Uncertainties Surround ACT

There are a lot of uncertainties surrounding the upcoming ACT test in the spring, including virtual students and space to socially distance.

All Wisconsin high school students are required to take the ACT on Mar. 9. The ACT is administered by the ACT corporation so the high school will have to follow rules set by them.

The ACT requires that all students test three feet away from each other; however, with new COVID-19 precautions there will be a six feet difference between each student. This will be a challenge to find space to test for each student because classrooms can only have a certain number of students when they are spaced out.

Counselor David Lynch said spacing of students will be something the school will need to accommodate.

“We need to figure out how to find space in the building to allow for six feet apart. So we will be doing more precautions than the ACT requires in that regard,” Lynch said.

Instructional coach and coordinator of ACT assessment, Stevy Schilewe discussed accommodations for virtual students.

“Virtual students will have to come to school the day of the ACT in order to take the test,” Schilewe said.

When Lynch was asked if the ACT has said anything about accommodating virtual students he said that they have not sent out anything official. There is also no information on their website about what they will be doing to have the ACT for virtual students.

“We are not sure yet of how we are going to handle virtual students because ACT needs to be taken in person.” said Lynch.

Junior Maddy Mudra discussed what she is nervous about for the upcoming ACT.

“The thing that I am most scared for is not having enough time to complete all of the questions,” Murda said. She has taken the PSAT hoping that that would be similar to the ACT and could help prepare her.

However, even though there are many added stressors to the ACT, colleges are becoming more lenient on scores.

The ACT’s website states, “We understand that some students will not have access to the same testing opportunities as others, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and that is why we encourage colleges to make decisions that best support their institutional goals and meet the needs of the students they serve.”

On their website they also made it clear that they recognize that COVID-19 has changed many aspects of learning and caused many problems for students.

“For current seniors many universities are not requiring ACT scores to be submitted for admission purposes,” Lynch said.