Specific writing prompts administered during testing are developed with the assistance of external prompt writers who are recruited on the basis of their expertise and to reflect the diversity of the populations served by the ACT. ACT prompt writers are male and female educators from both high schools and colleges, and they represent a variety of geographical regions, racial and ethnic backgrounds, and educational philosophies. All potential writing prompts are reviewed for accessibility of concepts and language, appropriateness, and fairness by content experts and teachers at postsecondary institutions and high schools, and by persons sensitive to issues of test fairness. Prompts found to be accessible, proper in form, and fair to all examinees are field-tested on a population.
