PreACT: North Carolina

• Address Change Request Form (web form) 
• PreACT Online Technical Readiness Survey (web form)

Learn about ACT Now

• What's New (web content) 
• Overview (video) 
• Glossary of Terms (pdf) (coming soon)
• User Role Matrix (pdf) revised 9.26.2025
• Comparison of Administration Programs (pdf) 
• ACT Now FAQ (web content) 
  Tip: Manual paper ordering does not apply to NC state testing.

Set Up ACT Now

Invite or Manage Organizations in ACT Now:

• Confirm Organization Participation Status (video) 
• Adding Students and Assigning a Test Event (video) 

Add Users with Roles to ACT Now:

• Adding Users with Roles (video) 
• Creating a User Account (video) 
• Users File - Layout (pdf) 
• Users File Template (csv)

Manage Your Students:

• Quick Start Guide to Managing Students in ACT Now (pdf) 
  Tip: Entering a Manual Paper Order on page 6 does not apply to North Carolina.
• Students File - Layout (pdf) 
• Student Registrations File Template (csv)

Manage Accommodations

Understand Accommodations:

• Accessibility Supports Guide for the PreACT (web content) 

Assign Accommodations:

• Quick Start Guide - Assigning Accommodations and Supports (pdf)
  Tip: Manual paper ordering is not allowed by the NC contract. Orders are automated based on student enrollment information in ACT Now.
• PreACT - Pre-Event Uploading and Assigning Student Accommodations (video) 
• Accommodations Students File - Layout (pdf) 
• Accommodations Students File Template (csv)
• Human Reader and Sign Language Interpreter Instructions and Guidelines (pdf)

Prepare Students for Testing with Accommodations:

• Pre-Recorded Audio Guidelines (pdf) 
• Authorized Bilingual Word-to-Word Dictionaries List (pdf) 

Prepare for Testing 

• Technical Guide for Online Testing (pdf) revised 10-13-2025
  Tip: The Download TestNav on Chromebooks instructions have been updated.
• Technical Readiness Checklist for Technical Coordinators (pdf)
• TestNav Support (website) 
• Before Test Day Checklist (pdf) 
  

Prepare Students for Testing

• Instructions for Completing Your Answer Document (pdf)

Tip: A copy of the Instructions for Completing Your Answer Document resource is printed and shipped with each paper answer document. Examinees testing with online testing will receive their instructions for completing the test in the online administration platform, TestNav.

TCM Resources

Access ACT Now Policy Modules

Tip: All ACT Polices need to be thoroughly read and agreed to 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 are captured in the Test Coordinator Modules.

Test Coordinator Modules:

• Test Coordinator Module: Policies (web content) 
• Test Coordinator Module: Test Facilities (web content) 
• Test Coordinator Module: Test Staff (web content) (coming soon)
• Test Coordinator Module: Test Materials (web content) (coming soon)
• Test Coordinator Module: Test Administration (web content) 
• Test Coordinator Module: Non-Test Activities (web content)

Room Supervisor Modules:

• Room Supervisor Module: Policies (web content) 
• Room Supervisor Module: Test Facilities (web content) 
• Room Supervisor Module: Test Staff (web content) (coming soon)
• Room Supervisor Module: Test Materials (web content) (coming soon)
• Room Supervisor Module: Test Administration (web content) 

Set up Test Center Manager (TCM):

• Setting up TCM Test Coordinator (video)
• Setting up TCM Test Coordinator (simulation)
• Using TCM as a Room Supervisor or Proctor (video)
  Tip: Creating seating charts and logging test booklet serial numbers is not applicable to PreACT.
• Using TCM as a Room Supervisor or Proctor (simulation)
  Tip: Seating charts are not required for PreACT; this simulation shows screens for The ACT.
• Internet Outage Checklist - Paper Testing with ACT Now and TCM (pdf) 
• PreACT Test Day Instructions for Paper Testing (pdf) 
  Tip: To be used for paper testing as back-up instructions in the case of a TCM™ outage.
• Create a Test Room (pdf) 
• Using Test Center Manager (web content) 
  

Administer Test 

• Test Day Overview for Room Supervisors - Paper (video) 
• Test Day Overview for Room Supervisors - Online (video)
• Administration Supplement - Paper Testing (pdf) 
• Administration Supplement - Online Testing (pdf)  - revised 9.22.2025
• Test Day Checklist (pdf) 
• Turn Off Device Poster (pdf)
• Calculator Policy (pdf) 
• Printable Test Administration Manual (pdf)
• Printable Task Cards for Online Testing (pdf) 
  Tip: For training purposes only. North Carolina room supervisors must use TCM to administer the test.

Administer Test with Accommodations

• PreACT Translated Directions (pdf) 
• Reader Agreement (pdf) 
• Sign Language Interpreter Agreement (pdf) 
• Scribe Agreement (pdf) 
• Taking Assessments Online with a Screen Reader (pdf) 
• PreACT Spoken Instructions - Paper (pdf) 
  Tip: NC students will hear different directions when completing non-test information. Students follow directions from Room Supervisor.
• PreACT Spoken Instructions - Online (pdf) 
  Tip: NC students will hear different directions on page 7 for skipping information in this section.

Tip: If you're looking for resources, manuals, test forms, and other test administration resources, you'll find them in ACT Now and TCM training content. Look for a test day checklist, polices and tutorials, and much more!

Tip: Electronic signatures are permitted for the Sign Language Interpreter’s Agreements, Reader's Agreements, and Scribe's Agreements

Return Test Materials

• After Test Day Checklist (pdf)
• Secure Storage and Transport Test Materials (pdf) 
  Tip: This form is not required for PreACT, but may be utilized if PreACT materials must be transported to an alternate location.
• Returning Paper and Online Test Materials (video)
  Tip: Regarding the audit message in this video, if Test Security determines that a visit is required to a North Carolina school, ACT Test Security will follow all of the agreed upon requirements to visit the school (including 24 hours notification to the school).

Access Online Reporting

• ACT Online Reporting User Guide (pdf) 

Understand Reports

• Interpretive Guide for Student and Aggregate Reports (pdf) 
  Tip: Some reporting features are unavailable to NC state testing users.
• PreACT Online Reporting Crosswalk (pdf) 
  Tip: My Summary Results and Local Quartile are not available for NC State Testing.
• PreACT Download Hub Data File Layout (xlsx) 
• ACT Online Reporting State and District Benefits, Features, Navigation, and Rosters (video) 
• ACT Online Reporting State and District Summary Data Tool Resources (video)
• Best Practices for Trusted Agents (pdf)
• ACT Online Reporting-PreACT-Reports (video) 
• Downloading HSRs or ISRs as Individual PDFs (pdf)

Help Students Access and Understand Reports

• Using Your PreACT Results (pdf)
• Using Your PreACT Results - Spanish (pdf) 
• Sample Score Report - NC (pdf)