PreACT Secure: 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 16 - 27, 2023 (weekday testing only)
- Material Ordering Window: August 14 - October 6, 2023
- Answer Document Return Deadline: November 3, 2023
Learn about Test Formats and Policies
Resources:
- What's New (web content)
- PreACT Secure FAQ (pdf)
- PreACT Secure Test Coordinator Checklist (pdf)
- PreACT Secure Technical Memo (pdf)
Content Area Workshops
- On Demand Webinar - PreACT Secure and Your Data (webinar)
- PreACT Secure and Your Data slides (pdf)
- On Demand Webinar - PreACT Secure and ACT Data: Stronger Together (webinar)
- PreACT Secure and ACT Data: Stronger Together slides (pdf)
- On Demand Webinar - Understanding Alabama's Growth Measures: PreACT to ACT (webinar)
- Understanding Alabama's Growth Measures: PreACT to ACT slides (pdf)
Select Test Staff and Set Up Accounts
Websites:
Resources:
Tip: When the district test coordinator changes the school test coordinator in PearsonAccessnext, remember to deactivate the existing test coordinator's user account. Updates need to be completed in two places: the manage contacts screen and creating a new user account.
Verify Enrollment Counts
Dates:
August 14 - October 26, 2023
Websites:
Resources:
- PearsonAccessnext User Guide, Managing Test Materials, Accessing Reports, and Submit a Request to Enroll or Unenroll an Examinee sections (manual sections) (web content)
- PearsonAccessnext Operational Reports Layout (pdf)
Complete Site Readiness for Online Testing
Dates:
August 14 - October 6, 2023
Websites:
Resources:
- Technical Coordinator Checklist (pdf)
- Technical Requirements for the PreACT Secure Test Taken Online (web content)
- PreACT Secure Online Technical Guide (web content)
- Mock Administration Guide (web content)
Training:
ACT Online Technical Readiness Training Tutorials
Learn about Accessibility Supports
Resources:
- Accessibility Supports Guide for PreACT Secure (web content)
- FAQ Sunsetting English Braille American Edition (pdf)
Tip: In PearsonAccessnext, Human Reader should not be listed as an online option this fall. For students needing Human Reader – Coordinators must select Reader’s Script and change the delivery format to paper. Then follow instructions in Step 4 for ordering accommodated materials. For online testing, select Text-to-Speech for the equivalent oral presentation accommodation.
Set Up Accommodations and/or English Learner (EL) Supports in PearsonAccessnext
Dates:
August 14 - October 6, 2023
Website:
Resources:
- PreACT Secure Online Administration Manual, Testing with Accessibility Supports section (web content)
- PreACT Secure Paper Administration Manual, Testing with Accessibility Supports section (web content)
- PearsonAccessnext User Guide, Assigning Accommodations and Supports section (web content)
- Student Personal Needs Profile File Layout (pdf)
Training:
- Assign Accommodations and Verify Enrollment (webinar)
- Assign Accommodations and Verify Enrollment (pdf)
Tip: Administering PreACT Secure with accommodations or English learner supports does not require prior approval from ACT. You will order alternate format test materials for English learners through PearsonAccessnext
Order Accommodated Test Materials
Dates:
August 14 - October 6, 2023
Websites:
Tip: You will order alternate format test materials for English learners through PearsonAccessnext
Resources:
- PearsonAccessnext User Guide, Managing Test Materials section - manual section (web content)
- Address Change Request Form (webform)
Tip: You can track test materials shipments using Orders & Shipment Tracking. See the View Status and Shipment Information section in the PearsonAccessnext User Guide.
Provide Examinees Test Prep Information
Websites:
- Information for Examinees (act.org)
- PreACT Secure-ALSDE Student Opportunities Letter (pdf)
- PreACT Secure-ALSDE Student Opportunities Letter - Spanish (pdf)
Resources:
- Preparing for the PreACT Secure (pdf)
- Taking the PreACT Secure (pdf)
- TestNav Practice Tests (includes TestNav Tutorial)
- Practice Test Scoring Guide (pdf)
Tip: TestNav Practice Tests can be found on the TestNav Site without logging in by clicking on the "practice Tests" link at the bottom of the sign in window.
Prepare Your Facility, Staff, and Test Materials
Resources:
- PreACT Secure Online Administration Manual, Test Administration section (web content)
- Instructions for Completing Your Answer Document (pdf)
- PreACT Secure-Test Admin-Office Hours Q&A (webinar)
- PreACT Secure-Test Admin-Office Hours Q&A (pdf)
Update Examinee Information
Dates:
August 14 - October 26, 2023
Website:
Resource:
Create Online Test Sessions
Dates:
August 14 - October 26, 2023
Websites:
Resources:
Administer the Test
Testing Dates:
October 16 - 27, 2023 (weekday testing only)
Resources:
Forms
- PreACT Secure Test Administration Form - Accommodations Paper (pdf)
- PreACT Secure Test Administration Form - Online Standard Time (pdf)
- PreACT Secure Test Administration Form - Online Accommodations (pdf)
- PreACT Secure Readers Agreement Form (pdf)
- PreACT Secure Sign Language Interpreter's Agreement Form (pdf)
- PreACT Secure Scribe's Agreement Form (pdf)
- PreACT Secure-Staff List Form-Paper (pdf)
- PreACT Secure-Staff List Form-Online (pdf)
Administration Manuals
Supplements
Tip: If you are testing an examinee authorized for English learner supports, have the ACT-Authorized Bilingual Word-to-Word Dictionaries list handy to verify at check in that the examinee’s dictionary can be used for testing.
Return Test Materials
Dates:
Receipt Deadline: November 3, 2023
Resources:
Tip: Do not return unused paper accommodations answer documents from initial testing. Use those for makeup testing and refer to the Test Administration Manual to properly manage unused materials at the end of the testing window.
Tip: Return answer documents following testing so they arrive at ACT by the receipt deadline listed on the Schedule of Events and can be scored.
Tip: Return all accommodations materials after all testing (accommodated and non-accommodated) has been completed.
Access and Understand Score Reports
Dates:
November 27, 2023
Websites:
Resources:
- PreACT Secure Interpretive Guide for Students and Aggregate Reports (pdf)
- ACT Online Reporting User Guide (pdf)
- PreACT Secure Online Reporting (webinar)
- PreACT Secure Online Reporting slides (pdf)
- ACT Profile Reports - ACT Online Reporting Crosswalk (pdf)
Share Reporting Information with Examinees
Resources: