The ACT Test: Montana

Learn about Test Formats and Policies

Resources:

• What's New (web content)
• Schedule Flexibility Policy (pdf)
• The ACT Taken Paper or Online (pdf)
• Testing Policies and Information (web content) (select the first result listed after applying search filters)
• Test Coordinator Checklist (pdf)

Select Test Dates and Verify Shipping Address (Manage Participation)

Dates:

 November 3–December 5, 2025

Websites:

• PearsonAccess^next

Resources:

• PearsonAccess^next User Guide (web content) (select the Test Date and Materials Receipt Selection section)
• Address Change Request Form (webform)

Training:

• Test Date Selection (Manage Participation) (training tutorial)

Select Test Staff and Set Up Accounts

Websites:

• PearsonAccess^next

Resources:

• Staff Requirements, Roles, and Responsibilities (web content) (select the first result listed after applying search filters)
• PearsonAccess^next User Guide (web content) (select the Managing Contact and User Account Information section)

Training:

• Selecting your Testing Staff (training tutorial)
• Manage Contacts (training tutorial)

Tip: When the district test coordinator changes the school test coordinator in PearsonAccess^next, 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:

 December 10, 2025–February 13, 2026

Websites:

• PearsonAccess^next

Resources:

• PearsonAccess^next User Guide (web content) (select the Managing Test Materials, Accessing Reports, and Submit a Request to Enroll or Unenroll an Examinee sections)
• PearsonAccess^next Operational Reports Layout (pdf)

Tip: To verify accommodations/supports counts, run an Accommodations and Supports Roster in PearsonAccess^next.

Training:

• Enroll/Verify/Update Students in PearsonAccess^next (training tutorial)

Complete Site Readiness for Online Testing

Dates:

 December 1, 2025–February 18, 2026

Websites:

• PearsonAccess^next
• TestNav Support

Resources:

• Technical Coordinator Checklist (pdf)
• Technical Requirements for the ACT Test Taken Online (web content)
• The ACT Online Testing Site Readiness Plan (pdf)
• Mock Administration Guide (web content)

Training:

• Online Readiness Training (webinar) (coming soon)
• Online Readiness Training webinar slides (pdf) (coming soon)

ACT Online Technical Readiness Training Tutorials

• ACT Online Technical Readiness 1: Overview (video)
• ACT Online Technical Readiness 2: TestNav (video)
• ACT Online Technical Readiness 3: Mock Administration (video)

Learn about Accessibility Supports

Websites:

• Requesting Accommodations and English Learner (EL) Supports (web content)

Resources:

• Quick Start Guide for Requesting Accommodations and/or English Learner Supports (pdf)
• Setting Up for Success - Online Reporting and TAA (pdf)
• ACT Training Information Graphic-English Learner (EL) Supports (pdf)
• Accessibility Supports Guide for the ACT (web content)
• Using the Accessibility Supports Guide (video)
• Human Reader and Sign Language Interpreter Instructions and Guidelines (pdf)

Training:

• On Demand Accommodations Training Webinar (webinar) 
• ACT Accommodations Training slides (pdf) 

Request Accommodations and/or English Learner (EL) Supports

Dates:

 Testing Window 1: September 8, 2025–February 11, 2026

 Testing Window 2: September 8, 2025–February 25, 2026

 Testing Window 3: September 8, 2025–March 11, 2026
 

Websites:

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

Resources:

• Accommodations Calendar layout (xlsx)
• Consent to Release Information (pdf)
• Test Accessibility and Accommodations (TAA) User Guide (pdf)
• Test Accessibility and Accommodations (TAA) System Supports (web content)
• English Learner Documentation Comparison (video)
• Requesting English Learner Supports Using TAA (video)
• English Learner Supports-Requirements Reference Table (pdf)
• Human Reader and Sign Language Interpreter Instructions and Guidelines (pdf)

Training:

• Requesting Accommodations and English Learner Supports Using TAA (video)
• How to Create an Account to Request Accommodation through TAA (training tutorial)

Request Qualified Exceptions to the Deadline

Dates:

 March 13–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 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.

Tip: If selecting the qualified exceptions date in TAA, make sure to attach the Qualified Exceptions to the Deadline Form in the request.

Arrange for Accommodations and/or English Learner Supports

Resources:

• Reader Agreement (pdf)
• Sign Language Interpreter Agreement (pdf)
• Scribe Agreement (pdf)

Order Test Materials

Dates:

Test Window 1: February 23–March 13, 2026

Test Window 2: March 24–27, 2026

Test Window 3:  April 7–10, 2026

Websites:

• PearsonAccess^next

Resources:

• PearsonAccess^next User Guide (web content) (select the Managing Test Materials section)

Training:

• Ordering Additional ACT Materials (training tutorial)

Tip: If additional materials are needed for examinees authorized by ACT to test with accommodations/supports, call the ACT Accommodations team. Use the Accommodations and Supports Roster, which can be accessed in PearsonAccessnext by Test Coordinators and Room Supervisors, to provide information to ensure the right students receive additional materials.

Tip: You can track test materials shipments using Orders and Shipment Tracking. See the View Status and Shipment Information section in the PearsonAccess^next User Guide.

Complete Non-Test Activities

Dates:

 Students have an additional two days after they finish testing to complete their non-test information in MyACT.

Websites:

• MyACT

Resources:

• Taking the ACT (pdf)
• Taking the ACT - Spanish (pdf)
• Non-Test Activities (web content) (select the first result listed after applying search filters)
• Non-Test Instructions for Student (Blank Form) (pdf)
• Non-Test Instructions for Student (Blank Form with Mail Merge) (docx)
• MyACT User Guide for Test Coordinators (pdf)
• MyACT User Guide for Students (pdf)
• MyACT Account Setup - State & District Testing (video)
• MyACT Interest and Careers Inventories (pdf)
• MyACT Benefits and Tips for School and Student (pdf)

Tip: To provide visibility into the non-test information process, schools will have access to a new daily Student Code Usage Status report after receiving their first shipment of materials. This report is posted in the Published Reports section in PearsonAccess^next. Refer to the Accessing Reports section of PearsonAccess^next User Guide for instructions. This report contains “Yes” or “No” to indicate students who have not used their Student Code or not completed college choices.

Provide Examinees Test Prep Information

Websites:

• Information for Examinees (act.org)
• Practice Tests for Examinees Using Accommodations (act.org)

Resources:

• Preparing for the ACT Taken Online (pdf)
• Preparing for the ACT Test (pdf) 
• Preparing for the ACT Test - Spanish (pdf) 

Prepare Your Facility, Staff, and Test Materials

Resources:

• Test Facilities (web content) (select the first result listed after applying search filters)
• Test Staff (web content) (select the first result listed after applying search filters)
• Test Materials (web content) (select the first result listed after applying search filters)
• Test Administration (web content) (select the first result listed after applying search filters)

Training:

• Test Administration Training #1 (webinar) (coming soon)
• Test Administration Training #1 slides (pdf) (coming soon)
• Test Administration Training #2 (webinar) (coming soon)
• Test Administration Training #2 slides (pdf) (coming soon)

Update Examinee Information

Dates:

Test Window 1: December 10, 2025–April 2, 2026

Test Window 2: December 10, 2025–April 16, 2026

Test Window 3: December 10, 2025–April 30, 2026

Websites:

• PearsonAccess^next

Resources:

• PearsonAccess^next User Guide (web content) (select the Manage Examinee Information section)

Create Online Test Sessions

Dates:

Test Window 1:February 23–April 3, 2026

Test Window 2: April 1–17, 2026

Test Window 3: April 15–May 1, 2026

Websites:

• PearsonAccess^next
• TestNav

Resources:

• Technical Guide (web content)
• ACT Administration Online Manual (web content)
• Preparing Students for the ACT Test Taken Online (pdf)
• Preparing for Online Testing - Quick Start Guide (pdf)
• Switching from Paper to Online Testing (pdf)

Training:

• Create and Assign Test Sessions (training tutorial)

Administer the Test

Online Testing Dates:

Test Window 1 Standard Time and Accommodations Administration Window: March 24–27, 2026 and March 30–April 3, 2026

Test Window 2 Standard Time and Accommodations Administration Window: April 7–10, 2026 and April 13–17, 2026

Test Window 3 Standard Time and Accommodations Administration Window: April 21–24, 2026 and April 27–May 1, 2026

Resources:

Forms

• Test Administration Form - ACT Standard Time Paper (pdf)
• Test Administration Form - ACT Accommodations Paper (pdf)
• Test Administration Form - ACT Online Standard Time (online testing) (pdf)
• Test Administration Form - ACT Online Accommodations (online testing) (pdf)

Administration Manuals

• ACT Administration Manual - Standard Paper (pdf)
• ACT Administration Manual - Accommodations Paper (pdf)
• ACT Administration Manual - Online Testing (pdf)
• ACT Test Coordinator Information Manual (pdf)

Supplements

• ACT Test Translated Directions for English Learners-Online Testing (pdf)
• ACT Test Translated Directions for English Learners (pdf)
• ACT-Authorized Bilingual Word-to-Word Dictionaries list (pdf)
• Prohibited Device Poster (pdf)
• Calculator Policy (pdf)
• Room Supervisor Checklist-Online (pdf)
• Room Supervisor Checklist-Paper (pdf)
• Pre-Recorded Audio Guidelines (pdf)
• Video American Sign Language Usage Guidelines (pdf)

Video

• Test Day Overview for Room Supervisors (paper) (video)
• Test Day Overview for Online Room Supervisors (video)
• How to Enter Online Irregularities (training tutorial)
• Manage Online Test Session (training tutorial)

Tip: Ensure you are using the correct materials for your test date and type to avoid cancellation of scores.

Tip: ACT test translated directions for students testing on paper are shipped with secure test materials.

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

Paper Dates:

Test Window 1 standard testing materials receipt deadline: March 31, 2026

Test Window 1 accommodations testing materials receipt deadline: April 10, 2026

Test Window 2 standard testing materials receipt deadline: April 15, 2026

Test Window 2 accommodations testing materials receipt deadline: April 24, 2026

Test Window 3 standard testing materials receipt deadline: April 29, 2026

Test Window 3 accommodations testing materials receipt deadline: May 8, 2026

Resources:

• Collecting, Packing, and Returning Test Materials (web content) (select the first result listed after applying search filters)
• Secure Storage and Transport of Test Materials Form (pdf)

Training:

• How to Return Standard and Accommodations Test Materials (video)

Tip: Do not return unused answer documents from initial testing. Use those for makeup testing.

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 ACT-authorized accommodations materials at the end of the testing window, rather than returning materials for individual examinees as they complete testing.

Tip: If you receive an additional order, write your high school name and code on the return shipping labels.

Access and Understand Score Reports

The Individual Student Report is now available for download in Online Reporting for the ACT State and District customers in both an English and Spanish version.

Dates:

Score Report Schedule for the ACT Test (web content) 

Websites:

• success.act.org

Resources:

• Setting Up for Success - Online Reporting and TAA (pdf)
• Download Data in Online Reporting - FAQs (web content)
• ACT Online Reporting User Guide (pdf)
• ACT User Handbook for Educators (pdf)
• Sample Score Report - High School (pdf)
• ACT Contract Download Hub Layout (xlsx)
• Best Practices for Trusted Agents (pdf)
• Downloading HSRs or ISRs as Individual PDFs (pdf)

Training:

• 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)

Share Reporting Information with Examinees

Websites:

• Understanding Your Scores (act.org)

Resources:

• Sample Score Report - Student (pdf)
• Using Your ACT Results (pdf)
• Using-Your-ACT-Results-Spanish (pdf)
• Understanding Your Scores (act.org)
• Opting in to ACT Recruit Me (formerly EOS) (act.org)