ACT Goes Online: Quick Pointers

ACT Goes Online Quick Pointers

From September 2018, ACT will be shifting to computer-based testing(CBT) for international test-takers. Hence, International students who enrol for the ACT in July 2018 will be signing up for a ‘digital’ ACT, without the option to take a paper-based test.

Q.Why did they do this?

  •  Faster Evaluation Process: Computer-based testing will enable faster scoring of the multiple-choice section of the test, enabling the students to receive their scores within 48 hours. However, the time taken for grading the essay will remain the same.
  • Security: ACT officials cited difficulties in having to send paper copies of each test to the various testing locations around the globe and ensuring that they were not tampered with prior to the administration of the exam. The online ACT will ensure that the risk of malpractices like question-paper leaks, cheating, and discrepancy with respect to the scores would be reduced to a great extent.

ACT Changes
The news of ACT going online has definitely created an environment of anxiety among international students. However, they should understand that the major changes have occurred only with respect to the test-taking strategies and nothing else.

Q. What is NOT changing on the NEW ACT?

1. ACT Content

  • The test will consist of the same four sections- English, Math, Reading, and Science-together with the optional essay.
  • The order and the format of the sections shall remain the same.
  • The syllabus and the difficulty level of the test also remain intact

2. Sectional Timings

•The four multiple-choice sections of the exam will still take approximately 3 hours, and students will have 40 minutes to complete the optional essay.

3. Scoring
•The test shall still be graded out of a composite score of 36.
•There will be no change in the information that universities receive from official score reports

Q. What is ACTUALLY changing on the NEW ACT?

To put it in simpler words, the only difference is that the questions and answers sheet will be on a computer screen and not on paper.

  • Although the September 2018 ACT attempt was planned to be a computer adaptive test(CAT): where the level of questioning is adjusted according to how the test taker performs on prior questions-It will simply be a computer-based version of a static, non-adaptive test.
  • The ACT will be conducted six times a year as opposed to five. Here are the months when the ACT will have its test-taking window open for international students: September, October, December, February, April, and June.
  • ACT test centres can offer the tests in any of the following four sessions: Friday morning or afternoon and Saturday morning or afternoon. However, it is unclear whether or not the students will be able to select their preferred session.
  • Students will be getting scratch paper and pencils to make notes and for rough work.
  • Breaks: The students will be given two breaks during the entire test. A 15-minute break after the Math section and a 5-minute break after the Science section.
  • For students who are taking the ACT along with the essay, it is time to put your fast typing skill to good use. This is because the essay in the ACT type has to be typed in an editable text box.

Hope you got a rough idea about the New ACT. Do not panic and start preparing. Stay tuned to Tutela for more such ACT news and tips.
Experience the online ACT.  Take a full-length ACT Online test here