The ACT Science Section is Optional. Should You Take It?

The quick advice:

  • Almost no colleges require the ACT Science, and very few even recommend it. Here’s a compilation of up-to-date Science policies by college.

  • Most students do not need to take the Science and should opt out.

  • Who should take ACT Science? Students who expect the Science section to be a strength, and students who plan to major in sciences, especially at highly selective colleges.

  • Still uncertain? Read on.

The Background

For many years, the ACT had four sections: English, Math, Reading, and Science. A student’s composite (i.e. overall) score came from the average of these four sections.

In 2025, the ACT overhauled the ACT. Among other changes, the Science section became optional. A student’s composite score now comes from the average of English, Math, and Reading. When taken, Science is reported as a separate score that does not affect the composite.

The Changing Landscape

Perhaps because the new ACT rollout was swift, colleges were slow to respond with guidelines for students: did they still require the now-optional Science section? Did they want it but not need it? Were they disregarding it entirely? At first, few colleges issued any guidelines at all about how they would treat the Science section. In late 2025 and early 2026, for students, the safe course of action was to take the ACT Science, since you couldn’t be sure which colleges would be looking for it. We advised students to take the Science to be safe.

By the spring and summer of 2026, most colleges had issued guidelines. Most did not require or recommend the ACT Science. A small handful of (mostly) highly selective colleges still required or strongly recommended ACT Science. We advised students to carefully look over each college’s policy before opting out of the Science section.

Who Requires ACT Science Now?

Required

As of September 2026, the only U.S. colleges requiring ACT Science:

  • Pomona

  • Marquette

Recommended for All Students

As of September 2026, the only U.S. colleges recommending the ACT Science for all applicants:

  • Duke

  • Duquesne

  • Georgetown

  • Michigan State

  • Missouri University of Science & Technology

Required or Recommended for Certain Programs

As of September 2026, a handful of other colleges require or recommend the ACT Science for specific programs:

  • George Washington University: required for BS/MD applicants

  • Kansas State University: required for Veterinary Medicine applicants

  • New Jersey Institute of Technology: required for Honors applicants

  • Pepperdine University: recommended for Nursing applicants

  • Rochester Institute of Technology: recommended for STEM applicants

Not Required or Recommended

As of September 2026, all other colleges consider the Science optional, do not consider the Science section at all in admissions, or have not stated a policy.

Here’s a compilation of up-to-date Science policies by college.

Which Students Should Take ACT Science?

  1. Students who might apply to one of the colleges requiring or recommending ACT Science.

  2. Students who think the ACT Science section can be a strength, scoring at our above their composite score from the other three sections. This is more complicated than just saying, “I’m good at science, so I’ll do well.” The ACT Science section tests very little science knowledge. Rather, it asks a student to read science passages and data representations, answering questions about those passages, charts, and graphs, and–most of all–doing all of that very quickly. The best way to see if the ACT Science section will be a strength is simply to try it by taking a diagnostic test.

  3. Students who plan to major in a science field, especially at a highly selective college, and are concerned that the lack of Science may be held against them. Does this actually happen? It’s hard to provide universal advice. Every college approaches admissions with its own process. You can call up every college you’re considering applying to and asking that exact question: “If I’m majoring in ___, will the lack of ACT Science be held against me?” But it will be an exhausting endeavor if you have a long or uncertain college list, and you may get nebulous answers, or even different answers from two different admissions counselors at the same school.

Which Students Can Opt Out of ACT Science?

Everyone else. Specifically, students who aren’t applying to a college that requires or recommends ACT Science, who don’t think they can score highly on the ACT Science section, and who don’t plan to major in a science field.

While some “optional” parts of the application aren’t really optional (supplemental essays, test scores at many technically test-optional colleges) if you’re looking to give yourself the best change at admissions and merit aid, the ACT Science is solidly optional.

If you don’t need the ACT Science and it won’t produce a higher score than your other ACT sections, why take it? It’s only hurting rather than helping. Opting out simplifies prep from four sections to three, allowing students to maximize their focus on improving the three sections that actually go into the composite score.

Opting out also simplifies the process of superscoring.

 

Some Brief Notes on Other ACT Choices