Claros

2026-27 testing cycle

ACT Test Dates 2026-27

Every official ACT test date and registration deadline for the 2026-27 school year, in one table — plus how to pick the date that's actually right for your student.

Test DateRegistration Deadline
September 12, 2026August 8, 2026
October 24, 2026September 19, 2026
December 12, 2026November 7, 2026
February 6, 2027January 8, 2027
April 10, 2027March 5, 2027
June 12, 2027May 7, 2027

Always confirm before you register

ACT, Inc. sets and can change this calendar. Treat the dates above as a planning reference, not a guarantee, and confirm the current ACT dates and deadlines directly on ACT's official registration page before you register.

How to choose your ACT date

Work backward from your earliest application deadline. If you're applying early decision or early action, those deadlines usually land around November 1 — so a spring or summer test date the year before gives colleges your scores in time, with room for a retake if needed.

Leave a real retake window. Most students improve their score on a second attempt once they know the format and have targeted their weak areas. Picking a date that leaves at least one more official test before your deadline takes the pressure off any single sitting.

Match the date to your school calendar. A test date right after a school break, an AP exam, or a big extracurricular commitment usually means less effective prep time — a date a few weeks out, with a clear runway to study, tends to produce a better score than the earliest date available.

How registration deadlines work

Each ACT date has a standard registration deadline — the last day to register at the regular price. After that, ACT typically opens a short late-registration window for an additional fee, followed by a later deadline for changes like switching your test center. Once the late window closes, registration for that date is no longer possible.

Because dates, fees, and windows can change year to year, treat everything on this page as a starting point and verify the specifics on ACT's site before you commit to a date.

Questions

ACT test dates, answered

When should I take the ACT?
Most students take their first ACT in the fall or spring of junior year, leaving fall of senior year open as a retake window before early-decision and early-action deadlines (usually November 1). Testing early gives you time to retake the ACT if your score doesn't reflect your work.
Can I switch from the SAT to the ACT?
Yes — colleges that accept standardized testing accept either the SAT or the ACT, and neither is favored over the other. Some students score better on one format because of pacing or the ACT's science section; a full-length practice test on each is the most reliable way to tell which fits you.
What happens if I miss the registration deadline?
ACT opens a short late-registration window after the standard deadline for an added fee. After that window closes, registration for that specific test date is no longer available and you'd need to wait for the next one.

Taking the SAT instead? See SAT test dates.

Pick your date. We'll build the plan to hit it.

Claros turns a target ACT date into a day-by-day study plan — practice calibrated to your skill gaps, a countdown, and a real sense of whether you're on track before test day arrives.

Start freeFree readiness check