The ACT + Science + Writing: Illinois

Learn About ACT Now

• State, District and National ACT Testing Comparison for Illinois (pdf) 
• Overview (video)
• Glossary of Terms (pdf)
• User Role Matrix (pdf)
• ACT Now-What’s New (web content) 
• ACT Now – FAQs (web content) 
• Schedule Flexibility Policy (pdf)
  Tip: Only refer to schedule options that include science and writing. See page two for options if students miss the second day of testing.

Note: Contract Coordinator, Organization Invitation Importer and Student Data Importer roles are not applicable to Illinois state testing users. In Illinois, the ACT with Writing is administered online. Paper testing is available only in rare cases as an accommodation.

Set Up ACT Now

The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) will be uploading all students into ACT Now. Districts and schools must assign students to test events and ensure student information is correct in ISBE's Student Information System (SIS).

Training:

• Confirming Organizations' Participation Status (video)

Add Users with Roles to ACT Now:

• Add Users with Roles (video)
• Creating a New Account (video)
• Layout Requirements—CSV Format: Users Invitation File (pdf)
• Users Invitation File Template (csv)

Manage Student Information:

• Managing Student Information Quick Start Guide (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 8, 2025 - February 11, 2026
Accommodations Request Window for Test Event 2: September 8, 2025 - February 25, 2026
Accommodations Request Window for Test Event 3: September 8, 2025 - March 11, 2026

Note: In TAA, you must select Illinois Spring 2026 and the test event you plan to test.

Important: Reconsideration requests can be submitted after receiving partial approvals, denials or if there are changes to a student's plan. If a school misses the deadline to submit an initial or reconsideration request for the test event they selected, they must move the student(s) to the next test event in ACT Now, before submitting their request in TAA.

Website: Success.act.org

• How to Create an Account to Request Accessibility Supports Through TAA (training tutorial)
• Requesting Accommodations and English Learner (EL) Supports (web content)

Resources:

Note: Administration times will be updated by early December.

• Accessibility Supports Guide for the ACT (web content)
• Using the Accessibility Supports Guide (video)
• Accommodations Calendar layout (xlsx)
• Test Accessibility and Accommodations (TAA) System Supports (web content)
• Test Accessibility and Accommodations (TAA) User Guide (pdf)
• Requesting Accommodations Using TAA (video)
• English Learner Documentation Comparison (video)
• English Learner Supports-Requirements Reference Table (pdf)
• Requesting English Learner Supports Using TAA (video)
• Consent to Release Information to ACT: Examinee TAA Information (pdf)
• Taking Assessments Online with a Screen Reader (pdf)
• Human Reader and Sign Language Interpreter Instructions and Guidelines (pdf)

Request Qualified Exceptions to the Deadline

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

Dates:

Qualified Exceptions to the Deadline Window: March 12, 2025 - April 17, 2026

Websites:

• Test Accessibility and Accommodations System (TAA) (success.act.org)

Resources:

• Requesting Reconsideration (TAA User Guide) (pdf)
• Qualified Exceptions to the Deadline (pdf)

Tip: Reconsideration requests can be submitted after receiving partial approvals, denials or if there are changes to a student’s plan. Qualified Exceptions to the Deadline can only be submitted for the limited reasons as indicated on the form.

Prepare for Testing

• Technical Guide for Online Testing (pdf)
• Technical Readiness Checklist (pdf)
• TestNav Support (website)
• Before Test Day Checklist (pdf)

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!

Resources for Students and Testing Staff

Creating a MyACT account in Illinois is optional. Students have the option to utilize an alternate form or create a MyACT account to submit scores to up to four colleges.

Testing Staff:

• Alternate Score Send and MyACT for Illinois Supplement (pdf)
• MyACT User Guide for Test Coordinators (pdf)
• The Official ACT Prep Guide (act.org)
• Kaplan ACT Prep (web content)

Students:

• MyACT Resources for Success (pdf)
• MyACT User Guide for Students (pdf)
• Information for Examinees (act.org)
• Taking the ACT (pdf)
• Taking the ACT–Spanish (pdf) 
• Preparing for the ACT Taken Online (pdf) revised 02.03.2026
• Preparing for the ACT Test (pdf) 
• Preparing for the ACT Test - Spanish 
• Practice Tests for Examinees Using Accommodations (act.org)
  This document contains information related to all available ACT assessments that provide accommodations and EL support practice test options to include state and PreACT Secure products. The enhanced versions will become available in TestNav December 2025.

Test Center Manager (TCM) Resources

 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 is captured in the test coordinator modules.

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 Facilities (web content)
• Test Staff (web content)
• Test Materials (web content)
• Test Administration (web content)

Setting Up Test Center Manager (TCM):

• Setting Up TCM as a Test Coordinator (video)
  • Setting Up TCM Test Coordinator (simulation)
• Using TCM as a Room Supervisor or Proctor (video)
  • Using TCM as a Room Supervisor or Proctor (simulation)
• Paper Testing - Internet Outage Checklist (pdf)
  • ACT Test Day Instructions for Paper Testing - Standard (pdf) 
  • ACT Test Day Instructions for Paper Testing - Accommodations (pdf) 
• Using Test Center Manager (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 Day Checklist (pdf)
• ACT Calculator Policy (pdf)
• Turn Off Device Poster (pdf)
• Manage Breaks as Needed (pdf)
• Printable Task Cards for Online Testing (pdf) 
• Printable Test Administration Manual (pdf)
• Printable Non-College (NCR) Test Administration Manual (pdf)

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

• ACT Test Translated Directions for English Learners–Online Testing (pdf) 
• ACT Test Translated Directions for English Learners–Paper Testing (pdf) 
• Reader Agreement (pdf)
• Sign Language Interpreter Agreement (pdf)
• Scribe Agreement (pdf)
• ACT-Authorized Bilingual Word-to-Word Dictionaries list (pdf)
• ACT Spoken Instructions - Paper (pdf) 
• ACT Spoken Instructions - Online (pdf) 
• Pre-Recorded Audio Guidelines (pdf)
• Video American Sign Language Usage Guidelines–Paper Testing (pdf)
• Personal Aide Guidelines (pdf)

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!

Returning Materials

• After Test Day Checklist (pdf)
• ACT Now Returning Test Materials (video)
• Secure Storage and Transport of Test Materials (pdf)

Resources for Educators

Website: success.act.org

About Online Reporting:

• ACT Online Reporting State and District Benefits, Features, Navigation, and Rosters (video)
• ACT Online Reporting State and District Contract Reports and Student Reports (video)
• ACT Online Reporting State and District Summary Data Tool Resources (video)
• Setting Up for Success - Online Reporting and TAA (pdf)
• Download Data in Online Reporting - FAQs (web content)
• Best Practices for Trusted Agents (pdf)
• ACT Online Reporting User Guide (pdf)
• Downloading HSRs or ISRs as Individual PDFs (pdf)
• ACT Contract DLH Layout (xlsx)

About the reports:

• ACT User Handbook for Educators (pdf)
• Sample Score Report - High School (pdf)

Resources for students:

• Understanding Your Scores - Enhanced ACT (act.org)
• Sample Score Report - Student (pdf)
• Using Your ACT Results (pdf)
• Using-Your-ACT-Results-Spanish (pdf)

Translated Student Reports:

• Arabic: ACT State Translated Student Report (pdf)
  • ACT State Sample Score Report (pdf) 
• French: ACT State Translated Student Report (pdf)
  • ACT State Sample Score Report (pdf) 
• Pilipino (Tagalog): ACT State Translated Student Report (pdf) 
  • ACT State Sample Score Report (pdf) 
• Polish: ACT State Translated Student Report (pdf)
  
  • ACT State Sample Score Report (pdf) 
• Russian ACT State Translated Student Report (pdf) 
  • ACT State Sample Score Report (pdf) 
• Simplified Chinese: ACT State Translated Student Report (pdf)
  • ACT State Sample Score Report (pdf) 
• Telugu: ACT State Translated Student Report (pdf)
  • ACT State Sample Score Report (pdf) 
• Traditional Chinese: ACT State Translated Student Report (pdf)
  • ACT State Sample Score Report (pdf)
• Ukrainian: ACT State Translated Student Report (pdf)
  • ACT State Sample Score Report (pdf) 
• Urdu: ACT State Translated Student Report (pdf) 
  • ACT State Sample Score Report (pdf) 

• ACT Now
  • Log in to ACT Now to confirm participation and set up for testing.
• Success.act.org
  • Access Test Accessibility & Accommodations (TAA) System.
  • Access Online Reporting
• High School Assessment (ACT with Writing, PreACT Secure, PreACT 9 Secure)
• ACT System Status 

• 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:
  • Phone: 800.553.6244, ext,1788
  • Email: actstateaccoms@act.org
• Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE)
  • Phone: 866.317.6034
  • Email: assessment@isbe.net

• Illinois ACT State Testing - Office Hours Link
• Accommodations Office Hours Spring 26
• ACT with Writing Accommodations Webinar - On Demand
• ACT with Writing Accommodations slides (pdf)
• ACT with Writing Pre-Test Webinar - On Demand
• ACT with Writing Pre-Test slides (pdf)
• ACT with Writing Test Day Webinar - On Demand
• ACT with Writing Test Day slides (pdf)
• Technical Readiness Webinar - On Demand
• Technical Readiness slides (pdf)