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. Compare the pacing and question formats using official full-length practice materials. The enhanced ACT composite uses English, Math and Reading. Science is separate; national test takers can choose it, while school programs and individual colleges may have their own requirements.

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, ACT may offer a standby request; a seat is not guaranteed. Check the official standby deadline or choose a later test.

2026-27 testing cycle

ACT Test Dates 2026-27

ACT National — U.S., U.S. territories, and Puerto Rico test dates and registration deadlines for the2026-27 school year, in one table — plus how to pick the date that's actually right for your student.

ACT National — U.S., U.S. territories, and Puerto Rico

Verified September 9, 2026 against the official ACT schedule. Registration cutoffs are 11:59 p.m. Central Time.

ACT National — U.S., U.S. territories, and Puerto Rico, 2026-27; verified 2026-09-09
Test date	Regular registration	Late registration
September 19, 2026	August 14, 2026	September 1, 2026
October 17, 2026	September 11, 2026	September 29, 2026
December 12, 2026	November 6, 2026	November 29, 2026
February 27, 2027	January 22, 2027	February 9, 2027
April 10, 2027	March 5, 2027	March 23, 2027
June 12, 2027	May 7, 2027	May 25, 2027
July 10, 2027	June 4, 2027	June 22, 2027

July 2027 testing includes New York; test centers may be added through spring 2027.
International, state/district, accommodations, and religious non-Saturday testing follow separate arrangements.
Late registration has an additional fee; standby requests after that deadline are not guaranteed.

Taking the ACT outside the U.S. national program? This table does not apply. Check ACT international registration.

Future cycles are added after registration deadlines are published and verified. Projected test dates do not become registration reminders.

Official enhanced ACT format and Science policies

Always confirm before you register

ACT 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

The table shows regular and late-registration deadlines. An additional fee applies after the regular cutoff. ACT may offer standby requests after late registration, but a seat is not guaranteed. Check its separate standby deadline and rules.

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. Compare the pacing and question formats using official full-length practice materials. The enhanced ACT composite uses English, Math and Reading. Science is separate; national test takers can choose it, while school programs and individual colleges may have their own requirements.
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, ACT may offer a standby request; a seat is not guaranteed. Check the official standby deadline or choose a later test.

Taking the SAT instead? See SAT test dates.

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