ACT test dates and how to register

2026-27 ACT test dates and deadlines

July testing isn’t offered in New York until 2027, and ACT keeps adding test centers through spring 2027. My Answer Key, a copy of your test questions and answers, is offered for the October, December, April and June dates.

Looking for 2025 dates? Those have all passed. ACT’s national dates are the same across the US, apart from July, when no test centers are scheduled in New York.

Which ACT test date should you pick?

ACT says most students take the ACT in junior or senior year, after most of their core classes. Its suggested path is a first try in the fall of junior year, a retake in the spring after more practice, and a last attempt in the fall of senior year, which still gets scores to colleges in time. You can test earlier, in 9th or 10th grade, or even after you graduate.

Work back from your earliest college or scholarship deadline, and count the 1 to 4 weeks scores take to come out.

How to register

1. Create a free account at my.act.org.
2. Have a credit card or other payment method ready, and a recent photo of yourself.
3. Choose your test date and a test center near you. You can choose paper or computer where the center offers both.
4. Decide on the science and writing add-ons.
5. Pick up to four colleges to get your scores for free.
6. Pay, then upload your photo by the photo deadline and print your admission ticket.

Rescheduling or changing your registration

Log in to MyACT and choose “Make Changes to Your Registration,” or call ACT at 319.337.1270. Do it by the regular deadline for your new date. A change of date, test center or test option costs $49, plus the $42 late fee if you change during the late period. A fee waiver doesn’t cover the change fee.

Missed the late deadline? You can request standby testing in MyACT by the standby deadline. It costs $75, and it’s refunded if you’re turned away on test day.

Finding a test center

When you register, MyACT shows the centers with seats for your date. To look before you register, use ACT’s test center locator and search by state, city or ZIP code. Not every center offers both paper and computer testing.

Many students take the ACT at their own school instead. In the class of 2025, about 1.1 million of the 1.4 million ACT-tested graduates tested through school-day programs run by their state or district. Your school sets that date and handles sign-up, so ask your counselor.

Your admission ticket

Print it from MyACT once your photo has been uploaded and approved. If you asked for accommodations, the ticket isn’t ready until they’re approved. ACT suggests checking it early but printing it close to test day, in case anything changes.

Forgot it? You can still test. On paper, though, missing details can delay your scores. For school-day testing, though, your school handles registration, not you.

Can you cancel the ACT?

Not as such. ACT says a registration can’t be canceled once it’s submitted, and fees are nonrefundable unless ACT says otherwise. What you can do is move to another date for the $49 change fee. If you just don’t show up, nothing is scored or sent, and you don’t get your money back.

On test day, you can ask the staff not to score your answers. Once the test has started, you can no longer switch to another date.