ACT Test Dates and Registration Deadlines for 2026–2027

The table below covers US national Saturday testing for the 2026–2027 school year. International testing and state/district school-day testing use separate calendars; those are covered in their own section so you do not confuse them with the national dates.

2026–2027 national test dates

How late registration works

If you miss the regular registration deadline, you can still register during the late registration window for a $42 late fee. Your first-choice test center is not guaranteed, so have backup centers ready.

After the late deadline passes, you may be able to request standby testing for $75. Standby does not guarantee a seat or a test booklet — you must still check in on test day and wait to see if space and materials are available. The deadline to request standby is the same as the photo-upload deadline in the table above.

ACT also charges a change fee if you switch your test date, test center, or test option after registering. The fees page lists $49; some FAQs show $44 — check the current fee when you register, because ACT can update it without notice.

Online scores are released faster than paper scores. ACT states that over 97% of ACT scores are available online within 1–4 weeks after the test date; writing scores take longer. Use the 4-week end of that range when you plan backwards from an application deadline.

Plan backwards from your deadline

The safest way to choose a test date is to start with the deadline you cannot move and work backwards. Use this worksheet for every application, scholarship, or honors program that requires an official score.

1. Write your hard deadline. This is the latest date a college or scholarship program can receive your official ACT score.
2. Subtract 4 weeks for score release. ACT says most online scores arrive within 1–4 weeks; use the 4-week end so you are not caught short.
3. Subtract 1 more week as a buffer. Processing delays, score holds, and rescheduling happen.
4. Find the test date whose registration deadline is at least that early. If no 2026–2027 date gives you that buffer, plan for an earlier test cycle.

For example, if your application is due December 1, 2026, you need scores by November 3 — four weeks ahead — and ideally by October 27 with a buffer. The only national test date in the 2026–2027 calendar that safely meets that is October 17, 2026. If you are also considering a retake, sit for the October date no later than your junior spring or the summer before senior year.

Once you pick a date, build your prep calendar backwards from there. Our ACT study plan has 4-, 8-, and 12-week paths that match the enhanced test format, and our free ACT practice page links to official tests you can use for timed rehearsal.

School-day and international testing

The table above is for national Saturday testing in the United States. Two other ACT programs run on different calendars and have their own registration rules. Do not assume the national dates apply to them.

• State and district school-day testing. Schools and districts contract with ACT to give the test on weekdays during the school year. Dates, fees, and whether science or writing is included are set by the district, not by the national calendar. Check with your counselor or ACT's state and district examinee page for details.
• International testing. Test dates, centers, and fees outside the United States are managed through ACT's international site. Registration windows and score-release timing can differ from the US national schedule. See the ACT international testing page for your country's calendar.

What to do if you miss a deadline

Missing a registration deadline is stressful, but you usually have options. Move through them in this order.

1. Check the late registration window. If the late deadline in the table has not passed, pay the $42 late fee and register immediately.
2. Consider standby testing. If late registration has closed but the photo-upload/standby deadline has not, you can request standby for $75. You will still need to show up on test day and hope for an available seat.
3. Register for the next test date. If standby is not possible or too risky, lock in the next national date. Build your prep plan backwards from that new date.
4. Request accommodations by the regular deadline. The accommodations request deadline is the same as the regular registration deadline, not the late or standby deadline. If you need accommodations, do not wait for late registration.

For retake planning, remember that superscoring lets ACT combine your best English, math, and reading scores across test dates, but only if you actually take the test. See our ACT retake strategy guide for a score-report-driven plan, and the enhanced ACT guide if you are still getting used to the current test format.