ACT Gateway

Students testing online will have the option to bring their own computer or a school-managed computer to a test site to take the ACT test.

You may use your personal laptop if you have one, or you will be unable to test with the bring your own device (BYOD) option. You should contact ACT as soon as you know your site is unable to assist with the installation so your registration can be updated if necessary.

NOTE: This may result in a date, location change or mode change if the site you were registered does not have any open seats available.

Failure to bring your computer will impact your ability to test on test day. Test centers may not have additional computers and are not required to provide back-ups.

There is no guarantee the test center will have a back up for you so you will be unable to test if you have issues on your device or come unprepared without a device.

NOTE: Ensure your device is fully charged on test day.

iPads and tablets are not supported at this time. Stay tuned for more information about Mac support in the future.

Once you have determined the type of laptop you will be using, personal or school-managed, you will need to install the ACT Gateway application and ensure the device meets all requirements. You will need support from your school if you are using a school-managed device.

No. If you are registered to bring your own device you must install the application and ensure the computer passes the device checks or you will not be able to test on test day.

No. On test day, you must be connected to the wifi network your test center provides.

Yes. A wired mouse is recommended as Bluetooth devices are not authorized. A wireless mouse with a USB receiver may not operate as expected if ACT Gateway identifies it as a storage device. 

If you have a Windows 2-in-1 device that has touchscreen capability, it is recommended to disable that function if you wish to test on that device. If you use a touchscreen gesture during testing, it will log you out of your exam. To ensure this does not happen, below are two options for how to disable touchscreen on your device. Both options require Administrator access. This means you must own/manage this device; It can not be a school managed device.

Option 1: Run ACT Gateway as Administrator

Launch ACT Gateway as Administrator to automatically disable the touchscreen entirely while the app runs.

1. Find the application on your laptop (you can search for ACT Gateway)
2. Right click > Select Run as administrator

Option 2: Disable Touchscreen Completely (Device Manager)

1. Open Device Manager (Windows key → type Device Manager → Enter).
2. Expand Human Interface Devices.
3. Right-click HID-compliant touch screen → Disable device → Confirm.
4. Test: Touch should no longer respond.

To re-enable: Right-click the same device → Enable device.

We recommend ensuring your computer has sufficient charge and bringing a charger in case it is needed. However, there is no guarantee the test center will be able to provide an outlet.