ACT Pop-up Test Sites
No part of everyday life escapes disruption by a global pandemic. Even something as fundamental as education gives way when society responsibly shuts down to prevent the spread of a lethal virus. But while classes could–at least in theory–be conducted remotely, all the other trappings of American schooling fell away piece by piece starting this past spring. One rite of passage people didn’t expect to miss the way they mourned the loss of sports, clubs, and prom was testing, specifically college admissions testing. But once the April ACT and May SAT were cancelled, the obvious upheaval of the application process became very real. Spring was a crazy time for anyone in higher education. Colleges across the country faced existential threats they have not yet overcome. At the same time, students in the high school graduating class of 2021 confronted challenges of their own as target test dates fell away with no clear options ahead. College Board and ACT adopted two…
What is the Status of the June and July 2020 ACT?
The global onslaught of COVID-19 has triggered an infinitude of major and minor crises. A near-universal–at least for the moment–commitment to social distancing has done much to both flatten the curve and completely upend the world of education. Standardized testing feels like a small concern in the face of existential medical, economic, and social challenges. However, planning actively for the future when the present feels so static is just common sense. This is to say that many students across the United States would absolutely love (relative term, obviously) to sit for an official ACT as soon as possible. The unfortunate but completely reasonable cancellation of both the April ACT and May SAT has left many high school juniors and even some seniors feeling behind in their admissions timeline. The pain of missed test dates hits those who worked diligently to prepare particularly hard. We know the SAT will not be…
Why Are There No February ACT Test Centers in New York?
***NOTE: As of February 2019, New York hosts ACT test centers. We’re still waiting on July though…*** Just when you thought being a New Yorker represented the pinnacle of human achievement, you learn that the other 49 states enjoy privileges denied the Empire State. We’re not just talking about tax policy here. Of all the states in the Union, New York is the only one with no ACT test centers in February or July. Considering that the ACT is administered in New York every April, June, September, October, and December, you might not lament the loss of yet another test date. In practice, however, many juniors see February as an ideal time to test due to their academic and extracurricular schedules. So why are we New Yorkers locked into the International Test Date calendar while the rest of the United States, Canada, and even Guam get to test during the…