ACT Intros Online Test Taking Option

  • By Sara Friedman
  • 10/08/19

With more colleges and universities making ACT and SAT scores optional, ACT is making changes to provide students with more flexibility in terms of how to take the test and get the best possible results. For the first time, students will have the option of online or paper testing at national test days at select ACT test centers.

Online testing will allow students to get their test scores in two days.  The traditional paper testing results come in about two weeks.

ACT is also giving students who have already taken the test the ability to retake individual sections again.  The ACT is split up into four sections (English, math, science and reading) and an optional writing test.

When students take the ACT more than once, they will get a "superscore." This new measurement will give colleges the option of using a student's best scores from all test administrations, rather than just using one test sitting.

"Our research shows that ACT scores for students who take individual section tests are consistent with those earned when they take the entire test. We are simply offering new ways to take the ACT, saving students time and giving them the ability to focus only on subject areas needing improvement," said Suzana Delanghe, ACT chief commercial officer.

All of the new options will become available on the ACT national test date in September 2020.

More information about the changes can be found on ACT's website.

About the Author

Sara Friedman is a reporter/producer for Campus Technology, THE Journal and STEAM Universe covering education policy and a wide range of other public-sector IT topics.

Friedman is a graduate of Ithaca College, where she studied journalism, politics and international communications.

Friedman can be contacted at [email protected] or follow her on Twitter @SaraEFriedman.

Click here for previous articles by Friedman.


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