The Act’s New Normal: The Cbt (Computer-Based Test)
Elton Lin
With the goal of always improving the test-taking experience – and making students’ scores more reflective of how they’ll really perform in college, rather than how they were feeling on one particular day -- ACT (the nonprofit that administers the test) offers several options for students to improve their test-taking experience and scoring.
The ACT will soon provide superscoring in addition to (not instead of) composite scores. Superscoring means that, if you’ve taken the test several times, your final score is the average of your best scores on each individual section. For example, let’s say in one test you get a 36 in math and only a 30 in reading. The second time you take the test you do stellar with reading and score 36, but you’re having a bad math day and only get 30. With superscoring, your best math score is combined with your best reading score, giving you a final ACT score of 36. Students can also retake just a single section of the test (such as math) to improve their score in that one section.
However, the biggest change, and the one that we want to highlight, is the gradual rolling-out of the computer-based test, or CBT.
Well before COVID hit, ACT was developing a version of the test that could be administered digitally and it’s now available in certain locations. The paper test and the CBT have the same sections and the same questions. Despite the use of a computer, students must still register to take the computer-based test at a testing facility; you cannot take an official test at home.
Comparing and contrasting the two test methods
Is the CBT even available for me?
Despite many things becoming much more digitized (and much more quickly so) during the pandemic, the ACT is only releasing the CBT in some areas and has put the mass release on hold. Most students will continue to take the ACT on paper, but there are several important caveats:
International students must take the CBT
In late 2018, ACT stopped sending the paper version of the test overseas (or even to Canada). This means that if you attend high school outside the U.S., the CBT is the only way for you to take the ACT, and you have to take it at an official test center. In short, if you’re an international student applying for a U.S. college, you still go to a center to take the test, but must take the CBT!
Students must take the CBT at specific schools or test centers
The only way that you can take the CBT in the U.S. is at schools or test centers that offer that option (which are only in certain school districts that have arrangements with ACT). Furthermore, these offer the CBT on a different schedule from when the national ACT test centers offer the paper test.
Can I choose which test I want to take?
No, you cannot. In some states, your only option is the paper-based test. Internationally, your only option is the CBT.
It’s important to recognize that there are separate sets of test dates for the paper test and the CBT!
The “regular” ACT paper test is offered on national test dates, which are published on the ACT website. The CBT is offered on something called “in-school” test dates, which are different from the national test dates, and may be unique to your particular school district.
If you are prepping to take the ACT, there are several things you should do:
Look up whether your school district offers the paper test or the CBT.
Find out what the testing dates are in your school district. It’s generally offered seven times a year, but if your district offers the CBT on its own days, this may be different.
Pick a date - you will need to register about a month before the test date.
Be sure to give yourself enough time to retake it if necessary. A month is not enough time to study and prepare to retake the test, so don’t schedule your first test in June if the last available date is July!
Study for the test that’s offered in your district. The paper test and CBT can feel very different, and preparing for the right format will help you to feel confident and prepared on test day.
If you do all of these things, you’ll have a much smoother test-taking experience when the big day comes. And if it all seems like too much, never fear! We can help you find out which test to prepare for, and how to prepare well. Feel free to request a free consultation so you know what are the best next steps for you!
Disclaimer
Much is changing rapidly, and many schools haven’t even finalized their own policies on the ACT CBT (computer-based test). Furthermore, many schools aren’t even offering the ACT this year because of the pandemic. To know your own local situation, please contact your school directly.