ACT Computer-Based Testing

As many of you may know, in September 2018, the ACT introduced computer-based testing. We thought it would be helpful to outline what to expect when taking the new computer-based testing format. If you have any questions regarding computer-based testing or about the ACT and SAT tests in general, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us. We’re always here to help! 

What Has Changed with Computer-Based Testing?

The format, content, length, and scoring of the ACT remains unchanged, and colleges and universities accept both the written form of the test as well as the computer form. It should be noted that not all US ACT testing centers currently offer computer-based testing. Please contact the ACT directly at 319-337-1270 to determine if you are eligible for computer-based testing. (Note: for ACT international testing, the computer-based test is now the only testing option).

Instead of filling in answers on a bubble sheet, students now select their choices on a computer screen. The Writing section has to be typed, rather than hand-written as before. The most apparent advantage of computer-based testing is that scores for non-writing portions of the test are now available within two business days of the test.   

Examinees should bear in mind that they can no longer write on the question sheet. ACT test centers provide each examinee with an erasable whiteboard and marker for use during the test. Examinees may use a 4-function, scientific or graphing calculator, but must take care to make sure their calculator is acceptable under the ACT Calculator Policy. 

What to Expect with Computer-Based Testing

The computer application used for the tests offers several helpful features. A navigation bar at the bottom of the screen shows what question you are currently on, and lets you flag questions in case you want to come back to them later, time permitting. There is a highlighter to highlight on-screen text, and a line reader opens a window showing one line from a block of text, separating it from the text around it. There is a magnifier that enlarges part of the screen image for easier reading. Answer masking allows you to hide answers you know are wrong, helping you to narrow down your choices. The answer eliminator is similar, but crosses out the answer, while still keeping it readable. The “Prev” (previous) and “Next” buttons allow you to jump back and forth through items on the test. This feature includes both the ability to move to the previous and the next questions in numerical order as well as allows for students to jump from any one question to another as long as it is within the same section of the exam (i.e. computer-based testing students can quickly move from question #1 on the math section to question #60 without having to hit the “Next” button 60 times). Finally, there is a test timer that shows the time remaining to complete each section of the test.  

We recommend that students download the fact sheet describing these features. ACT’s website also offers a helpful FAQ page, a test demonstration, and timed and untimed online practice tests. In order to take these practice tests, you will need the Google Chrome browser.

Preparing for the computer-based test is no different than preparing for the paper-based test. In fact, in many ways, we believe that the computer-based test is actually advantageous to test takers. To prepare for the computer-based test, we recommend that students still work through the content that is covered on the test in the same way that they would if the test was on paper. However, for computer-based testing students, we recommend that you work exclusively on the StarU tutoring app rather than out of our Star Tutors Perfect ACT Tutorial. The StarU app is free to download and free for all students to use!