ACT Test Dates 2026: Schedule, Deadlines, Fees & Tips

TL;DR

The remaining 2026 ACT national test dates are October 17 and December 12, 2026. The October 17 test has a regular registration deadline of September 11 and a late deadline of September 29. The December 12 test has a regular deadline of November 6 and a late deadline of November 29. ACT's 2026–2027 national schedule then continues with February 27, April 10, June 12, and July 10, 2027. ACT currently lists a $70 base registration fee, with optional Science costing $5 and Writing costing $25. The Enhanced ACT uses English, Math, and Reading for the Composite score, while Science is optional.

If you are planning to take the ACT in 2026 or during the 2026–2027 testing cycle, the most important details are the test date, regular registration deadline, late registration deadline, and expected score-release date.

For students testing in the United States, the remaining 2026 national ACT dates are October 17 and December 12. The 2026–2027 cycle continues with February 27, April 10, June 12, and July 10, 2027. ACT also uses the Enhanced ACT format, with English, Math, and Reading forming the Composite score and Science available as an optional section.

Use the schedule below to choose a test date that gives you enough preparation time while still leaving room for a retake before your college application deadlines.

Before picking a date, consider taking a quick ACT score prediction to see where you stand. Knowing your baseline helps you decide whether you need months of prep or just a few weeks of targeted practice.

ACT Test Dates 2026: Schedule and Deadlines

For the U.S. national ACT, the 2026 calendar includes five test dates. As of September 27, 2026, the June and July administrations have passed, while October and December remain available.

ACT states that national test deadlines occur at 11:59 p.m. Central Time. Its official schedule also lists the initial score-release dates for each 2026–2027 administration.

ACT Test Dates 2026–2027: Full Schedule

The ACT 2026–2027 national testing cycle includes seven U.S. test dates. ACT publishes regular registration deadlines, late deadlines, photo-upload deadlines, and initial score-release dates for each administration.

ACT notes that deadlines occur at 11:59 p.m. Central Time. The July 2027 administration will also be available in New York, beginning with the 2027 administration.

2026-2027 ACT Test Dates (Full Schedule)

This is the schedule most students planning ahead will care about. ACT.org lists seven national test dates for the 2026-2027 cycle:

The December through July deadlines are confirmed by ACT. The September and October regular/late deadlines follow the consistent five-week pattern ACT uses, though you should verify exact dates on act.org as they’re officially published.

New for 2027: July national testing is now available in New York state starting with the July 2027 administration. For years, New York students had to travel out of state for a summer ACT. That’s no longer necessary.

ACT Registration Deadlines: Regular, Late and Standby

ACT registration has three important cutoff points: the regular registration deadline, the late registration deadline, and the photo/standby deadline.

Regular Registration Deadline

The regular deadline is the standard date by which you should register for an ACT administration. Missing it generally means you will have to pay the late registration fee if registration is still available.

For example, the October 17, 2026 ACT has a regular deadline of September 11 and a late deadline of September 29.

Late Registration Deadline

ACT allows registration during a late period for an additional fee. The current national ACT late registration fee is $42.

Photo and Standby Deadline

ACT also publishes a photo-upload and standby deadline for each national administration. Missing the applicable deadline can prevent you from testing, so do not treat the late registration deadline as the only date that matters.

Standby Testing

If you miss the registration deadlines, ACT may allow standby testing. The current standby fee is $75, and a seat is not guaranteed.

ACT recommends checking your MyACT account and the official test-date schedule for the exact deadline associated with your test date.

ACT Score Release Dates 2026–2027

ACT score-release timing depends on the test date and testing format. ACT says more than 97% of scores are released within approximately two to four weeks after testing.

For the 2026–2027 national schedule, ACT publishes separate initial release dates for online and paper testing.

These are initial release dates rather than a guarantee that every student's score will appear at the exact same time. Writing scores may be released later because ACT waits until all components are available.

If your college application deadline is approaching, check the school's testing policy rather than assuming that a test date will automatically produce scores in time.

ACT Fees in 2026

The current national ACT pricing listed by ACT is:

ACT states that the listed fees are generally nonrefundable unless otherwise specified. The base registration price includes score reports for the student, their high school, and up to four colleges when applicable.

Because ACT fees can change, verify the current price on ACT's official fee page before registering.

Fee Waivers

ACT’s fee waiver program covers up to four complete test attempts for free, plus unlimited score reports. It’s dramatically underused. Many students who qualify based on family income never apply. If you receive free or reduced-price lunch, are enrolled in certain federal assistance programs, or meet other income-based criteria, check with your school counselor. The savings across multiple test attempts can easily exceed $300.

Enhanced ACT in 2026: What Changed?

All national ACT administrations in 2026 use the Enhanced ACT format. The most important changes affect the test length, Science section, Math answer choices, and Composite score.

The Enhanced ACT contains 131 questions across English, Math and Reading. Adding the optional Science section brings the total to 171 questions. The Science section remains a separate 1–36 score and does not determine the Enhanced ACT Composite.

The Enhanced ACT Composite is calculated from English, Math and Reading. ACT says the new Composite calculation began with national testing in September 2025.

Should You Take the Optional ACT Science Section?

That depends on your college and program requirements. Science is no longer required for the Enhanced ACT Composite, but individual colleges or programs may have their own expectations. Check the admissions requirements for the schools and programs you are considering before deciding whether to add Science.

For practice with the current format, an ACT question bank built around the Enhanced ACT structure is essential. Drilling with outdated five-choice Math questions or mandatory Science passages won’t reflect what you’ll actually face on test day.

Which ACT Test Date Should You Choose?

There is no single ACT test date that works for every student. Your choice should depend on your grade level, preparation time, college application deadlines, and whether you want time for another attempt.

Juniors

Juniors have the most flexibility because they can use multiple administrations across spring, summer and fall. A first attempt can establish a baseline, while a later administration can provide an opportunity to improve.

Seniors

Seniors should work backward from their college application deadlines. Do not choose an ACT date solely because registration is still available. Check when each college accepts scores and allow time for ACT score processing.

Students Taking the ACT for the First Time

Before registering, take a realistic diagnostic test. Your baseline score can help determine whether you need a longer preparation period or whether a shorter, targeted study plan is appropriate.

How Many Attempts?

Students who plan for two to three total attempts across junior and senior year give themselves the best chance to hit their target score. Taking the ACT once and hoping for the best is a gamble. Taking it five or six times has diminishing returns. Two or three attempts is the sweet spot.

If you’ve locked in your date and want to start building a study plan, ACT practice tests under realistic timing conditions are the best way to simulate test day and identify weak spots early.

How to Match Your ACT Test Date to College Application Deadlines

Choosing an ACT date should start with your college application deadline, not the test calendar.

Work backward using this sequence:

College application deadline → required score date → ACT score-release date → test date → registration deadline

For example, if a college requires an ACT score before an application deadline, you need enough time for ACT to release your score and for the college to receive or process it.

Early Action and Early Decision

Students applying through Early Action or Early Decision should check each college's testing policy and required score-submission date. An October ACT may work for some application timelines, but the exact requirement varies by college.

Regular Decision

Regular Decision applicants generally have more testing opportunities, but December testing should still be checked against each college's score-submission policy.

Important

Do not assume that the ACT's published initial score-release date is the same thing as a college's final accepted-testing deadline. Always verify the testing policy for each college on its admissions website.

State-Mandated School-Day ACT Testing

Here’s something many families overlook: you might not even need to register for a national test date.

For the 2025-2026 school year, 21 states provide free ACT testing to some or all public high school juniors. If your state is on this list, your school will administer the ACT during the school day, typically between late February and mid-April. It’s free.

States that mandate the ACT include Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Hawaii, Illinois, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, North Carolina, South Dakota, Utah, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. Several of these (Arizona, Hawaii, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, and Wisconsin) include the optional Writing section.

This school-day test counts exactly the same as a national Saturday administration. Many students use it as a free first attempt, then register for a national date if they want to improve their score.

International ACT Test Dates 2026

If you’re testing outside the United States, your options are more limited. International test centers generally offer five testing windows per year: September, October, December, April, and June. February and July are typically unavailable outside the US.

The registration process is the same (through MyACT), but the base fee jumps to $186.50, and you’ll need your passport as your primary form of ID at the test center. Plan accordingly, and register early since international centers fill up faster.

ETS Acquires ACT: What It Means for 2026 Test-Takers

On June 30, 2026, ETS announced it is acquiring ACT. This is the organization that makes the GRE and TOEFL buying the organization that makes the ACT. It’s the biggest structural change in standardized testing in decades, and no other page ranking for ACT test dates 2026 mentions it.

What does it mean for students testing in the 2026-2027 cycle? In practical terms, nothing yet. The 2026-2027 test dates, format, and fees are not expected to change as a result of the acquisition. ETS has signaled plans to invest in ACT’s products, but the deal is still fresh and detailed plans haven’t been announced.

Worth watching, but not worth worrying about if you’re registering for a test this year.

How to Prepare Once You’ve Picked a Date

Choosing a test date is step one. Step two is building a prep plan that matches your timeline. If your test is three months away, you have room for a thorough review of fundamentals. If it’s three weeks away, you need targeted drilling on your weakest sections.

Either way, the approach is the same: diagnose your weaknesses, practice under timed conditions, review every mistake, and repeat. A deep dive into how to study for the ACT breaks this process down step by step.

Practitioners on Reddit’s r/ACT community frequently recommend focused problem sets for English and Reading as the fastest way to see score improvements, since those sections reward pattern recognition that builds quickly with deliberate practice.

Start your ACT prep with Miyagi Labs to get a diagnostic, personalized study path, and access to full-length practice exams built around the Enhanced ACT format.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the next ACT test date in 2026?

If you’re reading this after June 13, 2026, the next date is July 11, 2026, with a regular registration deadline of June 5. After that, the 2026-2027 cycle begins with September 19, 2026.

How many times a year can I take the ACT?

The ACT is offered seven times per year in the United States. You can take it at every single administration if you want, though most students find two to three attempts sufficient.

Can I change my ACT test date after registering?

Yes, but it costs $42. You can make changes through your MyACT account. The change must be made before the late registration deadline for the new date you want.

Is the ACT offered on Sundays?

ACT offers non-Saturday testing for students who observe a Saturday sabbath. These administrations typically take place the Wednesday after the Saturday test date. You must request this accommodation during registration.

What happens if I miss the registration deadline?

If you miss the regular deadline, you can still register during the late registration window (about two to three weeks later) for an additional $36 to $42. If you miss the late deadline too, standby testing is your last option at an extra $68, with no guaranteed seat.

Does the Enhanced ACT still have a Science section?

Science is now optional. The core ACT covers English, Math, and Reading. Adding Science costs a small additional fee ($4-$5). Your composite score is calculated from whichever sections you take.

Are ACT scores from the old format still valid?

Yes. Legacy ACT scores remain valid, and ACT has confirmed they can be superscored with Enhanced ACT scores. The superscoring formula adjusts based on which sections are available from each sitting.

How long does it take to get ACT scores back?

Over 97% of scores are released within two to four weeks. Digital testers often see scores in about 5 days, while paper testers typically wait around 10 days. Writing scores take an additional two weeks beyond that.