All Montana high school juniors are scheduled to take the ACT Plus Writing test today.

The Office of Public Instruction anticipates between 10,000 and 11,000 juniors will take the test as part of the statewide Graduation Matters initiative. 

Previously, about 60 percent of the state’s graduating seniors took the ACT.

The college-entrance exam will test students in English, writing, math, reading and science. Students have the option to send results to colleges.

There will be a make-up test day in May for those unable to take the test today.

The exam will be administered to students free over the next five years through Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs federal grant money. 

When the five years are up, the Office of Public Instruction plans too reapply for the grant. Eventually, Office of Public Instruction Superintendent Denise Juneau will seek state funding. In 2011, her office unsuccessfully sought state funding to allow all juniors to take the test.

In the first few years, Juneau expects to see a dip in ACT scores since more students will take the test, but education officials expect scores to level out after a few years. Data may help to shape education policies and legislation.

“I think legislators will be impressed with what they see,” Juneau said.

The ACT traditionally has been optional for high school juniors and seniors planning to enroll in college, but more and more states are implementing ACT testing for all.

Last year, the Office of Public Instruction implemented a pilot program in more than 50 schools, including Bigfork and Whitefish.

Transportation, fees, registration and Saturday testing dates may have been barriers for students wanting to take the ACT. 

Educators hope this new opportunity will get students on the track to post-secondary education as well as provide the state a “complete picture” on students’ levels of college preparedness, Juneau said.

Through test results, students may gauge their strengths and weaknesses and plan accordingly. Some juniors may retake the test their senior year, pursue courses that will help them improve and advance or be ready to earn college credits through dual-credit courses.

“Students might be surprised that they are ready for college and take that next step,” Juneau said.

Christina Nadeau, Bigfork High School guidance counselor agreed. Bigfork had 46 students take the ACT during the pilot year.

“It provided an opportunity for a conversation about college I might not have had otherwise,” Nadeau said, adding that even if students don’t plan to attend a traditional college, standardized test scores may be used toward scholarships for other post-secondary education or training.

This year, the writing portion of the ACT replaces the Montana University System Writing Assessment, which students enrolling in state colleges took to determine writing proficiency Nadeau said.

Most colleges also accept scores from the SAT, an alternate college-entrance exam.

Kalispell Public Schools Assistant Superintendent Dan Zorn estimates 620 juniors will take the ACT in Kalispell high schools this year.

Unlike the rest of the state, more of Kalispell’s high-schoolers have historically opted to take the SAT as the college-entrance exam of choice. Last year about 274 students took the SAT compared to 188 students who took the ACT. 

“I think that we are likely to see a bit of a drop in the number of students taking the SAT since they can take the ACT at no cost now,” Zorn said. Many students will take both tests.

“I think the primary benefit to our students is that we will have many students who would not otherwise take the ACT now realize that they have the aptitude to be a successful college student,” Zorn said. “Our hope is that this will expand their horizons and allow them to see other possible futures for themselves and pursue post-secondary options that will prepare them for their chosen career.” 

Reporter Hilary Matheson may be reached at 758-4431 or by email at hmatheson@dailyinterlake.com.