PreACT Secure: Illinois

Tips for Success

  1. Use the training content in ACT Now to access test administration resources and walk through test administration preparation activities.
  2. Dates and deadlines for your test administration are found in the Important Dates section of this website.
  3. Watch for emails from ACT with important reminders. Add our email address to your contacts to prevent emails from going to spam/junk folders. Exemptlist email addresses from @preact.org and @operations.preact.org.

Important Dates

Your Schedule of Events (web content) contains all dates and deadlines for your test event. Check it frequently to ensure you're on track for a successful administration.

Important: A student may be scheduled to test during any of the three test event windows. Please note that students must start and complete testing in the same test event. Students with multi-day testing must start and complete testing within the same test event. 

  • ACT Now and TCM opens: January 6, 2025
  • Test Event 1: March 17-28, 2025
  • Test Event 2: March 31-April 11, 2025
  • Test Event 3: April 14-25, 2025

Helpful Links

Expand each tray to reveal the information.

 

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  • ACT phone: 855.730.0400 Option 2 for PreACT 9 Secure and PreACT Secure Assessments.
  • ACT email: preact@act.org
  • January – May Hours of Operation 6am – 6pm CST
  • Regular Hours 8:30am – 5pm CST
  • ISBE phone: 866.317.6034
  • ISBE email: assessment@isbe.net
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Step 1: Pre-Administration

Learn about ACT Now

Set Up ACT Now

Training:

Adding Users with Roles to ACT Now:

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.

Manage Accommodations and English Learner (EL) Supports

Understanding Accommodations and English Learner (EL) Supports:

Assigning Accommodations and English Learner (EL) Supports:

Preparing Students for Testing with Accommodations and English Learner (EL) Supports:

Prepare for Testing 

Webinars:

Prepare Students for Testing

Step 2: Administration

TCM Resources

Access ACT Now Policy Modules

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:

Room Supervisor Modules:

Setting Up Test Center Manager (TCM):

Administer the Test 

Webinars:

Administer the Test with Accommodations with Accommodations or English Learner (EL) Supports

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

Return Test Materials

Step 3: Post-Administration

Access and Understand Score Reports

Dates: June 27, 2025

Website:

Resources:

Share Reporting Information with Examinees

Resources:

Translated Student Reports:

Webinars: