The Fall ACT Test: North Carolina
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.
Learn about Test Formats and Policies
Resources:
- What's New
- Testing Policies and Information (manual section – select the first result listed after applying search filters)
- NCDPI ACT Frequently Asked Questions
Select Test Dates and Verify Shipping Address (Manage Participation)
Dates:
August 2 – 20, 2021
Websites:
Resources:
- PearsonAccessnext User Guide (document – select the Test Date and Materials Receipt Selection section)
- Address Change Request Form (webform)
Training:
- Test Date Selection (training tutorial)
Select Test Staff and Set Up Accounts
Websites:
Resources:
- Staff Requirements, Roles, and Responsibilities (manual section – select the first result listed after applying search filters)
- PearsonAccessnext User Guide (document – 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 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:
August 2 – November 2, 2021
Websites:
Resources:
- PearsonAccessnext User Guide (document – select the Managing Test Materials, Accessing Reports, and Submit a Request to Enroll or Unenroll an Examinee sections)
- PearsonAccessnext Operational Reports Layout (document)
- Managing Enrollment and Materials for Testing (document)
Tip: To verify accommodations/supports counts, run an Accommodations and Supports Roster in PearsonAccessnext.
Training:
- Enroll/Verify/Update Students in PearsonAccessnext (training tutorial)
- Managing Enrollment and Materials for Testing (training tutorial)
Learn about Accessibility Supports
Websites:
Resources:
- Accessibility Supports Guide for the ACT (coming soon)
- Quick Start Guide for Requesting Accommodations and/or English Learner Supports (document)
- PearsonAccessnext Operational Reports Layout (document)
- Setting Up for Success - Online Reporting and TAA (document)
Training:
- On Demand Accommodations Training Webinar (coming soon)
- ACT Accommodations Training slides (document)
Request Accommodations and/or English Learner (EL) Supports
Dates:
July 23, 2021
Websites:
- Test Accessibility and Accommodations System (TAA) (success.act.org)
Resources:
- Consent to Release Information (document)
- Test Accessibility and Accommodations (TAA) User Guide (document)
- Retesting with Accommodations (document)
- Test Accessibility and Accommodations (TAA) System Supports
- High-Incidence Accommodations, Local Arrangements, and Accessibility Supports (document)
- Requesting the Same ACT-Approved Accommodations on Future Administration (document)
Training:
- ACT Test Accessibility and Accommodations (TAA) Training Tutorial (training tutorial)
- How to Create an Account to Request Accommodation through TAA (training tutorial)
Request Qualified Exceptions to the Deadline
August 9 – October 1, 2021
Websites:
- Test Accessibility and Accommodations System (TAA) (success.act.org)
Resources:
- Requesting Reconsideration (TAA User Guide) (document)
- Qualified Exceptions to the Deadline Form (document)
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:
Initial Test Window: August 30 – September 10, 2021
Make-Up Test Window: October 5 – 7, 2021
Emergency 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:
- PearsonAccessnext User Guide (document – 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.
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:
After materials arrive
Websites:
Resources:
- Taking the ACT (document)
- Non-Test Activities (manual section – select the first result listed after applying search filters)
- Non-Test Instructions for Student (Blank Form) (document)
- Non-Test Instructions for Student (Blank Form with Mail Merge) (docx)
- MyACT - Setup Account (video)
- MyACT How to Use Your Student Code for State & District Testing (video)
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:
August 2 – November 2, 2021
Websites:
Resources:
- PearsonAccessnext User Guide (document – select the Manage Examinee Information section)
Administer the Test Online
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 support: 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.
Resources:
Forms
Administration Manuals
- ACT Administration Manual - Standard Paper (document)
- ACT Administration Manual - Accommodations Paper (document)
- ACT Administration Manual - Non-College Reportable (document)
- ACT Test Coordinator Information Manual (document)
Supplements
- ACT-Authorized Bilingual Word-to-Word Dictionaries list (document)
- Prohibited Device Poster (document)
- Calculator Policy (document)
- USB Troubleshooting Tips (document)
- North Carolina Fall Administration Supplement (document)
- State & District Social Distancing Guidelines (document)
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:
Initial Test Date—Standard Time Testing Materials Receipt Deadline: October 12, 2021
Initial Test Window—Accommodations Testing Materials Receipt Deadline: October 22, 2021
Make-Up Test Date—Standard Time Testing Materials Receipt Deadline: October 26, 2021
Make-Up Test Window—Accommodations Testing Materials Receipt Deadline: November 1, 2021
Emergency Test Date—Standard Time Testing Materials Receipt Deadline: November 9, 2021
Emergency Test Window—Accommodations Testing Materials Receipt Deadline: November 15, 2021
Resources:
- Collecting, Packing, and Returning Test Materials (manual section – select the first result listed after applying search filters)
- Secure Storage and Transport Test Materials Form (document)
Training:
- How to Return Test Materials (training tutorial)
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:
See your Score Report Schedule for release dates
Websites:
Resources:
- PearsonAccessnext User Guide (document – select the Accessing Reports section)
- Score Report Schedule for the ACT Test (coming soon)
- ACT User Handbook for Educators (document)
- ACT Best Practices for Using ACT Data (document)
- MyACT Quick Start Guide (document)
- Sample Score Report - High School (document)
- ACT Online Reporting User Supplement (document)
- Setting Up for Success - Online Reporting and TAA (document)
Training:
- ACT Online Reporting Training (on-demand presentation)
Share Reporting Information with Examinees
Websites:
- Understanding Your Scores (act.org)
Resources:
- Student Information Booklet (document)
- Sample Score Report - Student (document)
- Using Your ACT Results (document)
- Using Your ACT Results - Spanish (document)
- Interactive Student Report (document)