Nearly 1.4 million students from the class of 2023 took the ACT, according to ACT.org.
If you’ve decided that the ACT is the better test for you, compared with the SAT, and you intend to take the ACT this academic year, it’s important to keep track of upcoming testing dates and registration deadlines.
If you want to take the ACT this summer, there are two remaining dates available: June 8, 2024 (with registration deadline of May 3 and late registration through May 17) and July 13, 2024 (with registration deadline of June 7 and late registration through June 21).
National ACT testing dates for 2024-25
Here is the full national ACT schedule for tests and registrations.
| ACT Test Dates | Registration Deadline | Late Registration |
|---|---|---|
September 14, 2024 | August 9, 2024 | August 25, 2024 |
October 26, 2024 | September 20, 2024 | October 7, 2024 |
December 14, 2024 | November 8, 2024 | November 22, 2024 |
February 8, 2025 | January 3, 2025 | January 20, 2025 |
April 5, 2025 | February 28, 2025 | March 16, 2025 |
June 14, 2025 | May 9, 2025 | May 26, 2025 |
July 12, 2025 | June 6, 2024 | June 20, 2025 |
Note that test centers are not scheduled for New York for the July 2025 test date.
You can register for the ACT here. Currently, the registration fee is $68 for the full ACT (without writing) test and $93 for the full ACT (with writing) test.
Students from low-income families may be eligible for an ACT fee waiver. If you think you may be eligible, you can get more details here.
ACT state and district testing dates for 2024-25
In addition to the ACT’s standard weekend testing dates, many states and districts register to offer in-school testing programs, which give students the opportunity to take the ACT, on paper or online, in their classrooms on a weekday rather than on a Saturday.
The registration fee involved for district testing is lower than that for national testing. For the paper test, the fee is $55.50 for the full ACT (without writing) test and $70.25 for the full ACT (with writing) test. For the online test, the fee is $53.25 for the full ACT (without writing) test and $68.50 for the full ACT (with writing) test.
Here are the key dates:
| District Testing Session | Paper Test Dates | Online Testing Window |
|---|---|---|
| Fall 2024 | October 15, 2024 October 29, 2024 | Oct. 15-18, 2024 Oct. 21-25, 2024 Oct. 29-Nov. 1, 2024 Nov. 4-8, 2024 |
| Initial Spring 2025 | N/A – open to online testing only | Feb. 25-28, 2025 March 3-7, 2025 |
| Early Spring 2025 | March 11, 2025 March 25, 2025 | March 11-14, 2025 March 17-21, 2025 March 25-28, 2025 March 31-April 4, 2025 |
| Late Spring 2025 | April 8, 2025 April 22, 2025 | April 8-11, 2025 April 14-18, 2025 April 22-25, 2025 April 28-May 2, 2025 |
If your high school is in a district that administers in-school testing, your school will provide you with updates and registration details. If you would like to do further research on your own, more information about state and district testing is available on ACT’s website.
How to study for the ACT online for free
There are all sorts of free online resources available that you can use to effectively prepare for the ACT. A full list of those resources, along with details on how to effectively use them, is available here.
For tips on getting a perfect ACT score, check out this interview with Dawn Mueller, an educational consultant with Tutor Doctor.
And if you’re looking for further insights and resources to help you with your college journey, consider checking out TUN AI. Our ethical, AI-powered platform uses artificial intelligence and machine learning to guide students through the college selection and application process, providing personalized recommendations and valuable insights that help students make informed decisions about their academic future.
How is the ACT scored?
In order to put your best foot forward when you take the ACT, you should understand how the exam is graded.
Check here to find everything you need to know about ACT scoring.
