High School

How SAT and ACT Changes Impact ADHD Students

Recent updates to the ACT and SAT may complicate the college application process for high school students with ADHD. Here’s what families need to know about these standardized tests.

By Ann Dolin, M.Ed. Updated on February 11, 2026
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Standardized tests were once required by most college admissions offices. Then they weren’t. Now they’re back – sort of – but format and content changes in the SAT and ACT are making these tests feel unfamiliar and even intimidating. If your high school student has college aspirations, here is what you should know…

What’s Happening with the ACT?

In response to the digital overhaul of the SAT in 2024, the ACT recently launched a major update with these changes:

  • Test duration dropped from three hours to just over two hours
  • Fewer questions and more time per question
  • Science section is now optional
  • Digital or paper testing available

In modernizing its test, the ACT also introduced some uncertainty, especially for students with ADHD, who thrive on routine and clear expectations. While the real-world impact of the digital test remains uncertain, the ACT has endeavored to help students prepare by releasing updated resources, including a free full-length practice test. This is a helpful step forward, but some students may still find it challenging to build confidence without the wealth of prep materials and testing history that come with a more established format.

Why Scores Still Matter

While many colleges are still test-optional, some (like Georgetown University, Dartmouth, and Florida’s and Georgia’s public universities, to name a few) now require scores again. Enrollment data at a growing list of selective schools shows that most enrolled students submitted SAT or ACT scores on their applications, which placed them in a “test preferred” category.

[Read: 4 Hallmarks of ADHD-Supportive Colleges]

A solid score can help offset lower grades or an uneven academic record. That said, truly test-optional schools are still a good fit for some students, especially if testing is a major hurdle, even with accommodations. The key is to be strategic.

Every student is different, especially with it comes to focus, motivation, and collegiate goals. While not every teen needs to submit scores, I recommend that most students prepare for and take at least one college entrance exam.

That said, I know that test prep can feel overwhelming and/or unnecessary. Taking a low-pressure mock SAT, like the one available for free on the College Board’s Bluebook app, is a great way to gauge whether standardized testing is a good fit.

[Read: The College Survival Guide for Students with ADHD]

If your teen does well and feels confident after the experience, you may want to continue down the SAT path. If now, the ACT might be a better match. In either case, it’s important to allow plenty of time to test the waters.

Plan and Prep Early

For students with weak executive function skills, we do not recommend prepping alone with a test prep book, or even in a group setting. It’s easy to lose focus, miss key strategies, or feel overwhelmed without individualized guidance and structure.

An experienced tutor who understands how to work with teens with ADHD can improve focus, increase testing stamina, and target the areas where they need the most support.

Given all the turbulence in college admissions testing, it’s important to have a clear plan in place, especially for 9th and 10th graders. So do the following:

  • Start now. Don’t wait until next fall to figure it out.
  • Secure testing accommodations early because the process takes time.
  • Stay flexible. If one test doesn’t feel like the right fit, it’s okay to pivot.

Above all, remember that the “right college” is the one that meets your child where they are and powers them forward.

Should I Take the SAT?: Next Steps

Ann Dolin, M.Ed., is founder and president of Educational Connections in Alexandria, Virginia.

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