Fall 2020 Taking the ACT® Test State Testing and District Testing Test coordinator: Provide this guide to each examinee. It contains test prep resources, information about prohibited items/behaviors, score reports, and instructions to complete non-test information. www.act.org *A01136521A* A Message to Why Take the ACT? The ACT® test is a curriculum-based Examinees examination that matches well with the education standards in your state. Taking the ACT will give you a measure of your Please use this Taking the ACT guide as you prepare to academic strengths and/or weaknesses. You can use your results to identify areas ® take the ACT test. It is yours to keep. where you may need to improve, whether you intend to go to college or enter the We want you to be successful on test day. Review workplace after high school. You can also use your results as you begin exploring the checklist in this guide to know what to expect. careers and planning life goals. Take advantage of the free practice resources. Feel confident that you have a permitted calculator for the mathematics test. Understand which items are not What You Need to allowed in the test room, especially your cell phone, Know to Take the ACT smart watch, or any other electronic devices. The ACT includes multiple-choice tests in English, mathematics, reading, You’ll use the instructions in this guide to complete and science. The tests measure your non-test information. You may designate four colleges educational development in those areas. or scholarship agencies to receive your score report They are based on what you have learned— they are not aptitude or IQ tests. at no cost to you. If you answer questions about If your school is administering the ACT your coursework, plans, and interests, you’ll receive with writing, you will write an essay in information in addition to your subject scores that may English. The ACT writing test measures lead to insights when planning for your future. You’ll the writing skills you learned in high school English courses. Many colleges and also learn when to expect score reports, who receives universities use ACT writing test results as them, and how to request additional score reports. a guide for placing incoming students into first-year composition courses. Best wishes on your journey to college and career Test Accommodations and readiness! English Learner Supports If you receive test accommodations and/ Natalie Ivory or English learner supports in school, Sr. Product Manager, K-12 Product Group confirm with your test coordinator which accommodations or supports were approved and planned for the ACT. Where to Find It Why Take the ACT? 1 Completing Your Non-Test Information 4 Security Hotline What You Need to Know to Take the High School Course/Grade You can help protect the ACT. ACT 1 Information 5 If you suspect an irregularity in Security Hotline 1 testing—such as someone having Student Profile Section 6 access to the tests in advance, Checklist for Taking the ACT 2 Interest Inventory 9 sending another person to test in his or her place, or copying Acceptable Forms of ID 2 ACT Code Numbers for Colleges and someone else’s answers— Other Score Recipients 10 Calculators 2 please report your concerns Terms and Conditions: Testing at www.act.ethicspoint.com. Receiving and Sending Your Rules and Policies for the ACT You can report your concerns Scores 3 Test 23 anonymously. 1 Checklist for Taking the ACT Before Test Day On Test Day At the Test Site 9 Access free practice resources at 9 Report for testing at the time designated 9 Understand what to expect. www.act.org/info-for-examinees. by your school. You will not be admitted • All Terms and Conditions: Testing • ACT Academy™, a personalized to test if you are late. Rules and Policies for the ACT Test learning tool and test practice 9 Bring the following items with you: apply to testing and break times. program • Acceptable photo ID or ACT Student • Testing begins after all examinees • Preparing for the ACT includes Identification Form are checked in. test-taking strategies, tips for each • Testing takes about 3½ hours for the • Sharpened, No. 2 pencils and good ACT (no writing) or 4 hours and 15 content area, and a complete practice erasers (no mechanical pencils or ink minutes for the ACT with writing. test with scoring keys pens) Read the acceptable forms of ID • A short break is scheduled after the 9 • A permitted calculator below. You need an acceptable photo first two tests. If you are taking the ID or an ACT Student Identification • A watch (optionally) to pace yourself ACT with writing, you will have time Form, unless test staff can personally (Your test coordinator will announce after Test 4 to relax and sharpen recognize you. Ask a school official to when 5 minutes remain on each test.) your pencils. Your school may decide to offer an extended break before help you complete an ACT Student Food and beverages (optionally) • starting the writing test. Identification Form found under Test to eat outside the test room during Day at www.actstudent.org if needed. break • All items brought into the test room 9 Review the information about permitted may be searched. Items suspected of 9 Do not bring any of the following and prohibited calculators. being used to engage in misconduct items with you—you can’t use them! may be confiscated and retained. 9 Complete non-test information (see • Any electronic device other instructions beginning on page 4). • The prohibited use of any electronic than a permitted calculator (this devices (cell phone, smart watch, includes a cell phone, smart watch, fitness band, etc.) is in effect from the fitness band, media player, iPad, time you are admitted to your test headphones, and camera—any room until you are dismissed at the Acceptable Forms of ID device with recording, internet, end of the test, including break times. communication, or calculator • The ID must be an original, capabilities) Specifically: current (valid) ID issued • You may not handle or access a cell Textbooks, dictionaries, scratch by a city/state/federal • phone or electronic device at any time paper, notes, or other aids government agency or your in the test room or during break times. school. • Highlighter pens, colored pens or • All devices must be turned off and pencils, or correction fluid/tape • A school ID must be in hard placed out of sight. plastic card format. Paper or • Reading material • If you access your device or if your device activates while in a test room electronic formats are NOT • Tobacco in any form acceptable. or during break times, you will be dismissed, your test will not be scored, The photo must be clearly • and your device may be taken away. recognizable as you. • Watches must be removed and placed face up on the desk. They must remain in the test room, removed from the desk, and put away during the break. Calculators The ACT calculator policy is designed to ensure fairness for all examinees, avoid disturbances in the test room, and protect the security of the test materials. • A permitted calculator may be used on the ACT mathematics test only. • It is your responsibility to know whether your calculator is permitted. • For the most current information on the ACT calculator policy, visit www.act.org/calculator-policy.html or call 800.498.6481 for a recorded message. • If your calculator has characters one-inch high or larger, or a raised display, test staff may seat you where no other examinee can see your calculator. • Examinees testing online will have a calculator available within the testing system. • Examinees may use only one calculator at a time. If testing online, use the system calculator or the hand-held calculator. 2 Receiving and Sending Your Scores Mailed Scores Non-College Reportable Additional Score Reports (ASRs) Accommodations ACT score reports are mailed up to 8 When you complete your non-test weeks after we receive your test responses. Some examinees test under non-college information, you may designate four reportable conditions. The scores they colleges or scholarship agencies to receive Scores on the Web receive are for state testing or district your score report at no cost to you. testing purposes only and cannot be You can view your score report for free To request and pay for Additional Score reported to colleges, scholarship agencies, using an ACT web account. Reports for any recipient (e.g., high school, or any other entities. After you receive your paper score report: college): If you tested in a non-college reportable • Create or sign in to your ACT web • Create an account. Go to setting, the school test coordinator will account at www.actstudent.org and www.actstudent.org and follow receive a letter from ACT with your follow the on-screen instructions to the on-screen directions. unofficial scores for the sections that were request an ASR. • If you have an account before testing, completed. The test coordinator may wait until after you receive your paper provide this letter to you. These scores • Mail this request form http://www. score report to check for your State or cannot be used for college admissions or act.org/content/dam/act/unsecured/ District test scores. At that time, if your other programs that require official ACT documents/asrform.pdf to: scores are not included in your web score reports. ACT Customer Care – Score Reports account, call ACT at 319.337.1270 for PO Box 451 assistance. Test Location Iowa City, IA 52243-0451 You can also use your ACT web account to State or District testing scores are indicated • Call 319.337.1270 or email act-cares@ access other services, such as requesting as “State” under “Test Location” on reports.