When you pick the ACT date it is usually not because you picked a bad month it is because you missed a registration deadline that you did not know existed. The ACT has a deadline, a late deadline that costs extra and a deadline to upload your photo for every test date. If you miss all of these deadlines your only choice is to try testing but there is no guarantee that you will get a seat.
Here is the full schedule, for the ACT Test Dates 2026, which comes directly from the ACT itself. We also have a calculator that will tell you where you stand for any date that you choose.
Check Your Deadline Instantly
Pick your test date below to see your countdown, every deadline that applies, and your total fee.
ACT Registration Planner
ACT Test Date & Deadline Calculator
Pick an upcoming national test date to see every deadline that applies to it, your live countdown, and your total fee — calculated instantly.
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Remaining 2025–2026 Test Dates
If you still need a seat before the new testing year begins, these are the last two dates left on the current calendar:
| Test Date | Regular Deadline | Late Deadline | Photo/Standby Deadline | Score Release |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 13, 2026 | May 8 | May 29 | June 8 | June 23 |
| July 11, 2026* | June 5 | June 26 | July 6 | July 21 |
*No test centers are scheduled in New York for the July 2026 date.
Full 2026–2027 ACT Test Date Schedule
This is the complete national schedule for the 2026–2027 testing year, running from September 2026 through July 2027, seven dates in total.
| Test Date | Regular Deadline | Late Deadline | Photo/Standby Deadline | Score Release |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 19, 2026 | August 14 | September 1 | September 14 | October 6 |
| October 17, 2026 | September 11 | September 29 | October 12 | October 27 |
| December 12, 2026 | November 6 | November 29 | December 7 | December 22 |
| February 27, 2027 | January 22 | February 9 | February 22 | March 16 |
| April 10, 2027 | March 5 | March 23 | April 5 | April 20 |
| June 12, 2027 | May 7 | May 25 | June 7 | June 22 |
| July 10, 2027 | June 4 | June 22 | July 5 | July 20 |
New York will have July testing available starting in 2027 — it wasn't offered there in July 2026.
Projected 2027–2028 Dates (Not Yet Final)
ACT has released early planning dates for the following year. These are projections only — registration deadlines haven't been published yet, so don't build a final plan around them:
- September 11, 2027
- October 16, 2027
- December 11, 2027
- February 26, 2028
- April 8, 2028
- June 10, 2028
- July 15, 2028
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How Much Does the ACT Cost in 2026–2027?
| Option | Fee |
|---|---|
| ACT (English, Math, Reading) | $70.00 |
| + Science | $75.00 |
| + Writing | $95.00 |
| + Science + Writing | $100.00 |
| Late registration fee | +$42.00 |
| Test date / center / form change | $49.00 |
| Standby testing | $75.00 |
Since ACT made Science optional, the base test now covers English, Math, and Reading only. Most students still add Science, since some colleges weight it in admissions review.
Which ACT Date Should You Pick?
The right ACT date for you depends on what grade you're in and when your applications are due not just which Saturday works best for you.
If you are a junior you should try to take the ACT for the time in the spring of your junior year, which is usually February or April. This gives you time to take the ACT again in the fall of your year if you need to before the early application deadlines.
If you are applying to college Early Action or Early Decision you need to plan. Look at your deadline and work backward from that date. Because it takes 2 to 4 weeks to get your scores the September or October ACT date is usually the one that works for applications that are due in the fall. If you take the ACT in December your scores might not get to the college in time for Early Action.
If you are taking the ACT again to get a score on one part of the test you do not need to wait a long time to take it again. You can usually take the available ACT date because you are only focusing on one part of the test that you want to improve.
If you need help when you take the ACT you should give yourself extra time to get everything set up. This is because the people in charge of the ACT need time to approve your request for help and this can take a while. The deadline for this might be earlier, than the regular deadline to sign up for the ACT.
Mistakes Students Make With ACT Dates
Students often register late without realizing it. This late deadline will still get them a seat. It will cost them an extra 42 dollars and they will have fewer test center options because the popular centers get filled up first.
Some students forget that the photo upload deadline is separate from the registration deadline. They can be all registered and still not be able to take the test if their photo is not approved on time.
Students also pick a test date that's too close to the application deadlines. It takes two to four weeks to get the scores back. If they take the writing test it can take even longer. Students should make sure they have time to get their scores before the application is due.
Students should always check if there is a test center before they pick a date. This is especially important for the July test dates because there are test centers open. Students should confirm that there is one, near them before they register for the ACT.
FAQ - act test dates 2026-2027
Check the calculator above to see when you can register. ACT has seven test dates each year and the schedule goes until July 2027.
Sign up before the deadline, which is usually about five weeks before the test date. This way you avoid a fee and get your first choice of test center.
Yes you can. You can register late for a $42. After that you can try testing but there are no guarantees.
Most scores are out, in two to four weeks. If you took the writing section it might take a bit longer since they process everything together.
Source: Official schedule per ACT.org's National Test Dates page and ACT.org's Fees page, current as of July 2026. Always confirm final dates in your MyACT account.
