I am taking the ACT with extended time (time and a half) on February 6th. I was wondering what the test format would be like? Will I get a certain block of time for each section or for the entire thing? Will I be taking the same ACT as the others kids testing on my testing date? Lastly, do ACT with extended time scores take longer to be processed? Will I have to wait longer than normal testers for my scores?
If you signed up with the Essay, you’ll get 6hrs total (5hrs if you didn’t sign up for the Essay).
You’re allowed to break up the 6hrs any way you want. For example, 2hr 30mins on E, 30 mins on M, 2hrs on R, 30mins on S, 30mins on Essay. I don’t recommend that breakdown, but I exaggerated so you understand that you can do whatever you want with those minutes. Break up the time according to what works best for you. Maybe you need more time in Reading, so dump more minutes there. Maybe you’re great at M, so use less time there.
Once the clock starts, you can’t stop it. You can take breaks, but the clock will keep running. So don’t waste too much time taking breaks.
Once you finish a section (like English), you have to notify the proctor. Then you start the next section (like Math). Once you finish a section, you cannot go back to it. So make 100% sure you’re done with a section before you move on.
Take a watch that counts the hrs and mins. But it cannot make any noise. If the proctor hears a beep, he can dismiss you and invalidate your test. If you have a watch that makes beeps when you start it, go on YouTube and watch a video on how to disable sound. (It involves opening the back of the watch and putting a piece of tape inside. It’s pretty easy.)
If you test on Saturday Feb 6, you will take the same test everyone else is taking. You will probably have 1-4 other students with you in your room. Not many.
You’ll get your scores on the same day everyone else who tested in the same school as you (unless there is a problem with your test).
For more information, go on the ACT website or call them to confirm all this.
Good to be aware of this ahead of time. It freaked my kid out when she got as much time as needed on each section, she thought maybe the test administrator had messed up!
Thanks @mmk2015
So the test results won’t take longer to be released? I am taking the With Writing and I’ve heard rumors that for special accommodation kids the composite score isn’t released before the writing. In other words, will I have to wait till the writing is graded to see my composite? Also from your experiences do scores make a huge increase with extra time? I took the test with normal time in December and scored a 30 composite. I couldn’t finish the Reading or Science because my vision causes me to be a slow reader, so I’m hoping that with extra time Ill do better on those!
C30 with normal time? You’re definitely going to do way better with the extra time! You probably should dump extra minutes in Reading and Science.
Your scores will be released without the Essay score like everyone else. You’ll get your Essay later.
@mmk2015 Thanks for your help.
I’m planning on finishing Math and English almost normal time and then using the extra time to read the Reading and Science portions. My goal is a 34, so I’m really hoping that I will get a big boost in my scores in Reading and Science! Last question, do I have to take the sections in order? Or can I finish Reading and Science first?
You have to do the sections in order. So make sure you’re confident you’re done with a section before moving on to the next section.
Use the extra time wisely. You’ll do well.
@mmk2015 Thanks for your help. I got my scores back today and I was really excited. I exceeded my goal score! It was really helpful to know the format of the test before actually taking it. 
You’re welcome Gandhi21! Glad to hear I could help. And consider taking it again in April. You will definitely get better with more experience.
@mmk2015 I got a:
C:35
E:34
M:35
R:35
S:36
Do you think I should retake for a 36? I think it may be attainable, but would it be that helpful in the long run?
Wow! You’re done! Don’t waste your time. No college in the world is going to reject you because you “only” got C35 and not C36.
Also keep in mind that no college will ever know you got Extra Time. That’s confidential information.
Congratulations on the insanely high score!
Wow! That scores is terrific. I’m thinking about going through the process to get extra time for my DS20 who has dyslexia so your post was helpful for me.
@mmk2015 @txstella Thanks. And the process, although somewhat long, is definitely worth it. I improved in every section even my “strengths!”
Isn’t that unfair to test takers who don’t get the extra time?
no, why would it be unfair for someone who has a vision impairment or a learning disability, etc.?
It’s almost certainly unfair one way or the other. For example, if the OP’s vision causes him to read 20% slower but gets 50% more time, he has an unfair advantage. It could also be the opposite though. It’s unlikely that having a disability EXACTLY equals the extra time given in terms of score, and I would be willing to bet that the disability hurts more than the time helps most of the time.
Using that logic, shouldn’t a person with weak muscle tone be allowed to run the 100 meter sprint by starting at the 50-meter line?
The purpose of the ACT and SAT is to allow colleges another way to compare students to each other. It seems to me there are only two fair ways to do this: 1) Have everyone test under the same conditions. or 2) Allow variations, but mark them on the score report.
@hebegebe I’m sure most kids that receive extra time would not mind it showing on their score report. I know I wouldn’t. The test is supposed to model my readiness for college. Just cause I read a bit slower does not mean that I am any less competent. The fact that I can’t bubble quickly cause I can’t see the bubbles doesn’t make me any less intelligent. And in reality, having more time to stare at a problem you don’t know isn’t going to help anyone. Problems don’t “magically” solve themselves. It is true that the system is abused by many but the ACT has made it quite hard to get extended time. And growing up in a small town with very little money, I think it’s somewhat “unfair” that other schools have ACT Prep classes, and at my school the proctor told me he scored a 38. At the end of the day, many kids need the extra time to show colleges how well they can actually perform. The colleges themselves would be missing out on many intelligent kids just cause these kids cant see well or they need more breaks to maintain their health. Just because a few people abuse the system does not mean that everybody does!
While it’s true that problems won’t solve themselves, students often face time pressure. I believe that is by design; the test measures how well students can handle questions with increasing difficulty in a limited amount of time. The time pressure can cause students to make mistakes or run out out time before getting to problems they could solve.
If the purpose is to only measure what people could do given enough time, why not allow everyone to have unlimited time (within limits of course)?
@hebegebe I completely agree with the idea of making the test harder but giving students as much time as needed. However, I’m not the one who makes that decision or designs the test, so my opinion has no value. I take an extremely rigorous courseload and have a 4.0 UW GPA and a class rank of 1/600. My previous score and my practice test scores (without extended time) correlate in no way to my academic performance. I can work as hard as possible and take tons of practice tests, but I will never get my reading speed up to the ridiculous expectations. By the time my eyes focus on a piece, other kids have already read several sentences. Believe me, I would trade my extra time for 20/20 vision in a heartbeat. In a perfect world, I would be able to borrow someone else’s vision for the test, but that just isn’t possible.