The next ACT will be on September 9, 2023. The regular registration deadline was August 4 and the late deadline was August 18.
The next ACT available for registration is October 28. The registration deadline is September 22.
ACT Test Dates:
official test dates for 2023 and 2024
Taking the ACT? Grab this free checklist and make sure that you’ve studied everything covered by the test:
Saturday ACT test dates
Most students take the ACT on a Saturday, during the week through an in-school test, or both.
The ACT is offered on Saturday mornings seven times throughout the year.
Registration deadlines are about a month before the test date. If you’ve missed this deadline, don’t worry — late registration (for an extra fee) is still available until about 10 days before the test date. This is also the deadline to make changes or cancellations for your registration.
2023–2024 test dates & deadlines
| ACT test date | Registration deadline | Late registration deadline |
|---|---|---|
| September 9 | August 4 | August 18 |
| October 28 | September 22 | October 6 |
| December 9 | November 3 | November 17 |
| February 10 | March 8 | March 22 |
| April 13 | March 8 | March 22 |
| June 8 | May 3 | May 17 |
| July 13* | June 7 | June 21 |
*There are no ACT tests administered in New York in July.
To register for the ACT date you want, you’ll need to make an account on the ACT website.
You can always confirm the SAT test dates and registration deadlines on the official ACT site.
Non-Saturday ACT test dates
Students whose religion doesn’t allow testing on Saturdays may be able to take the SAT on a different day of the week, such as on the Sunday following a Saturday test date. Read more about the process for requesting a non-Saturday test date for the ACT here.
If there is not a testing center within 75 miles of a student’s home that offers a non-Saturday test date at any point during the year, that student may request what the ACT calls “Arranged Testing.”
Students who want to request Arranged Testing will have to fill out a form and will be required to submit a notarized statement or a letter from a religious cleric to document why testing on Saturday is not an option.
In-School ACT test dates
Many students may also be able to take the ACT during the school day through their school — check with your school’s guidance counselor to see if this is offered.
(Most schools offer either the ACT or the SAT, the other test used for college admissions in the US. This tends to vary on a state-by-state basis.)
In the US, students are most likely to have an in-school ACT offered in the spring of their junior year.
In the 2023–2024 school year, schools are allowed to offer the ACT on a maximum of one date in the fall and one date in the spring.
2023–2024 school-day test dates & deadlines
| ACT test date | Registration deadline (confirm with school) |
|---|---|
| October 17 | August 30 |
| October 31 | August 30 |
| March 12 | January 24 |
| March 26 | January 24 |
| April 9 | February 21 |
| April 23 | February 21 |
Typically registration for an in-school ACT test is done through the student’s school, and is sometimes done automatically for all students. Check with your school’s guidance counselor for any questions about the registration process.
ACT dates for international students
The ACT test dates for international students may be different than the test dates offered for students within the US.
Here are the ACT registration deadlines for international students:
2023–2024 international test dates & deadlines
| ACT test date | Registration deadline | Late registration deadline |
|---|---|---|
| September 8–9 | August 11 | August 25 |
| October 27–28 | September 29 | October 13 |
| December 1–2 | November 3 | November 17 |
| February 23–24 | January 26 | February 9 |
| April 12–13 | March 15 | March 29 |
| June 7–8 | May 10 | May 24 |
| July 12–13 | June 14 | June 28 |
Whether students take the test internationally or within the US, they’ll need to know the same core concepts! Download a convenient pdf with a checklist of everything covered by the ACT here:
Deadlines for ACT testing accommodations
Students with learning differences (like ADHD or autism) or physical differences (like visual or hearing impairment) can request special accommodations on the ACT.
Some of the most common testing accommodations for the ACT are extra time on the test or additional breaks. Students may also be able to test in a private room with fewer distractions.
The College Board explains the entire process for requesting testing accommodations here.
An Individualized Education Plan (IEP), 504 plan, or doctor's note is usually not enough on its own. Students and families will have to make an official request to the ACT. Students and families can either work with the SSD coordinator at their school (usually an easier process) or request accommodations direction from the ACT.
All requests, including appeals, must be submitted by the late registration deadline for that test date. However, it’s recommended to submit any request for special accommodations with all of the required forms and documentation well in advance, in case it’s necessary to make an appeal or a clarification.
2023–2024 ACT testing accommodation deadlines
| ACT test date | Deadline to request accommodations |
|---|---|
| September 9 | August 18 |
| October 28 | October 6 |
| December 9 | November 17 |
| February 10 | March 22 |
| April 13 | March 22 |
| June 8 | May 17 |
| July 13 | June 21 |
Some students who have been granted testing accommodations might take the ACT on a different date within two weeks of a main ACT test date.
2023–2024 ACT special testing windows
| ACT test date | Special testing window |
|---|---|
| September 9 | September 9–24 |
| October 28 | October 28 – November 12 |
| December 9 | December 9–24 |
| February 10 | February 10–25 |
| April 13 | April 13–28 |
| June 8 | June 8–23 |
| July 13 | July 13–28 |
If you have missed these deadline but are still in time for the regular or late registration deadlines, you should submit the request for accommodations as soon as possible. It may be too late for the College Board to process the request, and accommodations may not be approved or in place by test day — but if you’re lucky, they’ll be able to make the accommodations even after the deadline.
Students with temporary impairments due to injury or illness can also request special accommodations for testing. The ACT directs students who need a special temporary arrangement to email ACTAccom@act.org for a request form.
Looking for additional support preparing for the ACT? Sign up for award-winning one-on-one test tutoring customized to the needs of each individual student here.
Next steps
Regardless of whether your ACT test date is next week, next month, or next year, there are still things you can do to improve your performance and make sure your ACT score demonstrates your true potential!
Download my ACT study checklist for a handy list of everything you need to know for the test:
If there’s anything on the list that you can’t absolutely crush on the ACT, consider getting some expert help to brush up on your skills.
I’ve found that most students learn much more effectively with one-on-one sessions that can meet them exactly where they are and focus on improving their personal weak spots.
I’m a top 1% scorer, a Princeton summa cum laude graduate, and an industry expert with over a decade of experience helping real students to improve their scores with targeted practice. I offer a limited number of one-on-one tutoring sessions — see availability and details here.