The ACT Test: Wisconsin
Select your current phase of the test administration process to see resources related to that phase.
Process Steps (Expand for Descriptions)
Step 1: Orientation - Learn about test formats and policies; select test dates and provide shipping information; select test staff and set up accounts.
Step 2: Configuration - Verify enrollment for test materials.
Step 3: Accommodation - Learn about accessibility supports; request accommodations and/or supports; request qualified exceptions to the deadline.
Step 4: Preparation -Order test materials; complete non-test activities; provide examinees test prep information; prepare your facility, staff, and materials; update examinee information.
Step 5: Administration - Administer the test.
Step 6: Transportation - Return test materials.
Step 7: Interpretation - Access and understand score reports; share reporting information with examinees.
Important Dates
Your Schedule of Events (coming soon) SOE Excel version (coming soon) contains all dates and deadlines for your test event. Check it frequently to ensure you're on track for a successful administration.
Test Dates
The ACT Taken on Paper
- Test Window 1: March 12, 2024
- Test Accommodations Window 1: March 12-15, 2024 and March 18-22, 2024
- Test Window 2: March 26, 2024
- Test Accommodations Window 2: March 26-29, 2024 and April 1-5, 2024
- Test Window 3: April 9, 2024
- Test Accommodations Window 3: April 9-12, 2024 and April 15-19, 2024
The ACT Taken Online
- Test Window 1: March 12-15, 2024 and March 18-22, 2024
- Test Window 2: March 26-29, 2024 and April 1-5, 2024
- Test Window 3: April 9-12, 2024 and April 15-19, 2024
Documents will be replaced as they become available for spring 2025 testing.
Helpful Links
Expand each tray to reveal the information you're looking for.
Quick Links
Office Hours
Accommodations Office Hours: Link
Contact Information
Wisconsin Questions:
319-337-1590
ACT General Questions:
800.553.6244, ext. 2800
contact form
State Policy Questions:
WI Dept of Public Instruction
Nikki Braconier
608.266.1075
email
Website
Step 1: Orientation
Before Testing: Get started with your testing program.
Learn about Test Formats and Policies
- What's New (web content)
- The ACT Taken Paper or Online (pdf)
- Testing Policies and Information (web content) (select the first result listed after applying search filters)
- Test Coordinator Checklist (pdf)
Select Test Dates and Verify Shipping Address (Manage Participation)
November 6 – December 8, 2023
- PearsonAccess next User Guide (web content) (select the Test Date and Materials Receipt Selection section)
- Address Change Request Form (webform)
Select Test Staff and Set Up Accounts
- Staff Requirements, Roles, and Responsibilities (web content) (select the first result listed after applying search filters)
- PearsonAccess next User Guide (web content) (select the Managing Contact and User Account Information section)
- Selecting your Testing Staff (training tutorial)
- Manage Contacts (training tutorial)
Tip: When the district test coordinator changes the school test coordinator in PearsonAccess next , remember to deactivate the existing test coordinator's user account. Updates need to be completed in two places: the manage contacts screen and creating a new user account.
Step 2: Configuration
Before Testing: Ensure systems are set up and data is submitted for testing.
Verify Enrollment Counts
January 29 – 31, 2024
- PearsonAccess next User Guide (web content) (select the Managing Test Materials, Accessing Reports, and Submit a Request to Enroll or Unenroll an Examinee sections)
- PearsonAccess next Operational Reports Layout (pdf)
Tip: To verify accommodations/supports counts, run an Accommodations and Supports Roster in PearsonAccess next .
- Enroll/Verify/Update Students in PearsonAccess next (training tutorial)
- Wisconsin Office Hours - Verify Enrollment slides (pdf)
Complete Site Readiness for Online Testing
December 11, 2023 – March 8, 2024
- Technical Coordinator Checklist (pdf)
- Technical Requirements for the ACT Test Taken Online (web content)
- The ACT Online Testing Site Readiness Plan (pdf)
- Mock Administration Guide (web content)
- Proctor Caching Instructions (pdf)
- Online Readiness Training (webinar) - January 10, 2024
- Online Readiness Training webinar slides (pdf)
ACT Online Technical Readiness Training Tutorials
- ACT Online Technical Readiness 1: Overview (video)
- ACT Online Technical Readiness 2: TestNav (video)
- ACT Online Technical Readiness 3: Mock Administration (video)
- Technical Readiness Proctor Caching video (web content)
- Technical Readiness Precache Purging Test Content video (web content)
Step 3: Accommodation
Before Testing: Identify student needs for accommodations and/or supports.
Learn about Accessibility Supports
- Quick Start Guide for Requesting Accommodations and/or English Learner Supports (pdf)
- Setting Up for Success - Online Reporting and TAA (pdf)
- ACT Training Information Graphic-English Learner (EL) Supports (pdf)
- Accessibility Supports Guide for the ACT (web content)
- On Demand Accommodations Training Webinar (webinar) (coming soon)
- ACT Accommodations Training slides (pdf) (coming soon)
- ACT Wisconsin Office Hours - Accommodations slides (pdf) (coming soon)
Request Accommodations and/or English Learner (EL) Supports
September 11, 2023 – January 19, 2024
- Consent to Release Information (pdf)
- Test Accessibility and Accommodations (TAA) User Guide (pdf)
- Test Accessibility and Accommodations (TAA) System Supports (web content)
- November 2022 TAA System Changes (web content)
- Requesting Accommodations and English Learner Supports Using TAA (video)
- How to Create an Account to Request Accommodation through TAA (training tutorial)
Request Qualified Exceptions to the Deadline
January 23 – March 8, 2024
- Requesting Reconsideration (TAA User Guide) (pdf)
- Qualified Exceptions to the Deadline (pdf)
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.
Tip: If selecting the qualified exceptions date in TAA, make sure to attach the Qualified Exceptions to the Deadline Form in the request.
Step 4: Preparation
Before Testing: Prepare students, staff, facilities, and materials for testing.
Order Test Materials
Test Window 1: February 5 – March 1, 2024
Test Window 2: March 12 – 15, 2024
Test Window 3: March 26 – 29, 2024
- PearsonAccess next User Guide (web content) (select the Managing Test Materials section)
Tip: If additional materials are needed for examinees authorized by ACT to test with accommodations/supports, call the ACT Accommodations team. Use the Accommodations and Supports Roster, which can be accessed in PearsonAccessnext by Test Coordinators and Room Supervisors, to provide information to ensure the right students receive additional materials.
Tip: You can track test materials shipments using Orders and Shipment Tracking. See the View Status and Shipment Information section in the PearsonAccess next User Guide.
Complete Non-Test Activities
Students have an additional two days after they finish testing to complete their non-test information in MyACT.
- Taking the ACT (pdf)
- Taking the ACT - Spanish (pdf)
- Non-Test Activities (web content) (select the first result listed after applying search filters)
- Non-Test Instructions for Student (Blank Form) (pdf)
- Non-Test Instructions for Student (Blank Form with Mail Merge) (docx)
- MyACT User Guide for Test Coordinators (pdf)
- MyACT User Guide for Students (pdf)
- MyACT Account Setup - State & District Testing (video)
- MyACT Interest and Careers Inventories (pdf)
- MyACT Benefits and Tips for School and Student (pdf)
Tip: To provide visibility into the non-test information process, schools will have access to a new daily Student Code Usage Status report after receiving their first shipment of materials. This report is posted in the Published Reports section in PearsonAccess next . Refer to the Accessing Reports section of PearsonAccess next User Guide for instructions. This report contains “Yes” or “No” to indicate students who have not used their Student Code or not completed college choices.
Provide Examinees Test Prep Information
Prepare Your Facility, Staff, and Test Materials
- Test Facilities (web content) (select the first result listed after applying search filters)
- Test Staff (web content) (select the first result listed after applying search filters)
- Test Materials (web content) (select the first result listed after applying search filters)
- Test Administration (web content) (select the first result listed after applying search filters)
- Test Administration Training #1 (webinar) (coming soon)
- Test Administration Training #1 slides (pdf) (coming soon)
Update Examinee Information
February 5 - March 1, 2024
January 26 - March 15, 2024
January 26 - March 29, 2024
- PearsonAccess next User Guide (web content) (select the Manage Examinee Information section)
Create Online Test Sessions
Test Window 1: February 5 – March 22, 2024
Test Window 2: March 20 – April 4, 2024
Test Window 3: April 3 – 18, 2024
- Technical Guide (web content)
- ACT Administration Online Manual (web content)
- Preparing Students for the ACT Test Taken Online (pdf)
- Preparing for Online Testing - Quick Start Guide (pdf)
- Switching from Paper to Online Testing (pdf)
Step 5: Administration
During Testing: Have a successful test administration.
Administer the Test
Paper Testing Dates:
Test Window 1 Standard Time Administration Date: March 12, 2024
Test Window 1 Accommodations Administration Window: March 12 – 15, 2024 and March 18 – 22, 2024
Test Window 2 Standard Time Administration Date: March 26, 2024
Test Window 2 Accommodations Administration Window: March 26 – 29, 2024 and April 1 – 5, 2024
Test Window 3 Standard Time Administration Date: April 9, 2024
Test Window 3 Accommodations Administration Window: April 9 – 12, 2024 and April 15 – 19, 2024
Online Testing Dates:
Test Window 1 Standard Time and Accommodations Administration Window: March 12 – 15, 2024 and March 18 – 22, 2024
Test Window 2 Standard Time and Accommodations Administration Window: March 26 – 29, 2024 and April 1 – 5, 2024
Test Window 3 Standard Time and Accommodations Administration Window: April 9 – 12, 2024 and April 15 – 19, 2024
- Test Administration Form - ACT Standard Time Paper (pdf)
- Test Administration Form - ACT Accommodations Paper (pdf)
- Test Administration Form - ACT Online Standard Time (online testing) (pdf)
- Test Administration Form - ACT Online Accommodations (online testing) (pdf)
Administration Manuals
- ACT Administration Manual - Standard Paper (pdf)
- ACT Administration Manual - Accommodations Paper (pdf)
- ACT Administration Manual - Online Testing (pdf)
- ACT Test Coordinator Information Manual (pdf)
Supplements
- ACT Test Translated Directions for English Learners-Online Testing (pdf)
- ACT Test Translated Directions for English Learners (pdf)
- ACT-Authorized Bilingual Word-to-Word Dictionaries list (pdf)
- Prohibited Device Poster (pdf)
- Administration Supplement - Entering Not Tested Codes (pdf)
- Calculator Policy (pdf)
- Emergency Inclement Weather (pdf)
- Reporting for Multi-District Charter Schools (pdf)
- Room Supervisor Checklist-Online (pdf)
- Room Supervisor Checklist-Paper (pdf)
- Pre-Recorded Audio Guidelines (pdf)
- Video American Sign Language Usage Guidelines (pdf)
- Test Day Overview for Room Supervisors (paper) (video)
- Test Day Overview for Online Room Supervisors (video)
- How to Enter Online Irregularities (training tutorial)
- Manage Online Test Session (training tutorial)
- ACT Wisconsin Office Hours - Testing Virtual Students (pdf)
Tip: Ensure you are using the correct materials for your test date and type to avoid cancellation of scores.
Tip: ACT test translated directions for students testing on paper are shipped with secure test materials.
Tip: If you are testing an examinee authorized for English learner supports, have the ACT-Authorized Bilingual Word-to-Word Dictionaries list handy to verify at check in that the examinee’s dictionary can be used for testing.