General Information

• What does ACAT stand for?
  ACAT stands for Area Concentration Achievement Test and is a registered trademark of PACAT Inc.
   
• Can we use different content combinations for different groups of students?
  Assess multiple concentrations or multiple campuses using different institution codes. Contact us if you need to use this approach.
   
• How quickly can we get testing materials?
  We must receive orders for print tests at least ten working days prior to administration to avoid rush processing and shipping fees. We try to have your materials arrive on your campus approximately 1 week prior to administration. Orders for ACAT Online and ACAT-N authentication codes will arrive by e-mail. Orders received before Noon (Central) on the day prior to administration (M-F) will be filled without a rush processing fee.
   
• When do we administer ACAT?
  We do not have assigned administration dates or windows. Administer ACAT as close as possible to completion of the course of study. Administer pretests as soon as possible after declaration of the major. We do not recommend pre-post intervals shorter than 1 year.
   
• How do we return materials for scoring?
  Ship test booklets and answer forms together or in separate packages using a method that allows tracking. Overnight shipments should not arrive before 10 a.m. (M-F). Packages shipped for delivery before that time may be delayed. All print materials, used and unused, are the property of PACAT Inc. and must be returned according to the instructions provided with each order.
   
• How long does it take to get our results?
  We release ACAT score reports within 7-10 business days after PACAT receives answer sheets or notification to close an online cohort. We can send reports by USPS or email. For online testing, we can send preliminary ACAT scores by e-mail 15 - 20 minutes after the completion of a test session. This service must be requested prior to online administration.
   
• Who will receive our reports?
  We provide two copies of the score report for each completed administration and the end-of-year cumulative report. The contents can be the same or tailored to the needs of two different individuals or offices. Contact us if you need to change the individual(s) designated to receive your reports and we will send you a Score Report Profile to update and return. We are unable to send score reports to an individual not specified on the Score Report Profile.
   
• If we test online, how will you know when we finish testing our students?
  The individual receiving the authentication codes will get a weekly e-mail with a cumulative list of students who have completed their test. When a group is ready for scoring, notify us by following the instructions in the message. If you administer ACAT Online to all your students in one session and do not want to wait for notification to arrive, notify us by phone or e-mail as soon as possible.
   
• What information can I include in my score report?
  You can customize your reports individually and have them sent either to the same individual or to two different individuals. You can view a sample score report here. You can see a complete descripton of the report options here.
   
• Are there ways to improve student performance on ACAT?
  Make sure the students understand what the test is for and why they are being asked to take it. We recommend the following published study for detailed information, Huffman, L., Adamopoulos, A., Murdock, M., Cole, A, and McDermid, R. Strategies to Motivate Students for Program Assessment. Educational Assessment, 2011, 16(2), 90-103. (Link to study)
   
• Are materials available to help us prepare our students to take ACAT?
  ACAT is designed to determine how well students learn and recall the information taught in courses in the major. For that reason, we do not offer any ancillary materials to help students prepare as we feel that would contaminate the measure and reduce its utility for curriculum evaluation.