The ACT + Science + Writing: Illinois
Important Dates
The Schedule of Events (web content) (coming soon) contains all dates and deadlines for Illinois state testing events. Check it frequently to stay on track for testing. ISBE will be uploading all students into ACT Now on January 13, 2027. Districts and schools are only responsible for assigning students to test events and ensuring student information is correct in ISBE’s Student Information System (SIS). The ACT + Science + Writing is administered online. Paper testing is available only in rare cases as an accommodation.
Test Accessibility and Accommodations (TAA) opens: September 7, 2026
Submissions in TAA are restricted only for students taking the ACT + Science + Writing. Please reference step 1 under the PreACT Secure Suite tab for more information on how to upload accommodations for students taking the PreACT 9 Secure and PreACT Secure.
ACT Now opens: November 9, 2026
Mar 23-26, 2027 and Mar 29-Apr 2, 2027 |
| Test Event 1: Accommodations Paper and Online |
Apr 6-9, 2027 and Apr 12-16, 2027 |
| Test Event 2: Accommodations Paper and Online |
Apr 20-23, 2027 and Apr 26-30, 2027 |
| Test Event 3: Accommodations Paper and Online |
Start Here
- What's New (web content)(coming soon)
- Schedule Flexibility (pdf)
Tip: Only refer to schedule options that include science.
- Schedule Flexibility (pdf)
- ACT Now Overview (video)
- Overview of User Roles (video)
- User Roles: Building a Test Administration Team (pdf) Illinois follows Scenario #1 on page 3.
- Create an ACT Now Account (video)
- Before Test Day Checklist for Test Coordinators (pdf)
- ACT Frequently Asked Questions (web content)
- Illinois Test and Policy Comparison (pdf)
Setting up ACT Now
- Confirming an Organization's Participation Status (video)
- Adding Students and Assigning a Test Event (video)
Note: The Illinois School Board of Education will upload all students into ACT Now. Districts and Schools must ensure students are assigned to a test event. - Address Change Request Form (webform)
File Upload Resources:
- Add Users with Roles (video)
- Layout Requirements–CSV Format: Users Invitation File (pdf)
- Users Invitation File Template (csv)
Manage Your Students:
- Managing Students (pdf)
Note: Even though you will be able to edit student information, districts and schools must ensure student information is correct in the Student Information System (SIS).
Request Accommodations and English Learner (EL) Supports:
Accommodations Request Window for Test Event 1: September 7, 2026 - February 10, 2027
Accommodations Request Window for Test Event 2: September 7, 2026 - February 24, 2027
Accommodations Request Window for Test Event 3: September 7, 2026 - March 10, 2027
Website: Success.act.org
Resources:
- Accessibility Supports Guide for the ACT (web content)
- Test Accessibility and Accommodations (TAA) User Guide (pdf)
- Requesting Accommodations Using TAA (video)
- English Learner Documentation Comparison (video)
- EL Supports Documentation Requirements (pdf)
- Requesting Accommodations and English Learner (EL) Supports (web content)
- Consent to Release Information (pdf)
Request Qualified Exceptions to the Deadline
Dates:
Qualified Exceptions to the Deadline Window: March 11, 2027 - April 16, 2027
Website: Success.act.org
Resources:
Technical Coordinator Resources for Online Testing
- Technical Guide for Online Testing (pdf)
- Technical Readiness Checklist (pdf)
- TestNav Support (website)
MyACT Resources
Testing Staff:
Students:
- MyACT Account Setup - State and District Testing (video)
- MyACT User Guide for Students (pdf)
- Information for Examinees (act.org)
Prepare for Testing
- Getting Ready for Online Testing in TestNav (pdf)
- Taking the ACT (pdf)
- Taking the ACT - Spanish (pdf)
- Preparing for the ACT Test (pdf)
- Preparing for the ACT Test - Spanish (pdf)
- Practice Tests for Examinees Using Accommodations (act.org)
- The Official ACT Prep Guide (act.org)
How to Access and Complete Training Modules in TCM
Test Coordinator Modules:
- Policies (web content)
- Test Facilities (web content)
- Test Staff (web content)
- Test Materials (web content)
- Test Administration (web content)
- Non-Test Activities (web content)
Room Supervisor Modules:
- Policies (web content)
- Test Staff (web content)
- Test Day: Before Examinees Arrive (web content)
- Test Day: Administration (web content)
- Testing with Accommodated and Supports (web content)
Set Up Test Center Manager (TCM):
- Setting up TCM Test Coordinator - Paper (video)
- Setting up TCM Test Coordinator - Online (video)
- Using TCM as a Room Supervisor or Proctor - Paper (video)
- Using TCM as a Room Supervisor or Proctor - Online (video)
- TCM Training Resources (web content)
Test Day Resources
Administering the Test:
- Test Day Overview for Room Supervisors - Paper (video)
- Test Day Overview for Room Supervisors - Online (video)
- Test Staff Training slides (pptx)
- Test Day Checklist for Test Coordinators (pdf)
- Test Day Checklist for Room Supervisors (pdf)
- After Test Day Checklist (pdf)
Printable Test Day Resources:
- Printable Test Administration Manual for Test Coordinators (pdf)
- Printable Non-College (NCR) Test Administration Manual (pdf)
- Printable Test Administration Manual for Room Supervisors (pdf)
- Printable Task Cards for Online Testing (pdf)
- Paper Testing - Internet Outage Checklist (pdf)
- Turn Off Device Poster (pdf)
- ACT Calculator Policy (pdf)
Accommodations Resources for Testing Staff:
- ACT Test Translated Directions for English Learners (pdf)
- Taking Assessments Online with a Screen Reader (pdf)
- ACT-Authorized Bilingual Word-to-Word Dictionaries list (pdf)
- Testing Staff Agreements (pdf)
- Manage Stop-the-Clock Breaks (pdf)
- Human Reader and Sign Language Interpreter Instructions (pdf)
- ACT Spoken Instructions - Online (pdf)
- ACT Spoken Instructions - Paper (pdf)
- Pre-Recorded Audio Guidelines (pdf)
- Video American Sign Language Usage Guidelines (pdf)
Returning Materials:
Resources for Educators
About Online Reporting:
- ACT Online Reporting User Guide (pdf)
- Best Practices for Trusted Agents (pdf)
- Online Reporting: Benefits, Features, Navigation, and Rosters (video)
- Summary Data Reports (video)
- ACT Contract DLH Layout (xlsx)
About the reports:
Resources for Students:
- Understanding Your Scores (act.org)
- Using Your ACT Results (pdf)
- Using-Your-ACT-Results-Spanish (pdf)
- ACT Scoring FAQ-Examinees (pdf)
- ACT Scoring FAQ-Examinees - Spanish (pdf)
- Sample Student Score Report - ACT + Science + Writing (pdf)
Translated Student Reports:
- Arabic: ACT State Translated Student Report (pdf)
- French: ACT State Translated Student Report (pdf)
- Pilipino (Tagalog): ACT State Translated Student Report (pdf)
- Polish: ACT State Translated Student Report (pdf)
- Russian ACT State Translated Student Report (pdf)
- Mandarin Chinese: ACT State Translated Student Report (pdf) (coming soon)
- ACT State Sample Score Report (pdf) (coming soon)
- Gujarati: ACT State Translated Student Report (pdf) (coming soon)
- ACT State Sample Score Report (pdf) (coming soon)
- Spanish: ACT State Translated Student Report (pdf) (coming soon)
- ACT State Sample Score Report (pdf) (coming soon)
- Ukrainian: ACT State Translated Student Report (pdf)
- Urdu: ACT State Translated Student Report (pdf)