ACT District Testing

The ACT: Early Spring Administration

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

Test Dates

The ACT Taken on Paper

  • Test Window 1: March 2, 2021
  • Test Accommodations Window 1: March 2-5, 2021 and March 8-12, 2021
  • Test Window 2: March 16, 2021
  • Test Accommodations Window 2: March 16-19, 2021 and March 22-26, 2021

The ACT Taken Online

  • Test Window 1: March 2-4, 2021 and March 9-11, 2021
  • Test Window 2: March 16-18, 2021 and March 23-25, 2021

 

Schedule of Events 

What's New

 

 

Quick Links

PearsonAccessnext
Test Accessibility & Accommodations System (TAA)
Spring District Testing FAQ
To search variety of district testing content click here 

Office Hours

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

Contact Information

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

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

Welcome to Your Testing Program


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.

Tips for Success

  • Bookmark this web page and check back frequently for updated content. Content will be added as it's available.
  • Mark important dates from your Schedule of Events on your calendar and set reminders for deadlines.
  • Familiarize yourself with the seven stages of the testing cycle (Orientation, Configuration, Verification, Preparation, Administration, Transportation, and Interpretation) by browsing the sections for the ACT. 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.
  • Watch for emails from ACT with important reminders. Add our email address to your contacts to prevent emails from going to spam/junk folders.

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.

  1. Orientation - Get oriented with the testing program.
  2. Configuration - Configure testing setup and systems.
  3. Verification - Verify needs for accommodations and/or supports.
  4. Preparation - Prepare for testing.
  5. Administration - Administer the test successfully.
  6. Transportation - Transport materials and data to ACT.
  7. Interpretation - Interpret score reports and test data.

Orientation

Get oriented with the testing program.

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:

Configuration

Configure testing setup and systems.

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.

Verification

Verify needs for accommodations and/or supports.

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

Resources to complete this activity:

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 selecting the Late Consideration date in TAA, make sure to attach the Late Consideration Form in the request.

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.

Preparation

Prepare for testing.

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: 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:

Administration 

Administer the test successfully.

Activity: Administer the Test

Resources to complete this activity:
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: 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.

Transportation

Transport materials and Data to ACT.

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 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.

Activity: Verify Enrollment for Invoice and Request to Unenroll Examinees

Resources to complete this activity:

Activity: Conclude Online Testing

Resources to complete this activity:

Interpretation

Interpret score reports and test data.

Activity: Access and Understand Score Reports

Resources to complete this activity:

Activity: Share Information with Examinees

Resources to complete this activity: