The change will impact only examinees who qualify for National Extended Time testing, the most commonly granted accommodation on the ACT. Such examinees will receive time-and-a-half on each of the four required multiple choice subject area tests (English, mathematics, reading and science). The time limits for National Extended Time testing will be as follows:
- English – 70 minutes (compared to 45 minutes standard)
- Mathematics – 90 minutes (compared to 60 minutes standard)
- Reading – 55 minutes (compared to 35 minutes standard)
- Science – 55 minutes (compared to 35 minutes standard)
Under the new policy, examinees will take a planned 15 minute break after the second test rather than taking individual breaks through the test.
Examinees taking the optional ACT writing test will continue to have 60 minutes to respond to the prompt (compared to 40 minutes in the standard administration), with a short break before.
ACT is making this change to improve fairness for all examinees, to make ACT’s administration procedures more consistent with industry standards and to address issues raised in feedback from examinees and test administrators. The change is the result of thorough and careful study and consideration.
“We have listened to the feedback we’ve received from students and test administrators, and we believe this change will provide an improved testing experience for both,” said ACT Chief Commercial Officer Suzana Delanghe. “The new rules will increase fairness for all examinees by better enabling some students to demonstrate their academic achievement without negatively impacting others.”
Self-pacing on the extended-time test is intended to provide flexibility to students with disabilities, but examinee feedback suggests that it can have the reverse effect, requiring an additional demand beyond what is required of those testing with standard time or other types of accommodations. Self-pacing may also negatively impact some students with disabilities who require structure and pacing to achieve maximum performance.
The changes will take effect in September 2018 and will not impact the upcoming June or July 2018 ACT national test dates.
For more information, an FAQ on the change has been posted on the ACT website.
