Frequently Asked Questions
- Registering for the ACT—answers to your questions about signing up for the test, solutions to common registration problems, and information about circumstances that may affect which registration method you use.
- Taking the test—everything you need to know about preparing for the test, including details about what to expect on test day, acceptable identification, prohibited calculators, and the prevention of cheating and other forms of prohibited behavior.
- Scores—answers to common questions about score reports, score reporting schedules, sending additional score reports, and understanding your scores.
Signing up for the ACT
General questions about the ACT
- What is an ACT Web account and why do I need one?
- What is the ACT?
- Who can take the ACT?
- What accommodations are available for students with disabilities?
- Why should I take the ACT?
- When are the test dates and registration deadlines?
- What is the difference between the ACT and SAT?
- When should I test?
- Should I test again?
- Are there any restrictions on how often I can test?
- How much does it cost to take the ACT?
- Can I get a copy of the test questions and answer key?
- I have questions about the optional Writing Test. Can you help?
Registration questions
- Can I take the ACT in a location other than the U.S., U.S. territories, Puerto Rico, or Canada?
- How do I pay when I register online?
- Is online registration secure for payment by credit card?
- How can I add/change/cancel my college choices/high school code after I register?
- Why was I assigned to a test center that was not one of my original choices? Can I change this?
- I want to cancel my registration. Can I get a refund?
- How can I make changes to my registration?
- I've changed my mind about taking the ACT Writing Test. Can I add or remove it before test day?
- I can't test on the date I registered for online? What can I do?
Special circumstances
- Am I eligible for a fee waiver?
- Is non-Saturday testing available?
- Can homebound or confined students take the ACT?
- Is extended time allowed for examinees whose native language is not English?
- Is the ACT offered in languages other than English?
- Can junior high students take the ACT?
- What if there are no scheduled test centers near my home on any test date?
Taking the test
Test day
- What time does the test start?
- What if I've lost or never received my admission ticket?
- Why do I need to bring my admission ticket?
- What should I take to the test center?
- What if I've missed the late registration deadline?
- Can I change my test center, test option, or test date on test day?
- What happens if there is bad weather on test day?
- What if I miss the test date I signed up for?
- What identification will I have to show at the test center?
- How do I get ready for test day?
- What calculators are permitted and prohibited?
- What is standby testing?
- Is standby testing the same as a Test Date Change on the day of the test?
- I tested as a standby. How do I pay my fee?
- What are the prohibited behaviors at the test center?
Test prep
- How do I prepare for the ACT?
- Does ACT call to sell test prep services or give information to test prep companies?
- How many questions are there and how long will the test take?
- What are some tips for successful testing?
- Which subject areas do the multiple-choice questions cover?
- How do I prepare for the ACT Writing Test?
Scores
Viewing scores online
- How soon can I view my scores?
- Is there any way to view my scores sooner?
- Why can't I see my scores when I try to view them online?
- What can cause scores to take longer?
- Why are my multiple-choice scores available online before my Writing scores?
- After I view my scores, can I cancel reporting to colleges or my high school?
Getting scores
- I haven't received my score report yet. How long does it take?
- Can you give me my scores by phone, email, or fax?
- How can I get my scores more quickly?
- Why didn't my high school get my score report?
- Why can't a college locate my ACT scores?
- Where are my Test Information Release materials?
Sending scores
- How do I send my scores to others?
- What are my options for sending my scores and how much will it cost?
- Can I send my multiple-choice scores without sending my Writing scores?
- Can I send my Writing scores without my multiple-choice scores?
- What if I want to send my scores, but don't remember when I took the ACT?
- How often are scores reported to colleges?
- Can I send my scores to a high school or uncoded college? Can I order a personal copy of my score report?
- Can I order Additional Score Reports at no charge for a previous test date?
- Can I send scores from two different test dates as one score report?
- When will the college receive my scores?
- Can I cancel my order?
Understanding scores
- What is the highest possible ACT score?
- How does ACT figure test scores?
- I don't think my test was scored correctly; can I have it hand-scored?
- What are ACT's scoring policies if there is a problem at a test center?
Score reports
- How do I correct or add my Social Security number or ACT ID to my score report?
- How do I delete a test date record?
- Some of my information is wrong on the score report. How do I correct it?
- Which scores are reported if I test more than once?
- When will my college need to have my ACT scores?
- Will colleges accept my student copy of the ACT score report?
- Will anyone be able to see the essay I wrote?
- What is my ACT ID and why is it important?