The ACT Test: Senior Retake
Important Dates
Test Dates
The ACT Taken on Paper
- Initial Test Date: September 22, 2020
- Initial Accommodations Testing Window: September 22 - October 2, 2020
- Makeup Test Date: October 6, 2020
- Makeup Accommodations Testing Window: October 6-12, 2020
- Emergency Test Date: October 20, 2020
- Emergency Accommodations Testing Window: October 20 - 26, 2020
Quick Links
Test Accessibility & Accommodations System (TAA)
To search a variety of state testing content, click here
Contact Information
ACT General Questions:
800.553.6244, ext. 2800
contact form
Accommodations:
800.553.6244, ext. 1788
ACTStateAccoms@act.org
State Code: 43
State Policy Questions:
Phone: 615-351-1146
Website: Tennessee Department of Education
Test Administration Process Overview
Select your current phase of the test administration process to see resources related to that section, or simply scroll down the page.
- Orientation - Get oriented with the testing program.
- Configuration - Configure testing setup and systems.
- Verification - Verify needs for accommodations and/or supports.
- Preparation - Prepare for testing.
- Administration - Administer the test successfully.
- Transportation - Transport materials and data to ACT.
- Interpretation - Interpret score reports and test data.
Activity: Make Staff Arrangements
1. Confirm School Test Coordinator Assignment
Resources to complete this activity:
- PearsonAccessnext User Guide (Managing Contact and User Account Information section)
- 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.
2. Select Test Staff
Resources to complete this activity:
- Staff Requirements, Roles, and Responsibilities
- Selecting your Testing Staff (training tutorial)
Activity: Manage Participation
Resources to complete this activity:
- PearsonAccessnext User Guide (Managing Participation section)
- Manage Participation (training tutorial)
Activity: Verify the Shipping Address
Resources to complete this activity:
- PearsonAccessnext User Guide (Managing Contact and User Account Information section)
- Address Change Request Form (pdf)
Activity: Learn about State Testing
Resources to complete this activity:
Activity: Upload Student Data
Resources to complete this activity:
- Student Data Upload File Requirements & Loading Instructions (pdf)
- Student Data Upload File Requirements & Loading Instructions - Fixed-Width Format (pdf)
- Student Data Upload Header Template
- How to upload Student Data to PearsonAccessnext (training tutorial)
Activity: Verify Enrollment for Test Materials
1. Verify the enrollment count (the number of examinees expected to test) in PearsonAccessnext listed for:
- Standard Time Testing
- Accommodations Formats, Braille Formats, and Translated Test Instructions for English Learners
- How to Adjust Enrollment to Manage Multiple Test Date Options (docx)
- How to Adjust Enrollment to Manage Multiple Test Date Options (training tutorial)
2. Check that all newly-enrolled students are in PearsonAccessnext by going to Setup, then Students
3. Enroll/unenroll examinees if the enrollment is not accurate
Resources to complete this activity:
- PearsonAccessnext User Guide (Managing Test Materials, Accessing Reports, and Submit a Request to Enroll or Unenroll an Examinee sections)
- Enroll/Verify/Update Students in PearsonAccessnext (training tutorial)
Tip: To verify accommodations/supports counts, run an Accommodations and Supports Roster in PearsonAccessnext.
Activity: Order Test Materials
- Additional standard time materials for the initial test date
- for an enrollment increase after the Verify Enrollment for Test Materials deadline
- if after receiving materials, more are needed
- Standard time materials for the makeup test date
- Standard time materials for the emergency test date
Resources to complete this activity:
- PearsonAccessnext User Guide (Managing Test Materials section)
- 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.
Activity: Request Accommodations and/or English Learner (EL) Supports
Resources to complete this activity:
- Information about requesting Accommodations and/or English Learner (EL) Supports
- Quick Start Guide for Requesting Accommodations and/or English Learner Supports (pdf)
- Test Accessibility and Accommodations (TAA) User Guide (pdf)
- PearsonAccessnext Operational Reports Layout (pdf)
- How to Access TAA (training tutorial)
- ACT Test Accessibility and Accommodations (TAA) Training Tutorial (video)
- Test Accessibility and Accommodations (TAA) System Supports
- Consent to Release Information (pdf)
- Retesting with Accommodations (pdf)
- Late Consideration (pdf)
Tip: Pay close attention to the dates that ACT is asking you to select in TAA. National test dates are also listed, so be sure to select the test dates for your administration.
Tip: If requests are not authorized by ACT, you have the option to test these examinees with accommodations and/or supports for non-college reportable scores. The test coordinator needs to order non-college reportable materials in PearsonAccessnext.
Activity: Prepare for Testing
1. Complete Non-Test Activities
Resources to complete this activity:
2. Prepare Your Examinees
Resources to complete this activity:
- ACT State Testing - Information for Examinees and Parents (docx)
- Information for Examinees
- Successfully Achieving College and Career Readiness for All Students:
3. Prepare Your Facility, Staff, and Test Materials
Resources to complete this activity:
- Test Facilities (administration manual section)
- Test Staff (administration manual section)
- Test Materials (administration manual section)
- Test Administration (administration manual section)
- ACT Test Administration Training (coming soon)
- State & District Social Distancing Guidelines (pdf)
4. Verify and Update Examinee Information
Resources to complete this activity:
- PearsonAccessnext User Guide (Manage Examinee Information section)
Activity: Administer the Test
Resources to complete this activity:
Forms
- Test Administration Form - ACT Standard Time Paper (pdf)
- Test Administration Form - ACT Accommodations Paper (pdf)
- Test Administration Form - ACT Non-college Reportable Paper (pdf)
Administration manuals
- ACT Administration Manual - Standard Paper (pdf)
- ACT Administration Manual - Accomms Paper (pdf)
- ACT Test Coordinator Information Manual (pdf)
- ACT Administration Manual - Non-College Reportable (pdf)
Supplements
- USB Troubleshooting Tips
- Calculator Policy (pdf)
- ACT-Approved Bilingual Word-to-Word Dictionaries (pdf)
- No Phone Poster (pdf)
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.
Activity: Return Test Materials
Resources to complete this activity:
Tip: Do not return unused answer documents from initial testing. Use those for makeup testing.
Tip: Return answer documents following testing to arrive at ACT no longer than the receipt deadline listed on the Schedule of Events.
Tip: Return all ACT-authorized accommodations materials at the end of testing window, rather than returning materials for individual examinees as they completed testing.
Tip: Write your high school name and code on additional order return shipping labels.
Activity: Access and Understand Score Reports
Resources to complete this activity:
- PearsonAccessnext User Guide (Accessing Reports section)
- Score Report Schedule for the ACT Test (coming soon)
- ACT User Handbook for Educators (pdf)
- Sample Score Report - High School (pdf)
- ACT Online Reporting Training (video)
- ACT Online Reporting User Supplement
- ACT-TAA and Online Reports (pdf)
- ACT-Utilize report ACT ID to gain MyACT Online report access (pdf)
- MyACT Quick Start Guide (pdf)