<p>Taking the April ACT this year has made come up with a few ideas. What if ACT decided to make an option to take a computerized version of the test? It wouldn't be mandatory, but that location would have computerized while another have paper.
It would make sense for multiple reasons:</p>
<p>1) Increased speed of knowing test scores
2) Saving paper
3) Decreased cheating (No changing answers after the break or seeing what others got)
4) Writing made a lot easier because it would legible to readers
5) Timer able to be seen on computer
6) No need for pencils and erasers, so it's easy to change answers without leaving marks
(of course you could only stay on that one test in that given time period)
7) Less proctor-student discrepancies
8) Some students test better on the computer (I personally do)</p>
<p>Of course I do see why one wouldn't want to computerize ACT testing</p>
<p>1) Not enough computers
---> True only in state administered tests. Besides that, one testing location should have enough laptops/computers. For example, at my schools we had roughly 100 kids take the ACT. In the school we have 90 laptops (I think) and another 120 computers</p>
<p>2) Some people prefer looking on actual paper
----> Fine, as I said only some locations are computerized</p>
<p>3) People could message each other on computer
----> They would not have the ability because it is very easy to turn off internet on a computer and for laptops there would be no connection to the wifi, and the ability to turn it on would be blocked by the laptop as setting that an administrative function.</p>
<p>Basically what I'm saying is that students could have the option to take the ACT in a computerized version. They will probably pay an extra fee, but that would be up to them to pay the extra fee to take it computerized.</p>
<p>I know if ACT offered an $18 dollar fee to take it computerized I would take it.</p>
<p>(The $18 fee would pay the costs of setting up the test location. Also the money saveed by not printing could go for this cause)</p>
<p>What do you think?</p>
<p>...wow this was a lot longer than I thought it would be</p>
<p>eh… Personally, I wouldn’t. I’m a programmer and I’m planning on going into software engineering, but even as someone who spends a lot of his time on his computer I can feel the strain looking at a screen for an extended period of time has on my eyes. Plus, algebraic figuring is just a lot easier on paper (along with writing out sequences).</p>
<p>I can see why you’d say that ACT should be computerized and you make a valid argument, but ultimately it comes down to personal preference. That being said, I don’t doubt that there would be many people who would prefer to take it on a computer.</p>
<p>I write all over my test on the math section. If it was computerized I would spend more time rewriting the problem or equation on my piece of scratch paper than actually solving the problem.</p>
<p>I like the format of reading where you have the passage on the left and the questions on the right. It’s very convenient and requires no flipping back and forth between pages or worse, screen pages.</p>
<p>Science is similar to reading. Graph/charts/passage on left. Questions on right. You would be constantly be clicking back and forth between pages if it were on the computer.</p>
<p>I believe some tests can be completed on computers, but major tests like finals and state/national exams should remain as paper and pencil. No computer can have the combined speed, agility, creativity, and individuality as the human mind.</p>
<p>" No computer can have the combined speed, agility, creativity, and individuality as the human mind. "</p>
<p>Brilliant.</p>
<p>You guys bring up good points I haven’t thought about it…like eye strain and flipping back and forth. Well I had fun thinking of the thing lol. One reason why I like CC is the ease of discussion</p>
<p>I would like JUST the writing section to be computerized - not because of spell check or anything like that, but because I can type something WAY faster than I can hand write it. Honestly, I prefer everything else on paper, though I could be swayed either way with the English section.</p>
<p>I agree that the majority would take test on paper as this probably is better. I just don’t see a problem to giving students the option to take a computerized version. If there is a demand and a profit for both sides, with no harm to other parties, there’s no reason not to provide the supply. </p>
<p>Even though I wrote this, I really don’t care too much, rather just giving a possible innovative idea for the future. Anyways just some ideas.</p>
<p>Sounds like a good ACT writing essay question topic :)</p>