PreACT: Alabama
Important Dates
Your Schedule of Events contains all dates and deadlines for your test event. Check it frequently to ensure you're on track for a successful administration.
- Testing Window: October 3 - 21, 2022
- Material Ordering Window: August 29 - September 9, 2022
- Answer Document Return Deadline: November 4, 2022
Learn about Test Formats and Policies
Resources:
- What's New (web content)
- Learn More About PreACT (pdf)
- PreACT Test Coordinator Training Checklist (pdf)
- Test Coordinator Checklist (interactive resource)
- Testing Policies and Information (web content) (select the first result listed after applying search filters)
- Data for Educators - What are the Benefits of PreACT (video)
Select Test Staff
Resources:
- Staff Requirements, Roles, and Responsibilities (web content) (select the first result listed after applying search filters)
Content Area Workshops
Order Test Materials
August 29 - September 9, 2022
Websites:
Resources:
Tip: Test material orders will be placed through the CCRIS online ordering system. You may access the system through an existing CCRIS account or by creating a new account. You may be attached to multiple organizations. Be sure to select the appropriate organization (i.e., the ordering school’s district). Also be sure you are selecting the correct contract (program) from the Choose Program dropdown menu.
Tip: ACT recommends that you order your test materials four weeks before your test date. This will allow two weeks for delivery of your test materials via FedEx Ground (free) shipping and another two weeks for you to prepare your site for testing. NOTE: Expedited shipping is not permissible within the Alabama state testing contract.
Tip: The PreACT Test Materials Package includes the test booklets, answer documents, Administration Manuals, and other materials you will need to administer PreACT. Order one PreACT Test Material Package for every student who will be testing, including students who will test with accommodations or English learner supports. Do not inflate your order, we will ship an overage.
Tip: Districts that order test materials on behalf of their schools will receive district reporting. Please make note of the Answer Document Receipt Date provided in the order confirmation webpage and email. Answer documents received after this date may not be included in your district reporting.
Learn about Accessibility Supports
Arrange for Accommodations and/or English Learner (EL) Supports
Resources:
- Testing with Accessibility Supports (web content) (select the first result listed after applying search filters)
Tip: Administering PreACT with accommodations or English learner supports does not require prior approval from ACT. You will order alternate format test materials or materials for English learners at the same time you order your PreACT Test Material Packages.
Prepare Your Facility, Staff, and Test Materials
Resources:
- Test Facilities (web content) (select the first result listed after applying search filters)
- Test Staff (web content) (select the first result listed after applying search filters)
- Test Materials (web content) (select the first result listed after applying search filters)
- Test Administration (web content) (select the first result listed after applying search filters)
Tip: Remember to hold a training session with all testing staff (new and experienced) before test day. This is required and is separate from the briefing session that happens on test day. Suggested topics to cover during the training session are in your administration manual.
Tip: Determine the test administration options your site will use:
- One or two day administration
- Options for completing the examinee Information sections
- Use of optional sort codes
- Use of Supplemental local items
Complete Non-Test Activities
Resources:
- Instructions for Completing Your Answer Folder (pdf)
- PreACT Letter for Alabama Students (pdf)
- PreACT Fast Facts? (pdf)
Tip: When entering name and address on the answer document (blocks B and P-S), be sure examinees:
- Start with the first box and first column in block
- Fill in the appropriate oval for each letter in addition to printing them in the boxes.
- Fill in only one oval per column
Tip: Make sure examinees properly enter the form code into the Test Form block on their answer documents. This is essential to the answer documents being scored properly.
Administer the Test
Test Window — standard time and accommodations and/or supports: October 3 - 21, 2022
Resources:
Administration Manuals
- PreACT Administration Manual (pdf)
- PreACT Technical Manual (pdf)
- Information for Examinees (act.org)
Supplements
Return Test Materials
Dates:
Materials Receipt Deadline: November 4, 2022
Resources:
- Preparing, Packing, and Returning Materials (web content) (select the first result listed after applying search filters)
Training:
Tip: Test coordinators should verify completeness and accuracy of materials received from room supervisors before returning answer documents to ACT. Check that all Test Administration Forms are filled out and check that the test form code is properly gridded on each answer document.
Tip: Upon receiving the test materials from the school test coordinator for shipment back to ACT, district test coordinators need to completely fill out the front of the polymailer envelope(s).
Tip: When packing the processing envelopes, about 250 answer documents can fit in each Tyvek scoring envelope. The polymailer envelopes provided this year are smaller and will hold about 300 answer documents.
Tip: Do not return unused answer documents or any PreACT test materials.
Tip: Return the answer documents for all testing (standard, accommodations, or make-up) in the same shipment.
Tip: The polymailer envelopes include prepaid FedEx return shipping labels already affixed. You may leave the packed polymailer envelopes in a secure FedEx pick-up area at your site or FedEx drop-off site. Please do not leave your packed polymailer envelopes in an unsupervised pick or drop-off site.
Access and Understand Score Reports
Resources:
- Interpretive Guide for Student and Aggregate Reports (pdf)
- ACT Online Reporting User Guide (pdf)
- Using Your PreACT Results (pdf)
- Using Your PreACT Results - Spanish (pdf)
- PreACT Student Report - Sample (pdf)
- Data Sharing Plan (pdf)
- Student Report Counseling Guide (pdf)
- Alabama Technical Manual Supplement (pdf)
- PreACT and PreACT 8-9 Data File Layout (xlsx)
- Understanding Alabama's Growth - PreACT and ACT (pdf)
Training:
- PreACT - Using Your Test Results (Webinar)
- PreACT - Using Your Test Results (pdf)
- How to Use Online Reporting for PreACT (video)
- ACT Online Reporting Reports (video)
- ACT Online Reporting Options (video)
- ACT 5 Steps to Accessing Student Data (video)