How to Register for the ACT

It’s important to register for the ACT as soon as possible so you have a reserved spot. Here are some tips for registering for the ACT.

1. Register online. Registering online at the ACT website is the fastest and easiest way to register. From your online account, you can print your admission ticket, make changes to your registration, and view your scores as soon as they are available.
2. Submit a photo. You must submit a photo of yourself no later than one week before the day of the test, unless you plan to take the SAT at your school as part of statewide or district-wide testing. In that case, no photo is required. You may upload photos from your computer, from a mobile device, or send a paper copy by mail. Visit the ACT website for complete photo submission guidelines.
3. Find out if you need to take the Writing Test. Some colleges require scores from the optional Writing Test. You can register for this test along with the ACT. It is offered on the same dates as the ACT test.
4. Pay your fees or apply for a fee waiver. The registration fee for the ACT is $66 without the optional essay test and $91 with the optional essay test. The fee includes reports for you, your high school, and up to four colleges. There is a fee of $18 for each report sent to additional colleges. Visit the ACT website for a complete list of fees, as well as more information about registration, fee waivers, and the test itself.
5. Decide if you want colleges to contact you. When you register for the ACT you can opt-in to ACT’s Educational Opportunity Service (EOS), which will connect you with colleges, universities, and financial aid opportunities.

HOW TO RESCHEDULE AN EXISTING ACT REGISTRATION

Your scheduled ACT test may be cancelled or rescheduled for a number of reasons, including COVID-19 outbreaks, inclement weather, and other unforeseen circumstances. If future tests are cancelled, ACT will send an email to all students registered for ACT tests informing them of their testing status and provide instructions for how to reschedule. Just follow the instructions in the email to reschedule your test date and/or location. For updates about test center closures, visit the ACT’s cancelled and rescheduled test centers page.

You should, in most cases, be able to reschedule your registration through your student web account. If you are unable to reschedule your test, contact ACT Customer Support.

Test-date change fees will be waived if a test is cancelled or a test center closes. However, if you wish to reschedule an ACT test date for your own reasons, you will be charged a change fee.

ACT FEE WAIVERS 

ACT fee waivers are available to qualifying students who cannot afford the ACT registration fee.

Students can receive up to four fee waivers which cover an unlimited number of free score reports and free access to self-paced test prep. If you qualify for an ACT fee waiver you may also qualify for college application fee waivers. Go to the ACT website for information about obtaining a fee waiver.

ACT TESTING AND SCORING

The ACT offers a superscore scoring option. Students who take the ACT more than once will automatically receive a superscore that averages their four best scores from the English, math, reading and science portions of the test.

WHAT TO EXPECT ON TEST DAY

All ACT test centers and sites will continue to follow CDC-recommended COVID guidelines. Masks are not required on test day unless your specific test location has a mask mandate in effect. ACT encourages students to bring and wear masks, and to stay home if they do not feel well on the day of the test. Expect to arrive by 8 a.m. The test without the writing portion should takes almost three hours with one short break after the second test. The writing portion takes an additional 40 minutes.

COLLEGES ARE BEING FLEXIBLE ABOUT TEST SCORES

Your test scores are just one factor in your college applications. Keep in mind that many colleges have test-optional, test flexible, or test blind policies. Be sure to confirm the testing requirements for any college you’re applying to. Good luck!