Standby Testing for the ACT

Standby Testing

If you miss the late deadline to register for a test date, standby testing provides a non-guaranteed opportunity to test. Standby requests can only be submitted during a limited period after the late registration deadline, and you must meet other registration requirements (such as uploading a photo) in order to be considered. You may not use another examinee’s standby ticket.

Test centers admit standbys on a first-come, first-admitted basis and only if there are available seats, test materials, and staff after all registered students have been admitted for their test option. Standby testing is only available for paper 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.

If you are unable to test, standby requests will not transfer to another test date or test center. Instead, ACT will refund the fees paid for your standby request after all answer documents have been processed for the test event.

Log-in to your ACT account to request standby testing for an additional fee.