ACT Test Dates 2020

We generally recommend students take the ACT in spring of their Junior year, and begin preparation for the exam roughly 3 months ahead of the chosen exam date. You should consider your personal, academic, and extra-curricular schedule before choosing an ACT exam date. For a great deal of Juniors spring can become a really busy time with AP Exams, SAT Subject Test and pre-existing academic workloads, so it is best to plan ahead! You should also be aware of any deadlines for scholarships that you are interested in applying for. It normally takes between three and eight weeks after your test before you get your scores back. If you have taken the essay portion, the reporting period is usually five to eight weeks after your test date. You are always welcome to give us a call for a free consultation to discuss your unique needs!

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You can find a test center's scheduled test dates here. You can narrow your search by typing in part or all of the city or test center name. Test centers are listed under the actual city name, not metropolitan area. ACT Tests are generally given at local high schools, career schools, colleges and other locations. The ACT is typically given on a Saturday. In the event you require a non-Saturday test because of religious reasons, there are a select number of test locations that can accommodate your needs. 

It’s a common myth that there are easier ACT test dates and harder ACT test dates. You may heard that Ivy League-bound, early decision seniors wreck the curve in September or that December is easier because of underprepared juniors. These rumors are completely false. There’s no such thing as easier ACT exam dates or harder ACT exam dates. The “curve” does vary a bit between tests dates, so you may be able to miss an extra question or two and get the same score on a section, but an analysis of past ACT tests reveals that there’s no annual cycle in variations regarding the curves.

The ACT costs $52 without the essay and $68 with the essay, and late registration is an extra $30. If you are interesting in standby testing it will cost $55, and to change the date or center there is a $32 fee. Score reports to more than four colleges cost $13 for the fifth and sixth, then $13 each. For more information about ACT fees you can learn more here.