Test Day
On test day, students need to have several items with them. There are three items that students can't do without: the test center admission ticket, without which the student can't take the test; a current form of acceptable identification (a driver's license or current passport is sufficient), without which the student will not be admitted; and a couple of soft-lead no. 2 pencils with erasers (no pens or mechanical pencils are allowed). The test proctor may have pencils available, but students should not count on this and ensure they have some ready. Taking a watch in order to accurately time oneself and a permitted calculator for the mathematics exam is also suggested. It is recommended that the student pack these materials the night before the test and have them ready to go the next day.
There are also specific things that students should not bring with them on test day. The following list, while not all-inclusive, covers the majority of items specifically forbidden for students to have with them during the ACT exams:
- Food or drink (including water)
- Books, including dictionaries
- Notes
- Scratch paper or other aids
- Highlighters
- Colored pens or pencils
- Correction fluid
- Any electronic device other than permitted calculators (examples include timer, cell phone, media player, PDA, headphones, camera)
- Reading material
- Tobacco in any form
Students should leave any items not specifically cited on the allowed materials list at home or in their vehicles during the testing period.
What Are The Rules Concerning Calculators On The ACT
Calculators are only allowed to be used on the mathematics test; however, a calculator is not necessary to take the exam. Any student who attempts to use a calculator on the science exam will be dismissed and the worksheet will not be scored. It is the student's responsibility to make sure they bring sufficient batteries and that the calculator works properly. Test center personnel do not have backup calculators or batteries.
Only certain types of calculators may be used during the test. Most four-function, scientific or graphing calculators are permitted, but some features may have to be disabled before the calculator can be used. Devices that include calculators among their functions-cell phones, laptops, PDAs-are forbidden, as are calculators with built-in algebra capabilities or QWERTY keyboard buttons. Also, certain specific models of calculators are forbidden, including the following: all Texas Instruments model numbers that begin with TI-89 and TI-92, as well as the TI-Nspire CAS (the non-CAS TI-Nspire is allowed); the Hewlett-Packard hp 48GII model and all model numbers that begin with hp 40G, hp 49G, or hp 50G; the Casio Algebra fx 2.0, ClassPad 300, and all model numbers that begin with CFX-9970G; and all electronic writing pads or pen-input devices, except for the Sharp EL 9600.
As mentioned previously, certain calculators can be used after extra features are disabled. Calculators that use paper tape, for example, may be used after the tape roll is removed. If the student has a model that makes sounds, disabling the sound feature makes the calculator acceptable for use during the test. For calculators that can communicate wirelessly, infrared ports must be covered with opaque material (such as electrician's tape or duct tape) of sufficient thickness to block infrared signals; the Hewlett-Packard hp-38G and hp-48G series are examples of this device type. Also, calculators with power cords must have the cords removed before they can be used during the exam.
Last Updated: 02/23/2013