Register for the ACT Test

Great news: The ACT test is becoming more flexible and less time-consuming, and will offer even more choice for students to tailor their test experience!

Get a Registration Reminder

Registration is only open for test dates in September through February (listed below).
ACT registration for the April, June, and July test dates is expected to open in early December. Be sure to sign up to be notified when registration opens to secure your spot!

Upcoming Test Dates (National)
Test Date
Regular Registration Deadline
Late Fee Applies After This Date
Late Registration Deadline
September 14, 2024 August 9 August 25
October 26, 2024 September 20 October 7
December 14, 2024 November 8 November 22
February 8, 2025 January 3 January 20

View more information on test dates.

To Register, You Will Need About 30 Minutes and.

Computer with internet

Credit card or other payment

High school course details

Headshot photo

A Fresh, Flexible Way To Take
the ACT!

Starting February 2024, ACT will offer an online testing option at select locations nationwide. Learn more about ACT’s online national test experience.

Test Dates

National test dates are for the United States, US territories, and Puerto Rico.

Deadlines occur at midnight Central Time.

If you are unable to test on a Saturday test date for religious reasons, there may be options available to you. See Non-Saturday Testing.

All requests for Accommodations and English Learner supports, including appeals, must be submitted by the late registration deadline through the Test Accessibility and Accommodations (TAA) system.

2024 Spring and Summer National Test Dates Schedule

Test Date
Regular Registration Deadline
Late Fee Applies After This Date
Late Registration Deadline
Photo Upload and Standby Deadline
April 13, 2024 March 8 March 24 April 5
June 8, 2024 May 3 May 19 May 31
July 13, 2024* June 7 June 21 July 5

*No test centers are scheduled in New York for the July test date.

Test Information Release for the 2024 testing year will occur in April and June. See www.act.org/the-act/tir for more information.

2024-2025 National Test Dates Schedule

Test Date
Regular Registration Deadline
Late Fee Applies After This Date
Late Registration Deadline
Photo Upload and Standby Deadline
September 14, 2024 August 9 August 25 September 6
October 26, 2024 September 20 October 7 October 18
December 14, 2024 November 8 November 22 December 6
February 8, 2025 January 3 January 20 January 31
April 5, 2025 February 28 March 16 March 28
June 14, 2025 May 9 May 26 June 6
July 12, 2025* June 6 June 20 July 4

*No test centers are scheduled in New York for the July test date.

Test Information Release for the 2024-2025 testing year will occur in September, December, and February. See www.act.org/the-act/tir for more information.

Additional Information for Registration

We Need Your Photo

As part of your registration process and ACT test security requirements, you will be asked to provide a recent photo of yourself.

Accommodations and English Learner Supports

Before you register, learn more about the process to request accommodations or English Learner (EL) supports.

When You Should Test

Consider choosing a test date at least two months ahead of the application deadlines of all the colleges and scholarship agencies you might want to apply to.

Multiple-choice scores are normally reported within 2–8 weeks after the test date. If you take the ACT with writing, scores will be reported only after all of your scores are available, including writing, normally within 5–8 weeks after the test date.

ACT Test Center Locator

Search for an ACT test center near you.

Your High School Code

You may need this code when interacting with ACT.

The ACT Writing Test

The writing test is an optional 40 minute essay that measures your skills as a writer.

Learn more about the ACT with writing.

Parent Email Address

You may opt to send copies of important messages to a parent or guardian email address.

Calculator Policy

To learn what calculators can be used during the test, see our Calculator Policy (PDF).

Retesting Restrictions

You may not receive scores from more than one test date during a scheduled national (Saturday, non-Saturday, or rescheduled test date arranged by ACT). If you are admitted and allowed to test a second time, we will report only the scores from the first test. The second or third set of scores will be cancelled without refund.

You may not receive scores from more than one test date per state administration (initial or makeup) if your school participates in ACT State and District Testing. If you are allowed to test more than once, we will report only the scores from the first test. The second set of scores will be cancelled.

How Much Does the ACT Cost?

Learn more about fees and other services, or if you might be eligible for a fee waiver.

Saying “Yes” to EOS

Get discovered by colleges. When you register you can opt-in to ACT’s Educational Opportunity Service (EOS). EOS will connect you with colleges, universities, and financial aid institutions based on your plans and interests. Expand your vision for college and open up new ways to pay for it.

Special Circumstances

Registration Changes

After you register for a test event, you will be able to make changes to your record. For a small fee, you can make a test center change and a test date change (if changes are made at the same time).

Test Center Change for the same test date - If a seat and materials are available for your test option at your new preferred test center on your preferred test date, you will be able to make a test center change. You cannot request a test center change after the late registration deadline. Instead, find out about requesting standby testing.

Test Date Change - A test date change can be used to sign up for a different test date if you are absent or unable to test on the original test date or if your registration is cancelled for failure to meet ACT's test security requirements.

Note: If you paid with an ACT Fee Waiver, the waiver will be reapplied to your new test date, but covers only the test fee or late fee for your test option, you must still pay the change fee.

Test Option Change – Before the late registration deadline, you can add the writing option or change between paper and online testing, if a seat is available.

Missed the Test

If you miss the test for any reason, including illness, injury, being denied admission at the test center for lack of ID, or late arrival, your options are listed below.

IMPORTANT: Once you break the seal on your test booklet, you cannot later request a test date change, even if you do not complete all your tests. You must register again and pay the full fee for your test option if you want to retest.

Request and pay for a test date change

Log in to your MyACT account and select "Make Changes to Your Registration" or call ACT Registration at 319.337.1270 by the regular deadline for the new test date. You will be charged the full fee for the new test date in addition to the test date change fee.

If you call during the late registration period, you will also be charged a late fee. In either case, your basic fee for the original test date will be refunded. (If you register for a new test date instead of making a test date change, your basic fee for the original test date will not be refunded.)

If you decide you do not want to test on another test date, your registration fee and any additional fees (such as late fee or test center change fee) are nonrefundable. If you do not test, no score reports will be sent.

Arranged Testing

ACT reviews arranged testing requests for examinees who qualify under certain conditions such as distance from test centers and confinement to correctional institutions.

Standby Testing

If you miss the late deadline to register for a test date, or to request a test date or test center change, you may choose to sign in to your ACT account to request and pay for standby testing. Accommodations may be available for standby testing, but seats are not guaranteed. You may contact ACT to see if there is an available seat, test materials, and staff to administer the test.