If your child is planning to take the ACT in 2026 or 2027, knowing the test dates and registration deadlines is the first step in building a preparation plan that works. Missing a registration deadline means waiting for the next available date, which can push preparation timelines back and create unnecessary pressure.
This guide covers every national ACT test date for the 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 academic years, registration deadlines, score release dates, and a recommended prep timeline for each test date. All dates are sourced from the official ACT website and will be updated as new information is released.
Key Takeaways
- The ACT is offered seven times per year: September, October, December, February, April, June, and July.
- Registration deadlines are typically five to six weeks before the test date. Late registration is available for an additional fee but closes approximately two weeks before the test.
- Initial ACT scores are released approximately two weeks after the test date. Full scores including the Writing section take longer.
- There is no penalty for guessing on the ACT. Every unanswered question is a missed point, so your child should answer every question even if they are unsure.
- Most colleges superscore the ACT, meaning they take the highest section scores from different test dates. Taking the ACT more than once is a standard and effective strategy.
ACT Test Dates: 2025-2026 Academic Year
The following dates cover the remaining 2025-2026 test administrations. If your child is a current junior and has not yet taken the ACT, these are the dates available before the end of the school year.
| Test Date | Registration Deadline | Late Registration | Photo Upload Deadline | Score Release Date |
| June 13, 2026 | May 8, 2026 | May 29, 2026 | June 8, 2026 | June 23, 2026 |
| July 11, 2026* | June 5, 2026 | June 24, 2026 | July 6, 2026 | July 21, 2026 |
*July 2026 testing is not available in New York state. If your child is in New York, plan around the September or October dates instead.
ACT Test Dates: 2026-2027 Academic Year
These are the confirmed national test dates for the 2026-2027 academic year. Students who are current sophomores or rising juniors should use these dates to plan their testing schedule.
| Test Date | Registration Deadline | Late Registration | Photo Upload Deadline | Score Release Date |
| September 19, 2026 | August 14, 2026 | September 1, 2026 | September 14, 2026 | October 6, 2026 |
| October 17, 2026 | September 11, 2026 | September 29, 2026 | October 12, 2026 | October 27, 2026 |
| December 12, 2026 | November 6, 2026 | November 29, 2026 | December 7, 2026 | December 22, 2026 |
| February 27, 2027 | January 22, 2027 | February 9, 2027 | February 22, 2027 | March 16, 2027 |
| April 10, 2027 | March 5, 2027 | March 23, 2027 | April 5, 2027 | April 20, 2027 |
| June 12, 2027 | May 7, 2027 | May 25, 2027 | June 7, 2027 | June 22, 2027 |
| July 10, 2027 | June 4, 2027 | June 22, 2027 | July 5, 2027 | July 20, 2027 |
All dates are sourced from the official ACT website. Dates are subject to change. Check act.org directly to confirm the most current registration information before registering.
Which ACT Test Date Should Your Child Choose?
Choosing the right test date depends on three factors: your child’s grade level, their college application deadlines, and how much preparation time they have available.
For Current Juniors (Class of 2027)
If your child is finishing junior year and has not yet taken the ACT, the June or July 2026 dates are the last opportunities before senior year begins. Taking the ACT in June or July gives your child their first official score before school starts in August, with time to retake in September or October if needed.
For juniors who already have a score but want to improve, the September or October 2026 dates are ideal. Scores from either date are released well before most early decision and early action deadlines in November.
For Current Sophomores (Class of 2028)
Sophomores have the most flexibility. The September, October, or December 2026 dates are excellent first-attempt options. Taking the ACT early in junior year gives your child a real baseline score and a full year to improve before college applications are due.
A common and effective approach is to take the ACT in September or October of junior year, review the results, prepare specifically for the weak sections, and retake in December or February.
For Students Applying Early Decision or Early Action
Early decision and early action deadlines are typically November 1 or November 15. To have ACT scores ready for these deadlines, your child needs to test no later than October. Score release for the October 17, 2026 test date is October 27, 2026, which leaves enough time for most early application deadlines.
Do not count on the September test date for early action deadlines. While September scores release on October 6, some score reporting takes additional time. October is the safer choice.
For Students Retaking the ACT
Students retaking the ACT should allow at least 6 to 8 weeks of structured preparation between test dates. Back-to-back attempts without meaningful preparation rarely produce significant improvement.
A practical retake schedule might look like this: first attempt in September, targeted preparation on weak sections through October and November, second attempt in December. If scores are superscored, this strategy can produce a significantly better composite than either individual test.
Recommended Preparation Timeline for Each Test Date
Working backward from the test date tells you exactly when preparation needs to start. Here is a recommended prep start date for each 2026-2027 test date, based on a 10 to 12 week preparation window:
| Test Date | Recommended Prep Start | Prep Window | Notes |
| September 19, 2026 | Early July 2026 | 10 weeks | First attempt for rising juniors. Start prep in early summer. |
| October 17, 2026 | Late July 2026 | 11 weeks | Best date for early action applicants. Start prep in late July. |
| December 12, 2026 | Late September 2026 | 11 weeks | Strong retake option after September attempt. Start after scores arrive. |
| February 27, 2027 | Late November 2026 | 13 weeks | Good for students who tested in October and need a retake. |
| April 10, 2027 | Mid-January 2027 | 12 weeks | Final chance for most seniors. Start immediately after holiday break. |
| June 12, 2027 | Mid-March 2027 | 13 weeks | For rising seniors wanting an early score before summer. |
| July 10, 2027 | Mid-April 2027 | 13 weeks | Last date before senior year. Not available in New York. |
If your child has less than 8 weeks before their test date and still needs meaningful score improvement, an intensive preparation approach is more effective than a standard program. Our ACT Accelerated Program is built for exactly this situation, delivering targeted preparation on the highest-impact areas within a compressed timeline.
How to Register for the ACT
Registering for the ACT takes about 40 minutes and must be completed through the official ACT website at act.org. Here is what your child will need:
- A MyACT account. If your child has not already created one, they will set one up during registration.
- A recent photo that meets ACT requirements. This is uploaded during registration and used to verify identity on test day.
- The standard ACT registration fee is $65. The ACT with Writing is $89. Late registration costs an additional $38. A fee waiver is available for students who qualify based on family income.
- Their high school’s CEEB code. This is used to send scores directly to their school. Scores to colleges are sent separately after the test.
Registration opens approximately six months before each test date. There is no benefit to registering early other than ensuring a spot at your preferred test center, which can fill up quickly in dense metro areas like Dallas-Fort Worth.
Texas students: ACT test centers in Frisco, Plano, Dallas, and Allen fill up faster than smaller markets. Register as soon as the window opens to secure a location close to home.
How Much Does It Cost to Take the ACT?
| Service | Cost | Notes |
| ACT (No Writing) | $65 | Standard registration before the deadline |
| ACT with Writing | $89 | Includes the optional 40-minute essay section |
| Late Registration | $38 additional | Available after the standard deadline, closes approximately 2 weeks before the test |
| Test Center Change | $34 | To change your assigned test center after registration |
| Test Date Change | $34 | To move to a different test date within the same registration window |
| Score Report (additional colleges) | $16 per report | First four score reports are free at registration. Additional reports cost $16 each. |
| Fee Waiver | $0 | Available to eligible students based on family income. Ask your high school counselor. |
What to Expect on ACT Test Day
Knowing what to expect on test day reduces anxiety and helps your child focus on performing rather than figuring out logistics.
What to bring:
- Printed admission ticket with the photo uploaded during registration
- Acceptable photo ID — school-issued or government-issued with name and photo
- Number 2 pencils only. Mechanical pencils are not permitted.
- A permitted calculator. Not all calculators are allowed. Check the ACT’s calculator policy at act.org before test day.
- A watch without internet access. Most test centers prohibit phones during the test.
- Snacks and water for the break between sections
Test day timeline:
- Doors open approximately 30 minutes before testing begins. Arrive on time. Students who arrive late may not be admitted.
- The standard ACT without Writing takes approximately 2 hours and 55 minutes plus a 15-minute break.
- The ACT with Writing takes approximately 3 hours and 35 minutes.
- Scores are released online approximately two weeks after the test date. Your child will receive an email when scores are available in their MyACT account.
ACT Testing in Texas: What Parents Need to Know
Texas is one of the highest-demand states for ACT testing. The Dallas-Fort Worth metro, which includes Frisco, Plano, Allen, McKinney, and surrounding cities, has a large number of competitive students and test centers can fill up quickly.
- Register as early as possible for fall test dates, particularly September and October, when demand is highest. Test centers in Frisco and Plano typically fill within the first few weeks of registration opening.
- Many Texas high schools administer the ACT as part of state testing programs. Check with your child’s school counselor to confirm whether your child will take the ACT through school or needs to register independently.
- Texas colleges including UT Austin, Texas A&M, Baylor, and TCU all accept ACT scores. None of these schools currently require the Writing section, so most Texas students can take the standard ACT without the essay.
- Texas A&M requires a minimum ACT composite score for some scholarship programs. UT Austin uses holistic admissions but strong ACT scores strengthen applications, particularly for competitive majors like engineering and business.
If your child needs ACT preparation in the Frisco, Dallas, or Plano area, Blackmon Tutoring offers both in-home and online sessions. Explore our ACT tutoring programs or view our ACT Full Program that includes 30 one-on-one sessions built around your child’s target test date and score goal.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many times can my child take the ACT?
Students can take the ACT as many times as they want. The ACT itself recommends taking it no more than 12 times, but there is no official limit. Most students take it two to three times. Since most colleges superscore the ACT, each additional attempt is an opportunity to improve the composite.
What is the late registration deadline for the ACT?
Late registration closes approximately two to three weeks before each test date. After the late deadline, registration is no longer available for that test date. A late registration fee of $38 applies in addition to the standard registration cost.
Can my child reschedule after registering?
Yes. Students can change their test date or test center for a $34 fee before the deadline. If a student misses their test date without requesting a change in advance, the registration fee is not refunded.
When do ACT scores come out?
Initial ACT scores are typically released approximately two weeks after the test date. Section scores, subscores, and the full score report are usually available within two to eight weeks. The Writing score, if taken, arrives separately and takes longer.
Does my child need to take the ACT with Writing?
Most colleges do not require the Writing section. Check the specific requirements for each school on your child’s list. Texas schools including UT Austin, Texas A&M, Baylor, and TCU do not currently require the Writing section.
What happens if my child misses the ACT test date?
If your child misses their test date and did not request a transfer in advance, the registration fee is forfeited. They will need to register and pay again for a future test date.
How early should my child start ACT prep before the test date?
For a gap of 3 to 5 points, start 10 to 12 weeks before the test date. For a gap of 5 or more points, start 14 to 16 weeks before the test date. For students with less than 8 weeks, an accelerated intensive prep program is the most effective option.
Can my child get accommodations on the ACT?
Yes. The ACT provides accommodations including extended time, breaks, and other supports for students with documented learning disabilities or other qualifying conditions. Accommodation requests must be submitted and approved well in advance through the school’s counselor. Contact your child’s high school counselor as early as possible to begin the process.
Ready to Start Preparing for Your Child’s ACT Test Date?
Knowing the test date is the first step. Building a preparation plan that closes the score gap before that date is what makes the difference. At Blackmon Tutoring, our certified ACT tutors work one-on-one with your child to build a session-by-session plan around their specific test date, target score, and weak sections.
We serve students in Texas, Georgia, California, Florida, Oklahoma, Louisiana, and New York, with both in-home and online options. Explore our ACT tutoring programs, our ACT Individual Hourly Program for flexible session-by-session support, or get a quote to find the right fit for your child’s schedule and goals.
The test date is set. The preparation starts now.
