District Testing
US Students
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
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
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.
- 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: Make Staff Arrangements
1. Confirm School Test Coordinator Assignment
Resources to complete this activity:
- PearsonAccessnext User Guide (Managing Contact and User Account Information section)
- Manage Contacts (training tutorial)
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:
- Staff Requirements, Roles, and Responsibilities
- Selecting your Testing Staff (training tutorial)
Activity: Select Test Dates and Shipping Dates (Manage Participation)
Resources to complete this activity:
- PearsonAccessnext User Guide (Test Date and Materials Receipt Selection section)
- Manage Participation (training tutorial)
Activity: Verify the Shipping Address
Resources to complete this activity:
- PearsonAccessnext User Guide (Managing Contact and User Account Information section)
- Address Change Request Form (pdf)
Activity: Learn about District Testing
Resources to complete this activity:
Activity: Upload Student Data
Resources to complete this activity:
- Student Data Upload File Requirements & Loading Instructions (pdf)
- Student Data Upload Header Template
- How to upload Student Data to PearsonAccessnext (training tutorial)
- How to verify Manage Participation and SDU (pdf)
- Tips for Accurate Enrollment and Invoicing (pdf)
Activity: Verify Enrollment for Test Materials
1. Verify the enrollment count (the number of examinees expected to test) in PearsonAccessnext listed for:
- Standard Time Testing
- Accommodations Formats, Braille Formats, and Translated Test Instructions for English Learners
- Managing Enrollment and Materials for Testing (pdf)
- Managing Enrollment and Materials for Testing (training tutorial)
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:
- PearsonAccessnext User Guide (Managing Test Materials, Accessing Reports, and Submit a Request to Enroll or Unenroll an Examinee sections)
- PearsonAccessnext Operational Reports Layout (pdf)
- Enroll/Verify/Update Students in PearsonAccessnext (training tutorial)
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:
- Technical Coordinator Checklist (pdf)
- Technical Requirements for the ACT Test Taken Online (includes Technical Guide)
- The ACT Online Testing Site Readiness Plan (Graphic) (pdf)
- Mock Administration Guide
- ACT Online Technical Readiness 1: Overview (training tutorial)
- ACT Online Technical Readiness 2: Proctor Caching (training tutorial)
- ACT Online Technical Readiness 3: TestNav (training tutorial)
- ACT Online Technical Readiness 4: Mock Administration (training tutorial)
- ACT Online Technical Readiness 5: PreCache/Purge Test Content (training tutorial)
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:
- PearsonAccessnext User Guide (Managing Test Materials section)
- Ordering Additional ACT Materials (training tutorial)
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.
Activity: Request Accommodations and/or English Learner (EL) Supports
Resources to complete this activity:
- Information about requesting Accommodations and/or English Learner (EL) Supports
- Accessibility Supports Guide for ACT
- Quick Start Guide for Requesting Accommodations and/or English Learner Supports (pdf)
- Test Accessibility and Accommodations (TAA) User Guide (pdf)
- How to Create Account to Request Accommodation through TAA (training tutorial)
- ACT Test Accessibility and Accommodations (TAA) Training Tutorial (video)
- Test Accessibility and Accommodations (TAA) System Supports
- Consent to Release Information (pdf)
- Requesting Reconsideration (TAA User Guide) (pdf)
- High-Incidence Accommodations, Local Arrangements, and Accessibility Supports (pdf)
- Late Consideration (pdf)
- On Demand ACT Test Accommodations Training - Available November 11, 2020 (webinar)
- ACT Accommodations Training slides (pdf)
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.
Activity: Prepare for Testing
1. Complete Non-Test Activities
Resources to complete this activity:
- Taking the ACT(pdf)
- Non-Test Activities
- Non-Test Instructions for Test Coordinator (pdf)
- Non-Test Instructions for Student (Blank Form) (pdf)
- MyACT Quick Start Guide (pdf)
2. Prepare Your Examinees
Resources to complete this activity:
3. Prepare Your Facility, Staff, and Test Materials
Resources to complete this activity:
- Test Facilities (administration manual section)
- Test Staff (administration manual section)
- Test Materials (administration manual section)
- Test Administration (administration manual section)
- On Demand Test Administration Training Available December 2, 2020 (webinar)
- Test Administration Training slides (pdf)
4. Verify and Update Examinee Information
Resources to complete this activity:
- PearsonAccessnext User Guide (Manage Examinee Information section)
5. Prepare for Online Testing
Resources to complete this activity:
- Technical Guide
- ACT Administration Online Manual
- Create and Assign Test Sessions (training tutorial)
- Switching from Paper to Online Testing (pdf)
Activity: Administer the Test
Resources to complete this activity:
Forms
- Test Administration Form - ACT Standard Time Paper (pdf)
- Test Administration Form - ACT Accommodations Paper (pdf)
- Test Administration Form - ACT Non-College Reportable Paper (pdf)
- Test Administration Form - ACT Online Standard Time (online testing) (pdf)
- Test Administration Form - ACT Online Accommodations (online testing) (pdf)
Administration manuals
- ACT Administration Manual - Standard Paper (pdf)
- ACT Administration Manual - Accomms Paper (pdf)
- ACT Administration Manual - Non-College Reportable (pdf)
- ACT Administration Manual - Online Testing (pdf)
- ACT Test Coordinator Information Manual (pdf)
Supplements
- ACT-Approved Bilingual Word-to-Word Dictionaries list (pdf)
- Prohibited Device Poster (pdf)
- Calculator Policy (pdf)
- USB Troubleshooting Tips
Video
- Test Day Overview for Room Supervisors (paper) - Writing (video)
- Test Day Overview for Online Room Supervisors (video)
- Manage Online Test Session (training tutorial)
- How to Enter Online Irregularities (training tutorial)
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.
Activity: Return Test Materials
Resources to complete this activity:
- Collecting, Packing, and Returning Test Materials
- Secure Storage and Transport Test Materials Form (pdf)
- How to Return Test Materials (training tutorial)
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:
- PearsonAccessnext User Guide (Submit a Request to Enroll or Unenroll an Examinee section)
Activity: Conclude Online Testing
Resources to complete this activity:
- How to Purge Cached Test Content (Technical Guide)
Activity: Access and Understand Score Reports
Resources to complete this activity:
- PearsonAccessnext User Guide (Accessing Reports section)
- Score Report Schedule for the ACT Test (updated 5.28)
- ACT User Handbook for Educators (pdf)
- Sample Score Report - High School (pdf)
- ACT Online Reporting Training (video)
- ACT Online Reporting User Supplement
- ACT-TAA and Online Reports (pdf)