The Fall ACT Test: Texas
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 in ACT Now. Access the filterable schedule of events from your ACT Now landing page.
- Watch for emails from ACT with important reminders. Add our email address to your contacts to prevent emails from going to spam/junk folders. Whitelist email addresses from @act.org and @operations.act.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.
Test Dates
Test Event 1:
- Standard Time Paper: October 1, 2024
- Accommodations Paper: October 1–4, 2024 and October 7–11, 2024
- Standard Time and Accommodations Online: October 1-4, 2024 and October 7–11, 2024
Test Event 2:
- Standard Time Paper: October 15, 2024
- Test Window 2: Accommodations Paper: October 15–18, 2024 and October 21–24, 2024
- Test Window 2: Standard Time and Accommodations Online: October 15–18, 2024 and October 21–24, 2024
Test Event 3:
- Standard Time Paper: October 29, 2024
- Accommodations Paper: October 29 - November 1, 2024 and November 4–8, 2024
- Standard Time and Accommodations Online: October 29–November 1, 2024 and November 4–8, 2024
Learn about ACT Now
- Overview (video)
- Accessing In-App Resources (video)
- ACT Now and PearsonAccess next Comparison (pdf)
- Glossary of Terms (pdf)
- User Role Matrix (pdf)
- ACT Now - What's New - (web content)
- ACT Now - FAQ's (web content)
Setting up ACT Now
- Setting up Your Contract Quick Start Guide (pdf)
- Adding Users with Roles (video)
- Creating a User Account (video)
- Confirm Organization Participation Status (video)
- Adding Students and Assigning a Test Event (video)
- Quick Start Guide to Managing Students in ACT Now (pdf)
Resources:
- Inviting Organizations to an Administrations Layout (pdf)
- Invite Organizations File Template (csv)
- Users File - Layout (pdf)
- Users File Template (csv)
- Students File - Layout (pdf)
- Student Registrations File Template (csv)
Request Accommodations
Dates:
Accommodations Request Window: May 13 - August 23, 2024
Website: Success.act.org
- How to Create an Account to Request Accommodation through TAA (training tutorial)
- Requesting Accommodations and English Learner (EL) Supports (web content)
Resources:
- Accessibility Supports Guide for the ACT (web content)
- 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)
- Requesting Reconsideration (TAA User Guide) (pdf)
- Qualified Exceptions to the Deadline (pdf)
- Taking Assessments Online with a Screen Reader (pdf)
- Consent to Release Information (pdf)
Training:
- Test Accommodations and English Learner Supports Training (webinar)
- Test Accommodations and English Learner Supports Training slides (pdf)
Request Qualified Exceptions to the Deadline
Dates:
Qualified Exceptions to the Deadline Window: August 26 - September 27, 2024
Qualified Exceptions to the Deadline Window: September 30–October 4, 2024
Website:
Resources:
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 (pdf)
- Test Nav Support (website)
- Before Test Day Checklist (pdf)
- Administration Supplement (pdf) (coming soon)
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!
Training:
- Test Administration Training #1 (webinar)
- Test Administration Training #1 slides (pdf)
- Test Administration Training #2 (webinar)
- Test Administration Training #2 slides (pdf)
MyACT Resources
Testing Staff:
Students:
TCM Resources
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:
- Policies (web content)
- Test Facilities (web content)
- Test Staff (web content)
- Test Materials (web content)
- Test Administration (web content)
- Non-Test Activities (web content)
Room Supervisor Modules:
- Policies (web content)
- Test Facilities (web content)
- Test Staff (web content)
- Test Materials (web content)
- Test Administration (web content)
Set Up Test Center Manager (TCM):
- Setting up TCM Test Coordinator (video)
- Using TCM as a Room Supervisor or Proctor (video)
- Paper Testing - Internet Outage Backup Plan (pdf)
- Using Test Center Manager (web content)
Test Day Resources
Administer Test:
Accommodations Resources for Testing Staff:
- ACT Test Translated Directions for English Learners – Online Testing (pdf)
- ACT Test Translated Directions for English Learners (pdf)
- Reader Agreement (pdf)
- Sign Language Interpreter Agreement (pdf)
- Scribe Agreement (pdf)
- ACT-Authorized Bilingual Word-to-Word Dictionaries list (pdf)
- ACT Spoken Instructions - Paper (pdf)
- Pre-Recorded Audio Guidelines (pdf)
- Video American Sign Language Usage Guidelines (pdf)
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!
Returning Materials:
Resources for Educators
Website: success.act.org
About Online Reporting:
- Score Reporting Schedule (web content)
- ACT Online Reporting State and District Benefits, Features, Navigation, and Rosters (video)
- ACT Online Reporting State and District Contract Reports and Student Reports (video)
- ACT Online Reporting State and District Summary Data Tool Resources (video)
- Download Data in Online Reporting - FAQs (web content)
- Best Practices for Trusted Agents (pdf)
About the reports: