ACT Aspire: Arkansas
Activity: Learn About ACT Aspire
ACT Aspire® is the first computer-based longitudinal assessment system for college and career readiness that connects student progress from elementary grades through high school.
Resources to complete this activity:
Tip: The best way to ensure you’re reviewing information that is specific to testing in Arkansas is by using the links from your state’s website. Links on the Knowledge Hub may not be specific for Arkansas state testing.
- Summative Technical Manual
- Arkansas 2022 ACT Aspire Technical Report (pdf)
- ACT Aspire Testing Process Overview (online and paper)
Tip: Bookmark the URL for your state’s testing website (this site) and check back frequently for updated information and content
Tip: Mark important dates from your Schedule of Events on your calendar and set reminders for deadlines.
Tip: Familiarize yourself with the seven stages of the testing cycle (Orientation, Configuration, Verification, Preparation, Administration, Transportation, and Interpretation) by browsing these sections for ACT Aspire.
Activity: Make Staff Arrangements
Resources to complete this activity:
- Staff Requirements, Roles, and Responsibilities (Arkansas ACT Aspire Test Coordinator Manual)
- Arkansas User Role Matrix (pdf)
- Invite Users (Arkansas ACT Aspire Test Coordinator Manual)
- Invite Users video
- User Import Layout
Tip: When creating users in PearsonAccessnext , select only the highest role needed for a specific user. If multiple roles are associated to one user account, you may experience permission issues
Activity: Complete Technical Site Readiness
Resources to complete this activity:
- Technical Readiness Guide
- TestNav System Requirements
- Mock Administration Guide (pdf)
- TestNav Online Support
- Configuring TestNav (video)
Tips: Review the Technical Bulletins for the latest news and information about technology.
Review Features and Demos to learn about TestNav’s wide range of tools and features.
If you’re having technical difficulties, contact ACT to assist you in troubleshooting.
Review your Schedule of Events for important technical deadlines.
Familiarize yourself with the updated technical requirements and manuals.
Download the newest version of TestNav and run an App Check on each device prior to testing.
Activity: Manage Groups/Classes
Create Groups/Classes (optional)
Resources to complete this activity:
- Create Groups/Classes (Arkansas ACT Aspire Test Coordinator Manual)
- Create Groups/Classes video
Tip: Creating groups/classes is frequently done at the same time as creating test sessions.
Tip: Using Groups/Classes helps organize student information as you set up your test sessions and organize your paper testing materials.
Activity: Arrange for Accommodations and/or English Learner (EL) Supports
Resources to complete this activity:
- Arkansas Accessibility Supports Guide: Summative Testing (document)
- Accessibility and Accommodations (Arkansas ACT Aspire Test Coordinator Manual)
- Input Personal Needs Profile information (Arkansas ACT Aspire Test Coordinator Manual)
- Arkansas Student Personal Needs Profile and Test Information File Layout (pdf)
- Create Personal Needs Profile video
Tip: Enter Personal Needs Profile for all applicable students before adding them to a test session.
Tip: Update students’ Personal Needs Profile information before the deadline in your Schedule of Events to ensure paper test materials are shipped.
Tip: Paper test materials are only available for Large Print, Braille, and American Sign Language.
Activity: Place an Additional Order
Resources to complete this activity:
- Creating and Submitting an Additional Order (Arkansas ACT Aspire Test Coordinator Manual)
Activity: Prepare for Testing
1. Train Your Staff
Resources to complete this activity:
- Train Your Staff (Arkansas ACT Aspire Test Coordinator Manual)
Tip: Hold a training session with all testing staff 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 the ACT Aspire Test Coordinator Manual.
Tip: Room Supervisors and testing staff assisting with test administration must read the appropriate administration manual.
2. Prepare Your Examinees
Resources to complete this activity:
Tip: Use the Student Sandbox to become familiar not only with ACT Aspire questions but also with navigating TestNav and the tools within it.
Tip: Use Test Question Booklets for each grade and subject that defines reporting categories, standards, depth-of-knowledge levels, correct responses, and improvement idea statements.
3. Prepare Your Facility
Resources to complete this activity:
- Test Room Requirements (Arkansas ACT Aspire Test Coordinator Manual)
4. Prepare for Online Testing
Resources to complete this activity:
- Set Up Test Sessions (Arkansas ACT Aspire Test Coordinator Manual)
- Set Up Test Sessions video
Tip: Prior to test day, set up all the test sessions and assign students to the appropriate test session. ACT recommends completing this at least 2 weeks before test day.
- Prepare Test Sessions (Arkansas ACT Aspire Test Coordinator Manual)
- Prepare Test Sessions video
Tip: Prepare test sessions 1-2 days prior to test day.
- Print Student Authorization Testing Tickets (Arkansas ACT Aspire Test Coordinator Manual)
- Print Student Authorization Testing Tickets video
Tip: Print student authorization testing tickets 1-2 days prior to test day. Tickets are secure materials, so ensure they are kept in secure storage until test day.
5. Prepare Your Test Materials for Paper Testing
Resources to complete this activity:
- Receive, Check in, and Secure Your Materials (Arkansas ACT Aspire Test Coordinator Manual)
- View Shipment and Tracking Information (Arkansas ACT Aspire Test Coordinator Manual)
- Prepare Materials for Testing (Arkansas ACT Aspire Test Coordinator Manual)
Activity: Final Test-Day Preparation Steps
Resources to complete this activity:
- Start and Unlock Test Sessions (Arkansas ACT Aspire Test Coordinator Manual)
- Start and Unlock Test Sessions video
Tip: Do this step on test day, but before students log in for testing.
Activity: Administer the Test
Resources to complete this activity:
Administration manuals – Summative Testing
- Arkansas ACT Aspire Test Coordinator Manual: Summative (pdf)
- Arkansas ACT Aspire Room Supervisor Manual: Online Summative Testing (pdf)
- Arkansas ACT Aspire Room Supervisor Manual: Paper Summative Testing (pdf)
- Arkansas Accessibility Supports Guide: Summative Testing (pdf)
Supplements
- ACT Aspire Technology Tips for Test Day
- Audio Directions in Spanish for Online Testing
- ACT-Authorized Bilingual Word-to-Word Dictionaries (pdf)
- Report any Irregularities (Arkansas ACT Aspire Test Coordinator Manual)
- Braille Notes
- Calculator Policy (pdf)
Tip: No new changes to the policy since its last update on August 5, 2019.
Tip: If you’re having technical difficulties, contact ACT to assist you in troubleshooting.
Activity: Online Post-Test Cleanup
Resources to complete this activity:
- Post Test Clean Up video
- Mark Tests with “Will Not Test” Codes (Arkansas ACT Aspire Test Coordinator Manual)
Tip: Enter “Will Not Test” codes for students who didn’t test by the deadline listed in the Schedule of Events.
- Online Testing: Mark Tests with “Do Not Report” Codes (Arkansas ACT Aspire Test Coordinator Manual)
- Online Testing: Mark Tests Complete (Arkansas ACT Aspire Test Coordinator Manual)
Tip: Administration Test Coordinators should communicate this to the State Test Coordinator because only the STC can enter these codes. “Do Not Report” codes apply only to Summative testing.
Tip: Use a Do Not Report code for any test that was started but should not be reported.
Tip: Test Coordinators must ensure that all test sessions are stopped in the administration platform.
Tip: Record all irregularities according to instructions in the administration manual.
Activity: Return Paper Summative Test Materials
Resources to complete this activity:
- Collect, Pack and Return Materials (Arkansas ACT Aspire Test Coordinator Manual)
- Managing Materials During and After Testing (Arkansas ACT Aspire Test Coordinator Manual)
Tip: Return answer documents within 48 hours of all testing being complete at your school. They must be received by ACT by the deadline listed in the Schedule of Events.
Tip: Pay close attention to the return shipping labels you use for scorable versus non-scorable materials, to ensure you affix the correct label to the correct box.
Activity: Understand Your Summative Score Reports
Summative Reports Guides
- Summative Reports Guide
- Summative Scale Score Charts and Tables
- Interpretive Guide for ACT Aspire Summative Reports
- Understanding Your ACT Aspire Results
- ACT Aspire Summative Individual Student Reports (ISR)
Summative File Layouts
- Summative Student Performance File (SPF) Score File Layout (document)
- Summative Student Performance File (SPF) Reporting Categories Layout
Tip: Refer to your Schedule of Events to know when you can access score reports.
Activity: Understand and Use Reporting Groups
Resources to complete this activity:
Tip: Reporting Groups allow users with the Full Access Educator or Reports Only Educator roles to see student test results. Students are assigned to Reporting Groups (and can be assigned to multiple Reporting Groups) which are linked to test administration platform users to allow educators to access student data.
Activity: Access Historical Reports
Resources to complete this activity:
Tip: You can access reports and data files from previous testing years within the test administration platform.