ACT District Testing

The ACT: Late April Administration

The ACT District Testing program provides students the opportunity to earn college-reportable ACT scores by taking the test in their own classrooms. 
 

Next Steps | Welcome | Test Dates | Tips for Success | Help and Contact

Welcome to Your District Testing Program
 

Important Dates

Your Schedule of Events (coming soon) 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 Online

  • Test Window 1: April 26-28, 2022 and May 3-5, 2022
  • Test Accommodations Window 1: - April 26-28, 2022 and May 3-5, 2022

Documents will be replaced as they become available for spring 2022 testing

Tips for Success

  1. Bookmark this web page and check back frequently for updated content. Content will be added as it's available.
  2. Mark important dates from your Schedule of Events on your calendar and set reminders for deadlines.
  3. Familiarize yourself with the seven stages of the testing cycle (Orientation, Configuration, Accommodation, Preparation, Administration, Transportation, and Interpretation) by browsing using the links provided. You can see a brief description, action items, and resources associated with each stage to help you get a feel for the testing timeline. Content will be linked as it becomes available.
  4. Watch for emails from ACT with important reminders. Add our email address to your contacts to prevent emails from going to spam/junk folders.

Helpful Links

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PearsonAccessnext

Test Accessibility & Accommodations System (TAA)

Spring District Testing FAQ

To search variety of district testing content click here 

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Accommodations:
Date: Every Monday and Wednesday, through April 7, 2021 
Time: 1:00-2:00 Central time
Join Monday Session:
Link to join: +1 515-207-8727 
Conference ID: 831 656 038#

Join Wednesday Session:
Link to join: +1 515-207-8727 
Conference ID: 154 420 803#

District Testing Program:
Date: Every Wednesday, January 6 2021–April 14, 2021
Time: 2:00–3:00 p.m. central time
Join Microsoft Teams Meeting

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ACT General Questions:
Phone: 800.553.6244, ext. 2800
Email: actdistricttesting@act.org

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

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COVID-19 Contingency Planning

We understand planning a test administration amidst the COVID-19 pandemic can be stressful, particularly when accounting for things like hybrid learning models, unexpected closures/quarantines, and social distancing guidelines. ACT aims to offer as much flexibility as possible as we navigate these challenges together. Please see the resources and tips below to help ensure your students can successfully test, whether on paper or online.

Tip: Online testing will provide your school(s) the greatest flexibility. Even if you are planning to test paper, ACT encourages completing online testing site readiness activities (in the Configuration section below) in case you need to switch testing modes before your test date.

Tip: If you still plan to test paper, the Social Distancing Guidelines provide you safety precautions to follow when setting up your facility and handling test materials.

Tip: Utilize your testing windows to their fullest. Examinees can be spread throughout a single window (online testing and accommodations only) or across multiple windows (all testing) to maximize social distancing and accommodate hybrid learning schedules.

Activity: Make Staff Arrangements

1. Confirm School Test Coordinator Assignment

Resources to complete this activity:

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:

Activity: Select Test Dates and Shipping Dates (Manage Participation)

Resources to complete this activity:

Activity: Verify the Shipping Address

Resources to complete this activity:

Activity: Learn about District Testing

Resources to complete this activity:

Activity: Upload Student Data

Resources to complete this activity:

Activity: Verify Enrollment for Test Materials

1. Verify the enrollment count (the number of examinees expected to test) in PearsonAccessnext listed for:
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:

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

Activity: Site Readiness for Online Testing

Resources to complete this activity:

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

Resources to complete this activity:

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.

Step 3: Accommodation

Verify needs for accommodations and/or supports.

Activity: Request Accommodations and/or English Learner (EL) Supports

Resources to complete this activity:

 

 

Activity: Prepare for Testing

1. Complete Non-Test Activities

Resources to complete this activity:

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. 

2. Prepare Your Examinees

Resources to complete this activity:

3. Prepare Your Facility, Staff, and Test Materials

Resources to complete this activity:

4. Verify and Update Examinee Information

Resources to complete this activity:

5. Prepare for Online Testing

Resources to complete this activity:

Activity: Administer the Test

Resources to complete this activity:
Forms
Administration manuals
Supplements
Video

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: Return All ACT-authorized accommodations materials at the end of the testing window, rather than returning materials for individual examinees as they complete testing. Return all materials to ACT by  the receipt deadline listed on the Schedule of Events.

Activity: Conclude Online Testing

Resources to complete this activity: