ACT Aspire
ACT Aspire
ACT Aspire is the statewide high school achievement test for Arizona public school students in the 9th grade cohort. ACT Aspire will be administered to students in Cohort 2029 in Spring 2026.
While ACT Aspire has been discontinued at a national level, Arizona will continue to administer the ACT Aspire Early High School assessments to students in the 9th grade cohort for the life of our contract. As of November 1, 2023, support for ACT Aspire has now shifted from ACT to Pearson.
In addition to the resources listed on this page, please visit and bookmark the Pearson-hosted support website for Arizona for detailed information, resources, tutorials, webinar links, and manuals for the Arizona ACT Aspire test administration. Please check back frequently as new information will be posted as it becomes available.
Pearson-hosted ACT Aspire Support Website
Contact Pearson Customer Support for ACT Aspire:
1-888-705-9421, Option 4, or Contact Support
2025-2026 Achievement Tests Staff Security Agreement
Spring 2026 Testing
Computer-Based Testing: March 30 - April 24, 2026
Paper-Based Testing: March 30 - April 8, 2026
Spring 2026 Testing Mode
The Achievement Testing Mode Application was open in ADEConnect from September 8 - October 3, 2025.
All Achievement testing (ACT Aspire, ACT, AzSCI, and AASA) is, by default, administered to students by computer. Requests for schools to administer paper tests must be submitted by Achievement District Test Coordinators in ADEConnect during the window provided above. Requests must provide an explanation of special circumstances for which paper testing is needed.
No action needs to be taken if school site(s) will administer computer-based assessments in Spring 2026.
The following Special Paper Version (SPV) test formats are available to meet the needs of students who cannot access the test content through computer-based testing: Braille, large print, and regular print paper.
SPV test requests must be submitted to ADE for review and approval from September 10, 2025 - February 6, 2026.
2025-2026 Special Paper Version Quick Guide
2025-2026 Special Paper Version Request Form
ACT Aspire Accessibility Supports Guide
Additional Accommodation Requests must be submitted to ADE for review and approval, September 10, 2025 - February 6, 2026.
- Refer to the ACT Aspire Accessibility Supports Guide for details about accommodations that must be submitted and those that do not require a request.
- Speech-to-Text is available as an accommodation for ACT Aspire that may be requested. Speech-to-Text requires a paper test and a 1:1 administration.
2025-2026 Additional Accommodations Request Quick Guide
ACT Aspire Exemplars and Tutorial - login information is not required
- To access Exemplars, scroll to the bottom of the screen and select "Exemplars." Next, select the content area, followed by the Exemplar for "Early High School Grade 9 & 10."
- Online Exemplars are intended to provide students with experience navigating TestNav and interacting with the various test item formats. The online Exemplars are not meant to be scored, and a full answer key is not provided.
Exemplar Booklets - Each booklet describes reporting categories, standards, depth-of-knowledge levels, and correct responses.
Spring 2026 ACT Aspire Schedule of Events
Room Supervisor Manual - Online Testing
Arizona State Standards Alignment Guide for the ACT and ACT Aspire Early High School
- The ACT Aspire has been removed from ACT's Calculator Policy document, but the policy will apply to Arizona's administration of ACT Aspire for Grade 9 students.
ACT Aspire Spring 2026
May 22, 2026 - Electronic reports available in PearsonAccessnext
June 11, 2026 - Paper copies of score reports delivered to districts and charters
ACT Aspire Student Performance File (SPF) Layout (updated February 2025)
ACT Aspire Summative Reports Index
Interpretive Guide for ACT Aspire Summative Reports
Understanding Your ACT Aspire Summative Results
Understanding Your ACT Aspire Summative Results - Spanish
