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Additional Information for Registration

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

Photo requirements

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

Learn about making a request

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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.

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Search for an ACT test center near you.

Test Center Locator

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You may need this code when interacting with ACT.

High School Codes Lookup

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

Learn more about the ACT with writing.

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ACT is offering a pilot of the online option to 5,000 students during the December 2023 ACT National test event at select test centers. During registration, you will see the option to choose between “Computer” and “Paper” testing. Initially, you may not see an available test center nearby if you select “Computer.” Learn more about ACT’s online national test experience here.

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

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

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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.

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Test Dates

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

  • If you missed the regular registration deadline for a test date, you can still register by the late registration deadline for an additional fee.
  • If you did not register for a test date by the late registration deadline, you may be able to request standby testing for an additional fee.

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.

2023-2024 Test Dates (National)

Test Date
 Regular Registration Deadline
Late Fee Applies After This Date
 Late Registration Deadline
 Photo Upload and Standby Deadline
September 9, 2023 August 4 August 18 September 1
October 28, 2023 September 22 October 6 October 20
December 9, 2023 November 3 November 17 December 1
February 10, 2024 January 5 January 19 February 2
April 13, 2024 March 8 March 22 April 5
June 8, 2024 May 3 May 17 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 2023-2024 testing year will occur in September, April, and June. See www.act.org/the-act/tir for more information.

How Much Does the ACT Cost?

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

ACT Fees

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
 

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.

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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.

 

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

Arranged Testing Policies and Procedures (PDF)

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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.

Standby Testing

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Terms and Conditions

For complete details, refer to the Terms and Conditions (PDF).