ACT Research
Advancing insight and fostering innovative and collaborative research that transforms education and workplace success and influences policy and practice.
Now Available: 2026 Graduating Class Data Release
Each year, ACT publishes a snapshot of college and career readiness for the U.S. high school graduating class. This year’s release includes data on benchmark attainment, score distributions, retesting and PreACT participation trends, and predicted National Career Readiness Certificate levels, among others. Interactive dashboards also link readiness measures to college enrollment and degree attainment.
Research in the News
Find out more about ACT research and how it is connecting assessment and learning to College and Career readiness.
ACT's 2026 Graduating Class Data
Octiber 14, 2026
This year’s data — based on the 1.46 million graduating students who took the ACT test at least once between 10th and 12th grade — tells a simple story: readiness is shaped over time with early signals, second chances, and multiple paths to success.
Why Not All Standardized Tests Are Created Equal (and What to Look For)
April 3, 2026
In a test-optional world, the value of a standardized test lies in its ability to provide a fair, objective look at a student’s postsecondary skill level and readiness. However, not all tests meet the same standards, so it’s important to understand what separates a high-quality assessment from the rest.
Why Retesting with ACT Matters: The Power of a Second Chance
January 15, 2026
For many high school students across the country, the ACT is often taken in the spring of junior year, serving as a critical milestone assessing college readiness. But learning doesn’t stop at the end of 11th grade, and numerous external factors can lead to a less-than-desired score
Research Publications
ACT research guides thought leadership and drives solutions that help individuals achieve education and workplace success.
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Services and Resources
In addition to publishing high-quality, research-based insights, ACT Research offers a suite of services designed to provide educators and workforce development professionals with tools, data, and services needed to make strategic education and career planning, assessment, and learning decisions.
Our Featured Experts
Jeff Allen, PhD
Jeff Allen is a principal research scientist at ACT. He specializes in longitudinal research on educational outcomes, student growth models, and validation of college and career readiness measures.
Ann Arthur, PhD
Ann Arthur is a psychometrician in Measurement Research and Development. Her research interests include process data, latent variable models, and mode comparability.
Becky Bobek, PhD
Becky Bobek, a principal research scientist at ACT, specializes in how people navigate their education and career choices and transitions, the development and use of career planning assessments and the design of resources for navigation success.
Minsung Kim, PhD
Minsung (Douglas) Kim is a Senior Psychometrician at ACT. With a background in psychometric consulting for testing program audits and accreditation, his current research focuses on developing advanced measurement models and validation through simulation.
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