Nearly 1.35 million students from the class of 2022 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, the only dates available are June 10, 2023 (only late registration is available through May 19) and July 15, 2023 (register by June 16 for regular registration or by June 23 for late registration).
National ACT testing dates
Here is the full national ACT schedule for tests and registrations.
| ACT Test Dates | Registration Deadline | Late Registration Deadline |
|---|---|---|
September 9, 2023 | August 4, 2023 | August 18, 2023 |
October 28, 2023 | September 22, 2023 | October 6, 2023 |
December 9, 2023 | November 3, 2023 | November 16, 2023 |
February 10, 2024 | January 5, 2023 | January 19, 2023 |
April 13, 2024 | March 8, 2024 | March 22, 2024 |
June 8, 2024 | May 3, 2024 | May 17, 2024 |
July 13, 2024 | June 7, 2024 | June 21, 2024 |
Note that test centers are not scheduled for New York for the July test date.
You can register for the ACT here. Currently, the registration fee is $66 for the full ACT (without writing) test and $91 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
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 $53 for the full ACT (without writing) test and $67.75 for the full ACT (with writing) test. For the online test, the fee is $51.75 for the full ACT (without writing) test and $66.50 for the full ACT (with writing) test.
Here are the key dates:
| District Testing Session | Paper Test Dates | Online Testing Window |
|---|---|---|
| Fall 2023 | October 17, 2023 October 31, 2023 | Oct. 17-19, 2023 Oct. 24-26, 2023 Oct. 31-Nov.2, 2023 Nov. 7-9, 2023 |
| Initial Spring 2024 | N/A – open to online testing only | Feb. 27-March 1, 2024 March 4-8, 2024 |
| Early Spring 2024 | March 12, 2024 March 26, 2024 | March 12-15, 2024 March 18-22, 2024 March 26-29, 2024 April 1-5, 2024 |
| Late Spring 2024 | April 9, 2024 April 23, 2024 | April 9-12, 2024 April 15-19, 2024 April 23-26, 2024 April 29-30, 2024 |
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.
And if you need further guidance about the ACT or any other aspects of college prep or higher education journey, check out TUN AI. It’a a free online tool that uses artificial intelligence to provide personalized guidance and resources for your college journey.
