ACT Test Accommodations and English Learner Supports
Submit for Approval
ACT is committed to providing appropriate accommodations for examinees who take the ACT test. To request accommodations, you will need to work with a school official, because the accommodations requested should be similar to the accommodations you currently receive in school. Accommodations MUST be approved by ACT before testing. A request alone is not enough.
All requests, including appeals, must be submitted by the late registration deadline for your preferred test date. If your request is not properly submitted, it may not be approved in time for your preferred test date.
How to Make a Request
Not in school?
Please see Examinees Who Are Homeschooled or Are Not Currently Enrolled for instructions.
Register to test.
Log into MyACT and complete the following:
- Link a valid high school to your MyACT account before you register to allow ACT to communicate your registration to the associated school official in TAA. Consider searching for your high school by zip code, which may be different than your home address.
- Select ‘Yes’ when prompted to confirm you need accommodations after beginning the registration process. If you selected ‘no’, you will need to contact ACT as soon as possible to update your registration if you need to test with accommodations.
You can also view this helpful video that provides a walkthrough of the registration process: The ACT Extended Time vs. Special Testing Comparison
Work with your school official to submit your request.
After you register, you will receive an email that you must forward to your school official. You also need to provide a completed Consent to Release Information to ACT (PDF) form.
Your school official must submit your accommodations request in TAA before the late registration deadline for your test. Once submitted, requests can take 5-10 business days to process.
Need additional help? You can also review the step-by-step video: So You’ve Registered for the ACT with Accommodations, Now What?
Note: If the accommodations you need were previously approved, you should not submit a new request. Skip this step.
Review the decision notification with your school official.
Your school official will receive a copy of the decision notification. If your request was denied, review your decision notification with your school official. You have until the late registration deadline to submit an appeal.
Note: If after 10 business days, you have not received an update from your school official about your accommodations request, please contact them directly.
Approved for special testing? Make arrangements to test!
You are responsible for working with your school official to make arrangements to test within the special testing window. Students approved for special testing usually test at their own school. If your high school cannot administer the test, contact ACT as soon as possible.
Print your admission ticket.
Be sure to upload your photo (if you have not already done so) and review your admission ticket to ensure your registration shows your accommodations. If you are testing at a national test center, check your testing location. In some cases, we may need to change your testing location to provide your accommodations.
What kind of documentation will I need?
Special Testing Windows
If you are located in the US, US Territories, or Puerto Rico, special testing is available during the designated testing windows below. Please note, some schools may be closed during part of the testing window due to schools being out of session.
2023-2024 Special Testing Windows
Test Date | Testing Window |
---|---|
September 9, 2023 | September 9 - September 24 |
October 28, 2023 | October 28 - November 12 |
December 9, 2023 | December 9 - December 24 |
February 10, 2024 | February 10 - February 25 |
April 13, 2024 | April 13 - April 28 |
June 8, 2024 | June 8 - June 23 |
July 13, 2024* | July 13 - July 28 |
*Special testing is not available in New York for the July Testing Window.
The Test Information Release for Special testing is available during the April testing window. Learn more!
2024-2025 Special Testing Windows
Test Date | Testing Window |
---|---|
September 14, 2024 | September 14 - September 29 |
October 26, 2024 | October 26 - November 10 |
December 14, 2024 | December 14 - December 29 |
February 8, 2025 | February 8 - February 23 |
April 5, 2025 | April 5 - April 20 |
June 14, 2025 | June 14 - June 29 |
July 12, 2025* | July 12 - July 27 |
*Special testing is not available in New York for the July Testing Window.
The Test Information Release for Special testing is available during the February testing window. Learn more!
Documents and Guides
Allowable ACT Accommodations and English Learner (EL) Supports (PDF) | Provides a breakdown of accommodations available and the test type in which they are provided (either National or Special testing) |
National vs. Special (PDF) | Infographic detailing examples of Accommodations and EL Supports in National and Special testing. |
Preparing for the ACT Test - Special Testing (PDF) | Learning resource for examinees taking the ACT through Special testing. |
Preparing for the ACT Test - Special Testing Scoring Keys (PDF) | Booklet to help students prepare for the ACT test, inlcudes scoring keys. |
Preparing for the ACT Test - Special Testing Scoring Keys - Spanish (PDF) | Booklet to help students prepare for the ACT test, inlcudes scoring keys - Spanish version. |
Accessibility Supports Guide for the ACT - National and Special Testing (PDF) | Resource for examinees and educational teams requesting accommodations or EL supports for the ACT test. |
Student Pre-Test Checklist (PDF) | Checklist for students taking the ACT test |
Your Privacy
ACT will treat all information you provide to support your request as confidential and will use it solely to determine your eligibility for accessibility supports. Details about these supports will be shared only with the testing staff and will not be released to anyone else, including your chosen score report recipients. The only exceptions are for those instances in which an examinee’s related documents and information are the subject of a subpoena or other court order, or an enforceable request from a government entity. ACT Score Reports do not include any specifics about the accessibility supports provided.
Contact Us
If you have a more specific question, please use the Contact Form.
Still have questions?
Call to speak with an ACT representative at (319) 337-1332, Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM (Central)
Call wait times may vary.
Looking for information for educators about accommodations and English learner supports?