Terms & Conditions for Registering for the ACT
ACT's test security procedures are designed to ensure that examinees have an equal opportunity to demonstrate their academic achievement and skills, that examinees who do their own work are not unfairly disadvantaged by examinees who do not, and that scores reported for each examinee are valid. In addition to the information in this section, see Remedies in Response to ACT Errors or Testing Disruptions/Compromises.
Prohibited Behavior at the Test Center
The following behaviors are prohibited. Examinees will be dismissed and their answer documents will not be scored if they are found:
- Filling in or altering ovals on a test or continuing to write the essay after time has been called on that test
- Looking back at a test on which time has already been called
- Looking ahead in the test booklet
- Looking at another examinee's test booklet or answer document
- Giving or receiving assistance
- Using a prohibited calculator
- Using a calculator on any test other than the Mathematics Test
- Sharing a calculator with another examinee
- Using any device to share or exchange information at any time during testing or during break (all electronic devices, including cell phones, must be turned off from the time the examinee is admitted to test until dismissed after testing concludes)
- Attempting to remove test materials, including questions or answers, from the test room by any means
- Using highlight pens, colored pens or pencils, notes, scratch paper, dictionaries, or other aids
- Not following instructions or abiding by the rules of the test center
- Exhibiting confrontational, threatening, or unruly behavior
- Creating a disturbance or allowing an alarm or phone to sound in the test room
ACT may confiscate and retain indefinitely any electronic device, including a cell phone, used in violation of this list of prohibited behaviors.
ACT reserves the right to cancel test scores when there is reason to believe the scores are invalid. Cases of testing irregularities—such as falsification of one's identity, impersonation of another examinee (surrogate testing), unusual similarities in the answers of examinees at the same test center, or other indicators that the test scores may not accurately reflect the examinee's level of educational development—may result in the cancellation of test scores. When ACT decides to cancel test scores, it notifies the examinee before taking that action (except in cases of testing compromises explained in Remedies in Response to ACT Errors or Testing Disruptions/Compromises). The notice includes information about the options available regarding the planned score cancellation, including procedures for appealing the cancellation decision. In all instances, the final and exclusive remedy available to examinees who want to appeal or otherwise challenge a decision by ACT to cancel their test scores shall be binding arbitration through written submissions to the Dallas, Texas, office of the American Arbitration Association. The issue for arbitration shall be whether ACT acted reasonably and in good faith in deciding to cancel the scores.
Remedies in Response to ACT Errors or Testing Disruptions/Compromises
ACT takes steps that are intended to ensure that registration records are properly handled and processed, and that tests and answer documents are properly handled and scored. In the unlikely event that an error occurs in handling, shipping, processing, or scoring answer documents, or reporting scores, ACT will correct the error, if possible, or permit affected examinee(s) to retest at no additional fee (normally on a future national test date) or to receive a refund of the test fee. These remedies are the exclusive remedies available to examinees for errors in handling or processing registration records; in handling, shipping, or scoring answer documents; or in reporting scores.
ACT also takes steps that are intended to ensure standardized test administration. If events occur that cause testing at a test center to be cancelled or interrupted, involve a mistiming on any part of the test, result in a deviation from standard testing procedures, raise concerns about possible advance access to test content by any examinee(s), or otherwise disrupt or compromise the testing process, ACT will examine the situation and determine whether action is warranted, including nonscoring of answer documents or cancellation of scores. If ACT, in its sole discretion, determines action is warranted, each affected examinee will be offered the option to retest at no additional fee (normally on a future national test date). If the examinee chooses not to retest and the answer document is not scored or scores are cancelled, the examinee may request a refund of the test fee instead. If ACT offers a retest and an examinee selects that option, the examinee must retake all four multiple-choice tests to produce a valid Composite score. If the Writing Test was taken on the original test date, the examinee must retake the Writing Test in addition to the four multiple-choice tests to produce a valid Combined English/Writing score. These remedies are the exclusive remedies available to examinees affected by disruptions or compromises in the testing process.
Some state/federal scholarship or education departments use ACT scores as one source of information to recognize student achievement. ACT reports student records for this purpose without requiring you to use one of your college choices. If your mailing address or high school is in one of the states or other categories listed below, your ACT record will be reported automatically for consideration and/or research. Your scores will be reported unless you specifically direct us, in writing, not to do so. To direct us not to report your scores for this purpose, send a letter postmarked by the Monday immediately after the test date you don't want reported. Address your letter to: ACT Institutional Services, P.O. Box 168, Iowa City, IA 52243-1068. NOTE: This will not affect the reporting of scores to the colleges you listed.
For individual state consideration: Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Washington, West Virginia.
For Presidential Scholars consideration: All states, District of Columbia, U.S. territories, Puerto Rico, and U.S. citizens abroad
You may take the ACT no more than 12 times total. This restriction applies even if your scores from a test date are cancelled by you or by ACT. ACT reserves the right to cancel your registration, rescind your admission ticket, or take any other steps necessary to enforce this policy. If you violate this restriction, your scores will not be reported or will be cancelled and your fees will not be refunded.
In calculating the 12-test total, ACT makes exceptions for state testing required by your district or your state's Department of Education and tests taken as a young examinee as part of an academic talent search. Exceptions are within ACT's sole discretion.