State Testing

Alabama's state testing uses the Pre-ACT for 10th graders (baseline), the ACT with Writing for 11th graders (college entrance & accountability), and the ACT WorkKeys for 12th graders to assess workforce skills for "career readiness." The Pre-ACT predicts 11th-grade ACT scores, and both tests contribute to state accountability and help students prepare for college and careers, with the state covering the cost for the required 11th-grade ACT.

  • Pre-ACT (10th Grade): A diagnostic test predicting 11th-grade ACT performance, used to measure academic growth in ELA and Math, but not for individual school accountability.
  • ACT with Writing (11th Grade): The official state assessment, a college entrance exam accepted nationwide, used for accountability and to determine college readiness benchmarks, with the state paying for one administration.
  • ACT WorkKeys (12th Grade): Measures foundational work skills (Applied Math, Reading, Locating Info) to earn career-readiness certificates (Bronze, Silver, Gold).
ACT Fee Waiver

Any eligible student can get a maximum of two ACT Fee Waivers for taking the test, covering the basic registration fee for up to two separate test dates, plus scores to their high school and up to six colleges, with access to free prep; these are obtained through a high school counselor, not directly from ACT. A fee waiver is used once a student registers, even if they miss the test, but they can pay a change fee to reschedule. See Coach Rieger for details.