ACT Online Testing

Welcome to ACT Online Testing

Instead of having your pen-and-paper exam sent to a proctor, using the ACT option allows you to take your midterm exam online at one of more than 200 ACT testing centers.  This option applies to students registered in the following 12-week online courses:

• Introduction to Anthropology (ANT-101-OL)
• A World of Art (ART-100-OL)
• Business Policy (BUS-421-OL)
• Computer Concepts and Applications (CIS-107-OL)
• English Composition I (ENC-101-OL)
• Global Environmental Change (ENS-314-OL)
• Western Civilization I (HIS-101-OL)
• Western Civilization II (HIS-102-OL)
• American History I (HIS-113-OL)
• African History and Culture (HIS-301-OL)
• News Writing (JOU-352-OL)
• Introduction to World Religions (REL-405-OL)
• Eastern Religions (REL-406-OL)
• Western Religions (REL-407-OL)
• Introduction to Sociology (SOC-101-OL)

How and When to Schedule Your Midterm
If you are registered in one of the above courses, you will receive an email during the first week of the semester with the words Registration Conformation in the subject line. That email will contain a link to the ACT scheduling system and a username and password for you to access the ACT scheduling system. From there, you can choose an ACT Center and schedule an appointment to take your midterm exam online. If you prefer to take the pen/paper version of your midterm, simply ignore the email and submit your Proctor Request Form to the Office of Test Administration as you normally would.

There is no additional fee for testing at an ACT Center. However, if you schedule an appointment and do not show up, you will then have to make arrangements for the pen/paper test. That means you’ll need to submit the Proctor Request Form and submit it to the Office of Test Administration as soon as possible so your midterm can be mailed to your proctor well before your semester end date.

What Happens on Test Day?
When you arrive at your chosen ACT Center, you will sign in and provide photo identification. The center will provide a computer on which you will log onto your Blackboard site. Your Blackboard username is your student ID number and your password is the last four digits of your social security number (unless you have changed your pin).

You will click “Tests & Quizzes” on the Blackboard course site and open the link to your midterm. Your ACT proctor will then enter a password to open the exam. This exam can be accessed only once during your semester, so be sure you are prepared to complete the test and work on it for the 2-1/2 hours you have. Although your exam has a 2-hour time limit, ACT asks that you allow an additional 30 minutes for instructions at the ACT Center and for a brief survey to be completed after the examination. As with all exams, you may not need the full 2 hours to complete your midterm, but you’ll want to make sure that time is available to you if you should need it.

Test Timing
At the start of your exam, a message will appear in the top right of your window. This provides you with a running tally of how much time has elapsed while you are testing. When there is 1 minute remaining, a warning window will pop up. You must click “OK” in this window in order to finish your exam. Keep in mind that the test will not shut down when your time runs out. Thomas Edison State College holds all students to the honor system and we feel confident that you will end your test session when your time is up. Be advised, however, that we have the ability to verify the time spent on each test. Two (2) points will be subtracted from your final test score for each minute you go beyond the 2-hour time limit. 

Academic Integrity
The Thomas Edison State College policy on cheating and plagiarism can be found by clicking on the following link: Statement About Cheating. You are responsible for reading and agreeing to this policy before you take your online exam. In addition, there is a link to this policy within the first question on your exam. When you take the exam, you signal that you have read and agreed to this policy.