT will introduce enhanced forms of the ACT® test for national online testing, with a full rollout to all paper and online test takers in national, state and district, and international test administrations by Spring 2026. ACT introduced major updates by changing the test lengths and testing times, providing more time per item, rebalancing the reporting categories, adding embedded field-test items, making the science test optional, and changing the ACT Composite score from an average of the English, math, reading, and science (EMRS) scores to an average of only the English, math, and reading (EMR) scores. Details of these enhancements are available on the ACT website (www.act.org/actenhancements). Despite these changes, the enhanced ACT was designed to measure the same constructs as the legacy ACT. To ensure score consistency across years, ACT decided to maintain the legacy 1-36 scale for the enhanced tests. Before the launch, two special studies were conducted: a linking study in June 2024 to link the enhanced forms to the legacy forms, and a mode study in October 2024 to examine score comparability between the paper and online formats of the enhanced ACT. This document focuses on analyses and findings from the June 2024 linking study. In summary, the enhanced ACT test measures the same constructs and reports scores on the same scales as the legacy ACT test. The enhancements had minimal impact on student performance, though there was some evidence of a small positive effect on test completion rates and students' perceptions of having enough time to complete the test. While the reduction in test length led to expected decreases in measurement precision, the impact on score interpretation was minimal. Therefore, scores on the enhanced ACT test and the legacy ACT test can be used interchangeably.
Abstractor: ERIC
Entry Date: 2025
Accession Number: ED673789
Database: ERIC
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  Data: The Enhanced ACT Linking Study Report. ACT Research. Research Paper. R2515
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Dongmei+Li%22">Dongmei Li</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Shalini+Kapoor%22">Shalini Kapoor</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Ann+Arthur%22">Ann Arthur</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Chi-Yu+Huang%22">Chi-Yu Huang</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22YoungWoo+Cho%22">YoungWoo Cho</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Chen+Qiu%22">Chen Qiu</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Hongling+Wang%22">Hongling Wang</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22ACT+Education+Corp%2E%22">ACT Education Corp.</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22ACT+Education+Corp%22"><i>ACT Education Corp</i></searchLink>. 2025.
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  Data: ACT Education Corp. 500 ACT Drive, P.O. Box 168, Iowa City, IA 52243-0168. Tel: 319-337-1270; Web site: http://www.act.org
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  Data: Starting in April 2025, ACT will introduce enhanced forms of the ACT® test for national online testing, with a full rollout to all paper and online test takers in national, state and district, and international test administrations by Spring 2026. ACT introduced major updates by changing the test lengths and testing times, providing more time per item, rebalancing the reporting categories, adding embedded field-test items, making the science test optional, and changing the ACT Composite score from an average of the English, math, reading, and science (EMRS) scores to an average of only the English, math, and reading (EMR) scores. Details of these enhancements are available on the ACT website (www.act.org/actenhancements). Despite these changes, the enhanced ACT was designed to measure the same constructs as the legacy ACT. To ensure score consistency across years, ACT decided to maintain the legacy 1-36 scale for the enhanced tests. Before the launch, two special studies were conducted: a linking study in June 2024 to link the enhanced forms to the legacy forms, and a mode study in October 2024 to examine score comparability between the paper and online formats of the enhanced ACT. This document focuses on analyses and findings from the June 2024 linking study. In summary, the enhanced ACT test measures the same constructs and reports scores on the same scales as the legacy ACT test. The enhancements had minimal impact on student performance, though there was some evidence of a small positive effect on test completion rates and students' perceptions of having enough time to complete the test. While the reduction in test length led to expected decreases in measurement precision, the impact on score interpretation was minimal. Therefore, scores on the enhanced ACT test and the legacy ACT test can be used interchangeably.
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    Languages:
      – Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 25
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: College Entrance Examinations
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Testing
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Change
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Scoring
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Test Format
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Test Length
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Test Items
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Construct Validity
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Psychometrics
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Weighted Scores
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Reaction Time
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Testing Accommodations
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Comparative Analysis
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      – SubjectFull: Computer Assisted Testing
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: College Readiness
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: ACT Assessment
        Type: general
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      – TitleFull: The Enhanced ACT Linking Study Report. ACT Research. Research Paper. R2515
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              M: 03
              Type: published
              Y: 2025
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