The Fall ACT Test: North Carolina

Getting Started: Test Administration Process Steps

Select your current phase of the test administration process to see resources related to that phase.

 

Step 1: Orientation - Learn about test formats and policies; select test dates and provide shipping information; select test staff and set up accounts.

Step 2: Configuration - verify enrollment for test materials.

Step 3: Accommodation - Learn about accessibility supports; request accommodations and/or supports; request qualified exceptions to the deadline.

Step 4: Preparation -  Order test materials; complete non-test activities; provide examinees test prep information; prepare your facility, staff, and materials; update examinee information.

Step 5: Administration - Administer the test.

Step 6: Transportation: Return test materials..

Step 7: Interpretation - Access and understand score reports; share reporting information with examinees.

Important Dates

The Schedule of Events contains all dates and deadlines for North Carolina's test event. Check it frequently to stay on  track for testing.

Test Dates

  • Initial Test Date—standard time test date: October 5, 2021
  • Initial Test Window—accommodations and/or supports: October 5 – 8 and October 11 – 15, 2021
  • Make-Up Test Date—standard time test date: October 19, 2021
  • Make-Up Test Window—accommodations and/or supports: October 19 – 22 and October 25, 2021
  • Emergency1 Test Date—standard time test date: November 2, 2021
  • Emergency1 Test Window—accommodations and/or supports: November 2 – 5 and November 8, 2021

1 Schools must obtain permission from the NCDPI to utilize the emergency test date/window. Refer to the NCDPI Annual Testing Program School Calendar Conflict Request form for more information.

Documents will be replaced as they become available for Fall 2021 testing.

Help and Contact

Expand each tray for more information

ACT General Questions:
800.525.3731
contact form

Accommodations
800.525.3731, press 2
ACTStateAccoms@act.org

State Policy Questions:
Please contact your Regional Accountability Coordinator (RAC). For answers to Frequently asked questions for NC  state testing, please see the FAQ's under Orientation Section: Learn about State Testing.

Learn about Test Formats and Policies

Resources:

Select Test Dates and Verify Shipping Address (Manage Participation)

Dates:

calendarAugust 2 – 20, 2021

Websites:

Resources:

Training:

Select Test Staff and Set Up Accounts

Websites:

Resources:

Training:

Tip: When the district test coordinator changes the school test coordinator in PearsonAccessnext, 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:

calendarAugust 2 – November 2, 2021

Websites:

Resources:

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

Training:

Learn about Accessibility Supports

Websites:

Resources:

Training:

  • On Demand Accommodations Training Webinar (coming soon)
  • ACT Accommodations Training slides (document)

Request Accommodations and/or English Learner (EL) Supports

Request Qualified Exceptions to the Deadline

calendarAugust 9 – October 1, 2021

Websites:

Resources:

Tip: Reconsideration is used if you submitted a request for accommodations that was denied. Late consideration is used if you missed the initial deadline to submit accommodations.

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

Order Test Materials

Dates:

calendarInitial Test Window: August 30 – September 10, 2021

calendarMake-Up Test Window: October 5 – 7, 2021

calendarEmergency Test Window1: October 19 – 21, 2021

1 Schools must obtain permission from the NCDPI to utilize the emergency test window. Refer to the NCDPI Annual Testing Program School Calendar Conflict Request form for more information.

Websites:

Resources:

Training:

Tip: If additional materials are needed for examinees authorized by ACT to test with accommodations/supports, call the ACT Accommodations team.

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

Complete Non-Test Activities

Dates:

calendarAfter materials arrive

Websites:

Resources:

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 PearsonAccessnext. Refer to the Accessing Reports section of PearsonAccessnext 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

Prepare Your Facility, Staff, and Test Materials

Resources:

  • Test Facilities (manual section – select the first result listed after applying search filters)
  • Test Staff (manual section – select the first result listed after applying search filters)
  • Test Materials (manual section – select the first result listed after applying search filters)
  • Test Administration (manual section – select the first result listed after applying search filters)

Training:

Update Examinee Information

Dates:

calendarAugust 2 – November 2, 2021

Websites:

Resources:

Administer the Test Online 

Dates:

calendarInitial Test Date—standard time test date: October 5, 2021

calendarInitial Test Window—accommodations and/or supports: October 5 – 8 and October 11 – 15, 2021

calendarMake-Up Test Date—standard time test date: October 19, 2021

calendarMake-Up Test Window—accommodations and/or support: October 19 – 22 and October 25, 2021

calendarEmergency1 Test Date—standard time test date: November 2, 2021

calendarEmergency1 Test Window—accommodations and/or supports: November 2 – 5 and November 8, 2021

1 Schools must obtain permission from the NCDPI to utilize the emergency test date/window. Refer to the NCDPI Annual Testing Program School Calendar Conflict Request form for more information.

Resources:

Forms

Administration Manuals

Supplements

Video

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

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

Dates:

calendarInitial Test Date—Standard Time Testing Materials Receipt Deadline: October 12, 2021

calendarInitial Test Window—Accommodations Testing Materials Receipt Deadline: October 22, 2021

calendarMake-Up Test Date—Standard Time Testing Materials Receipt Deadline: October 26, 2021

calendarMake-Up Test Window—Accommodations Testing Materials Receipt Deadline: November 1, 2021

calendarEmergency Test Date—Standard Time Testing Materials Receipt Deadline: November 9, 2021

calendarEmergency Test Window—Accommodations Testing Materials Receipt Deadline: November 15, 2021

Resources:

Training:

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

Dates:

calendarSee your Score Report Schedule for release dates

Websites:

Resources:

Training:

Share Reporting Information with Examinees