ACT Now - Quick Start Guide - Manage Students

Oct 9, 2026

Quick Start Guide for testing staff to manage student information in ACT® Now. Covers adding program-eligible students via file upload or the Add New Student option, editing existing student records, and transferring students between schools using State Student ID, last name, and date of birth. Includes guidance for preserving leading zeros in state IDs when using the ACT Now CSV template, plus procedures for reregistering and resuming tests in ACT Test Center Manager (TCM) and TestNav.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages6

Reading Time15 min

AccessFree to download

Adding Students

Editing an Existing Student Record

Transferring a Student

Reregistering a Student

Resuming a Student Test

ACT Now QUICK START GUIDE Manage Students PROGRAM: STATE, DISTRICT | PRODUCT: THE ACT, PREACT 9 SECURE, PREACT SECURE | AUDIENCE: TESTING STAFF Student information: This document will help you to manage student information in ACT® Now. Adding Students Records must be added to ACT Now for all program-eligible students. Check your Schedule of Events found on your ACT-hosted web page to confirm whois responsible for this activity. Students can be added via a file upload or individually using the Add New Student button on the Students page. Note: Only those with the student data importer role are allowed to add students via a file upload. Once students have been uploaded to ACT Now, you're able to edit existing records. IMPORTANT: The accuracy of student data is crucial. If you’re not comfortable working with these data files, consult with your technical coordinator. Leading Zeros If you’re loading students using the downloadable template from ACT Now, formatting steps must be taken to preserve leading zeros in a state student ID (SSID). These file template downloads as a commadelimited file (.csv). In the Number Format of your Excel menu bar, the formatting shows as General. Select the entire document and change the format to Text. This step retains your formatting and will not drop the leading zero. Enter all your student data and save the file as . csv before loading. Editing an Existing Student Record Follow these instructions to edit an existing student record—including the need to add accommodations and/or supports: 1. Select Manage students under the Students tab in ACT Now. A list of organizations or schools associated will display on the Organization tab. Note: If you are a school test coordinator, only your school will be displayed. The screen may look different, depending on your user permissions and the program you are participating in. 2. Select See students. A list of students at the organization will appear. 3. On the left, select the blue hyperlink of the student whose information you wish to edit. a. You can also select the drop-down chevron in the Assigned event column and select Edit student information. Note: This will skip step 4 and the pop-up of the student’s information. The student’s information will instead become immediately editable. A pop-up with the student’s information will appear. 4. Select Edit student information at the bottom of the screen. 5. Make edits to student information, as needed. Note: Edits to testing mode or assigned accommodations may require edits to testing rooms in TCM. 6. Select Save Information. Transferring a Student Follow these instructions to transfer a student to your school from another school in your organization: 1. On the ACT Now homepage, select Manage students under the Students tab. A list of organizations or schools associated will display on the Organization tab. Note: If you are a school test coordinator, only your school will be displayed. The screen may look different, depending on your user permissions and the program you are participating in. 2. Select See students. A list of students at the organization will appear. 3. Select Transfer Student and enter the State Student ID, Last Name, and Date of Birth of the student to be transferred. Then select the magnifying glass icon. 4. Verify the contact information on the screen is accurate. Include notes and contact information in the Add extra notes + contact info section. 5. Select Transfer Student. Both the student’s new school and previous school will have a record of the completed transfer. The student will show on the student transfer report, and the student should now be available on the Students page to assign to a test event. Reregistering a Student Reregistration occurs when a student has logged into TestNav but is unable to complete the test. Schools wishing to give the student another opportunity to test must call ACT to reregister t

FAQs

How can eligible students be added to ACT Now?

Add students via file upload (allowed only for users with the student data importer role) or individually using the Add New Student button on the Students page.

What steps help preserve leading zeros in a state student ID (SSID)?

When using the downloadable ACT Now CSV template, select the entire document in Excel, change Number Format from General to Text, enter data, and save the file as .csv before loading to avoid dropping leading zeros.

What is required to reregister a student for another testing opportunity?

Schools must call ACT first for any reason. ACT will create a new registration and notify the school so the student can be assigned to a new room to test.

Oct 9, 2026

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