ACT Registration Info

ACT Test Dates and Locations

Students interested in taking the ACT should first find out whether their high school holds its own test day. If it does, the student mainly needs to note the date for preparation purposes, since school officials handle most of the administrative and registration details. If not, the student registers for one of ACT's national or international test dates, all of which are posted on the ACT website along with the regular and late registration deadlines. Test-takers in the United States, its territories, and Puerto Rico can choose from seven national dates each year, while international testing is offered separately, on fewer dates and, increasingly, online. Test centers can be located with the Test Center Locator on the ACT website, which lists sites by state and city within the U.S. or by country abroad.

Online ACT Registration

ACT strongly encourages test-takers to register online. The first step is to create a MyACT account at myact.org. This account lets students register for the exam, upload their required photo, view their scores, and send score reports to their preferred colleges or universities. Registration takes roughly 40 minutes, so students should have their high school course details, a payment method, and a recent portrait-style photograph ready to upload before they begin.

ACT Registration by Mail

Although it is not the preferred method, ACT also offers registration by standard mail to all test-takers. To register for the ACT by mail, visit the ACT website and complete the Individual Register-by-Mail Packet Request form by entering your name, address, phone number, and email address. Packets generally take 7-10 business days to arrive. Test-takers using mail-in registration should note that test center and college codes must be located and manually entered on the form (this process is done automatically with online registration). These codes are listed on the ACT website.

Registration Policies for Special Circumstances

The following types of test administration are defined as "special circumstances" by ACT, each with its own registration policies: international testing, arranged testing, standby testing, and testing by students 13 years of age or younger. Students taking the ACT outside of the U.S., its territories, or Canada may only register online. Because test availability will vary, international test-takers are advised to select a test center and date before registering. Arranged testing is intended for students who live in a country with no ACT test centers or a U.S. state with no test centers within 75 miles, for students who are confined for medical or legal reasons, or for students who have religious objections to testing on Saturdays. Requests for arranged testing must be completed by a school official and the student and mailed in hard copy to ACT along with supporting documentation. Test-takers who miss the late registration deadline for their preferred date may register for standby testing, which is completed through the student's MyACT account. Test-takers who are aged 13 or younger must register for the ACT by standard mail.

Registration and Service Fees

The base ACT fee in the United States covers the three required sections — English, Math, and Reading. The optional Science section and the optional Writing test each add a separate charge. At registration, reports for you, your high school, and up to four colleges are included if you enter those college codes; additional reports cost a fee. Separate charges also apply to late registration, changing your test date or test center, and standby testing for those who miss the late deadline. International testing carries its own pricing, so students testing abroad should confirm the current amounts on act.org. Because ACT adjusts its fees almost every year, verify the current figures on the ACT website before you register.

Fee Waiver Eligibility

ACT fee waivers are available to eligible 11th- and 12th-grade students testing in the United States. Eligibility is established through any one of several indicators of financial need — for example, enrollment in the federal free or reduced-price lunch program, which is based on household size and family income. A single fee waiver covers registration for up to two test dates, but it cannot be applied to late registration or to any additional services. Students who think they may qualify should ask their school counselor, and the current income thresholds are published on the ACT website.