Dive Brief:

• Starting next year, the 18 states that require the ACT to be take during the school day will offer the college entrance exam digitally. 
• Since schools must provide their own computers, it is unclear how many districts will be equipped and ready for this digital move within the next year; so pencil-and-paper exams will also be available. 
• The news follows a two-year, 10,000-person high school student digital pilot. 

Dive Insight:

ACT is not alone, as the College Board also has plans to make the SAT digital as well. It's also important to note that ACT does not plan to make its Saturday test dates digital just yet, since many schools (and testing locations) will not be able to accommodate computers for so many students. 

ACT's goal of moving toward digital testing has interesting timing. Even though many schools may not be ready by next year, if President Obama's ConnectEd Initiative comes true, many should be ready in the next three to four years. 

While it's clear keeping up with the future and making testing more seamless is a goal of the digital, companies like College Board and ACT should be aware of the shaky terrain they are about to enter, as widespread questions remain over digital testing.