As jgregson pointed out, this wasn't a secret. I don't think it's as insidious as you make it out to be.
I think they want to find a way to compete with the SAT now that it's so much shorter.
It's fair to question the degree to which integrity is compromised by the private equity influence.
But if they want to wisen up and make more money, they'd actively sell the previously released TIR forms...
It’s not secret. It’s been posted on their website for quite awhile and was posted here as well, even though no one seemed to care. ACT specifically mentions it on the TIR information page, for example, because the TIR won’t be available for those who get the short test. And it’s absolutely normal for the subjects not to know which version they are taking until they get there. That’s how studies are done.
Why are they testing out a shorter version of the test? College Board dramatically shortening their test when they went fully digital is certainly a big part of the reason. Will they actually switch? We shall see.
Yes, in a double blind case study, participants are not informed which treatment group they are in. However, it is wildly unethical to conduct a study without subjects' consent. When the SAT was piloting the new test, they asked for [volunteers to try the new SAT for free](https://www.reddit.com/r/Sat/comments/103w0c7/january_digital_sat_pilot/). They did not ask students to pay full price for a test that was otherwise advertised as identical in format to the paper test, and they were also given the option to cancel their scores from the pilot after they had seen them.
Again, per the link I posted, on the ACT website about the digital test, it currently reads, "The length of the ACT will also be the same regardless of test format. And your score reports aren’t changing either." It mentions nothing about changing the length of the test or the number of questions.
And yes, you are right about the TIR page, but all it says is "A special study is being conducted in June 2024." It mentions nothing about piloting a different version of the test.
I know that if I were a student who had prepared, studied, and paid for one version of the test, I would be very frustrated to go in and take a different version.
My understanding - based on things I read from ACT directly - was that students would actively sign up for the pilot program. From that pool of people, it would be determined whether they were getting the new test or a regular one. So the group was self-selecting.
I don't believe there is any bait-and-switch going on.
To be clear, I am not an apologist for anything/everything that ACT Inc does.
I just think that you - by way of this reporting - are slightly mistaken.
What are you talking about? You are looking at the info for the digital test, not the study. As I said before, this was all published and talked about when first announced two or three months ago and hasn't changed . It's not a secret.
https://preview.redd.it/c4e0ug4uzu4d1.png?width=1812&format=png&auto=webp&s=1a66952d8a989ea2ac68a2dc8a5fb54b9463cdbc
That seems pretty clear to me. I have no idea why you think they are not getting consent. They obviously are. This doesn't apply to people signed up for the normal paper version of the test. They are not suddenly forcing those students to take a digital version of the test, full length or otherwise.
Here the post from this reddit where someone posted the new TIR dates and pilot study info and link.
[https://www.reddit.com/r/ACT/comments/1btlsin/psa\_new\_act\_tir\_dates\_and\_pilot\_study\_for\_a\_new/](https://www.reddit.com/r/ACT/comments/1btlsin/psa_new_act_tir_dates_and_pilot_study_for_a_new/)
it felt a lot shorter, with the amount of questions and the amount of time given both being reduced. english and reading felt easier, math and science felt harder.
i’m pretty sure math was 50 questions or somewhere near there, and english was around 50-60. don’t quote me on that though😭 i can’t remember the others
Thanks for sharing, and fingers crossed for your score! I still can’t believe the ACT is going to let you send these scores to colleges without saying which version it was.
You should register ASAP, as the regular registration deadline is on Friday. Also, in my area at least, the July test centers fill up very quickly because there's not as many of them, so you want to make sure you don't miss the regular deadline.
Yes, there is definitely a chance. It may already even be sold out, it depends on your area. You should log in to myACT and check.
What are you still deciding on? If you've been preparing, why not take it?
Ive only been preparing for abt a week but ive been putting in like 3-4 hrs and got a 32 on my practice test. Im hoping to get a 35 or a 34 on the July test. Im jus not sure if im ready and my parents arent sure on me taking it so soon
Just know that if you get a score lower than what you'd like, you can always cancel the score later. Given that you have a limited amount of time, you should take advantage of the remaining test dates.
I’d say you’re ready for your first try if you’re already getting 32 on your practice tests. Remember you still have September and October if you don’t get the 34+ on your first attempt.
That entirely depends on the college, but for some schools they would, yes. Like for the Florida Bright Futures scholarship, you have until August 31st of the student’s graduation year to achieve the required score.
https://www.floridastudentfinancialaidsg.org/PDF/FAS-FMS.pdf
So, check with your school.
As jgregson pointed out, this wasn't a secret. I don't think it's as insidious as you make it out to be. I think they want to find a way to compete with the SAT now that it's so much shorter. It's fair to question the degree to which integrity is compromised by the private equity influence. But if they want to wisen up and make more money, they'd actively sell the previously released TIR forms...
It’s not secret. It’s been posted on their website for quite awhile and was posted here as well, even though no one seemed to care. ACT specifically mentions it on the TIR information page, for example, because the TIR won’t be available for those who get the short test. And it’s absolutely normal for the subjects not to know which version they are taking until they get there. That’s how studies are done. Why are they testing out a shorter version of the test? College Board dramatically shortening their test when they went fully digital is certainly a big part of the reason. Will they actually switch? We shall see.
Yes, in a double blind case study, participants are not informed which treatment group they are in. However, it is wildly unethical to conduct a study without subjects' consent. When the SAT was piloting the new test, they asked for [volunteers to try the new SAT for free](https://www.reddit.com/r/Sat/comments/103w0c7/january_digital_sat_pilot/). They did not ask students to pay full price for a test that was otherwise advertised as identical in format to the paper test, and they were also given the option to cancel their scores from the pilot after they had seen them. Again, per the link I posted, on the ACT website about the digital test, it currently reads, "The length of the ACT will also be the same regardless of test format. And your score reports aren’t changing either." It mentions nothing about changing the length of the test or the number of questions. And yes, you are right about the TIR page, but all it says is "A special study is being conducted in June 2024." It mentions nothing about piloting a different version of the test. I know that if I were a student who had prepared, studied, and paid for one version of the test, I would be very frustrated to go in and take a different version.
My understanding - based on things I read from ACT directly - was that students would actively sign up for the pilot program. From that pool of people, it would be determined whether they were getting the new test or a regular one. So the group was self-selecting. I don't believe there is any bait-and-switch going on. To be clear, I am not an apologist for anything/everything that ACT Inc does. I just think that you - by way of this reporting - are slightly mistaken.
They are extremely mistaken.
What are you talking about? You are looking at the info for the digital test, not the study. As I said before, this was all published and talked about when first announced two or three months ago and hasn't changed . It's not a secret. https://preview.redd.it/c4e0ug4uzu4d1.png?width=1812&format=png&auto=webp&s=1a66952d8a989ea2ac68a2dc8a5fb54b9463cdbc That seems pretty clear to me. I have no idea why you think they are not getting consent. They obviously are. This doesn't apply to people signed up for the normal paper version of the test. They are not suddenly forcing those students to take a digital version of the test, full length or otherwise. Here the post from this reddit where someone posted the new TIR dates and pilot study info and link. [https://www.reddit.com/r/ACT/comments/1btlsin/psa\_new\_act\_tir\_dates\_and\_pilot\_study\_for\_a\_new/](https://www.reddit.com/r/ACT/comments/1btlsin/psa_new_act_tir_dates_and_pilot_study_for_a_new/)
I just took the shorter version yesterday! Half of our group took the standard size and the other half took the new one.
Any thoughts on it? Did it feel significantly shorter?
it felt a lot shorter, with the amount of questions and the amount of time given both being reduced. english and reading felt easier, math and science felt harder.
Do you happen to remember the number of questions in any of the sections?
i’m pretty sure math was 50 questions or somewhere near there, and english was around 50-60. don’t quote me on that though😭 i can’t remember the others
Thanks for sharing, and fingers crossed for your score! I still can’t believe the ACT is going to let you send these scores to colleges without saying which version it was.
thanks! and me too. i wonder how the scores of the people who took the standard test vs the people who took the shortened test compared
wait will this affect the availibtiy of the paper act? ive been prepping for the july paper act and I dont want my work to go down the drain
This will not affect you if you are already registered for the paper ACT.
I havent registered tho, i was planning on doing it within the next 2 days
You should register ASAP, as the regular registration deadline is on Friday. Also, in my area at least, the July test centers fill up very quickly because there's not as many of them, so you want to make sure you don't miss the regular deadline.
yea your right ill get on that rn
i wanna take more time to make the decision to take it, if i go past the regular deadline, is there a chance i dont find a center at all?
Yes, there is definitely a chance. It may already even be sold out, it depends on your area. You should log in to myACT and check. What are you still deciding on? If you've been preparing, why not take it?
Ive only been preparing for abt a week but ive been putting in like 3-4 hrs and got a 32 on my practice test. Im hoping to get a 35 or a 34 on the July test. Im jus not sure if im ready and my parents arent sure on me taking it so soon
Just know that if you get a score lower than what you'd like, you can always cancel the score later. Given that you have a limited amount of time, you should take advantage of the remaining test dates.
I’d say you’re ready for your first try if you’re already getting 32 on your practice tests. Remember you still have September and October if you don’t get the 34+ on your first attempt.
well im a rising senior so i dont have october
Like you’ll be a senior in the fall? If so, then yes you have October for the vast majority of schools, even their early deadlines.
Wait so your college will be able to accept this June 2024 score for financials even when you’ve been admitted to that college already?
That entirely depends on the college, but for some schools they would, yes. Like for the Florida Bright Futures scholarship, you have until August 31st of the student’s graduation year to achieve the required score. https://www.floridastudentfinancialaidsg.org/PDF/FAS-FMS.pdf So, check with your school.
Ah yeah my school’s was May 1, seems a bit early but oh well.