Three new national test dates added; Eight dates available for fall testing
IOWA CITY, Iowa—ACT has added three new national test dates to its fall 2020 national testing schedule to provide more opportunities for students to earn a full ACT test score for admissions decisions, scholarship opportunities, placement, and college and career insights. These additions will help meet the demand for testing caused by COVID-19-related cancellations and social distancing requirements that limited test centers’ capacities this spring and summer. A total of eight test dates will be available for students for fall 2020 national testing.
“Our commitment to providing students with safe opportunities to demonstrate what they know is a matter of mission for ACT,” said ACT CEO Janet Godwin. “An ACT score provides so much more than a tool for admissions. Scores also expose students to scholarships, and provide insights for course selection and career interest inspiration. Adding test dates reflects our commitment to addressing equity and access to testing, especially as so many have experienced disruption to living and learning during the pandemic.”
The updated fall 2020 ACT national test schedule:
September
- Saturday, September 12 (existing)
- Sunday, September 13 (non-Saturday, existing)
- Saturday, September 19 (new)
October
- Saturday, October 10 (new)
- Saturday, October 17 (new)
- Saturday, October 24 (existing)
- Sunday, October 25 (non-Saturday, existing)
- Saturday, December 12 (existing)
In addition to the new test dates, all students will be able to register for existing non- Saturday test dates in September and October, when registration opens at the end of July. Fall 2020 testing will include the same screening and social distancing requirements for students and test center staff that were successfully implemented for the June national test date, administered in 45 states. These precautions will also be implemented for the upcoming July 18 test date to provide safe access to testing.
“We recognize this decision, while helpful to students in need of scores, asks our test center administrators and their staff to give more of their already limited time over several weekends,” said Godwin. “We encourage them to do what is best for themselves and their communities in terms of commitments to opening up test centers in their areas.”
ACT will be contacting test centers about their ability to add test dates in the coming weeks, as it continues to work with test center staff to prepare for the July 18 test date. ACT will communicate which test centers are open for July testing and update students on their registration, beginning next week. Registrants who are not comfortable adhering to required social distancing guidelines or facing the potential impact of test center changes and cancellations, are encouraged to request a full refund at ACT.org. Students registering for fall 2020 tests will also be eligible for full refunds due to test center changes and cancellations prior to testing.
Beginning in September 2020, ACT will offer the option to report a superscore for students who have taken the ACT test more than once, and will offer four fee waivers to qualifying students (double the number previously offered). However, in light of capacity limitations due to COVID-19, and to provide more opportunities for first-time test-takers in need of full ACT test scores, ACT has postponed its planned rollout of section retesting and online testing until 2021. ACT will continue to work with schools and districts interested in offering in-school testing options during the school day.
“Our top priority is to provide safe access to testing for students who are first-time test- takers,” said Godwin. “While we know the delay in section retesting is disappointing to a number of students, we are also aware that the additional dates will be welcome news to many students looking for opportunities to continue along their college and career- going journey, and we wish them good health and success.”
Students can sign up to be the first to know when registration for the fall test dates opens.
