Supports for English Learners

ACT provides supports on the ACT® test to US students who are not proficient in English. These supports are designed to improve access and equity for those students whose proficiency in English might prevent them from fully demonstrating the skills and knowledge they have learned in school.

Available English Learner Supports

Some English learner (EL) students may need to use one or more of the following supports:

  • Translated test directions in limited languages
  • Use of approved Word-to-word bilingual dictionaries
  • One and one-half time, single day

Translated Test Directions

ACT provides test directions in a limited number of languages that are printed locally at testing centers. On test day, EL students should plan to arrive early to notify the testing staff that translated test directions are needed.

Check the following lists of available translations prior to the scheduled test day to ensure that the language needed is available. Using any translation that ACT does not offer is considered prohibited behavior and will result in scores to be voided.

Available translated test directions for National testing:

ACT Test Translated Directions for English Learners - Online (PDF)
ACT Test Translated Directions for English Learners - Paper (PDF)

Word-to-word Bilingual Dictionary

EL students are required to bring their own word-to-word bilingual dictionary on test day. Testing centers will not provide or have dictionaries to use.

Prior to the test day, EL students should check that the bilingual dictionary they plan to bring is listed on the ACT-Approved Bilingual Word-to-Word Dictionaries (PDF) list.

If it is not listed, they are not authorized to use it for the ACT test. Refer to the dictionary list for guidelines on how to request a bilingual dictionary that is not listed. Using a dictionary not on the authorized list is considered prohibited behavior and will result in scores to be voided.

One and One-Half Time, Single Day (extended time)

If an EL student requires extended time they must work with their school to submit the request in TAA by the posted deadline. ACT will review the request to determine if the EL student is authorized to use extended time for the ACT. Timely submission of proper documentation is required to ensure decisions are made for the students' preferred test date.

If authorized by ACT, extended time for English learners will expire after two years. EL students should check their Decision Notification to ensure their support has not expired. If so, and the EL student still requires extra testing time, the school must submit a reconsideration in TAA and provide current academic year supporting documentation.

Note: ACT only provides one and one-half time, single day as an available EL support. Multiple day testing is not an allowable EL support ACT offers or authorizes.

Criteria for Establishing English Learner Status

ACT follows criteria from the US federal law for establishing EL earner status, primarily from the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). To be eligible for EL supports that requires ACT approval, an examinee must reside within the United States, US territories, or Puerto Rico.

Acceptable supporting documentation for all EL support requests shows one or more of the following qualifiers:

  • Limited English Proficiency 
  • Participation in an English language Acquisition program
  • Current supports received in school for English learner needs.


Acceptable Documentation

Supporting documentation may include but is not limited to:

  • English language proficiency assessment results such as:
    • WIDA
    • ELPA21
    • TOEF
  • English language proficiency screener assessment results:
    • WIDA Screener
    • ELPA21 Dynamic Screener
    • LAS Links
  • Confirmation of eligibility or participation in an English language program such as:
    • Class schedule
    • Student profile in Student Information System (SIS)
  • English Learner Plan


Supporting documentation does not include:

  • Passports
  • Applications to US schools
  • Exchange student status
  • Student visas
  • Home language surveys
  • Documentation that does not meet requirements such as
    • Older than 12 months
    • Missing information
    • Student in exited status

Determining English Learner Supports on the ACT

ACT has adopted the following guiding principles for responding to requests from examinees identified as English learners for test supports:

  1. Requirements and procedures for test supports must ensure fairness for all examinees, both those seeking supports and those testing under standard conditions.
  2. Supports must be appropriate and reasonable for those with English learner needs.
  3. Documentation of English learner status must meet guidelines established herein. Examinees must provide information about prior supports received in a similar setting, such as in academic classes and other testing situation.

Resources

 
TitleDescription
ACT Test Translated Directions for English Learners - Paper (PDF) Translation of the paper test directions in the ACT test booklet
ACT Test Translated Directions for English Learners - Online (PDF)Translation of the online test directions in the ACT test booklet
ACT-Approved Bilingual Word-to-Word Dictionaries (PDF)Guidelines and a detailed list of approved word-to-word dictionaries for use by examinees approved for English learner supports
English Learner Infographic (PDF)Quick visual reference about available EL supports 
Infografía del Estudiante de Inglés (PDF)Quick visual reference about available EL supports (Spanish version of above)
English Learner Infographic (PDF) - Traditional ChineseQuick visual reference about available EL supports (Traditional Chinese version of
above)
English Learner Infographic (PDF) - Simplified ChineseQuick visual reference about available EL supports (Simplified Chinese version of
above)
English Learner Infographic (PDF) - ArabicQuick visual reference about available EL supports (Arabic version of above)

 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

ACT now only requires One and one-half time (single day) to be requested in TAA and be authorized by ACT.

Small group testing also would require approval for National testing as long as it is requested with One and one-half time. Small group testing is not a support that can be offered at a National testing center without extended time approved.

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...when the school submitted for ‘standard time’?

With the recent policy change, the only support for English Learners that requires ACT-authorization is One and one-half time, single day. ACT recommends that all EL students who are not proficient in English have one and one-half time (single day) requested so that they can take the ACT test without limitations. This is especially true if the examinee plans to use a bilingual dictionary on the ACT.

Based on a recent study, Extended test time for English learners: Does use correspond to score comparability? | Educational Assessment, Evaluation and Accountability, researched by Sara E. Witmer and Nathalie L. Marinho, it was determined that EL students needed extended time due to language-related barriers. These barriers include language processing, reduced reading comprehension, and additional time it takes to translate words to their native language. Therefore, if a request for EL Supports only is submitted to ACT and the student is not proficient in English, ACT will automatically authorize the use of extended time even if not requested.

Despite ACT recommendations, if you wish to not have extended time approved, we encourage you to not submit an EL support request in ACT’s TAA system.

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...that I need Translated Test directions? 

Prior to the test date, ensure that the language you require is one that is listed in ACT’s authorized translated test directions list. If it is not, you will not have access to the test directions translated on test day.

Examinees needing to use translated test directions should plan to arrive at their testing center early to notify the Testing Coordinator at their Test Center that they need Translated Test directions and which language they require.

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...that I need to use a bilingual dictionary? 

Prior to the test date, ensure that the dictionary you plan to use is one that is listed in ACT’s authorized word-to-word bilingual dictionary list.

On test day, plan to arrive early so that the testing staff can check your dictionary and ensure it is authorized so that you may use it during testing.

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...Translated Test direction list?

The languages listed in ACT’s authorized translated directions list are the only directions ACT allows examinees to use on the ACT.

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...word-to-word bilingual dictionary list?  

If the examinee would like to test with a bilingual word-to-word dictionary that is not listed, please contact ACT at ACTAccom@act.org.

Include the following information for review:

  • Resource name
  • Publisher
  • Year published
  • ISBN 10 or 13
  • Relevant website(s)

ACT will review the examinee’s requested dictionary or glossary according to the criteria provided above and determine if the resource can be used for testing. These requests must be submitted for ACT review at least two weeks prior to the test date for any examinees testing with ACT-authorized EL supports.

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...how will they qualify for EL Supports for the ACT?

If a student is homeschooled or has already graduated from high school, then they may still receive EL supports on the ACT.  ACT will require some documentation that shows limited English proficiency, such as English Proficiency test scores. Or examinees can submit documents that show enrollment in an English Language Acquisition course, possibly from a local high school or community college.

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