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Online ACT triumphs over paper ACT
MON.| 4-24-23 | OPINION
As the end of the year rolls around for juniors across the United States, so does the pressure of taking standardized tests. There are two options for students when it comes to handing in test scores for college, the American College Test (ACT) and the Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT).
It is argued that the two tests have their differences, so students usually pick one test to focus on before they submit their score to colleges. Rose administers a free ACT test for all juniors in the second semester every year. One thing that sets this year apart from the past is that the ACT for 2023 was completely online here at Rose.
Rose has decided to scrap the usual pencil and paper method for standardized testing regarding the ACT. It is obvious that online learning has become more prevalent since COVID-19, and as a result has led to the development of more online testing. So, it comes as no surprise that the ACT was online at Rose this year, it's the question of whether or
Graphic by Edie Yount
not it will be implemented for the SAT and the next ACT administered.
It appears that this year all juniors were the guinea pigs for the online ACT. Neither my friends nor I were expecting the ACT to be online. As soon as the testing window was opened, I was expecting annoying bubble sheets and packets to be handed out to me, thankfully that was not the case. I am thrilled that I didn't have to fill out any information before taking the test, nor flip through a thick packet when reading questions.
The absence of bubble sheets was definitely the upside to this entire testing situation. Because all information was already filed online, it made the entire testing process smoother without any problems. One downside I struggled with was the math portion of the test. I found myself not as focused on completing problems because I saw them on a screen and not on paper.
I am a very visual learner, and when it comes to math, I have to have all of my homework and tests on paper. I definitely think that having the math portion of the test online set me back from doing my best work, however, the upsides of not having packets and bubble sheets outweigh this one downside.
Overall, the entire process of the online ACT was smooth and organized. I was even more hopeful for online testing after recently finding out that I scored higher on this test than my past ACT, which was on paper. So if you are a junior or underclassman preparing to take the ACT, don't be afraid if it's given on a screen.
