Answers to Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about the ACATs

How are ACATs used?

• ACATs assess content knowledge and retention by students at the completion of their major field of study. Departments typically use the ACAT to meet the needs for quantitative assessment data with a national comparison group and for locally relevant information to inform decision making about student learning outcomes.

• ACATs can be used for pre-post assessment to assess the impact of the major on content knowledge and retention across a specific time span.

• ACATs can be used to assess the effectiveness of vertical integration of content knowledge and disciplinary skills across courses taken to complete a major field of study.

• ACATs are used primarily by public and private baccalaureate degree granting higher education institutions, some graduating fewer than 5 majors a year and others graduating several hundred.

• Several ACATs (agriculture, biology, general business, criminal justice) are used by associate degree programs.

How do we choose an ACAT to assess our learning outcomes?

• Departments select the content areas best representing their requirements for the major (except art and literature in English). This allows the best assessment of the degree to which students are meeting the content learning outcomes implicit in their course and degree requirements. Customization is accomplished by including specific content area components. The ACAT is a nationally standardized instrument; we are unable to customize it at the level of individual questions.

• ACATs assume 70% of the students taking the ACAT have been expected to learn 70% of the material while studying for the major. The average graduating senior is expected to correctly answer half the questions, allowing students from different programs at different institutions to score comparably while not mastering identical content. (top)

Can we see a sample before we make our decision?

• Requests must be submitted on a Sample Request form which includes an agreement to provide appropriate security for the sample. You can print a copy of the form or request one by telephone
  (866-680-2228). Once completed, you can send the request form to us by mail or fax (931-552-9167). PACAT does not charge for samples. A sample may be retained for up to 90 days after which it must be returned to PACAT. Samples are provided for the sole purpose of departmental review and may not be used or distributed for use as study guides. Copies must not be made for any reason. We reserve the right to fully verify requests before providing sample ACATs. (top)

Can we use different ACATs for different groups of students?

• Departments needing to assess content mastery in multiple concentrations or on multiple campuses can do so using different institution codes. The same or different versions of the ACAT can be used. The department must notify us in advance if they intend to use this option and provide 2 or 3 word descriptions of each subgroup. (top)

When are ACATs administered?

• Pre-tests are typically administered at declaration of the major during or immediately after the first term of study. ACAT requires at least 1 year between pre- and post-test to provide gain scores against our national sample of pre-post examinees. We do not recommend shorter intervals. The ACAT is calibrated to measure the overall impact of the major and should not be used to evaluate a single course or a single term of study.

• ACATs can be administered during a class period, as part of Assessment Day activities, individually or in small groups through an assessment center.

• PACAT does not have assigned administration dates or windows for the ACAT.

• Because ACATs are available for pencil and paper or computer administration interchangeably, departments and assessment offices can administer them under the broadest possible circumstances to insure the best student response.

Can we change the areas we assess?

• Because of the way ACATs are identified electronically for scoring, the software cannot differentiate among ACAT versions used by the same department during a single testing year. Departments changing their ACAT configuration should clearly indicate this on their order and provide a complete list of areas to appear on the new ACAT including areas not being changed. Departments changing their configuration should clearly indicate this on their order and provide a complete list of areas to appear on the new version including areas not being changed. A department wishing to change its ACAT configuration after administering it at least once during the same year (June 1 to May 31) will be charged an administrative fee for managing the change. Please refer to the list of special fees for the amount. (top)

Should we use the paper or online version of the ACAT?

• The paper and online versions of the ACAT are identical in structure and content. Both can be used by the same department for learning outcomes assessment depending on circumstances. The scores can be combined into a single report. (top)

How difficult is it to use the ACAT Online for assessing our majors?

• It typically takes less than a minute to set up a campus computer to administer the ACAT Online. A variety of options are available to participating departments. Use the link below to see a step by step description of getting started with the ACAT Online. (top)

How do we order ACATs?

• You can place an order using our online order form, by printing an order form from this site and sending it to us, or by calling us toll-free (866-680-2228). You must provide a valid payment method for your order to be processed. We accept institutional purchase orders and credit cards (VISA, MasterCard, and American Express).

• If this is your first order, you will need to provide information about which curriculum and options (if applicable) you have selected. The selection can be changed as departmental needs evolve but may only be changed once during any administration year (June through May) without incurring a setup fee. (top)

What does the ACAT cost?

• The fees below include materials for one examinee, administration instructions, scoring, and score reports. (top)

Are there other costs or fees we need to know about?

• Special services are available to assist departments with meeting their assessment reporting and analysis needs.(top)

Note 1: PACAT Inc. maintains archives of most score reports beginning in 2001 with some archives extending to 1989.
Note 2: The fee applies to each discipline and/or institution code combination for which media are requested. For example, institutions using multiple institution codes to track different cohorts of students can expect to pay a separate fee for each code. Each discipline requested is also dealt with as a separate fee.

Can we return unused booklets for a credit?

• Because pencil and paper ACATs are custom printed and are unique to each institution, we do not give credits or refunds for unused materials. All materials, used and unused, are the property of PACAT Inc. and must be returned according to the instructions provided.

• Unused ACAT Online authentication codes do not expire and can be used at any time. Lost or missing codes will be replaced free of charge. (top)

Do ACAT Online authentication codes expire?

• Unused ACAT Online authentication codes do not expire and can be used at any time. Lost or missing codes will be replaced free of charge. (top)

If we use the ACAT Online, how will you know when we finish administration to a group of students?

• You will receive a weekly automated e-mail message with a cumulative list of students tested but not yet scored. When a group is ready to be scored, you can notify us by following the instructions in the message. If you administer the ACAT Online to all your students in one session and don't want to wait for notification to arrive, notify us by phone or e-mail as soon as possible.

• ACAT Online scoring will be conducted in the next weekly cycle after you notify us you have completed your administration. (top)

What special scoring options are available if we use the ACAT Online?

• If you have elected to receive automated e-mail scoring, you should receive your students' individual scores within 30 minutes after the end of a session. Group scores and statistical data will not be released until the regular weekly scoring.

• You can permit your students to see their scores immediately upon completion of their test.

How long does it take to get our scores back?

• ACATs are scored weekly. All answer sheets received prior to the close of business on Thursday will be included in score reports released the following Tuesday. Special scoring which does not conform to this schedule can be accomplished upon request for a fee.

• ACAT Online scoring will be conducted in the weekly cycle following receipt of notification of completion and a final roster from the institution.

• Score reports can be sent by US Postal Service or by email at the request of the department.

• To insure receipt of your assessment materials and prompt scoring, they should be sent using a service that provides package tracking. (top)

What information will be contained in my score report?

• A variety of information can be included in your report to meet your data needs. You will receive 2 reports following the receipt of examinee responses for each administration. You will also receive 2 reports in mid-June containing your cumulative results for the June - May year. The reports can be customized individually and sent either to the same individual or to two different individuals. Sample score reports are available on each of the following test description pages as PDF files for viewing (agriculture, art, biology, business, communication, criminal justice, geology, history, literature in English, political science, psychology, social work). (top)

Do we get individual student scores on pretests?

• No.  The ACAT as a pretest is designed to assess only an overall cohort. If individual scores are made available, there is a possibility of introducing an inadvertent bias towards students who perform poorly on the ACAT. Departments wishing to apply for an exemption allowing them to receive individual pretest scores should contact us for the required assurances. Group data are routinely reported for pretests. (top)

What does ACAT stand for?

• The acronym ACAT stands for Area Concentration Achievement Test. ACAT and PACAT (the parent company that creates and distributes the ACAT) are both registered trademarks of PACAT Inc.