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. 
 

Next Steps | Welcome | Test Dates | Tips for Success | 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; order test materials.

Step 3: Accommodation - Learn about accessibility supports; request accommodations and/or supports; request reconsideration or late consideration.

Step 4: Preparation - 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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Welcome to Your District Testing Program
 

Navigating Your ACT District Testing Webpage Video Transcript (pdf)

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 28, 2023
  • Test Accommodations Window 2: March 28-31, 2023 and April 3-7, 2023

The ACT Taken Online

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

Documents will be replaced as they become available for spring 2023 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

Expand each tray to reveal the information you're looking for.

PearsonAccessnext
Test Accessibility & Accommodations System (TAA)
Spring District Testing FAQ
Content Search

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District Testing Spring 2023 Office Hours: Link
District Testing Spring 2023 Accommodations Office Hours: Link

 

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

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

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Step 1: Orientation

Before Testing: Get started with your testing program.

Learn about Test Formats and Policies

Resources:

Select Test Dates and Verify Shipping Address (Manage Participation)

Dates:

calendarNovember 14, 2022 - January 27, 2023

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 PearsonAccess next , 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.

Step 2: Configuration

Before Testing: Ensure systems are set up and data is submitted for testing.

Upload Student Data Records (SDU File)

Dates:

calendarNovember 14, 2022 - January 27, 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 PearsonAccess next .

Verify Enrollment Counts

Dates:

calendarJanuary 27 - April 6, 2023

Websites:

Resources:

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

Training:

Complete Site Readiness for Online Testing

Dates:

calendarDecember 5, 2022 - February 1, 2023

Websites:

Resources:

ACT Online Technical Readiness Training Tutorials

Step 3: Accommodation

Before Testing: Identify student needs for accommodations and/or supports.

Learn about Accessibility Supports

Websites:

Resources:

Training:

Request Accommodations and/or English Learner (EL) Supports

Dates:

calendarNovember 14, 2022 - January 27, 2023

Websites:

Resources:

Training:

Request Qualified Exceptions to the Deadline

Dates:

calendarJanuary 30 - 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.

Step 4: Preparation

Before Testing: Prepare students, staff, facilities, and materials for testing.

Order Test Materials

Dates:

calendarTest Window 1: February 6 - 24, 2023

calendarTest Window 2: March 7 - 17, 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 PearsonAccess next User Guide.

Complete Non-Test Activities

Dates:

calendarTest Window 1: February 13 - March 7, 2023

calendarTest Window 2: March 20 - 28, 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 PearsonAccess next . Refer to the Accessing Reports section of PearsonAccess next 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:

Tip: Students may not receive scores from more than one test date per administration (initial or makeup) if your school participates in ACT District Testing. If students are allowed to test more than once, we will report only the scores from the first test. The second set of scores will be cancelled. The Administration Manual includes details on student eligibility for makeup testing.

Training:

Update Examinee Information

Dates:

calendarJanuary 27 - April 6, 2023

Websites:

Resources:

Create Online Test Sessions

Dates:

calendarTest Window 1: February 6 - March 16, 2023

calendarTest Window 2: March 20 - April 6, 2023

Websites:

Resources:

Training:

Step 5: Administration

During Testing: Have a successful test administration.

Administer the Test

Paper Testing Dates:

calendarTest Window 1 Standard Time Administration Date: March 7, 2023

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

calendarTest Window 2 Standard Time Administration Date: March 28, 2023

calendarTest Window 2 Accommodations Administration Window: March 28 - 31, 2023 and April 3 - 7, 2023

Online Testing Dates:

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

calendarTest Window 2 Standard Time and Accommodations Administration Window: March 28 - 30, 2023 and April 4 - 6, 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.

Step 6: Transportation

After Testing: Send materials and data back to ACT.

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: April 4, 2023

calendarTest Window 2 accommodations testing materials receipt deadline: April 14, 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: April 6, 2023

Websites:

Resources:

Step 7: Interpretation

After Testing: Interpret score reports and test data.

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: