High School Assessments - ACT and ACT Aspire

In addition to the resources listed on this page, please visit and bookmark the ACT-hosted website for Arizona, which includes detailed information, resources, tutorials, webinar links, and manuals for the test administration of both ACT and ACT Aspire in Arizona. Please check back frequently as new information will be posted as it becomes available.

Educator Resources:

Arizona State Standards Alignment Guide for the ACT and ACT Aspire Early High School

Arizona Alignment Matrix

Arizona ACT Performance Level Descriptors - English

Arizona ACT Performance Level Descriptors - Reading

Arizona ACT Performance Level Descriptors - Math

ACT Aspire

ACT Aspire is the statewide high school achievement test, which will be administered to students in Grade 9/Cohort 2027 in Spring 2024.

While ACT Aspire has been discontinued at a national level, Arizona will continue to administer the ACT Aspire Early High School assessment to students in the 9th grade cohort for the life of our contract. Beginning November 1, 2023, support for ACT Aspire has now shifted from ACT to Pearson.

ACT-hosted website for Arizona

PearsonAccess^next

Spring 2024 ACT Aspire Schedule of Events

Contact Pearson Customer Support for ACT Aspire:

888-705-9421 Option 4 or Contact Support

Computer-Based Testing Window: April 1 - 26, 2024

Paper-Based Test Window: April 1 - 10, 2024

ACT Aspire Exemplars and Tutorial - login information is not required

To access Exemplars, scroll to bottom of screen and select "Exemplars." Next, select the content area, followed by the Exemplar for "Early High School Grade 9 & 10."

Exemplar Booklets

English
Math
Reading
Science
Writing See page 5 for Writing Rubric

ACT Calculator Policy

The ACT Aspire has been removed from ACT's Calculator Policy document but the policy will apply to Arizona's administration of ACT Aspire for Grade 9 students.

ACT Aspire Technical Manual

Special Paper Version (SPV) tests are available for students unable to use a computer based on their daily instruction and IEP or 504 plan. SPV tests include Braille, Large Print, and paper tests.

2023-2024 Special Paper Version Test Request Process

2023-2024 Special Paper Version Test Request Form

ACT Aspire Accessibility Supports Guide

2023-2024 Additional Accommodations Request Process

2023-2024 Additional Accommodations Request Form

Please note that Speech-to-Text is available as an accommodation that may be requested. Speech-to-Text requires a paper test administration.

May 25, 2023 - Electronic reports available in PearsonAccess^next

June 15, 2023 - Paper copies of score reports delivered to districts and charters

Spring 2023 ACT Aspire Student Data File Layout

ACT

ACT is the statewide high school achievement test, which will be administered to students in Grade 11/Cohort 2025 in Spring 2024.

ACT-hosted website for Arizona

PearsonAccess^next - Opened for Spring 2024 tasks on November 6, 2023.

Select test dates and shipping dates, November 6 - December 8, 2023

Spring 2024 ACT Schedule of Events

Contact ACT Customer Support:

General Questions:

800-553-6244, ext. 2800 or Contact Form

Arizona Questions: 319-337-1567

For Spring 2024, schools may utilize both published state ACT test windows in order to assess all Cohort 2025 students. Schools are encouraged to administer the ACT during the first test window and to use the second test window, as needed, to complete any makeup testing. Schools administering ACT on paper may also use the online test dates for makeup testing. Any schools that choose to administer the ACT during only the second test window will not have an additional ACT test window to use for makeup testing. Test window selection must be made in ACT's PearsonAcess^next platform November 6 - December 8, 2023.

ACT Test Window 1: