The ACT with Writing: Illinois

Learn About ACT Now

• Overview (video)
• Get Started (video)
• Glossary of Terms (pdf)
• User Role and Permissions Matrix (pdf)
  
• State and District Testing–ACT Now–FAQs (web content) 
  Note: Creating a MyACT account is optional.

Note: In Illinois, the ACT with Writing is administered online. Paper testing is available only in rare cases as an accommodation.

Set Up ACT Now

Training:

• Confirming Organizations' Participation Status (video)
• Adding Students and Assigning a Test Event (video)
  *Note: The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) will be uploading all students into ACT Now. Districts and schools are only responsible for assigning students to test events and ensuring student information is correct in the ISBE's Student Information System (SIS).

Adding Users with Roles to ACT Now:

• Add Users with Roles (video)
• Creating a New Account (video)
• Layout Requirements—CSV Format: Users Invitation File (pdf)
• Users Invitation File Template (csv)

Manage Student Information:

• Managing Student Information Quick Start Guide (pdf) 
  Note: Even though you will be able to edit student information, districts and schools must ensure student information is correct in the Student Information System (SIS). ISBE’s uploads will override information in ACT Now.

Request Accommodations and English Learner (EL) Supports:

Accommodations Request Window: September 16, 2024–February 7, 2025

Website: Success.act.org

• How to Create an Account to Request Accessibility Supports Through TAA (training tutorial)
• Requesting Accommodations and English Learner (EL) Supports (web content)

Resources:

• Accessibility Supports Guide for the ACT (web content) 
• ACT Test Accessibility and Accommodations (TAA) System Supports (web content)
• Test Accessibility and Accommodations (TAA) User Guide (pdf)
• Requesting Accommodations and English Learner Supports Using TAA (video)
• Consent to Release Information to ACT: Examinee TAA Information (pdf)

Recorded Webinar from October 17, 2024:

• Test Accommodations and English Leaner Supports Training (webinar) 
• Test Accommodations and English Learner Supports Training slides (pdf) 

Request Qualified Exceptions to the Deadline

Note: There is no reconsideration for Qualified Exceptions to the Deadline submission.

Dates:

Qualified Exceptions to the Deadline Window (Test Event 1): February 10–March 21, 2025

Qualified Exceptions to the Deadline Window (Test Event 2): March 24–28, 2025

Websites:

• Test Accessibility and Accommodations System (TAA) (success.act.org)

Resources:

• Requesting Reconsideration (TAA User Guide) (pdf)
• Qualified Exceptions to the Deadline (pdf)

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.

Prepare for Testing

• Technical Guide for Online Testing (pdf)
• Technical Readiness Checklist for Technical Coordinators (pdf)
• Set up and use Test Nav (website)
• Before Test Day Checklist for Test Coordinators (pdf)

Tip: If you’re looking for resources about preparing for test day, you’ll find them in ACT Now and TCM training content. Look for a test day checklist, system demos and tutorials, and much more!

Upcoming Webinars:

• The ACT with Writing Pre-Test Training (webinar) 
• The ACT with Writing Pre-Test Training slides (pdf) 
• Technical Readiness (webinar)
• Technical Readiness slides (pdf) (coming soon)

Resources for Students and Testing Staff

Students:

• Information for Examinees (act.org)
• Taking the ACT Test (pdf)
• Taking the ACT–Spanish (pdf)
• Preparing for the ACT Test (pdf)

Test Center Manager (TCM) Resources

Policies:

• Read Through ACT Policy Modules (pdf)
  Note: All test coordinators and room supervisors must read and agree to all ACT policies in TCM, accessed through ACT Now. If you are serving as your site’s test coordinator and room supervisor, you only need to agree to the training modules for the test coordinator. The information found in the room supervisor modules are captured in the test coordinator modules.

Test Coordinator Modules:

• Policies (web content)
• Test Facilities (web content)
• Test Staff (web content)
• Test Materials (web content)
• Test Administration (web content)

Room Supervisor Modules:

• Policies (web content)
• Test Facilities (web content)
• Test Staff (web content)
• Test Materials (web content)
• Test Administration (web content)

Setting Up Test Center Manager (TCM):

• Setting Up TCM as a Test Coordinator (video)
  • Setting Up TCM Test Coordinator (simulation)
• Using TCM as a Room Supervisor or Proctor (video)
  • Using TCM as a Room Supervisor or Proctor (simulation)
• Paper Testing Checklist–Internet Outage (pdf)
• Using Test Center Manager (web content) 

Test Day Resources

 Administering the Test:

• Checklist: Test Day Activities (pdf)
• ACT Calculator Policy (pdf)
• No Cell Phone or Electric Devices! (pdf)

Accommodations and English Learner (EL) Supports Resources for Testing Staff:

• ACT Test Translated Directions for English Learners–Online Testing (pdf)
• Testing Staff Agreement: Reader (pdf)
• Testing Staff Agreement: Sign Language Interpreter (pdf)
• Testing Staff Agreement: Scribe (pdf)
• ACT-Authorized Bilingual Word-to-Word Dictionaries list (pdf)
• Pre-Recorded Audio Guidelines (pdf)
• Video American Sign Language Usage Guidelines–Paper Testing (pdf)

Upcoming Webinar:

• The ACT with Writing Test Day (webinar) 
• The ACT with Writing Test Day slides (pdf) (coming soon)

Tip: If you're looking for resources, manuals, test forms, and other test administration resources, you'll find them in the ACT Now and TCM training content. Look for a test day checklist, policies, and tutorials, and much more!

ACT Now Returning Materials: Returning Materials

• ACT Now Returning Test Materials (video)

Resources for Educators

Website: success.act.org

About Online Reporting:

• Best Practices for Trusted Agents (pdf)
• More information regarding online reporting (coming soon)

About the Reports:

• Sample Score Report - High School (pdf)

Resources for Students:

• ACT Test Scores: Understanding Your Scores (act.org)
• Sample Student Score Report (pdf)
• Using Your ACT Results (pdf) 
• Using-Your-ACT-Results–Spanish (pdf)