ACT Section Retesting Postponed

Back in October, we reported that ACT test-takers would have the option to retake certain sections of the ACT as opposed to the entire ACT. If, for instance, a student scored perfectly on all sections except the Science section, the student could retake only the Science portion of the exam. But you know what they say about the best-laid plans! Because when ACT announced the section retesting option, the organization wasn’t exactly anticipating a worldwide pandemic that would wreak havoc on their ability to offer much of any testing at all — must less section retesting. And then comes this week’s news: ACT section retesting will be postponed.

ACT Prioritized Students Who Need to Take Full ACT

As ACT reports on their website, ” ACT test registration for fall 2020 and spring 2021 test dates will open at the end of July. Our priority is to expand access to full ACT testing, particularly for students in need of a composite score for admissions decisions, scholarship opportunities, placement, and career insights. In order to do this, we have made the difficult decision to postpone the rollout of section retesting, the option to take one section of the ACT test at a time. ‘Postponing the availability of section retesting for upcoming national ACT test dates will enable us to increase testing capacity for those who need to take the full ACT test,’ said ACT CEO Janet Godwin. ‘Our priority is to provide seats for those students most impacted by COVID-19-related capacity limitations who still need a composite score. This decision will also ease the burden on higher education professionals who are navigating their own unique challenges in response to the pandemic.'”

ACT Administered June Testing in Many States

On June 13th, ACT administered their exam in 45 states across our nation. It was, as ACT describes it, a most unordinary testing experience in light of social distancing rules and CDC guidelines in place. But ACT did their best. In fact, they write that the organization is essentially learning how to adapt to the times so they can continue to offer testing opportunities to students during these unsettling times of a worldwide pandemic. We, of course, appreciate their candor. It seems that time will tell if ACT will be able to offer testing as planned in the months to come…or if more cancelations are in store for the current crop of high school students.