ACT Website Information
Because the file formats change from year to year we recommend visiting the most recent ACT Resources page for each administration to ensure your data file matches the yearly file format specifications.
For the 2021 year, the ACT success tool now has created a download hub option that does not require users to build a file but rather allows them to download a formatted data file. OnDataSuite is now accepting files built using either option.
Option 1- Using the ACT HUB File. Preferred Method
Note: This file comes directly from the ACT Success Login System. This is NOT a file generated from your local student information system.
The link below will guide users on how to download the new 2021 ACT HUB file. This is now the preferred file for upload into OnDataSuite. Using this method, users will not have to build a file. They will only have to download the full file and upload it into OnDataSuite’s file center.
Accepted HUB File Type: Comma Separated Value (.CSV)
Click the link below for information on how to acquire your ACT Hub File
ACT Knowledge Hub Link on how to download the data file
Option 2. Build ACT file using ACT online Success system (required for regions)
NOTE: This method is not the preferred method but users may still choose to create and download their files this way ONLY if they cannot get to the HUB file mentioned in Option 1.
- Accepted File Type: Excel (.XLSX)
- Parser starts parsing from row 6 so the 6th row should be the first row with data in the excel file.
- The order of the columns is important.
- Format on DOB and the TEST DATE is important. Must match what is in the attached file
- If it can not match a student via the ID columns in the file, it will look for an exact match on first name + last name + dob combo.
ACT file builder and upload instructions link
Follow the instructions in the link below to build a file in the ACT Success online reporting tool to upload into your OnDataSuite File Center. This method is subject to phase out in the next few weeks but users can still use this method to upload ACT files into the file center until option is changed (updated 10/22/21)
OnDataSuite – ACT file builder/upload instructions
Format
Column A | ACT ID
Column B | Last Name
Column C | First Name
Column D | MI
Column E | State ID
Column F | Local ID
Column G | Test Date |- Do not format as a date. Leave as is. (Example October 2017)
Column H | Test Location
Column I | District Name
Column J | School Name
Column K | School Code
Column L | DOB | – Must be formatted as MM/DD/YYYY
Column M | Grade
Column N | Composite Score
Column O | Math Score
Column P | Science Score
Column Q | STEM Score
Column R | English Score
Column S | Reading Score
Column T | Writing Score
Column U | ELA Score
Column V / District ID (For Regions Only) has to be manually added.
Other accepted ACT File Uploads
ACT (High School) – FROM DATA CD.
- Due to significant changes to the data file format, ACT files derived from the physical data CD provided by the ACT up until 2019 will no longer be accepted into the file center. As of 10/21 files loaded from the physical CD will result in error. Please create a support ticket if you have further questions about this issue. (10/22/21)
ACT Explore
- This file is a fixed length TXT file.
- File cannot be compressed or zipped.
- File name cannot contain spaces.
- When naming files, only use letters, numbers, dashes or underscores.
- Currently, only files from 2011-12 and beyond are supported.
- Typically, ACT files will be on a CD, compressed and password protected.
- First decompress the file from the CD, and enter the relevant password.
- There should now be two files available, a .txt file and a .dht file.
- Upload the .txt file.
- Note: The .dht file will not be accepted.
ACT Plan
- This file is a fixed length TXT file.
- File cannot be compressed or zipped.
- File name cannot contain spaces.
- When naming files, only use letters, numbers, dashes or underscores.
- Typically, ACT files will be on a CD, compressed and password protected.
- First decompress the file from the CD, and enter the relevant password.
- There should now be two files available, a .txt file and a .dht file.
- Upload the .txt file.
- Note: The .dht file will not be accepted.