ACT Exam Test Dates and Deadlines

National Test Dates Schedule

2026 National Test Dates Schedule

Test Date
 Regular Registration Deadline
(Late fee applies after this date.)
 Late Registration Deadline
 Photo Upload/ Standby Deadline Initial Score Release Date
December 13, 2025 November 7 November 24 December 5 December 30
February 14, 2026 January 9 January 23 February 6 March 3
April 11, 2026 March 6 March 24 April 3 April 21
June 13, 2026 May 8 May 29 June 5 June 23
July 11, 2026* June 5 June 24 July 3 July 21

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

 

2026-2027 National Test Dates Schedule

Test Date
 Regular Registration Deadline
(Late fee applies after this date.)
 Late Registration Deadline
 Photo Upload/ Standby Deadline Initial Score Release Date
September 19, 2026 August 14 September 1 September 14 October 6
October 17, 2026 September 11 September 29 October 12 October 27
December 12, 2026 November 6 November 29 December 7 December 22
February 27, 2027 January 22 February 9 February 22 March 16
April 10, 2027 March 5 March 23 April 5 April 20
June 12, 2027 May 7 May 25 June 7 June 22
July 10, 2027 June 4 June 22 July 5 July 20

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


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.

National test dates schedules are updated in the summer, following the July test date.

2025-2026 Test Date Schedule (PDF)

Where to Take the ACT

Find an ACT Test center location in your area. 

ACT Test Center Locator

Frequently Asked Questions

ACT National (Saturday) testing is offered 7 times per year - actual dates vary.

Over 97% of scores are available within a 2-4 week period after the test date. Learn more about scores and view initial score release dates. 

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.

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.

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). Learn more about your options.

This is called a Change Fee and the current fee for doing this is $44. Learn more about additional fees.

See question above for "What if I missed my ACT test date?"

See question above for "What if I missed my ACT test date?"

See above for Request and pay for a test date change.

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