ACT Will End Practice of Flagging Test Scores Under Extended Time

July 26, 2002

IOWA CITY, Iowa—ACT announced today that, effective in fall 2003, it will cease flagging the test scores of students who take the ACT Assessment under extended time conditions. The current practice with students who are granted extended time to take the ACT Assessment due to a documented disability is to flag the students' score reports, thus indicating to the college that the test was taken under non-standard administrative conditions. Effective with the 2003-2004 testing year, this practice will cease.

"We take our role in administering and reporting test scores very seriously because we know that colleges rely on us to assure them that the test scores have integrity," said Richard L. Ferguson, Chief Executive Officer of ACT. "Consequently, ACT's approval process for extended time accommodations requires adequate documentation of disabilities."

"Our decision to stop flagging scores comes after a thorough review of the pros and cons of the flagging process," Ferguson said. "While a rationale exists for both positions, heightened interest in the practice of flagging, and concern by some that it could have negative consequences, weighed heavily in our decision to discontinue the practice."

"We are aware that this action could increase the number of students requesting special accommodations, and that some of the requests will not have merit. We will continue to take steps to ensure that only those students with legitimate needs are granted additional time during the testing session," said Ferguson.

See also ACT's Decision to Stop Flagging ACT Assessment Scores Achieved with Nonstandard Time.