As the entire world seems to be exploring ways to conduct work, play, and school via videoconference, certain activities simply cannot be conducted virtually, at least for now. The national administration of the ACT certainly qualifies as a live mass event, which is exactly the kind of group activity experts advise against while we are working to flatten the COVID-19 curve. No wonder ACT has officially announced that the April 4 exam is cancelled:
The safety of students and test center staff is ACT’s top priority. ACT has rescheduled its April 4 national test date to June 13 across the U.S. in response to concerns about the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19). All students registered for the April 4 test date will receive an email from ACT in the next few days informing them of the postponement and instructions for free rescheduling to June 13 or a future national test date.
Note that ACT says that the exam is rescheduled to June 13, but that wording is misleading. June 13 was already the next available national ACT administration. Test takers registered for April will not automatically be rescheduled for June 13. Anyone registered for the April ACT should look out for an email with instructions for next steps. And don’t look to the SAT for an official test any earlier than June, as the May 2020 SAT has also been cancelled.
Visit the ACT website for the official announcement regarding the April 2020 ACT. New Yorkers and Californians should also keep in mind that your states do not currently offer the July ACT, though–considering how unprecedented everything has been lately–that could conceivably change this year.
One additional point worth considering is that life will go on. Current 11th graders planning to attend college after graduation should absolutely try to earn their target test scores by the end of this academic year. When life gives you lemons in the form of school closings and cancelled sports, clubs, and activities, make lemonade by using your new free time to work towards your very best test scores. We know how to make live online prep as meaningful and impactful as live in-person, so get in touch with us to talk about finding success in the era of social distancing!
Mike Bergin