Introduction
What is ACT about?
- The ACT Test is a standardized test that measures a high school student’s academic skills and readiness for college by testing an individual knowledge.
- ACT tests your English, math, science, and writing skills. It was created using extensive research into expected high school abilities and necessary college expectations. It is all about setting you up for success in college.
- ACT is a test offered by a nonprofit organization, with the same name, ACT (American College Testing). This test is seen as one of the two major standard tests used in the United States for admission into colleges.
- The ACT test is also often taken by students in the US to determine whether they are "ready for college". Sometimes, regardless of whether they are going to college or not, states and individual school districts require all high school students to take the ACT, using it to assess the students' learning and/or the performance of schools. It is used a standard of determining the academic performance and/or excellence of individual students, or schools at large.
Test Center
Your ticket
Bring a printed copy of your ticket to the test center. If you do not bring your ticket, your scores will be delayed. If you have lost your ticket, you can print another through your ACT web account.
Photo identification
Bring acceptable photo identification. You will not be admitted to test if your ID does not meet ACT requirements.
Number 2 pencil
Bring sharpened, soft lead No. 2 pencils with good erasers (no mechanical pencils or ink pens). Do not bring any other writing instruments; you will not be allowed to use them. If you are registered for the ACT with writing, your essay must also be completed in pencil.
Watch
Bring a watch to pace yourself, but do not bring a watch with an alarm. If your alarm sounds during testing, you’ll be dismissed and your answers will not be scored. No watch? No problem. The supervisor in standard time rooms will announce when you have five minutes remaining on each test.
Calculator
Bring a permitted calculator to be used on the mathematics test only. You are not required to use a calculator at all, but if you do, it is your responsibility to know whether your calculator is permitted.
Snacks
To eat outside the test center on break.
Don't bring any of these; you can't access them:
- Textbooks, foreign language or other dictionaries, scratch paper, notes, or other aids
- Highlighter pens, colored pens or pencils, or correction fluid/tape
- Any electronic device, other than a permitted calculator
- Reading material
- Tobacco in any form
- You may not handle or access a cell phone or electronic device at any time in the testing room or during break times. This includes smartwatches, fitness bands, and any other devices with recording, internet, or communication capabilities.
- All devices, including cell phones and wearable devices, must be turned off and placed out of sight.
- If you access your device or if your device activates while in the testing room or during break times, you will be dismissed, your test will not be scored, and your phone or device may be taken away.
Calculator
Calculator Policy
- The ACT calculator policy is designed to ensure fairness for all examinees, avoid disturbances in the testing room, and protect the security of the test materials.
- Bring a permitted calculator to be used on the mathematics test only.
- If your calculator has characters one inch high or larger, or a raised display, testing staff may seat you where no others can see the display.
- It is your responsibility to know whether your calculator is permitted.
Test Day
Dress comfortably. Some test centers are warmer or cooler on weekends than during the week. Consider dressing in layers, so you'll be comfortable no matter what the room conditions are.
Arrive by 8:00 a.m. If you're unsure where your test center is located, do a practice run to see how to get there and what time you'll need to leave. If you arrive earlier than 7:45 a.m., you might have to wait outside until testing staff completes their arrangements.
Bring snacks or drinks to consume outside the test room only during the break.
Don't be late. Report to your assigned test center by the Reporting Time (usually 8:00 a.m.) listed on your ticket. You will NOT be admitted to test if you are late.
Bring proper identification. Testing staff will check your photo ID and ticket, admit you to your test room, direct you to a seat, and provide test materials. Be ready to begin testing after all examinees present at 8:00 a.m. are checked in and seated.
Testing staff may perform their duties with either an electronic device or paper materials. Both options allow staff to administer the test under the same standard conditions.
Breaking the seal - Once you break the seal on your test booklet, you cannot later request a Test Date Change, even if you do not complete all your tests.
A permitted calculator may be used on the mathematics test only. It is your responsibility to know whether your calculator is permitted. Please refer to the ACT Calculator Policy (PDF).
Do not engage in any prohibited behavior at the test center. If you do, you will be dismissed and your answer document will not be scored. For more details about prohibited behavior at the test center, please see Terms and Conditions (PDF). Note: For National and International Testing, you will be asked to sign a statement on the front cover of your test booklet agreeing to this policy.
No food or drink in the test room - A short break is scheduled after the first two tests. You will not be allowed to use cell phones or any electronic devices during the break, and you may not eat or drink anything in the test room.
If you take the ACT with writing, you will have time before the writing test to relax and sharpen your pencils.
Fifth test? ACT tries out questions to develop future tests. Following the science test you should expect to take a shorter, multiple-choice test covering one of the previous subject areas, Please try your best on these questions, because your participation can help shape the future of the ACT. The results of the fifth test will not be reflected on your reported scores.
When is the test over? Students taking the ACT (no writing) with standard time are normally dismissed at about 12:35 p.m.; students taking the ACT with writing are normally dismissed at about 1:35 p.m.
What if you don't finish? If you do not complete all your tests for any reason, tell a member of the testing staff whether or not you want your answer document scored before you leave the test center. If you do not, all tests attempted will be scored.
Please note that ACT may visit test centers to conduct enhanced test security procedures including, but not limited to, collecting images of examinees during check-in or other security activities on test day.
Also remember that cheating hurts everyone. If you see it, report it.
Security
- Students upload or otherwise submit (via ACT website, mobile device, or mail) a recognizable head-and-shoulders photo of themselves when registering for the ACT
- In addition to submitting a photo, students must provide ACT with their gender and identify the name of the high school they attend. ACT will use this information to help match the examinee’s identity throughout the testing process.
- The student's photo is printed on the examinee roster that testing staff use to check-in students on test day.
- The photo prints on the student's ticket. In addition to their ticket, students bring and present an acceptable photo ID on test day. On test day, test center staff match the name and photo on the student’s ticket, the test center roster, and the student’s photo ID to the student who arrives to take the test before granting the student admission.
- Both before and after testing, students provide written affirmation that they are the person whose name appears on the test booklet and answer sheet which they have submitted. They also acknowledge that assuming anyone else’s identity to take the test may be a violation of law and be subject to legal penalty.
- ACT may visit test centers to conduct additional test security measures on test day, such as collecting images of examinees during check-in and/or other security activities.
- After tests have been scored, the student’s photo will be printed on the score report that is automatically sent to the high school attended by the student. Score integrity can then be reinforced by the people who know the students best—the teachers and counselors at their schools.
- To deter attempts to circumvent these procedures, students (including those who hope to test on a standby basis) will be required to register their intent to test and will not be allowed to make any test center or test date changes on the day of the test.
Report
Cheating hurts everyone– if you see it, report it through the Test Security Hotline.
- Students who don't do their own work put honest students at a disadvantage. Whether it's using a cheat sheet, copying someone else's work, or sending another person to take the test, we all feel cheated when someone tries to game the system.
- All examinees deserve the chance to show what he or she has learned. The ACT has designed its testing procedures to give you and other honest students an equal opportunity to demonstrate your own academic achievement on a fair and equal playing field.
- If you suspect that someone is trying to take unfair advantages or encounter anything else out of the ordinary, please report it to ACT. You can make an anonymous report about test security concerns by using the Test Security Hotline.
- Keep the ACT fair. Report cheating and comply with all testing rules.
ACT - Related Information
Introduction to ACT
ACT Test Day
ACT Preparation Tips
What is a Good ACT Score? – ACT Score Chart
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