WASHINGTON (AP) – NOTE WIRE EMBARGO
ACT test takers take note: the No. 2 pencil is losing its cachet. Greater numbers of test takers of the college entrance exam will be able to take the test on a computer next year.
The ACT was to announce Friday that computer-based testing of the ACT would be available next year in the 18 states and additional districts that require students – typically juniors – to take the ACT during the school day. About 1 million students could be affected.
But don’t throw away those pencils yet.
Participating schools provide the computers for testing, and ACT officials say it’s too early to predict how many schools will be ready next year to offer the online testing. Even where computer-based testing is available, ACT officials said the traditional paper test will still be an option.