ACT Plans to Expand Online Testing in US
After an initial pilot in December, ACT hopes to offer its exam in a computer-based format alongside paper-and-pencil in more testing centers across the US into 2024.
Without much fanfare (in stark contrast to College Board’s announcements), ACT released details of its plan to expand access to online, computer-based testing in the US, starting in December.
Since 2018, the ACT has been available exclusively in an online format, but this format had been restricted domestically to specific state and district school-day administrations. ACT’s news means online testing will soon be available on national test dates, offered seven times annually on Saturdays.
Students and families will likely be interested in these main details:
ACT’s test content, structure, and timing remains unchanged from the traditional paper test.
The online ACT proceeds linearly, just like a paper test, and is not adaptive like the digital SAT.
Beginning in July, students may see the option to register for a “Computer” format during registration for the December 9th ACT. (This option will likely be added in early 2024 for other test dates.)
Students take the online ACT at approved testing centers and on center-managed devices. The online ACT is not available remotely.
There is a built-in calculator on the online ACT, but students are permitted to bring their own approved calculators. They are also permitted to use provided scratch paper.
Many accommodations are more easily accessed, being built in to the testing platform. Tools of note include color choice and contrast, magnification, line reader, highlighter, answer masking and eliminator, mark an item for review, and time indicator.
Cost and registration processes will be identical for the “Computer” and “Paper” formats of the ACT.
Students can change their format preference after registering, for an additional fee.
KEY Takeaways
Although the online ACT has been (relatively seamlessly) deployed internationally for years, ACT responded to College Board’s plans to update the SAT for a digital environment by touting the stability and reliability of their paper test. Since January, College Board has launched a successful campaign around the benefits of their shorter, adaptive exam. So ACT’s change represents a defensive move to preserve market position – not a strategic, offensive one.
Should students be excited about the online ACT? Not really. It’s true that Covid-era remote schooling accelerated trends in digital education, so some students (especially younger ones) may find themselves more comfortable with a computer-based standardized test than a conventional paper exam, with its Scantron technology and No. 2 pencils.
That said, ACT has missed an opportunity in our view to genuinely consider, then elevate students’ testing experience. The online ACT is essentially a recreation of the paper test on a computer screen. In trialing the testing platform, our team encountered headaches around scrolling on data displays in the Science section, the non-sticky annotation tool on Reading passages, and redrawing geometric figures on scratch paper during the Math section.
Unless your student has a compelling reason (such as scoring higher on the online ACT than the paper ACT and preferring it to the SAT), we recommend opting for “Paper” every time.
Looking for top-notch ACT test prep tutoring, group classes, and advice? You’re in the right place – reach out to our team to get started with an expert tutor today.
