Junior year is already a pressure cooker of college applications and final exams, but for the Class of 2027, there is a new wrinkle in the process: their ACT scores are temporarily disappearing.

On Tuesday, May 12, the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) notified school districts that ACT is reissuing scores nationwide for all students who took the online version of the test during the spring school-day testing window. The move comes after ACT identified a need to recalibrate the results.

While the news of a “technical glitch” might cause a momentary heart flutter for some, school officials have confirmed that the update brings only neutral or good news for students.

JTHS 204 emphasized that this is a nationwide occurrence and not specific to the district. Here is the breakdown of the timeline and the impact on students:

• No Score Drops: ACT has guaranteed that no student’s score will decrease. Following the recalibration, scores will either stay exactly the same or see a slight increase.
• The Portal Blackout: Starting Wednesday, May 13, scores were temporarily removed from the MyACT student portal. If you log in and see a blank space, do not panic—it is a planned part of the update.
• The Return Date: ACT has committed to uploading the updated, official scores on or before Tuesday, June 2.

Some have already expressed their frustration, acknowledging that the timing is less than ideal as juniors begin their initial college and scholarship searches. “It’s really irritating to have to wait for my official score,” said junior Emmett Kelly. “I wanted to share my score with my teachers and discuss next steps; I expected better from the ACT!”

College and Career Counselor Yvette Justice recognizes students’ concerns. Justice shared, “I understand that many students are frustrated by the delay in the release of ACT scores. While the transition to the new test format appears to have created some challenges in the process, there have also been positive outcomes, including possible score improvements for some students. Most importantly, students should know that they will still have plenty of time to retest if needed and prepare their college applications for the fall.” 

Because ACT is a third-party organization, the school district does not have direct access to the MyACT portal or the ability to speed up the release of individual scores.

Students do not need to take any action to fix their scores. According to a pop-up banner currently appearing on the MyACT website, any colleges or scholarship agencies that were previously selected to receive scores will be automatically updated once the new data is released.

If students or parents have specific questions regarding account access or the status of a score, ACT recommends contacting them directly rather than the school guidance office:

• Email: [email protected]
• Phone: (855) 730-0400

For now, the advice for the Class of 2027 is simple: take a deep breath, focus on your finals, and check your portal again on June 2.