The Spring ACT Test: Tennessee

Next Steps | Important Dates | Help and Contact

Test Administration Process Next 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 - Upload student data records; 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.

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Important Dates

Your Schedule of Events contains all dates and deadlines for your test event. Check it frequently to ensure you're on track for a successful administration.

Test Dates

The ACT Taken on Paper

  • Test Window 1: March 7, 2023
  • Test Accommodations Window 1: March 7-10, 2023 and March 13-17, 2023
  • Test Window 2: March 21, 2023
  • Test Accommodations Window 2: March 21-24, 2023 and March 27-31, 2023
  • Test Window 3: April 4, 2023
  • Test Accommodations Window 3: April 4-7, 2023 and April 10-14, 2023

The ACT Taken Online

  • Test Window 1: March 7-9, 2023 and March 14-16, 2023
  • Test Window 2: March 21-23, 2023 and March 28-30, 2023
  • Test Window 3: April 4-6, 2023 and April 11-13, 2023

Documents will be replaced as they become available for spring 2023 testing.

Helpful Links

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PearsonAccessnext

Test Accessibility & Accommodations System (TAA)

Preparing for State Testing (FAQs) 

Content Search

Are you participating in National Testing this summer? If so, find a training tutorial at the following link with helpful information on administering the ACT test center, click here

 

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Accommodations Office Hours: Link

Tennessee Spring Testing Office Hours every Tuesday: Click here to join the meeting
Starting February 7, 2023 at 11:30 central time on Microsoft Teams
Meeting ID: 227 145 889 12
Passcode: upDVNs

 

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Tennessee Questions:
319-337-1596

ACT General Questions:
800.553.6244, ext. 2800
statetesting@act.org

Accommodations: 
800.553.6244, ext. 1788
ACTStateAccoms@act.org

State Policy Questions:
Phone: 615-532-3027
Website: Tennessee Department of Education

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Learn about Test Formats and Policies

Resources:

Select Test Dates and Verify Shipping Address (Manage Participation)

Dates:

calendarNovember 7 - December 9, 2022

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.

Upload Student Data Records (SDU File)

Dates:

calendar November 7, 2022 - January 20, 2023

Websites:

Resources:

Training:

Tip: The formatting in the SDU template includes instructions for how to create a successful file. Be sure to delete the sample row and all blank rows prior to uploading to PearsonAccessnext.

Verify Enrollment Counts

Dates:

calendar January 20 - April 14, 2023

Websites:

Resources:

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

Training:

Complete Site Readiness for Online Testing

Dates:

calendar December 5, 2022 - January 25, 2023

Websites:

Resources:

ACT Online Technical Readiness Training Tutorials

Learn about Accessibility Supports

Websites:

Resources:

Training:

Request Accommodations and/or English Learner (EL) Supports

Dates:

calendarSeptember 12, 2022 - January 20, 2023

Websites:

Resources:

Training:

Request Qualified Exceptions to the Deadline

Dates:

calendarJanuary 23 - March 3, 2023

Websites:

Resources:

Tip: Reconsideration is used if you submitted a request for accommodations that was denied. Qualified Exceptions to the Deadline is for limited reasons as indicated on the form.

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:

calendarTest Window 1: January 30 - February 24, 2023

calendarTest Window 2: March 7 - 10, 2023

calendarTest Window 3: March 21 - 24, 2023

Websites:

Resources:

Training:

Tip: If additional materials are needed for examinees authorized by ACT to test with accommodations/supports, call the ACT Accommodations team. Use the Accommodations and Supports Roster, which can be accessed in PearsonAccessnext by Test Coordinators and Room Supervisors, to provide information to ensure the right students receive additional materials.

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

Complete Non-Test Activities

Dates:

calendarTest Window 1: February 6 - March 7, 2023

calendarTest Window 2: February 20 - March 21, 2023

calendarTest Window 3: March 27 - April 4, 2023

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

Websites:

Resources:

Prepare Your Facility, Staff, and Test Materials

Resources:

Training:

Update Examinee Information

Dates:

calendarJanuary 20 - April 14, 2023

Websites:

Resources:

Create Online Test Sessions

Dates:

calendarTest Window 1: January 30 - March 16, 2023

calendarTest Window 2: March 15 - 30, 2023

calendarTest Window 3: March 29 - April 13, 2023

Websites:

Resources:

Training:

Administer the Test

Paper Testing Dates:

calendar Test Window 1 Standard Time Administration Date: March 7, 2023

calendar Test Window 1 Accommodations Administration Window: March 7 - 10, 2023 and March 13 - 17, 2023

calendar Test Window 2 Standard Time Administration Date: March 21, 2023

calendar Test Window 2 Accommodations Administration Window: March 21 - 24, 2023 and March 27 - 31, 2023

calendar Test Window 3 Standard Time Administration Date: April 4, 2023

calendar Test Window 3 Accommodations Administration Window: April 4 - 7, 2023 and April 10 - 14, 2023

Online Testing Dates:

calendar Test Window 1 Standard Time and Accommodations Administration Window: March 7 - 9, 2023 and March 14 - 16, 2023

calendar Test Window 2 Standard Time and Accommodations Administration Window: March 21 - 23, 2023 and March 28 - 30, 2023

calendar Test Window 3 Standard Time and Accommodations Administration Window: April 4 - 6, 2023 and April 11 - 13, 2023

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: ACT test translated directions for students testing on paper are shipped with secure test materials.

    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

    Paper Dates:

    calendarTest Window 1 standard time testing materials receipt deadline: March 14, 2023

    calendarTest Window 1 accommodations testing materials receipt deadline: March 24, 2023

    calendarTest Window 2 standard time testing materials receipt deadline: March 28, 2023

    calendarTest Window 2 accommodations testing materials receipt deadline: April 7, 2023

    calendarTest Window 3 standard time testing materials receipt deadline: April 11, 2023

    calendarTest Window 3 accommodations testing materials receipt deadline: April 21, 2023

    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.

    Purge Online Testing Content

    Dates:

    calendarTest Window 1: March 16, 2023

    calendarTest Window 2: March 30, 2023

    calendarTest Window 3: April 13, 2023

    Websites:

    Resources:

    Access and Understand Score Reports

    Dates:

    calendarScore Report Schedule for the ACT Test (web content) 

    Websites:

    Resources:

    Training:

    Share Reporting Information with Examinees

    Websites:

    Resources: