HOW TO REGISTER FOR THE ACT
If you’re wondering how to register for the ACT, go to the official ACT registration page, create or sign in to your MyACT account, and choose your test date and test center.
2026-2027 ACT TEST DATES AND DEADLINES
The ACT is offered seven times during the 2026-2027 testing year, and each national test is administered on a Saturday. The dates below are the official national ACT dates for the United States, U.S. territories, and Puerto Rico.
ACT deadlines expire at 11:59 p.m. Central Time. A late fee applies after the regular registration deadline.
| ACT TEST DATE | REGULAR REGISTRATION DEADLINE | LATE REGISTRATION DEADLINE | PHOTO UPLOAD AND STANDBY DEADLINE |
|---|---|---|---|
| September 19, 2026 | August 14, 2026 | September 1, 2026 | September 14, 2026 |
| October 17, 2026 | September 11, 2026 | September 29, 2026 | October 12, 2026 |
| December 12, 2026 | November 6, 2026 | November 29, 2026 | December 7, 2026 |
| February 27, 2027 | January 22, 2027 | February 9, 2027 | February 22, 2027 |
| April 10, 2027 | March 5, 2027 | March 23, 2027 | April 5, 2027 |
| June 12, 2027 | May 7, 2027 | May 25, 2027 | June 7, 2027 |
| July 10, 2027 | June 4, 2027 | June 22, 2027 | July 5, 2027 |
Test centers can fill up, so register as early as you can instead of waiting for the deadline. Beginning in July 2027, ACT says July testing will also be available to students in New York.
2026-2027 ACT SCORE RELEASE DATES
ACT publishes an initial score release date for each national test. ACT says that more than 97% of scores are released within approximately two to four weeks, though scores with the optional writing test may take longer.
| ACT TEST DATE | INITIAL SCORE RELEASE DATE |
|---|---|
| September 19, 2026 | October 6, 2026 |
| October 17, 2026 | October 27, 2026 |
| December 12, 2026 | December 22, 2026 |
| February 27, 2027 | March 16, 2027 |
| April 10, 2027 | April 20, 2027 |
| June 12, 2027 | June 22, 2027 |
| July 10, 2027 | July 20, 2027 |
IMPORTANT INFORMATION TO KNOW
- ACT national test dates apply to the United States, U.S. territories, and Puerto Rico. International test dates and deadlines are different.
- A late fee applies after the regular registration deadline. If you miss the late deadline, you may be able to request standby testing, but a seat is not guaranteed.
- If you need accommodations or English learner supports, submit your request by ACT’s published accommodations deadline through its Test Accessibility and Accommodations system.
- If you cannot test on Saturday because of religious observance, non-Saturday testing may be available.
PREPMEDIANS GUIDE TO CHOOSING YOUR BEST 2026-2027 ACT TEST DATE
Deadlines for college applications and scholarships
The first thing you should consider when deciding when to take the ACT is your college admission deadline schedule. Ideally, you will have taken the ACT at least once during your junior year before entering senior fall. Starting the test prep process during senior fall can be incredibly stressful because you will also want to focus on your grades and college essays.
“When should I take the ACT?”
If you’re a senior, aim to take the September 19th or October 17th ACT and then be done with testing. Many colleges have cutoffs for how late you can take the ACT, so check each college’s admissions website to see whether it will accept a score from the December 12th test.
If you’re a junior, aim to take the December 12th ACT as your first test and then the February 27th and April 10th tests as your retakes. You may take the PSAT/NMSQT or PreACT during your junior year, and you can use those results to study more effectively for your December ACT.
Keep retaking the ACT as many times as makes sense. If you think you’ve hit your maximum score, you can stop retesting and focus on other parts of your college application. If you have fee waivers or can comfortably pay for another test and think you can significantly improve, keep going. You may also decide to take a break over the summer after junior year and try one last time at the beginning of senior year.
REAL RESULTS FROM PREPSTERS
“My score went from a 24 to a 33 after two weeks of using Prepmedians daily!”
— Ruchita, Prepmedians student (ACT English)
“Luckily on test day, my score, which was stuck at a 29, was able to improve to a 34, and that was thanks to Prepmedians.”
— Emma, Prepmedians student
The best time to begin dedicated SAT or ACT prep is the spring of 10th grade or later. If you’re younger than that, focus first on building a strong academic foundation with our Grammar course and our 6th–12th grade Math courses, including Pre-Algebra, Algebra 1, Geometry, Algebra 2/Trigonometry, and Precalculus. Choose the Math course that matches the class you’re currently taking—or the course you most recently completed if you want to reinforce and master those skills.
The summer before 8th, 9th, or 10th grade is an especially valuable time to work through these courses. They help students master the grammar mechanics and math skills needed for school and beyond while laying the foundation for future SAT and ACT success. Our academic courses are available at prepmedians.com/#courses.
“How should I study for the ACT?”
The best way to improve your ACT score is to prepare with a consistent plan, review every mistake, and practice under realistic testing conditions.
At Prepmedians, SAT and ACT prep is taught through sketch comedy videos. We have helped thousands of students claim their dream scores, and you can hear from them here.
You can also find the best lesson plan for your upcoming test date in our ready-made lesson plans. Go claim your dream score!
Dates and deadlines last verified against ACT’s official schedule on July 23, 2026. ACT may change dates or deadlines, so confirm them before registering.
