PreACT: North Carolina
Tips for Success
- Use the training content in ACT Now to access test administration resources and walk-through test administration preparation activities.
- Dates and deadlines for your test administration are found in the Important Dates section of this website.
- Watch for emails from ACT with important reminders. Add our email address to your contacts to prevent emails from going to spam/junk folders. Exempt list email addresses from @preact.org and @operations.preact.org.
Important Dates
The Schedule of Events contains all dates and deadlines for North Carolina's test event. Check it frequently to stay on track for testing.
- ACT Now and TCM opens: August 5, 2024
Note: We recommend uploading students as early as possible but if you need to you can upload students, assign events, and add accommodations up to the day you test online.
- PreACT Test Window: October 7, 2024 – November 15, 2024
- Test Event 1: October 7, 2024 – October 25, 2024
- Test Event 2: October 28, 2024 – November 15, 2024
- Test Event 3: November 18 – December 6
- Test Event 4: December 9 – December 27
- Test Event 5: December 30 – January 17
- Test Event 6: January 20 – February 7
- Test Event 7: February 10 – Feb 28
- Test Event 8: March 3 – March 21
- Test Event 9: March 24 – April 11
- Test Event 10: April 14 – May 2
Learn about ACT Now
- What's New (web content)
- Overview (video)
- Accessing In-App Resources (video)
- Glossary of Terms (pdf)
- User Role Matrix (pdf)
- Comparison of Administration Platforms (pdf)
- ACT Now FAQ (web content)
Set Up ACT Now
Invite or Manage Organizations in ACT Now:
- Confirm Organization Participation Status (video)
- Adding Students and Assigning a Test Event (video)
Add Users with Roles to ACT Now:
- Adding Users with Roles (video)
- Creating a User Account (video)
- Users File - Layout (pdf)
- Users File Template (csv)
Manage Your Students:
- Quick Start Guide to Managing Students in ACT Now (pdf)
Tip: Adding students with leading zeros and student transfer guidance has been added as of 9/12/2024
Manage Accommodations
Understand Accommodations:
Assign Accommodations:
- Quick Start Guide - Assigning Accommodations and Supports (pdf)
- PreACT - Pre-Event Uploading and Assigning Student Accommodations (video)
- Accommodations Students File - Layout (pdf)
- Accommodations Students File Template (csv)
Prepare Students for Testing with Accommodations:
- Pre-Recorded Audio Guidelines (pdf)
Tip: References to information found in test administration manuals will be located in Test Center Manager (TCM). - Authorized Bilingual Word-to-Word Dictionaries List (pdf)
Prepare for Testing
- Technical Guide for Online Testing (pdf)
- Technical Readiness Checklist for Technical Coordinators (pdf)
- Test Nav Support (website)
- Before Test Day Checklist (pdf)
Tip: As of 10/03, PreACT does not require assigning test booklet numbers to each room in TCM. - PreACT Test Backup Instructions (pdf)
Training:
- PreACT Test Administration Training - Paper (webinar)
- PreACT Test Administration Training Slides – Paper (pdf)
- PreACT Test Administration Training - Paper Q&A (xlsx)
- PreACT Test Administration Training – Online (webinar)
- PreACT Test Administration Training Slides – Online (pdf)
- PreACT Test Administration Training - Online Q&A (xlsx)
Prepare Students for Testing
Tip: A copy of the Instructions for Completing Your Answer Document resource is printed and shipped with each paper answer document. Examinees testing with online testing will receive their instructions for completing the test in the online administration platform, TestNav.
Access ACT Now Policy Modules
Tip: All ACT Polices need to be thoroughly read and agreed to 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:
- Test Coordinator Module: Policies (web content)
- Test Coordinator Module: Test Facilities (web content)
- Test Coordinator Module: Test Staff (web content)
Room Supervisor Modules:
- Room Supervisor Module: Policies (web content)
- Room Supervisor Module: Test Facilities (web content)
- Room Supervisor Module: Test Staff (web content)
Set up Test Center Manager (TCM):
- Setting up TCM Test Coordinator (video)
- Setting up TCM Test Coordinator (simulation)
Tip: There are no Non-Test instructions for the PreACT test.
- Using TCM as a Room Supervisor or Proctor (video)
- Using TCM as a Room Supervisor or Proctor (simulation)
Tip: This simulation refers to a fifth multiple choice test. The fifth multiple choice test only applies to national PreACT administrations. - Internet Outage Checklist - Paper Testing with ACT Now and TCM (pdf)
- PreACT Test Backup Instructions (pdf)
- Create a Test Room (pdf)
- Using Test Center Manager (web content)
Tip: This resource contains links to one-page instructional PDFs and short videos for the Test Coordinator and Room Supervisor for setting up and managing: testing staff, students, and virtual rooms within TCM before and on test day.
Administer Test
- Administration Supplement - Paper Testing (pdf)
- Administration Supplement - Online Testing (pdf)
- Test Day Checklist (pdf)
- Turn Off Device Poster (pdf)
- Calculator Policy (pdf)
Administer Test with Accommodations
- PreACT Translated Directions (pdf)
- Reader Agreement (pdf)
- Sign Language Interpreter Agreement (pdf)
- Scribe Agreement (pdf)
- Taking Assessments Online with a Screen Reader (pdf)
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!
Tip: Electronic signatures are permitted for the Sign Language Interpreter’s Agreements, Reader's Agreements, and Scribe's Agreements
Return Test Materials
- Secure Storage and Transport Test Materials (pdf)
- Returning Paper and Online Test Materials (video)
Tip: Regarding the audit message in this video, if Test Security determines that a visit is required to a North Carolina school, ACT Test Security will follow all of the agreed upon requirements to visit the school (including 24 hours notification to the school).
Access Online Reporting
- ACT Online Reporting User Guide (pdf)
Understand Reports
- Interpretive Guide for Student and Aggregate Reports (pdf)
- PreACT Online Reporting Crosswalk (pdf)
Tip: My Summary Results and Local Quartile are not available for NC State Testing. - PreACT Download Hub Data File Layout (xlsx)
Tip: Not every field in this layout is available for NC PreACT testing. - ACT Online Reporting State and District Benefits, Features, Navigation, and Rosters (video)
- ACT Online Reporting State and District Summary Data Tool Resources (video)
- Sample Score Report (pdf)
Help Students Access and Understand Reports
- PreACT Individual Student Report - Sample (pdf)
- Using Your PreACT Results (pdf)
- Using Your PreACT Results - Spanish (pdf)
- Sample Score Report (pdf)