ACT Research: Impact of COVID-19 on Learning and Testing

Disruptions and Gains: Students’ Reflections on the Effects of the Pandemic

This issue brief shares what was learned from 1,893 high school students’ survey responses and provides insights into what educators could do to better support students as the pandemic is waning and these students are heading toward the next phase of their education
and career journeys.

College Preparation Opportunities, the Pandemic, and Student Preparedness:

Perspectives From Class of 2021 College-Bound ACT Test-Takers

In this brief, we share what we learned from 2,354 high school seniors’ survey responses and provide insights into what educators and policymakers can do to better support college-bound students’ preparation.

Student Voice Research

• Meeting the Online Learning and Basic Needs of High School Students During the Coronavirus Pandemic (May 2021): At the end of the 2020 academic year, ACT wanted to learn more about students’ online learning experiences during the first several months of the pandemic. We asked students what they needed and wanted for that online learning to be successful. We also asked about other challenges they might be experiencing during the global pandemic.
  
• Mental Health Supports and Academic Preparedness for High School Students During the Pandemic(May 2021): We expanded on prior research by asking students to indicate, near the beginning of the new 2020–2021 school year, their perceptions of how well their school was supporting their mental health and the extent to which daily life experiences during the pandemic had helped or hurt their mental health.
• Impacts of the Coronavirus Pandemic on Incoming High School Seniors' Postsecondary Plans (Jan 1, 2021): We reached out to rising high school seniors and asked how the pandemic had affected them in the previous year as juniors, how it was affecting their plans for college, and how they feel it has altered their ability to be prepared for college.
• Student Perspectives of the Impact of COVID-19: A Summary of Open-Ended Responses (Oct 1, 2020): This data byte explores students’ open-ended responses about how the coronavirus pandemic has impacted them academically.
  
• High School Students' Experiences in March During the Coronavirus Pandemic (Sept 1, 2020): This brief summarizes students’ responses to survey questions that asked them to document their experiences during the pandemic.

ACT Test Performance

• Predicting the Impact of COVID-19 School Closures on ACT Test Scores: Methods and Considerations for States and Districts (May 11, 2020): In this brief, we present a method for predicting the impact of school closures on average ACT test scores.

Policy Research

• Learning Opportunities: Understanding Scores from ACT’s Assessment Suite During the COVID-19 Pandemic(July 13, 2021) This policy brief summarizes findings from school-day testing on ACT Aspire Interim (grades 5-10), PreACT (grade 10), and the ACT test (grades 11-12) during the 2020-21 school year. Key findings from ACT’s research into scores from ACT’s assessment suite during the coronavirus pandemic can be found in this brief, followed by recommendations for policymakers, educators, and other stakeholders regarding opportunities to target future resources and supports to best address any impacts to students’ academic learning.

• Have ACT Scores Declined During the COVID-19 Pandemic? An Examination of Fall State and District Testing Data (June 1, 2021): In this working paper, we examine ACT score trends from fall State and District testing programs for possible impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on high school students’ academic achievement.
  
• Have PreACT Scores Declined During the COVID-19 Pandemic? (May 21, 2021): In this working paper, we examine PreACT score trends for possible impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on high school students’ academic achievement.
• Have ACT Aspire Interim Scores Declined During the COVID-19 Pandemic? (July 22, 2021): In this working paper, we examine ACT Aspire Interim score trends for possible impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on students’ academic achievement. This study includes multiple grade levels (5-10) and the same four subject areas (English, math, reading, and science) assessed by the PreACT and ACT tests.