ACT Aspire: Wisconsin
Important Dates
For 9th and 10th Grade Students
Testing Window: April 5 - May 19, 2021
Contact Information
ACT General Questions:
855.730.0400
contact form
State Policy Questions:
WI Dept of Public Instruction
Nicole Braconier
608.266.1074
email
Website
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: Learn About ACT Aspire
ACT Aspire® is the first computer-based longitudinal assessment system for college and career readiness that connects student progress from elementary grades through high school.
Resources to complete this activity:
- Information about ACT Aspire
- Summative Technical Manual
- ACT Aspire Testing Process Overview (online and paper)
Tip: Bookmark the URL for your state’s testing website (this site) and check back frequently for updated information and content.
Tip: Mark important dates from your Schedule of Events on your calendar and set reminders for deadlines.
Tip: Familiarize yourself with the seven stages of the testing cycle (Orientation, Configuration, Verification, Preparation, Administration, Transportation, and Interpretation) by browsing these sections for ACT Aspire.
Tip: Watch for emails from ACT with important reminders. Add our email address - @operations.act.org - to your safe sender list.
Activity: Make Staff Arrangements
Resources to complete this activity:
- Staff Requirements, Roles, and Responsibilities (Wisconsin ACT Aspire Test Coordinator Manual)
- Wisconsin User Role Matrix (pdf)
- Invite Users (Wisconsin ACT Aspire Test Coordinator Manual)
- Invite Users video
- User Import Layout
Tip: When creating users in PearsonAccessnext, select only the highest role needed for a specific user. If multiple roles are associated to one user account, you may experience permission issues.
Activity: Complete Technical Site Readiness
Resources to complete this activity:
- Technical Readiness Guide
- TestNav System Requirements
- Mock Administration Guide
- TestNav Online Support
- On Demand Technical Readiness Training (webinar)
- Technical Readiness Training (pdf)
Tip: Review the Technical Bulletins for the latest news and information about technology.
Tip: Review Features and Demos to learn about TestNav’s wide range of tools and features.
Tip: If you’re having technical difficulties, contact ACT to assist you in troubleshooting.
Tip: Review your Schedule of Events for important technical deadlines.
Tip: Familiarize yourself with the updated technical requirements and manuals.
Tip: Download the newest version of TestNav and run an App Check on each device prior to testing.
Activity: Manage Student Information
1. Verify that all students who will be testing are enrolled. If needed, upload additional student information
Resources to complete this activity:
Tip: Wisconsin DPI will complete the initial student import, but schools will be responsible for adding any new students, if applicable.
2. Manage student transfers
Resources to complete this activity:
- Request an Enrollment Transfer for Students (Wisconsin ACT Aspire Test Coordinator Manual)
Activity: Manage Groups/Classes
Resources to complete this activity:
- Create Groups/Classes (Wisconsin ACT Aspire Test Coordinator Manual)
- Create Groups/Classes video
Tip: Creating groups/classes is frequently done at the same time as creating test sessions.
Tip: Using Groups/Classes helps organize student information as you set up your test sessions and organize your paper testing materials.
Activity: Arrange for Accommodations and/or English Leaner (EL) Supports
Resources to complete this activity:
- Accessibility Supports Guide
- Accessibility and Accommodations (Wisconsin ACT Aspire Test Coordinator Manual)
- Input Personal Needs Profile Information (Wisconsin ACT Aspire Test Coordinator Manual)
- Wisconsin Student Personal Needs Profile and Test Information File Layout
- Create Personal Needs Profile video
Tip: Enter Personal Needs Profile for all applicable students before adding them to a test session.
Tip: Add students and update their Personal Needs Profile information before the deadline in your Schedule of Events to ensure paper test materials are shipped.
Tip: Paper test materials are only available for Large Print, Braille, and American Sign Language.
Activity: Place an Additional Order
Resources to complete this activity:
- Creating and Submitting an Additional Order (Wisconsin ACT Aspire Test Coordinator Manual)
Activity: Prepare for Testing
1. Train Your Staff
Resources to complete this activity:
- Train Your Staff (Wisconsin ACT Aspire Test Coordinator Manual)
- On Demand Test Administration Training #1 (webinar)
- Test Administration Training Part #1 Slides (pdf)
- Test Administration Training Part #1 (webinar)
- Test Administration Training Part #2 Slides (pdf) (coming soon)
- Test Administration Training Part #2 (webinar) (coming soon)
Tip: Hold a training session with all testing staff before test day. This is required and is separate from the briefing session that happens on test day. Suggested topics to cover during the training session are in the ACT Aspire Test Coordinator Manual.
Tip: Room Supervisors and testing staff assisting with test administration must read the appropriate administration manual.
2. Prepare Your Examinees
Resources to complete this activity:
Tip: Use the Student Sandbox to become familiar not only with ACT Aspire questions but also with navigating TestNav and the tools within it.
Tip: Use Test Question Booklets for each grade and subject that defines reporting categories, standards, depth-of-knowledge levels, correct responses, and improvement idea statements.
3. Prepare Your Facility
Resources to complete this activity:
- Test Room Requirements (Wisconsin ACT Aspire Test Coordinator Manual)
4. Prepare for Online Testing
Resources to complete this activity:
- Set Up Test Sessions (Wisconsin ACT Aspire Test Coordinator Manual)
- Set Up Test Sessions video
Tip: Prior to test day, set up all test sessions and assign students to the appropriate test session. ACT recommends completing this at least 2 weeks before test day.
- Prepare Test Sessions (Wisconsin ACT Aspire Test Coordinator Manual)
- Prepare Test Sessions video
Tip: Prepare test sessions 1-2 days prior to test day.
- Print Student Authorization Testing Tickets (Wisconsin ACT Aspire Test Coordinator Manual)
- Print Student Authorization Testing Tickets video
Tip: Print student authorization testing tickets 1-2 days prior to test day. Tickets are secure materials, so ensure they are kept in secure storage until test day.
5. Prepare Your Test Materials for Paper Testing
Resources to complete this activity:
- Receive, Check in, and Secure Your Materials (Wisconsin ACT Aspire Test Coordinator Manual)
- View Shipment and Tracking Information (Wisconsin ACT Aspire Test Coordinator Manual)
- Prepare Materials for Testing (Wisconsin ACT Aspire Test Coordinator Manual)
Activity: Final Test-Day Preparation Steps
Resources to complete this activity:
- Start and Unlock Test Sessions (Wisconsin ACT Aspire Test Coordinator Manual)
- Start and Unlock Test Sessions video
Activity: Administer the Test
Resources to complete this activity:
Administration manuals
- Wisconsin ACT Aspire Test Coordinator Manual (pdf)
- Wisconsin ACT Aspire Room Supervisor Manual: Online Summative Testing (pdf)
- Wisconsin ACT Aspire Room Supervisor Manual: Paper Summative Testing (pdf)
- Accessibility Supports Guide
Supplements
- ACT Aspire Technology Tips for Test Day
- Audio Directions in Spanish for Online Testing
- ACT-Approved Bilingual Word-to-Word Dictionaries list (pdf)
- Calculator Policy (pdf)
- State & District Social Distancing Guidelines (pdf)
- Report any Irregularities (Wisconsin ACT Aspire Test Coordinator Manual)
- Braille Notes
Tip: Select Braille Notes for Summative Testing.
Tip: If you’re having technical difficulties, contact ACT to assist you in troubleshooting.
Activity: Post-Test Clean up
1. Online Testing Post-Test clean up
Resources to complete this activity:
- Post Test Clean Up video
- Mark Tests with "Will Not Test" Codes (Wisconsin ACT Aspire Test Coordinator Manual)
Tip: Enter “Will Not Test” codes for students who didn’t test by the deadline listed in the Schedule of Events.
- Online Testing: Mark Tests with "Do Not Report" Codes (Wisconsin ACT Aspire Test Coordinator Manual)
- Online Testing: Mark Tests Complete (Wisconsin ACT Aspire Test Coordinator Manual)
Tip: Use a Do Not Report code for any test that was started but should not be reported.
Tip: Test Coordinators must ensure that all test sessions are stopped in the administration platform.
Tip: Record all irregularities according to instructions in the administration manual.
Activity: Return Paper Test Materials
Resources to complete this activity:
- Collect, Pack, and Return Materials (Wisconsin ACT Aspire Test Coordinator Manual)
- Managing Materials During and After Testing (Wisconsin ACT Aspire Test Coordinator Manual)
Tip: Return answer documents within 48 hours of all testing being complete at your school. They must be received by ACT by the deadline listed in the Schedule of Events.
Tip: Pay close attention to the return shipping labels you use for scorable versus non-scoreable materials, to ensure you affix the correct label to the correct box.
Activity: Understand Score Reports
Resources to complete this activity:
Reports Guides
- Summative Reports Guide
- Summative Scale Score Charts and Tables
- Interpretive Guide for ACT Aspire Summative Reports
- Understanding Your ACT Aspire Results
- ACT Aspire Summative Individual Student Reports (ISR)
Tip: You can access reports and data files from previous testing years within the test administration platform.
File Layouts
- Wisconsin Summative Student Performance File (SPF) Score File Layout (pdf)
- Summative Student Performance File (SPF) Reporting Categories Layout
Tip: Refer to your Schedule of Events to know when you can access score reports.
Activity: Understand and Use Reporting Groups
Resources to complete this activity:
Tip: Reporting Groups allow users with the Full Access Educator or Reports Only Educator roles to see student test results. Students are assigned to Reporting Groups (and can be assigned to multiple Reporting Groups) which are linked to test administration platform users to allow educators to access student data.
Activity: Access Historical Reports
Resources to complete this activity:
Tip: You can access reports and data files from previous testing years within the test administration platform.