The ACT with Writing: Illinois

Tips for Success

  1. Use the training content in ACT Now to access test administration resources and walk through test administration preparation activities.
  2. Dates and deadlines for your test administration are in ACT Now. Access the filterable Schedule of Events from your ACT Now landing page.
  3. Watch for emails from ACT with important reminders. Add our email address to your contacts to prevent emails from going to spam/junk folders. Exemptlist email addresses from @act.org and @operations.act.org.

Important Dates

Your Schedule of Events - revised 3/31/25 (web content ) contains all dates and deadlines for your test event. Check it frequently to ensure you're on track for a successful administration.

Important: A student may be scheduled to test during any of the three test event windows. Please note that students must start and complete testing in the same test event. Students with multi-day testing must start and complete testing within the same test event

Test Dates

Test Event 1:

  • Standard and ACT-Authorized Accommodations (Online): March 25–28, 2025 and March 31–April 4, 2025

Test Event 2:

  • Standard and ACT-Authorized Accommodations (Online): April 8–11, 2025 and April 14–18, 2025

Test Event 3:

  • Standard and ACT-Authorized Accommodations (Online): April 22–25, 2025 and April 28–May 2, 2025

Helpful Links

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  • ACT General Questions
    • Phone: 855.730.0400 Option 1 for the ACT with Writing.
    • Email: statetesting@act.org
    • January – May Hours of Operation 6:30am – 6pm CST
    • Regular Hours 8:30am – 5pm CST
  • Accommodations:
  • Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE)
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Step 1: Pre-Administration

Learn About ACT Now

Note: In Illinois, the ACT with Writing is administered online. Paper testing is available only in rare cases as an accommodation.

Set Up ACT Now

Training:

Adding Users with Roles to ACT Now:

Manage Student Information:

Request Accommodations and English Learner (EL) Supports:

calendarAccommodations Request Window: September 16, 2024–February 7, 2025

Website: Success.act.org

Resources:

Recorded Webinar from October 17, 2024:

Request Qualified Exceptions to the Deadline

Note: There is no reconsideration for Qualified Exceptions to the Deadline submission.

Dates:

calendarQualified Exceptions to the Deadline Window (Test Event 1): February 10–March 21, 2025

calendarQualified Exceptions to the Deadline Window (Test Event 2): March 24–28, 2025

Websites:

Resources:

Tip: Reconsideration is used if you submitted a request for accommodations that was denied. Qualified Exceptions to the Deadline is for limited reasons as indicated on the form.

Prepare for Testing

Tip: If you’re looking for resources about preparing for test day, you’ll find them in ACT Now and TCM training content. Look for a test day checklist, system demos and tutorials, and much more!

Webinars:

Resources for Students and Testing Staff

The creation of a MyACT account in Illinois is optional. Students will have the option to utilize an alternate form or create a MyACT account to submit scores to up to four colleges. ISBE has suppressed all MyACT questions, such as those pertaining to religious affiliation and household income and therefore some screens may differ from what is provided in these resources.

Testing Staff:

Students:

 

Step 2: Administration

Test Center Manager (TCM) Resources

TCM Resources

Policies:

  • Read Through ACT Policy Modules (pdf)
    Note: All test coordinators and room supervisors must read and agree to all ACT policies in TCM, accessed through ACT Now. If you are serving as your site’s test coordinator and room supervisor, you only need to agree to the training modules for the test coordinator. The information found in the room supervisor modules are captured in the test coordinator modules.

Test Coordinator Modules:

Room Supervisor Modules:

Setting Up Test Center Manager (TCM):

Test Day Resources

 Administering the Test:

Accommodations and English Learner (EL) Supports Resources for Testing Staff:

Webinars:

Tip: If you're looking for resources, manuals, test forms, and other test administration resources, you'll find them in the ACT Now and TCM training content. Look for a test day checklist, policies, and tutorials, and much more!

ACT Now Returning Materials: Returning Materials

Step 3: Post-Administration

Access and Understand Score Reports

Dates: Final reporting data will be available in success.act.org on June 16, 2025

Websites:

Resources:

Training:

Share Reporting Information with Examinees

Websites:

Resources:

Translated Student Reports:

Webinars: