<p>I took the ACt for the first time on the 28th and the proctors said that you couldn't write in the test booklet. I thought you could since the "Official ACT Study Guide" said that some students write their answers in the booklet and then transfer them to the answer sheet. Did anyone else face this same problem?</p>
<p>Your proctor was wrong. You're always allowed to write in the booklet. If you think it affected your score you might want to write to ACT and tell them. I doubt it'll change anything about your previous test, but it might help you or other students in the future.</p>
<p>Call and tell ACT immediately - not being able to write in the booklet is a HUGE disadvantage. They should at least give you a refund/free future test.</p>
<p>were you taking it internationally? if not you should DEFINITELY have been able to write in the test book. half the pages on the math section even say "do your figuring here".</p>
<p>You are only allowed to write in your test book for National and State testing, and some Special/Arranged testing. anth, did you register to test at a regular National test center (listed on the ACT web site) in the United States? Did you receive an admission ticket and report to that location? Did you get the same test form as everyone else (check out the question discussion on the official October test thread if you aren't sure)? If the answer to all three questions is yes, then you did National testing and should have been allowed to write in your book. Also, if they had you write your name on the front of your test booklet (not just your answer sheet), then you should have been allowed to write in your book, and you should contact ACT. Even if you don't want a free retest, you should complain so they can straighten out that test supervisor.</p>
<p>I'm Canadian and I wrote the test in Canada.</p>
<p>Can internationals not write in the test booklet?</p>
<p>What kinda idiot would tell you do NOT write in the booklet? I mean hello, you bought so you can do whatever you want with it</p>
<p>Why can't internationals write in the test booklet? I would think this would cause a considerable disadvantage for some if they could not cross out wrong answer choices, underline passages, etc. Isn't the whole point of a standardized test to have standardized conditions?</p>
<p>The test centers outside the US have to reuse test booklets largely because of how long it takes to ship test booklets internationally. In the US, they ship just days before the test, when they have a pretty accurate idea of how many kids will test at each test center. They can't do that outside the US because, for one thing, kids don't preregister, so they have no idea how many will test; and they couldn't ship the booklets in time for the test anyway.</p>
<p>Hmm, so then could an international student end up with the same test again if they retook? Seems weird.</p>
<p>Ya i called ACT and they said its normal for internationls not to write in the booklet. However, they said anyone can request to write in the test booklet but they have to do so beforehand. But, no one tells you that you cant write in the test booklet until test day so it's stupid. Anyways I can send a letter and ask for a free retest... prolly going to do that and this time test I'm going to test in the states (I live like 5 mins from the US border). This would never have happened with College Board.</p>
<p>sfboy, the test booklet is not included in the purchase price. That's why you'll get arrested if you try to take it home with you.</p>
<p>anth, who tells you that you CAN write in the test booklet before test day? Not ACT:
"If you test at a national test center, you won't need scratch paper because each page of the Mathematics Test has blank column that you can use for scratch work. Otherwise, you will be provided with scratch paper."
--Preparing</a> for the ACT, p. 12.</p>
<p>Man. This totally sucks! I HAVE to write in my test booklet. It helps so much. </p>
<p>Question: IF you did write in your test booklet, can that invalidate your scores?
I just took the most recent test (I live in Japan)... and now I'm spazzing out because I DID write in my booklet. AHHH this blows.</p>
<p>I dont really think it matters that much to ACT... its just so international test centers can recycle test booklets.</p>
<p>res, did they give you scratch paper? Did they tell you not to write in the booklet? Did anyone notice you did? It could only invalidate your scores if the test supervisor told you not to, noticed you did anyway, and then told ACT. Even then, they might not cancel your scores.</p>
<p>anth just said, "they said anyone can request to write in the test booklet but they have to do so beforehand." So next time, do that.</p>
<p>Yes, they did give me scratch paper. And yes, the supervisor told us not to write in the books... but I was completely out of it and didn't realize it until I mentioned I was scribbling away in my book to a friend during the break. And she just looked at me like Mt. Fuji erupted or something.</p>
<p>But hopefully ACT will be kind. I'm but a tired high school student who was deprived of sleeping in that Saturday.</p>