The ACT admissions test for US universities in Hong Kong will become digital next month. Instead of writing down the answers, they will use computers to reduce incidents of questions being leaked.
This change will come along a higher price tag wherein candidates will be paying between US$150 (HK$1,177) and US$166.50 (HK$1,307) - an increase of US$46.50 (HK$365). But according to test administrators, the change is also meant for results to be announced more quickly, and they are now allowed to take the test six times a year, up from five previously.
"The [scores for the multiple choice question sections] will be delivered as quickly as two days after the test is taken ... [and] the writing section will be released within two weeks after the test," said ACT chief commercial officer Suzana Delanghe last week.
Previously, the results are being released between five and eight weeks after a candidate had completed the test. The ACT, as well as the SAT, are the main admissions tests for universities in the US. A lot of students take the exam every year in Hing Kong. Some come from mainland China, South Korea and parts of Southeast Asia.
As per South China Morning Post, ACT started offering computer-based testing in the US five years ago and its rival, the College Board, which developed the SAT, also did the same.
"All of the items are encrypted, which means that you do not have access to the decrypted [information] until the test is launched," Delanghe said.
The test four compulsory sections of multiple choices question covering science, reading, mathematics, English, and an optional section of writing. Dr. Margaret Lo Wai-ki, the general manager for international and professional examinations at the Hong Kong Examinations and Assessment Authority, said that there are 1,000 computers available in total at its five assessment centers for ACT testing.
As per Delanghe, the number of test sessions will also increase from the current five to 24 as soon as the computer-based testing is launched. They will be held in September, October, December, February, April, and June. Students can also go to the website of the ACT to download a practice test for free.
Henry Wong Yuk-chun, general manager at The Edge Learning Centre, prepares students for university admission. According to him, parents would not be deterred by the higher costs, as it was not a big difference.
"They will be willing to pay more to have one more chance for their children to take the exam and more timings to choose from as many will apply to take the test several times," he said.
Meanwhile, the next test dates will be on September 7 and 8 with morning and afternoon sessions at HKEAA assessment centers in Lai King, Tuen Mun, Sha Tin, San Po Kong, and Tsuen Wan.
