1. STC Workshop
ACT Plus Writing
April 2015

2. Key Dates Mid-March to April 27
Conduct supervised pretest sessions for all paper-pencil examinees
Conduct room supervisor and proctor training
Arrange to meet testing requirements at school or off-site location
April 20-24—STC receives secure materials for initial testing
April 28—Initial test date (paper format)
April 28-May 12—Accommodations testing window
April 28-29—Window for online order for standard time ACT
April 29—ACT initial test materials picked up
May 4-7—STC receives makeup materials
May 12—Makeup test date
May 13—Makeup and accommodated materials picked up from STC
May 22—deadline for ACT to receive all answer documents
Located on the State Testing website:
List of key dates for The ACT
Mailed with the Establishment Packets to STCs at the beginning of the testing year
Note: if you have not received your secure materials by Close of Business on Tuesday, April 21, contact ACT immediately. The phone number is listed in the Administration Manual.
Answer documents received after May 22 will not be scored 2

3. General Information Maggie Hicks, at 334-242-8038, is primary contact.
Each System Test Coordinator (STC), Building Test Coordinator (BTC), Test Accommodations Coordinator (TAC), Backup Building Test Coordinator (BBTC), Principal, Room Supervisor, Proctor, Monitor, and Technology Coordinator for those administering ACT online must be familiar with the documents listed below. The link to download and print manuals is .
The ACT Administration Manual
The ACT Plus Writing: Handbook for System and Building Test Coordinators
Manual Supplement for District Shipping
Answer Document Supplement (The ACT)
ACT Calculator Policy 3

4. General Information
If an emergency arises on test day (e.g., fire, tornado, snow) forces termination of testing or closing of school, STC must notify ACT at , ext. 2800, and the ALSDE at as soon as possible to explain situation. Decisions regarding rescheduling will be made on a case-by-case basis by ACT only.
In cases of unusual circumstances (i.e., bomb threats, weather alerts, suspected cheating, incidents involving prohibited behaviors), the STC must notify ACT and the ALSDE immediately.
A copy of all irregularities must be sent to ALSDE.
As soon as testing is over in school each day, initial date or makeup, materials must be returned to STC. No materials may be returned to ACT from schools.
STCs must keep copies of all attendance rosters, seating charts, documentation forms, and irregularity reports. 4

5. Reminders/Policies/Procedures
Important information, including contact information for the ACT Plus Writing Customer Service, is included on inside cover page.
When instructions split into columns, ACT Plus Writing instructions are printed in the right-hand column in color; instructions for ACT with no writing are printed in black.
All staff must comply with ACT policies. Staff members who complete profile at establishment have agreed to policies put forth in their respective roles. 5

6. Policies/Procedures
ACT Plus Writing must be administered ONLY on April 28 using the specific form for the initial testing day.
Makeup tests must be administered ONLY on May 12 using ONLY the specific form for makeup testing.
ACT Plus Writing with Accommodations must be administered between April 28 through May 12 using materials assigned to students for which they were approved. Accommodated materials may not be transferred to other students, even if they are unused.
Testing MUST begin by 9:00 am in all rooms on both the initial and makeup test dates. Permission must be granted by ACT for a late start.
An observer/monitor with ACT, ALSDE, or district may visit a school on test day. Admission must be denied if the observer cannot provide authorization letter or ALSDE identification. 6

7. Facility Requirements
Lapboards are not allowed under any circumstances.
Bulletin boards/related materials must be covered.
Two reliable time pieces are required. One should be accurate clock or watch that shows the actual time of day. ACT recommends the second be stopwatch or countdown timer. Cell phones can NEVER be used as timers or watches.
BTC should have a phone available for emergency use on test date.
Rooms must be free from distractions.
Signs must be posted outside the test rooms to warn others that testing is in progress and that quiet is required.
Bells, intercoms, and public address systems must be turned off during the test session.
If a school cannot meet these requirements, the school is not eligible to test and offsite testing should be arranged. 7

8. Seating
Test rooms must be set up according to ACT requirements. If not met, scores may be cancelled. If the facility does not have furniture that will allow proper seating, testing will not be allowed. Offsite testing may be an option.
Whether desks or tables are used, all examinees must face the same direction.
Tables must be arranged so all spacing requirements are met. Use the following rules to seat examinees at tables:
Round Tables: only one examinee per table, regardless of size.
Rectangular Tables Less Than 6 Feet Long: only one examinee per table.
Rectangular Tables 6 to 9 Feet Long: only two examinees per table. (If 6-foot tables are used to seat two examinees, a 3-foot space is required between the seats on the same side of the table.) 8

9. Use of Digital Devices by Staff
School personnel involved in administration of state testing may not use digital devices (including but not limited to telephones, cell phones, MP3 players, cameras, or other telecommunication devices capable of capturing or relaying information) during test administration. Violations may result in disciplinary action/certification revocation. Additional disciplinary action may be taken by the LEA.
All electronic devices belonging to school personnel, including computers located in the testing room, must be turned off before testing materials are brought into the room, and they must remain off until testing materials are removed from the room. (Examinees may not bring electronic devices into the testing room.)
All printers that have scanning or copying capability and all copy machines must either be disabled or removed from all rooms being used for a testing session. 9

10. Testing Staff Requirements
ALSDE requires that Test Administrators/Room Supervisors be certificated employees. Proctors must be full-time employees involved with the education of examinees.
Anyone who coaches high school or college athletics may not serve as a Room Supervisor for one-on-one testing of a student athlete. An athletic coach may serve as a Room Supervisor if more than one examinee is in the room.
To avoid appearance of conflict of interest and to protect against allegations of impropriety, staff may not serve as Test Coordinator or Back-up Test Coordinator for the ACT State Testing administration or have access to secure test materials if any relative or ward will be testing with standard time at any school in Alabama during the initial or makeup administration. Relatives and wards include children, stepchildren, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, siblings, in-laws, spouses, and wards. 10

11. Test Coordinator
Test Coordinators ensure that examinees are tested under standard conditions and that the security of the examinations are maintained.
The name of the Test Coordinator must be on file with ACT.
The Test Coordinator must train Room Supervisors and Proctors before the test date.
In addition, the Test Coordinator must conduct a pretest briefing session for testing staff on each test date. The pretest briefing is in addition to the mandatory training required within two weeks prior to testing.
Specific responsibilities are included on pages 9-10 of the Administration Manual. 11

12. Back-Up Test Coordinator
If the Test Coordinator cannot serve in his/her role or supervise the test administration, the Back-up Test Coordinator is expected to assume those responsibilities.
The person selected to serve as replacement must complete and submit a profile change form online and be properly trained before test day. 12

13. Room Supervisor
The Room Supervisor administers the ACT Plus Writing. The Room Supervisor must
Read the Administration Manual and comply with the policies and procedures it describes.
Attend both the training and briefing sessions conducted locally by the Test Coordinator.
Check ID or personally recognize and admit examinees.
Mark attendance and ID on the roster and direct examinees to specific, assigned seats.
Record booklet numbers on seating chart.
Read Verbal Instructions to examinees verbatim from the appropriate manual.
Complete detailed documentation of any irregularities.
Specific responsibilities are included on pages of the Administration Manual. 13

14. Proctor
A Proctor may be used to assist a Room Supervisor or the Test Coordinator if fewer than 25 examinees are testing.
A Proctor is required (in addition to the Room Supervisor) for every 25 examinees after the first 25 in the room.
A Proctor is required to assist the Room Supervisor if more than 10 examinees with the same Timing Code are testing in the same room.
Schools may choose to use a Roving Proctor.
Specific responsibilities are included on page 11 of the Administration Manual. 14

15. Training Staff (Page 12)
For standardized testing to occur successfully, staff members must understand their responsibilities. It is critical that the same procedures are followed at every school.
Test Coordinators and Back-up Test Coordinators are required to hold a training session before test day for all staff, to prepare them for test-day. This session must be attended by all testing staff, so that everyone has a common understanding of what is to take place on test day.
Training Session Topics for Discussion are provided on pages 67–69 of the Administration Manual.
Before test day, every testing staff member is required to read the Administration Manual.
Each testing staff member is to be provided with a complete copy of the Administration Manual before the training session. 15

16. Test Security Requirements (Pages 13-15)
The STC is responsible for maintaining the security and safekeeping of the test materials before, during, and after testing.
At the conclusion of testing, ALL used and unused test materials must be returned to ACT by the STC.
Under no circumstances is a test booklet seal to be broken by anyone other than the examinee on test day.
Staff and examinees are prohibited from disclosing test questions or response choices to anyone.
Contact ACT ( , ext. 2800) if a test booklet is lost, stolen, or otherwise missing at any time while the test booklets are at your school, from receipt to return. Notify ALSDE. 16

17. Receipt and Check-In of Materials (Page 13)
STC MUST verify that all materials match items on the Test Materials Distribution List within 24 hours of receipt.
Each booklet must be counted; cannot assume groups of booklets are complete.
Writing Test booklets are shipped in shrink-wrapped packages of 5. Check the serial number of the first booklet in each pack against Test Materials Distribution List. Do NOT open the shrink-wrap until the morning of test day.
ACT ( , ext. 2800) must be contacted immediately if there are discrepancies.
A separate Test Materials Distribution List will be received for each examinee.testing with accommodated materials.
Contact ACT ( , ext. 1788) if there are any discrepancies with accommodated materials. 17

18. Storing Test Materials (Pages 14-15)
STCs must use the carton(s) in which the test materials were shipped to return all test booklets to ACT after each test date.
After materials have been inventoried, the cartons must be resealed with tape provided in shipment. The STC should sign across the tape after the carton has been
The sealed boxes must remain locked in the STC’s secure storage until the day before testing. (This is a change from spring 2014.)
The school’s secure storage must meet the two-lock storage rule.
All test materials must be accounted for before, during, and after testing, until they are returned to the STC and ACT. 18

19. Distributing Materials The Chain of Custody (Page 15)
Included in secure materials shipments will be a Manual Supplement for District Shipping. The manual supplement contains:
amendments to the policies and procedures in the Administration Manual
an overview of the district shipping process
procedures for receiving materials from ACT, transferring materials to and from schools, and returning materials to ACT
the Secure Test Booklet and Test Package Transfer Form
The Secure Test Booklet and Test Package Transfer Form (page 4 of the Manual Supplement ) must be used to document any transfer of test booklets, accommodations test packages, or alternate test formats between a district and a school. The form documents the dates, locations, and personnel involved in the transfers. 19

20. Distributing Materials The Chain of Custody (Page 15)
Booklets are to be sorted for distribution to individual rooms before test day, but must be resealed in the cartons and returned to the security of the STC’s locked storage until the morning before test day.
Under no circumstances is a test booklet seal to be broken by anyone other than the examinee on test day.
The BTC must confirm that he/she has the correct number of test booklets before distributing them to Room Supervisors on the morning of test day.
Test booklets must be personally handed to Room Supervisors by the Test Coordinator and/or Back-up Test Coordinator. 20

21. Distributing Materials The Chain of Custody (Page 15)
All Room Supervisors must complete items A and B on the Test Booklet Count Form (A-3) when they receive test booklets from the Test Coordinator.
The Room Supervisor must sign and the Test Coordinator must initial under “Received Before Testing” to verify that the number of booklets recorded is the number in the Room Supervisor’s possession.
Room Supervisors complete item C during Test 1 and item D after Test 4.
Room Supervisors must also complete item E after the Writing Test.
After testing, ALL Room Supervisors must immediately return all materials to the Test Coordinator and complete item F. The Room Supervisor must initial and the Test Coordinator must sign to verify that the number of answer documents and test booklets returned to the Coordinator equals the number transferred to the Room Supervisor.
Room Supervisors should not be dismissed until accuracy of ALL required forms have been verified. 21

22. Completing the Non-Test Portions Before Test Day (Pages 16-21)
Verbal Instructions for completing non-test portions of answer document in a scheduled session at school before test day begin on page 19 of the Administration Manual.
Whether or not a barcode label is present, examinees must still grid the identifying information on the front and back pages of answer document during the pretest session. If this is not done accurately and completely, the examinee’s ACT score report may be undeliverable.
Basic identifying information (front and back pages) are required for all examinees. The ALSDE did not provide examinee addresses. If an examinee wishes to receive information at his or her home, the examinee must enter and grid the home address in the appropriate boxes. 22

23. Completing the Non-Test Portions Before Test Day (Pages 16-21)
If an examinee has not completed any of the non-test portions before the initial test date, that examinee is NOT permitted to test. Instead, the student must be scheduled for makeup testing. The BTC must arrange for the student to complete the non-test portions before the makeup test date. If the student does not complete the non-test portion before the makeup test date, the student cannot test on the makeup date.
Non-test portions of the answer document may NOT be completed on ANY test date—not before and not after any of the tests. If examinees are allowed to complete any of the non-test portions on test day, or are allowed to handle answer documents after testing, the answer documents will NOT be scored or scores will be cancelled. 23

24. Completing the Non-Test Portions Before Test Day (Pages 16-21)
Providing a student’s Social Security number is optional. ACT will not add this information later to the state’s file. Do not place any other number in Block C.
Examinees are instructed to leave Block K of the answer document blank. The high school code has been provided for all examinees with a label.
If a high school code must be entered in Block K, staff must grid the correct code on the answer document before returning the answer document for scoring.
Block L asks if the examinee wishes to participate in the A-C-T Educational Opportunity Service (EOS). Through EOS, ACT provides information about ACT-tested examinees to colleges and universities, scholarship organizations, and other organizations so they may contact examinees about programs and opportunities that they may be interested in exploring. EOS will not receive test scores. 24

25. Completing the Non-Test Portions Before Test Day (Pages 16-21)
Block S is not used for Alabama reporting. Do NOT enter the SSID number in Block S.
ALSDE has requested additional information using Block V on the answer document. This section is required only for students testing with accommodations. School staff must answer the questions after testing is complete; examinees should not complete any part of this section.
Verbal instructions about basic identifying information and high school course/grade information are on pages 25

26. Preparing for Test Day (Pages 22-23)
The school is responsible for providing the following items for each test room:
No. 2 pencils with erasers (no mechanical pencils or ink pens)
two reliable timepieces: watch, stopwatch, interval timer, or accurate wall clock (no cell phones or smart watches)
The Supervisor’s Report Form (SRF) is pre-gridded by machine and identifies school to the scoring system. Information on the SRF should NOT be corrected. Failure to return the SRF could delay scoring of answer documents.
One roster (Page A-1) for each test room must be created prior to the initial test date. The name of each examinee scheduled to test must be written on the roster.
If a list of only examinees who were present on test day is submitted, the roster will not be accurate and cannot be used to determine which examinees must be scheduled for makeup testing.
A school may create rosters provided they have the same information recorded on them as shown on the one provided on page A-1. 26

27. Test Day Activities (Pages 24-28)
Be sure every Room Supervisor has a complete copy of the Administration Manual or the Special Testing Manual, not just the Verbal Instructions, in order to verify procedures for any situation that may occur.
Administration of the tests must be the first activity of the morning. Allow enough time for examinees to be identified, admitted, and seated so that all Room Supervisors can begin reading the Verbal Instructions. Verbal Instructions in every room must begin by 9:00 a.m.
In order to avoid cancellation of test scores, note the following:
Test 1 must begin before 9:00 a.m. Timing Verification Forms with a Test 1 start time after 9:00 a.m. will be investigated and scores may be cancelled.
Breaks must not be extended for any reason.
Tests must be administered in order.
Lunch breaks CANNOT be taken during the test session.
All parts must be completed in one sitting. 27

28. Briefing Session (Page 25)
Test Coordinators MUST hold a briefing session each test-day morning. Be sure to discuss any school-specific information (e.g., policies on the wearing of hats, how to handle breaks, what to do if examinees bring cell phones). Remind staff of the digital device policy.
For the ACT Plus Writing, remind staff that Writing Test booklets are not to be distributed until just before the Writing Test begins and after multiple choice test booklets have been taken up. 28

29. Testing Staff (Page 25)
The Test Coordinator must return a complete Testing Staff List for each test date (initial and makeup). A blank form is included on page A-7.
A separate form for staff assisting with administrations to examinees testing with accommodations is in the Special Testing Manual and must be completed and returned separately by the Test Accommodations Coordinator.
All personnel involved in testing, including anyone assisting with handling or transportation of secure materials, or assisting with security, must be listed. If tests are administered on DVDs, technical staff must also be included. 29

30. Admitting Examinees to Test Room (Page 25)
Room Supervisors must control who enters and leaves the test room at all times. Do not allow examinees to enter the test room until the room is properly prepared, the test materials are in a secure location where examinees cannot access them, and the Room Supervisor is ready to admit examinees.
Admit examinees by checking them in, one-by-one, at the door of the test room.
Do not allow an examinee to enter the room unless the Room Supervisor has verified the examinee’s identification and marked the roster.
If an examinee cannot present acceptable ID at the door or cannot be verified by a member of the testing staff, do NOT admit him or her to the room.
Admitted examinees must stay in the test room. If it is necessary for an examinee to leave, recheck ID when the examinee is readmitted.
Do NOT admit examinees with ANY electronic devices (other than permitted calculators) to the test room.
Never allow examinees to choose their own seats. 30

31. Identification (Pages 26-27)
Verifying Examinee
Identification (Pages 26-27)
All examinees are required to present an acceptable form of photo identification or be personally recognized (face-to-face) by a school faculty member before being admitted to the test room.
If an examinee without acceptable photo ID is permitted to begin testing, the examinee must be dismissed and the answer document will not be scored—even if acceptable ID is presented later.
The Room Supervisor must mark the roster to indicate the type of ID accepted for each examinee
Identification issued or verified by a relative is NOT allowed.
Testing must not be delayed while waiting for an examinee to bring identification or allow testing of late examinees. 31

32. Prohibited Items in the Test Room (Pages 28)
Examinees must not bring cell phones, smart watches, or other electronic devices into testing room, including during the break.
Calculators may be used during the Mathematics Test but they must be turned off and put away when the examinee is not working on that test.
Textbooks, foreign language or other dictionaries, scratch paper, reading material, notes, or any unapproved testing aids are not allowed in the testing room.
Highlighters, colored pens or pencils, and mechanical pencils are not allowed.
Examinees must not bring backpacks or bags of any kind into testing room.
Neither examinees nor staff may have access to food or beverages, including water, except during the scheduled break. 32

33. Administering the Tests (Pages 29-33)
Verbal instructions may begin as soon as all examinees have been identified and seated, no later than 9:00 a.m. in all rooms.
If any room starts later than 9:00 a.m., document the time and reason on the Irregularity Report. Starting after 9:00 a.m. in any room may result in the cancellation of scores for that room.
Absolutely no one may be admitted to the test room after test booklets have been distributed. If this policy is violated, the answer documents for the examinees admitted late will not be scored.
Review the Verbal Instructions carefully before test day to make sure you read the correct ones. 33

34. Timing of Tests (Pages 30-31)
Extreme care must be taken to ensure exact time is allowed for each test.
The full time for each test must be given, even if one or all examinees in the room finish a test before the allowed time elapses. Mistiming may result in the cancellation of scores.
The actual Start time (e.g., 8:42) must be recorded in the box on the appropriate Verbal Instructions page. Calculate the Stop time, then the verbal announcement of 5 minutes remaining (subtract 5 minutes from the Stop time) and enter those times in the appropriate boxes in the manual. A chart has been provided for calculating times.
Room Supervisor must enter the actual times of day he or she announces START, 5 minutes remaining, and STOP on the form provided on page A-5 of the manual. (Room Supervisor must not merely copy this information from the timing boxes used to calculate Start, 5 minutes remaining, and Stop.
A verbal announcement of time remaining MUST be made five minutes before the end of each test.
Posting Start and Stop times or time allowed for each test on board is optional. 34

35. Calculators (Page 31)
ACT permits examinees to use a calculator on the Mathematics Test (Test 2) but not on any of the other tests.
Use of a calculator is optional. All problems on the Mathematics Test can be solved without a calculator.
ACT provides an updated list of prohibited devices (Calculator Notice) to Test Coordinators each test date. Each Room Supervisor must have a copy of the current list to refer to during Test 2. See page 20 of this handbook. It is the responsibility of the Room Supervisor and Proctor to personally check each calculator.
If an examinee brings a backup calculator to the testing room, he or she can have only one on the desk at a time.
Examinees may never share calculators. 35

36. Checking for Prohibited Behaviors by Examinees (Pages 31-32)
Review guidelines for checking for prohibited behaviors carefully.
Throughout testing, walk quietly around the room to discourage and detect prohibited behavior. Staff attentiveness is a very effective deterrent.
Document all prohibited behavior and any actions you take on the Irregularity Report.
If you dismiss an examinee for prohibited behavior, follow the Dismissal for Prohibited Behavior procedures on page 38 exactly.
Examinees may look at and work only on the current test. 36

37. Break After Test 2 (Pages 32-33)
ACT requires that you allow a break of 15 minutes at the end of Test 2.
The break may NOT include lunch. If it does, scores for all examinees may be cancelled.
Do not delay or lengthen the break in your room to wait for other rooms. You MUST resume testing no later than 15 minutes after STOP is called on Test 2.
If the break is longer than 15 minutes, explain why on the Irregularity Report.
Breaks longer than 15 minutes will be questioned and may result in cancelled scores.
Do not leave the test room unattended. 37

38. Break Before the Writing Test (Pages 33)
Once the multiple-choice test booklets have been collected and verified after Test 4, allow examinees a 5-minute break to relax and sharpen their pencils before the Writing Test.
Do NOT leave the test room unattended.
Resume testing after five minutes.
Do NOT distribute the Writing Test booklets during the break. 38

39. Examinees Who Leave During a Test and Return (Page 33)
Examinees may go to the restroom during testing, but it is best not to announce it.
Examinees who leave the test room during a timed test or return after timing has begun may NOT make up lost time. The absence need not be recorded on the Irregularity Report.
If two or more examinees are permitted to leave at the same time, or if other rooms have been dismissed, the examinees must be accompanied by a Proctor.
If no Proctor is available, only one examinee may leave the room at a time.
Do not leave a test room unsupervised at any time.
Additional trained staff should be stationed in the hall during testing. 39

40. Guessing and Test Item Challenges (Page 33)
If examinees ask about guessing, refer them to the instructions printed on the front cover of the test booklet.
Do not comment on or add in any way to the printed directions.
Complete an Irregularity Report if an examinee challenges typographical errors in the booklet or ambiguities in particular test items. Tell the examinee to answer the item as written and report the details of the challenge to you after the test is over. 40

41. Group Irregularities (Pages 34-35)
If a group irregularity occurs, follow the directed instructions and call ACT. Complete an Irregularity Report and describe in detail any irregularity, especially those that could affect test scores. Include the names of examinees who were dismissed from or who left the test site without completing all their tests. Attach any affected answer documents, and return to ACT in the Red envelope.
If no irregularities occur in any rooms at your test site, do not return a report.
In the event of an emergency evacuation, your first concern must be for the safety of your examinees and your testing staff. Note the testing time that has elapsed and—if time permits—have examinees close their test booklets and place their answer documents inside them. Collect the test booklets only if time permits. Instruct examinees and staff to leave the building. If it is safe to do so, lock the test room. When safe, ACT should be called.
If bad weather causes school to close or termination of testing, call ACT for instructions as soon as possible.
A missing or stolen test booklet is one of the most serious irregularities that can occur at a test site. If—at any time—you cannot account for a test booklet or an answer document with examinee identifying information, you must immediately call ACT State Testing and then notify ALSDE.
Failure to report any irregularity is a test security violation 41

42. Individual Irregularities (Pages 35-39)
An individual irregularity is one that affects a single person or several individuals involved in a single circumstance (e.g., communicating answers to each other).
Follow directions in manual for reporting each type of irregularity.
Defective Test Materials (page 35)
Duplicating Test Materials (pages 35-36)
Failure to Follow Directions (page 36)
Examinees Who Become Ill (page 37)
Prohibited Behavior at the Test Center (pages 37-38)
Dismissal for Prohibited Behavior (pages 38-39)
Do NOT schedule examinees dismissed for prohibited behavior for makeup testing.
Follow directions for voiding answer documents on page 39 of Administration Manual.
If an answer document must be voided, contact ALSDE.
See warning on page 39 of Administration Manual for examinees who refuse to turn in test materials.
Failure to report any irregularity is a test security violation. 42

43. Verbal Instructions for Standard Time Testing (Pages 40-57)
Before reading the Verbal Instructions, make sure you have all the forms needed.
State Testing Roster (A-1)
Test Booklet Count Form (A-3)
Seating Diagram (A-4)
Testing Time Verification Form (A-5)
Irregularity Report (A-6)
Non-test portions of the answer document may NOT be completed on test day—not before and not after the tests. If examinees are allowed to complete any of the non-test portions on the initial or makeup test date, or allowed to handle answer documents after testing, the answer documents will NOT be scored.
Verbal instructions must be read loudly, clearly, and exactly as written. You may NOT depart from the text.
Practice reading instructions prior to the day of testing.
Room Supervisors and/or Proctors must walk around the room to ensure that each examinee has signed the test booklet, entered correct test booklet number and test form on the answer document, and filled in corresponding ovals. 43

44. After the Test (Page 58)
Immediately after testing is completed on each test date (initial and makeup), the Test Coordinator must account for all test materials.
Standard materials must be kept separate from any accommodations materials being returned by the Test Accommodations Coordinator. 44

45. Makeup Testing (Pages 59-60)
If an examinee did not complete testing on the initial test date, you must decide whether to schedule the examinee for makeup testing.
Examinees scheduled for makeup testing must take all tests on the makeup test date.
ACT will send materials for makeup testing. You must use the test booklets shipped to you for makeup testing.
Shortly before the initial test date, the Test Coordinator will receive an with instructions for ordering makeup materials. If you do not receive this by the initial test date, contact ACT State Testing at , ext. 2800, for assistance. 45

46. Collecting, Packing, and Returning Materials (Pages 61-65)
This section contains information about collecting, packing, and returning test materials.
Use the step-by-step instructions to pack your materials and return them to ACT in the original boxes. 46

47. Manuals and Supplements Paper Testing
The ACT Administration Manual (Standard Time Paper Testing) - PDF
The ACT Administration Manual – Special (ACT-Approved Accommodations Paper Testing) - PDF
Answer Document Supplement (the ACT)
Taking the ACT
ACT Audio DVD Guidelines
Manual Supplement for District Shipping
Using Your ACT Results
Reporting Deliverables Overview 47

48. STC Workshop
ACT Plus Writing
Online Format
April 2015

49. Additional Information
Practice Tests e-blast to Test Coordinators and their respective STCs on 3/25
Practice Tests:
Preparing for the ACT Taken Online:
Examinee Tutorial for TestNav (video)
Using Your ACT Results
ALSDE: walk the participants through the Preparing for the ACT Taken Online document. The participants will have printed copies. It will be especially important to make sure the participants understand how to access the Practice Tests for The ACT in an Online Format; instructions for accessing the Practice Tests are included in the Preparing for the ACT Taken Online document. 49

50. Online Testing Overview (Pages 3-5)
PearsonAccessnextTM is the web application used by testing staff (i.e., test coordinators, room supervisors) to start and monitor tests. It is located at
Technical coordinators are not required to access PearsonAccessnext unless their site is using proctor caching.
TestNav TM is the secure web application used by examinees to take the tests. It is located at 50

51. Online Testing Overview (Pages 3-5)
The ACT must be given using a “locked down” testing application, TestNav.
Disabling the lock-down is strictly prohibited. Computers used for testing must also be configured to prevent examinees from accessing any application, content, or other service beyond TestNav during testing. 51

52. Online Testing Overview (Pages 3-5)
To help ensure test security, all software applications, including Internet browsers, cameras (still and video), screen capture programs (live and recorded, such as Skype), , instant messaging, application switching, media players (such as iTunes), and printing must be closed before testing begins. 52

53. Online Testing Overview (Pages 3-5)
To ensure the confidentiality of examinees, their results, and exam content:
Keep your staff login details confidential. Don’t share them.
Keep all student authorization tickets secure until test day when ready to provide them to examinees. 53

54. Online Testing Overview (Pages 3-5)
Seal codes are a combination of letters and numbers examinees must enter at the beginning of each test to begin that particular section.
Seal codes are unique to each test session and ensure standardized progress through the tests by all examinees in the room.
The Room Supervisor provides each seal code as part of reading the Verbal Instructions. Each must be announced verbally and cannot be written on the board. 54

55. Computer-Based Test Administrations for ACT Plus Writing Online Version (Not in Manual)
Each online testing room must have a separate computer workstation the Room Supervisor will use to access the platform, begin and close the test session, and monitor testing progress.
The workstation must pass the System Check and be located in an area where the Room Supervisor can see all examinees in the room. 55

56. Computer-Based Test Administrations for ACT Plus Writing Online Version (Not in Manual)
Whether a desktop or a laptop is used as the workstation, the computer must remain stationary on a table or a desk throughout the test session.
The Room Supervisor may not exit the program and enter any other site on the computer during the test session.
No iPads, cell phones, tablets, or other electronic devices may be used in the test room. These devices may not be used as timers. 56

57. Seating Arrangements (Page 7)
Workstations must provide enough space for examinees to work comfortably and use scratch paper and calculators. 57

58. Testing Staff Requirements (Pages 8-12)
A Proctor is required for one to twenty-five examinees assigned to a room. 58

59. Receiving Materials from ACT (Pages 15-16)
The Pretest Instructions for Online Testing contains instructions for the examinees to complete their pretest information online. Each examinee will have a personal set of instructions with a unique claim code.
Examinees are instructed to use the blank space on their student authorization ticket as scratch paper. ACT will supply blue scratch paper for you to distribute to examinees as requested. 59

60. Completing Pretest Information for Online Testing (Page 18)
The Pretest must completed before test day.
If an examinee has not completed any of the pretest portions before the initial test date, that examinee is NOT permitted to test. Instead, the student must be scheduled for makeup testing. The BTC must arrange for the student to complete the pretest portions before the makeup test date. If the student does not complete the pretest portion before the makeup test date, the student cannot test on the makeup date 60

61. Test Accommodations for Online Testing (Page 19)
For an examinee testing online, you may provide locally approved test accommodations without review and approval by ACT if ALL of the following conditions are met:
The examinee must test with standard time.
The examinee must not receive additional breaks.
The examinee must use the same workstation configuration as other examinees.
The accommodations must be consistent with the examinee’s plan on file at the school. 61

62. Test Accommodations for Online Testing (Page 19)
Examples of locally approved test accommodations that can be made without ACT approval are:
Preferential seating (e.g., at the front of the room, at a table instead of a desk).
Testing in a quiet environment (e.g., small group or individual room).
Wheelchair access.
Diabetics may eat snacks in the test room, but should test separately to avoid disturbing other examinees.
A written copy of the Verbal Instructions or a sign language interpreter to interpret the Verbal Instructions.
If you provide locally approved test accommodations, please complete an Irregularity Report. 62

63. Test Sessions (Pages 27-33)
In PearsonAccessnext and TestNav, a test session is an event that occurs in a single room on a single day. For example, the administration of the administration of “The ACT” in computer lab #1 on Tuesday morning is considered a test session. Different test sessions may occur simultaneously in different rooms.
Two tests will appear in the system: “The ACT,” which consists of all four multiple-choice sections—English, reading, mathematics, and science; and “The ACT Writing,” which consists of only the writing test. 63

64. Student Authorization Tickets (Pages 34-35)
The student authorization ticket is a printout that contains the URL the examinee will use to access the online test, as well as his or her individually assigned username and password. All online testing examinees will have an authorization ticket for the multiple-choice tests. A separate authorization ticket is needed for the writing test.
The test coordinator prints the student authorization tickets prior to test day. They must be handled as secure and kept in a secure location until test day. 64

65. Setting up Computers (Page 37)
Room Supervisors will set up computers before admitting examinees to the room.
On the administrative workstation, open PearsonAccessnext at
On each testing workstation, open TestNav at 65

66. 66