As districts refine their college and career readiness strategies, early assessment is emerging as one of the most actionable indicators for improving student outcomes in both academic and assessment performance.
Among these predictors, the PreACT assessment suite offers a uniquely aligned, data-rich approach that connects middle and early high school performance to success on the ACT test and WorkKeys National Career Readiness Certificate.
For superintendents, district leaders, and educators, the question is no longer whether to assess early, but how to do so in a way that meaningfully impacts instruction, student planning, and long-term outcomes.
The PreACT assessment suite is made up of four tests:
These assessments prepare students for the ACT test by offering a cohesive and structured approach to evaluating student achievement and analyzing school and district performance metrics. These tools also serve as valuable resources for administrators and educators, supporting the development of informed instructional objectives.
PreACT is not simply a ‘practice test.’ It’s a vertically aligned assessment system designed to measure progress toward college readiness as early as grades 8-10. Because it mirrors the ACT in structure, grade-appropriate content, and scoring scale, it provides an authentic preview of future performance while students still have time to improve.
This alignment enables districts to utilize the PreACT to:
Identify learning gaps earlier.
Align curriculum with college and career readiness standards.
Guide course placement and interventions.
Build a strategic assessment-to-instruction pipeline.
Just as importantly, PreACT scores produce predicted ACT score ranges. This gives educators and students a clear trajectory and opportunity to reinforce certain academic skills while aiming toward future performance.
This approach also helps alleviate anxiety related to the ACT by familiarizing students with the test content and procedures.
Educators and students also have access to the Progress Toward Career Readiness Indicator. This tool provides information about a student’s level of career readiness based on PreACT or PreACT 8/9 Composite scores and can help predict a likely ACT WorkKeys NCRC score in 11th grade.
One of the most important questions for district leaders is whether early testing actually leads to better outcomes.
Research conducted by ACT offers quantifiable data comparing PreACT-tested students with those who have not taken the PreACT. The results indicate that PreACT-tested students achieved the following metrics:
Higher overall ACT Composite score.
Higher percentage of students who are more likely to demonstrate readiness for first-year college courses and earn exemptions from remedial courses.
Higher college enrollment rate.
These statistics, when viewed across an entire district, represent meaningful growth, especially when paired with targeted instructional interventions.
The key takeaway: The PreACT demonstrates its greatest value when integrated into a comprehensive framework of ongoing academic improvement, using its collected data to inform strategic decision-making.
When synchronizing the PreACT with the ACT test, ACT considered multiple PreACT use cases to ensure student scores and data consistently align as students progress from middle school through high school.
ACT’s Design Framework for the ACT Enhancements′ outlines the goals of PreACT enhancements, ensuring:
Valid score interpretation: Evidence supports claims that scores can be used to predict educational outcomes.
Score reliability: A balance was maintained between reduced test length and preserving trusted reliability.
Continued alignment with common state standards: Each section is aligned to common state standards to ensure that PreACT remains an effective source of assessment data under ESSA.
Continued alignment with the ACT and WorkKeys assessments: Because there is substantial overlap between the skills needed for both college and career, PreACT can be used to predict the skills students will need when they enter the workforce.
Multi-functional use of Composite and STEM scores: These scores can be used by schools as formative assessment information to highlight strengths and opportunities for improvement at the student, school, and district levels.
Universal design and equity as part of the redesign process: The enhanced PreACT will maintain compliance with WCAG standards, for which previous versions have received external commendation.
Comparability of scores from legacy tests: Scores remain comparable across versions and formats (paper and online testing).
The PreACT Rising Stars program is an initiative that recognizes and celebrates students’ outstanding achievements on the PreACT 8/9. This program is available to any district that administers the PreACT 8/9 between September and May of each school year.
Students are recognized with awards based on their PreACT 8/9 performance:
PreACT Distinguished Scholar: 97th percentile and higher in U.S. rank
PreACT Rising Scholar: 96th to 90th percentile in U.S. rank
PreACT Early Scholar: 89th to 50th percentile in U.S. rank
With round one for the 2025-26 year results in, more than 95,000 students from over 1,300 schools across the country have earned recognition for their PreACT 8/9 achievements, setting the stage for this initiative’s biggest year yet. Awards for rounds two and three will be distributed in early May and September.
Providing schools and students with encouragement and recognition creates a motivating environment conducive to achieving strong ACT scores and overcoming skill gaps, while increasing access to college and career opportunities.
PreACT offers districts more than an early snapshot; it provides a predictive, actionable, and instructionally aligned system that supports long-term student success.
The research is clear: early exposure and data-driven intervention can move outcomes in measurable ways. Even modest score gains, when scaled across a district, translate into improved college readiness, stronger student confidence, and more equitable access to postsecondary opportunities.
For district leaders focused on outcomes, PreACT is not just an assessment; it’s a strategic entry point into a more proactive, data-informed approach to student success.
′ Design Framework for the ACT® Enhancements