The family lives in North Carolina, but the only testing center with an available spot was in South Carolina. So the pair packed the family car, made the road trip and even spent the night in a hotel so her daughter would be well rested on test day.
But when they arrived at the testing center on Saturday, they found a note posted on the door informing them -- like other shocked families across the United States -- that the test was canceled.
"The ACT scheduled for today (7/18) has been CANCELED," the sign read. "ACT should have contacted you. We are very sorry if you were not notified."
Hoover said they didn't receive a phone call, email or text message informing them of the cancellation, and the list of canceled or rescheduled tests on ACT's website wasn't updated until later that day.
ACT did not immediately respond to CNN's request for comment.
But on its website, the testing company said some tests are being canceled or rescheduled due to the coronavirus pandemic.
"There were instances in which a test center had to reduce their capacity due to social distancing guidelines determined by the CDC or state or local officials and it caused some students to be displaced," ACT says on its website's Covid-19 information page. "This decision was not made lightly, and ACT apologizes for any inconvenience this may have caused."
The company also updated students and parents on social media last week, tweeting: "With ongoing COVID-19 changes and closures, please know there is a chance that your test center may close between now and test day."
Hoover said she understood the need to keep students safe, but felt that ACT should have given families more notice.
"Even with a list, why is ACT expecting us to scour websites every day for cancellations?" Hoover told CNN. "They have all of our information and could easily do a mass communication to anyone affected."
Privileged families have an undue advantage
The Hoovers are not alone -- parents across the country are voicing their concerns and frustration over this weekend's canceled tests. Some are also worried that it's giving privileged students an undue advantage.
Rana El Kaliouby, another mom of a student whose test was canceled without warning on Saturday, said the situation has left her "stressed, enraged and feeling helpless."
This is the third time El Kaliouby's daughter, 17-year-old rising senior Jana Amin, has prepared to take the ACT, only for it to be canceled, she said.
The first two times -- once in April and again in June -- they received an email two weeks beforehand informing them of the cancellations.
This time, the two drove nearly six hours from Massachusetts to New York City for the only available testing location. But when they arrived at the testing center, they too saw a sign announcing the cancellation.
El Kaliouby said at least 10 other families were there with them.
"We routinely checked the portal. The test seemed to be on, and it still shows th
