ACT® Test Dates & Registration 2025

Generally, students who intend on applying to competitive colleges should plan to take the ACT at least once in the spring of junior year and once in the fall of senior year. The year-round testing months are February, April, June, July, September, October, and December. Every student should consider other factors that may contribute to their ideal test date. This includes the application deadlines for your top schools, early action or early decision timelines, and scholarship deadlines. Competitive test takers should start learning about how the ACT is formatted and the content it covers a year prior to their first important deadline.

1) To avoid paying an extra fee, you should register for the test before the deadline, about a month in advance. However, you can still sign up through the late registration deadline. Before you go to the website, gather information you will need, which includes your school code and photo.

2) When you're ready, go to ACT’s registration page. Make sure to set aside 35-45 minutes to complete the process. When signing up, you will need to create an account and choose your test date. You'll also decide if you are taking the Writing portion of the ACT. Some colleges require you to take the Writing test and others recommend it. Be sure to include that in your registration if you'll need it to apply.

3) After registration is completed, ACT will ask you to upload your photo. It must be clear and easy to recognize. It should be similar to a passport photo. You must submit your photo by the provided deadline and have a photo ID on test day.

It's better to pick a test date and stick with it—both to keep yourself on schedule and to avoid paying extra fees. However, if something comes up and you need to change your ACT test date, you can do on the website or by calling ACT Student Services at 319-337-1270. You will have to pay a fee to change the date or location and you must register for your new date before the late deadline. Once you've changed your test, be sure to adapt your study plan to fit your new timeline.

For most students, we recommend starting your preparation in the summer following your sophomore year or right before junior year. This will give you ample time to research admissions deadlines for the respective colleges of interest and assess how many hours per week you can dedicate to studying. Studying longer doesn’t always mean you’ll score higher, however, it does increase your chances of performing well if you have an effective study plan. Before you dive into your prep plan, you should learn more about the tests, the requirements of colleges to which you will apply, and set a goal score.

For first-time ACT test takers:

1) Start with a practice test.

2) Speak with a teacher to help you understand your score, your ideal test date, and determine the best preparation option.

If you are taking the ACT again:

1) Determine how far you are from your goal score.

2) Speak with a teacher to help you determine the most effective preparation option based on areas that need improvement and the time you have until test day.

In order to register for the ACT, you must sign up for an ACT student web account. You must also have a photo ID, as well as a photo of yourself that can be uploaded to the registration site. Before you take your test, you need to print out your ACT admission ticket. On test day, you will not be allowed into the testing center without a valid ID and a printout of your ticket.

To learn more about upcoming ACT exam dates and registration deadlines, visit the official ACT website or speak with your high school counselor.