PreACT: 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.
- Testing Window: October 9 - November 17, 2023
- Answer Document Return Date (ADRD): December 6, 2023
Documents will be replaced as they become available for Fall 2023
Learn about Test Formats and Policies
Resources:
Select Test Dates and Provide Shipping Information
Dates:
August 7 - September 1, 2023
Websites:
Resources:
- PearsonAccessnext User Guide (web content) – select the Test Date and Materials Receipt Selection section)
- Address Change Request Form (webform)
Select Test Staff and Set Up Accounts
Website:
Resources:
- Staff Requirements, Roles, and Responsibilities (web content) (manual section – select the first result listed after applying search filters)
- PearsonAccessnext User Guide (web content) – select the Managing Contact and User Account Information section)
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.
Order Test Materials
Dates:
September 11 - October 20, 2023
Website:
Resources:
- PearsonAccessnext User Guide (web content) – select the Managing Test Materials section)
Tip: You can track test materials shipments using Orders & Shipment Tracking. See the View Status and Shipment Information section in the PearsonAccessnext User Guide.
Tip: The PreACT Test Materials Package includes the test booklets, answer documents, Administration Manuals, and other materials you will need to administer PreACT. Order one PreACT Test Material Package for every student who will be testing, including students who will test with accommodations or English learner supports. ACT will include an overage in each order.
Verify Enrollment Counts
Dates:
August 14 - September 1, 2023
Website:
Resources:
- PearsonAccessnext User Guide (web content) – select the Managing Test Materials, Accessing Reports, and Submit a Request to Enroll or Unenroll an Examinee sections)
Training:
- Enroll/Verify/Update Students in PearsonAccessnext (training tutorial) (coming soon)
Tip: To verify accommodations/supports counts, run an Accommodations and Supports Roster in PearsonAccessnext.
Learn about Accessibility Supports
Resources:
Arrange for Accommodations and/or English Learner (EL) Supports
Resources:
- Testing with Accessibility Supports (web content) (manual section – select the first result listed after applying search filters)
Tip: Administering PreACT with accommodations or English learner supports does not require prior approval from ACT. You will order alternate format test materials or materials for English learners at the same time you order your PreACT Test Material Packages in PearsonAccessnext.
Prepare Your Facility, Staff, and Test Materials
Resources:
- Test Facilities (web content) (manual section – select the first listed after applying search filters)
- Test Staff (web content) (manual section – select the first listed after applying search filters)
- Test Materials (web content) (manual section – select the first listed after applying search filters)
- Test Administration (web content) (manual section – select the first listed after applying search filters)
Complete Non-Test Activities
Resources:
Tip: When entering name on the answer document (block B), be sure to:
- Start with the first box and first column in block.
- Fill in the appropriate oval for each letter in addition to printing them in the boxes.
- Fill in only one oval per column.
Tip: Make sure examinees properly enter the form code into the Test Form block on their answer documents. This is essential to the answer documents being scored properly.
Administer the Test
Dates:
Standard Time and Accommodations Administration Window: October 9 - November 17, 2023
Resources:
Administration Manuals
Supplements
Return Test Materials
Dates:
Answer Document Receipt Deadline: December 6, 2023
Resources:
- Preparing, Packing, and Returning Test Materials (web content) (manual section – select the first result listed after applying search filters)
- Secure Storage and Transport Test Materials Form (pdf)
- Returning Braille Materials (web content)
Tip: Test coordinators should verify completeness and accuracy of materials received from room supervisors before returning answer documents to ACT. Check that the test form code is properly gridded on each answer document.
Tip: Do not return unused answer documents or any unused PreACT test materials.
Tip: Return the answer documents for all testing (standard, accommodations, or make-up) in the same shipment.
Tip: The polymailer envelopes include prepaid FedEx return shipping labels already affixed. You may leave the packed polymailer envelopes in a secure FedEx pick-up area at your site or FedEx drop-off site. Do not leave your packed polymailer envelopes in an unsupervised pick or drop-off site.
Access and Understand Score Reports
Dates:
View your Score Reports data in the Online Reporting Download Hub within 10 business days of answer document receipt.
Websites:
Resources:
- Interpretive Guide for Student and Aggregate Reports - NC (pdf)
- Using Your PreACT Results - NC (pdf)
- Using Your PreACT Results - Spanish - NC (pdf)
- PreACT Student Report - Sample - NC (pdf)
- PreACT Guide for Online Reporting - NC (pdf)
- PreACT Download hub data file layout (xlsx)
Tip: Starting with the release of Online Reporting for PreACT assessments, the file that was historically received on a CD will be available for download through the Download Hub within Online Reporting. The file will be a CSV format. The new Download Hub file layout is represented in columns A through D. Columns E-G provide the starting and ending position from the old CD file layout.
Training:
Webinars and Administration Manuals
North Carolina Training Webinars:
Resources:
- PreACT Test Administration Training (webinar)
- PreACT Test Administration Training slide deck (pdf)
- PreACT Test Administration Training Q&A (pdf)
- NC-PreACT Data Interpretation Webinar (webinar)
- NC-PreACT Data Interpretation Webinar slides (pdf)
Administration Manuals:
Resources: