The ACT is a curriculum-based achievement test that measures what a student has learned in school. This standardized test is widely accepted by four-year colleges and universities in the U.S. and helps them evaluate candidates.
| ACT TEST DATE | REGISTRATION DATE | INITIAL SCORE RELEASE DATE | SUGGESTED PREP DATES |
|---|
| February 14, 2026 | January 9, 2026 | March 3, 2026 | October 2025 |
| April 11, 2026 | March 6, 2026 | April 16, 2026 | December 2025 |
| June 13, 2026 | May 8, 2026 | June 18, 2026 | February 2026 |
| July 11, 2026 | June 5, 2026 | July 16, 2026 | March 2026 |
| September 19, 2026 | August 14, 2026 | October 6, 2026 | May 2026 |
| October 17, 2026 | September 11, 2026 | October 27, 2026 | June 2026 |
| December 12, 2026 | November 6, 2026 | December 22, 2026 | August 2026 |
| February 27, 2027 | January 22, 2027 | March 16, 2027 | October 2026 |
| April 10, 2027 | March 5, 2027 | April 20, 2027 | December 2026 |
| June 12, 2027 | May 7, 2027 | June 22, 2027 | February 2027 |
| July 10, 2027 | June 4, 2027 | July 20, 2027 | March 2027 |
*No test centers are scheduled in New York for the July test date. See Non-Saturday Testing .
Note: Multiple choice scores are normally available within two weeks after each national test date, but it can sometimes take up to eight weeks. Writing scores are normally available about two weeks after your multiple-choice scores. For more information regarding ACT score release dates, please visit act.org .
You can register online for the ACT , a process which takes about 40 minutes. First, find a test date that works for you, and make sure that you register early, before the deadline. To do so, you'll need the following:
The ACT can be taken with or without the writing and science sections. To determine if you need either, find out if the colleges you're applying to require them. When you register, you can opt into ACT’s Educational Opportunity Service, which will connect you with financial institutions and colleges based on your interests and future plans.
Be sure to print out your ticket to the test center after you register, as you'll need it to take the ACT.
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