does the act have an essay 2022

How to Write an ACT Exam?

Your high school GPA may play an important role in your college admission, but the ACT exam may have the final say. What is an ACT exam? The ACT is an entrance exam that most colleges utilize to decide on a candidate's admission. The main purpose of the writing test is to disclose and measure the applicants' readiness for college studies. 

The admission officers review the test score along with your high school GPA to make their final decision. Of course, the classes that you took, extracurricular activities, letters of recommendation from your teachers, and your application, where you discuss the high school experience from your own perspective, will be reviewed as well. While the importance of the ACT scores may vary from college to college, the higher the score, the more options for the college enrollment you have. 

The ACT exam consists of four sections that include English, Reading, Math, and Science. Aside from that, the prospective candidates are given forty minutes to do the writing test. Writing an essay can be quite difficult; that's why you need to prepare for it. The good news is that ACT essay examples are available online, and you can view sample in this article as well. So, basically, that's what the ACT exam is about. But let's dive into the details with our dissertation help services team. 

What is the ACT Exam?

The ACT exam 2022 consists of several sections that reveal your knowledge of various school subjects. The ACT exam stands for “American College Test”. It's a multiple-choice test where you have a number of questions and several options of answers. And you need to be ready to give it almost four hours. 

How long is the ACT exam exactly? You have two hours and fifty-five minutes for the multiple-choice test and forty minutes for the writing section. The ACT exam 2022 length gives you enough time to choose the correct answers and dive into your essay, which is quite complex. Basically, in the writing test, you will have to expand on the provided important topic and three different perspectives on it. 

When writing a coherent essay, make sure that you show your abilities in several core aspects. You need to be capable of generating ideas and analyzing them from various perspectives. It's also crucial that you provide pieces of evidence that support your viewpoint. The essay must be organized logically, so the reader can easily slide through the narrative. Finally, proper written language use and conventions are also extremely important. 

The Structure of the ACT Writing Test

If you are planning to pass the ACT exam 2022, you need to know the structure of the exam. First, let's look at the time you're given for completing each section, as well as the number of questions each ACT section has. What is the ACT exam, if not an exercise on time management? You have to plan basically every minute while you're taking it. Let's divide the ACT exam length for every section:

How to Write an Act Exam

All in all, you have 3 hours and 35 minutes for the ACT exam, meaning that you have just enough time to go through the test once and mark all of the right answers. Aside from it, students have a ten-minute break after the Math section and five minutes rest before they start writing the essay. Try doing an ACT practice exam and actually see when you might need breaks. You've already learned the most important aspects of the written ACT exam scoring. Now, let's take a look at each section of the multiple-choice test. 

English Test

The ACT English test consists of 75 questions, and the 45 minutes given for it means that you'll have between 30 and 40 seconds for each writing. This section can be divided into three parts in terms of content:

Conventions of Standard English 

This is by far the largest part of the test, as more than 50% of the test is devoted to the conventions. The questions focus on grammar, syntax, punctuation, and the correct use of words. Here you may be asked to choose the correct verb or tense. This part focuses on the general rules of English, so you don't have to write essays, sharing your own perspective on world problems or books.

Production of Writing

Around 30% of the test is devoted to the production of writing. Here, students are given passages from the various texts to check how good they are at seeing the big picture. You must choose the correct answer based on the tone or purpose of the passage. Questions in this section also concern the literary style and strategies used by the author. 

You may need to also know what is diversity essay while preparing for the exams.

Knowledge of Language

This is the smallest part of the English test, as its share ranges between 10% and 20%. This segment focuses on style, tone, and precision. 

The Math test may seem to be a bit too easy at the beginning. But that's because it's arranged in order of difficulty. Basically, you can say that out of sixty questions; the first twenty are quite easy. The next twenty questions are of medium difficulty, while the last twenty questions are the most difficult ones. Check an ACT practice exam to see at what point you really start to struggle with the questions so that you have an idea of what to review. Now, let's see the percentages that each math topic has in the test:

• Pre-algebra - accounts for 20%-25% of questions;
• Elementary algebra - ranges between 15% to 20% of questions;
• Intermediate algebra - up to 20% of questions;
• Coordinate geometry - takes 15%-20% of questions;
• Plane geometry - around 25% of questions;
• Trigonometry - ranges between 5% to 10% of questions;

The good thing is that the ACT exam allows using a calculator, so you don't have to waste a lot of time if you are not the brightest in terms of calculation. 

Reading Test

The reading test has a lot in common with the production of writing questions in the English test. In this section, students are given passages from texts and questions about the passages. You may be asked to identify the author's attitude toward the main subject of the passage. The meaning of this or that word in the context of the passage. The main idea of the body paragraphs. The meaning of the phrase or the function this or that sentence serves within the text. The important part is that you don't have to develop your unique perspective of the text - this is the part of the test that measures your ability to analyze given information without adding your own perspective on the issue.

Science Test

The Science section includes topics like biology, chemistry, space and earth sciences, and physics. You may be asked to pick the right conclusion from the options you have for graphs and diagrams. The section includes questions on conflicting viewpoints. Here, students are provided with a description of a certain phenomenon with several hypotheses on its explanation. Then you need to choose which assumption reflects the notion provided in the questions. 

How to Improve Your Writing Skills?

Considering the ACT exam dates 2022, you still have time to practice the ability to discuss ideas and convey arguments with clarity - improve your writing skills for the essay. You don't know the topic you’ll get, so deciding to buy an essay paper won't be that helpful. But there are a few things that you can do to improve your writing for the ACT exam. 

• Read and write - if you do it frequently, you won't have problems with the test;
• Get familiar with current social issues and various opinions on them;
• Taking debate classes will prepare you for the essay;
• Try writing extracurricular activities, like creative writing clubs;
• Share your writing with others;

Basically, improving your writing can be shaped into a simple formula: read-write-repeat. Read how other people write and try writing yourself. That will master the style and improve your ACT exam scoring. You can try blogging to master your skills. As for the organization of your writing, you can always seek advice from your English teachers and generate productive ideas. Asking your classmates and friends what they think of your writing can also help greatly. Just remember that no one is born with perfect writing skills. You can achieve it only through practice. 

Use our free Plagiarism Checker!

How to Write an ACT Essay?

After all, despite the complexity of the ACT exam 2022 multiple-choice tests, the essay task remains the most difficult part of it. You might have checked ACT essay examples, but writing one yourself in a short time of 40 minutes can be quite stressful. You need to have a strategy for writing. So, here are the steps that can help you. 

• Devote around ten minutes to planning your essay. 
• Think of the way you're going to organize it. 
• Read the one writing prompt and the multiple perspectives, and choose the one you're going to work on. If you check an example ACT essay, you know what to do. 
• Brainstorm the ideas and analysis, as well as supporting pieces of evidence you can provide. 
• Picture the structure of your essay, and then devote 30 minutes to writing it so that you will have just enough time on the test day. 

You want to know how to write Common App Essay Prompts 2022-2023? We encourage you to check out the fresh topics in our article.

ACT Essay Sample

Finally, we are getting to something you can build your essay on. So, you are to get a prompt with three different perspectives on it, and you need to choose which one of them you're going to write your essay, just like the example ACT essay. Let's imagine that the writing prompt you get will be on cancel culture, as shown in many of last year's ACT essay examples.

"Cancel or callout culture is a tradition of removing the support for certain individuals or their work based on their actions or opinions that can be considered objectionable. Traditionally, individuals are called out on social media, which leads to the general awareness of their perceived offense. In most cases, canceling takes the form of pressuring organizations to prevent the subject of the canceling from public appearances. When it comes to business, it can include boycotting their products" — that's what the writing prompt may look like. 

So Much Homework That You Don't Have Time to Prepare for the ACT?

Delegate the part of your homework to our paper writers for hire , and spend your time preparing for the ACT exam. Let the professionals do the paperwork while focusing on important things!

Now, let's check the three perspectives that you can be provided to defeat the ACT exam scoring system:

Perspective 1:

Cancel culture allows marginalized people to hold their tormentors accountable via public opinion when the justice system fails them. Movements like #metoo allowed numerous women and men to call out their abusers. The cancel culture leads to a safer world, free from abuse of various forms. 

Perspective 2:

While the cancel culture allows people to call out their abusers, we cannot disregard the fact that certain people can use it for their own benefit. The culture leads to people being canceled based on proofless claims, which turns the anti-abuse campaign into witch-hunting. 

Perspective 3:

Cancel culture may lead to a change in power but is ultimately unproductive when it comes to social change. As soon as it became big, it turned into simply casting stones at each other. While we may think that it leads to social justice, it's just engaging in the social media frenzy that doesn't affect real life. 

So, here you have the complex issue and three perspectives on it. First, you need to analyze and organize ideas of everything you know about the cancel culture. Think about the examples that you are acquainted with well. Then, examine each of the perspectives presented to you. Think which one is closest to your own thoughts about the issue. Alternatively, you can choose the perspective that you can support with more pieces of evidence. 

You start your essay with an analysis of the cancel culture as a whole. Then you should move to one of the perspectives given. There, you can expand and convey arguments on the topic by providing your own viewpoint. Your viewpoint must be supported by pieces of evidence. Regardless of the perspective you've chosen, in the case of cancel culture, the Harvey Weinstein and Depp vs. Heard cases will surely have something to do with it. Then you finish your essay with a logical conclusion. 

Don't forget that there must be a logical transition between the passages of your essay. The next passage must expand on the information provided in the preceding one. Your viewpoint must be followed by the supporting evidence. Here’s a sample of an essay that uses perspective two as the foundation: Here you go the ACT exam sample:

Is the ACT Essay Optional?

If you checked the ACT exam dates 2022, you have several months to prepare yourself. The first exam will occur on September 10, 2022, while the last one in the calendar year will be held on December 10, 2022. The biggest question that bugs students is whether the essay is optional. Yes, it is.  Moreover, not every college requires applicants to write an optional ACT essay.

Another important thing is that the total ACT exam scoring is not affected by your essay score. Some colleges think writing the ACT test gives candidates a more rounded score. So, all in all, the essay score matters only together with your multiple-choice results. So, why bother writing the essay at all? 

If you are highly competitive, you should try your hand in the ACT writing section. To prepare for it, you can follow the instructions given in this article and read through the ACT essay examples. If you are a mid-range student, you can opt for the writing test, but you should stress out about it, considering that many colleges do not require completing this section. Less competitive students should avoid the ACT writing test and stick to the multiple-choice test. The only reason they should take it is if the college board requires the essay for admission. 

How to Pass ACT with Flying Colors?

Now that we have discussed the ACT exam meaning, you can realize that it is not an easy task, but it's not that difficult either. Given all the information provided here, you know what to expect from the multiple-choice test and the writing portion, and you already know the ACT exam scoring system. ACT exam dates 2022 are approaching, but there is nothing to be scared of. Check the ACT essay examples , read through test tips once again, solve a few training tests, think about the logical structure of your essay, and keep the scoring rubric in mind- now you are ready to go and take the test without fearing the final score!

Let the experts do the work while preparing for the ACT!

You just can't get it all, so don't compromise and get the best of your last few months of school! Graduate with a great GPA by delegating some of the tasks to our experts while you'll be spending time getting ready for the big test! If you need essay help , just give us your requirements and we'll give you a hand asap.

Perhaps you need some nursing or psychology essay writing service ? Do not hesitate to contact us! Our team is always ready to help.

Pass Your Exams with Flying Colors!

Get help from our experienced team of the writers

Related Articles

What are your chances of acceptance?

Calculate for all schools, your chance of acceptance.

Your chancing factors

Extracurriculars.

2022 ACT Test Dates and Deadlines

What’s covered:, what is the act, when should you take the act, how is covid-19 impacting the act, discover your chances at hundreds of schools.

• How to Register for the ACT

Cost of the ACT

• Tips for Scheduling the ACT

ACT Tips and Strategies

Due to the ongoing pandemic, many schools have adopted “test-optional” or “test blind” policies for their Class of 2022 admissions decisions. These mean you are not required to submit a score, but if you do it will be taken into account when determining your admission. 

If you’re planning to take the ACT, here’s a list of upcoming test dates, plus some tips for scheduling your test so you can perform your best.

The ACT is a standardized test that colleges use to assess a student’s preparedness for higher education. The goal of the test is to show what a specific student has learned in high school and to give schools a common data point when comparing applicants. The ACT has four mandatory sections—English, Math, Reading, and Science—along with an optional writing section. Each section is scored between 1-36, and your composite score is the average of those four section scores (for non-integer averages, the composite score is rounded to the nearest integer). There is also an optional essay section. Without the essay, the test is 3.5 hours long, and with the essay, it’s 4 hours.

The ACT is offered seven times a year: February, April, June, July, September, October, and December. Although students are allowed to take the ACT up to 12 times, we recommend that students take it no more than three or four times. 

On the flip side, we do recommend that students take the ACT more than once; studies show that students who take the exam more than once score 2.9 points higher than those who take it only a single time. 

 *No test centers are scheduled in New York for the July test date. 

As many schools have gone test-optional, top-tier schools and liberal arts colleges have seen lower acceptance rates than before the pandemic. This is because more students have applied to more selective schools due to them not requiring test scores. We believe this trend will continue into this acceptance cycle. Additionally, students who applied “test-optional” last year were accepted at lower rates than those who applied with a test. It is important to note that the 2020 admissions cycle was the first year of widespread “test-optional” policies due to the Covid-19 pandemic, therefore, there is still more data needed to support this conclusion.

If you took the ACT but aren’t sure whether or not to submit your score, we recommend submitting if your score is within 3 points of the 25th percentile at the colleges on your list. For example, if your school’s middle 50% ACT range is 29-32, you should submit your score if you have a 26 or above. 

Our free chancing engine takes into account your history, background, test scores, and extracurricular activities to show you your real chances of admission—and how to improve them.

Calculate Your Chances for Free

How to Register for the ACT 

Registration for the ACT typically falls 4-5 weeks prior to the exam date, with a late registration available for an additional cost available 2-3 weeks in advance of the test. You will register for the ACT online , with a payment method, high school course details, and headshot photo. 

It costs $60 to take the standard ACT—the four mandatory sections. For $85, students can take the standard ACT along with the optional writing test. Included in both costs are reports for you, your high school, and up to four colleges. Students registering for the ACT late are hit with an additional $36 fee. 

The ACT also has a fee-waiver program for students with financial difficulties. To qualify for the fee-waiver program, a student is required to be enrolled in the 11th or 12th grade and be testing in the US, a US territory, or Puerto Rico. They must also meet one of these economic indicators:

• Enrolled in the federal free or reduced-price lunch program
• Registered in a program for the economically disadvantaged such as GEAR UP or Upward Bound
• Reside in a foster home, are a ward of the state, or homeless
• The student’s family receives low-income public assistance or lives in federally subsidized public housing
• The student’s family’s total annual income is at or below USDA levels for free or reduced-price lunches 

Tips for Scheduling the ACT  

There are a few main considerations as you schedule your test. You want to:

• Make sure you’ve covered the material in class before testing
• Allow ample time for retakes (finish ideally before senior year)
• Watch college application and scholarship deadlines
• Avoid scheduling a test during other time-consuming commitments

Allow ample time for retakes (finish ideally before senior year).

One strategy is to get a jump on your college testing by taking the ACT in the summer between 10th and 11th grade, in either June or July. The belief behind this is that without school in session, students can better focus on prepping for the exam and aren’t dealing with the stress of regular school work. By taking the test this early in your high school career, you also allow the maximum amount of time for retaking the test. 

At the very least, we recommend taking the ACT for the first time by fall of 11th grade, either in September or October. This allows students ample time to study and retake the ACT in the spring, either February or April, if necessary. 

This schedule gives students at least 3 tries before their senior year, so they can conclude their testing before the stress of fall college admissions tasks.

Watch college application and scholarship deadlines.

An added benefit of this junior year timeline is that students have their scores in advance of early decision and early action deadlines, where you’d need your score by at least October of your senior year. Some colleges also automatically consider students for merit scholarships, if they submit a complete application (including test scores) by an earlier deadline than Regular Decision. Finishing your testing before senior year allows you to take advantage of these opportunities, too.

Avoid scheduling a test during other time-consuming commitments.

Finally, you should of course avoid taking the ACT during a busy season of your life. If you know you’ll have theater rehearsal in October, maybe take the December testing date instead. You want to have ample time to study; scheduling the ACT during a lighter period will help you do that.

What to expect: There are a lot of great resources available to students preparing for the ACT; because of this, you should enter your ACT exam with a clear understanding of how the test is ordered, the directions for each test section, what type of questions to expect, and how to pace yourself. The ACT itself offers a handful of online materials to help students prep for the test—and students who qualify for a fee waiver also gain free access to them. CollegeVine also offers a wealth of valuable info for those taking the ACT, including these section guides: 

• A Guide to the English Section of the ACT
• A Guide to the Math Section of the ACT
• A Guide to the Reading Section of the ACT
• A Guide to the Science Section of the ACT
• A Guide to the Optional ACT Writing Section

No Blanks: The best part about multiple-choice tests such as the ACT is that the right answer is on the page in front of you. The ACT doesn’t penalize for incorrect answers, so try to cross off one or two wrong answers, then, if the answer doesn’t become more obvious, you can at least make an educated guess. Also, because there is no penalty for wrong answers, you should never leave an answer blank. Pick a “lucky” letter and if you have to guess, use it each time. You’re more likely to pick up points if you’re consistent. 

All About the Pace: The ACT is well-known for its fast pace. Test takers can prepare themselves to move swiftly through the sections by taking lots of practice tests and paying close attention to the clock. Another favorite strategy is to divide and conquer by categorizing questions into three categories: those you can answer now, those you can answer later but will require more time, and those that you’ll never get an answer to. Using this strategy, you can move quickly through the questions you know the answers to, not waste any time on the questions you’ll never get, and use the majority of your allotted time where you need.  

Professional Help: Standardized tests require specific skills and knowledge, and even excellent students will sometimes struggle with the formatting, pacing, and test-induced anxiety of an exam such as the ACT. If you feel like you need help, seek out an established professional for guidance. 

If you have questions about your college path, sign up for a free CollegeVine account . Our free college admissions platform is designed to help lead students through the various steps taken from high school to higher ed, including choosing a school, gaining acceptance, estimating the overall expense, and more.

“>ACT Tips and Strategies

Related CollegeVine Blog Posts

• SAT BootCamp
• SAT MasterClass
• SAT Private Tutoring
• SAT Proctored Practice Test
• ACT Private Tutoring
• Academic Subjects
• College Essay Workshop
• Academic Writing Workshop
• AP English FRQ BootCamp
• 1:1 College Essay Help
• Online Instruction
• Free Resources

The ACT Format: Everything You Need to Know

All four-year U.S. colleges and universities accept either SAT scores or ACT scores from applicants.

Choosing whether to commit to the SAT or the ACT can be a tough decision. We walk you through how to figure out which test is right for you in another post .

If you’ve decided that the ACT is your test of choice, congrats! The next step is to learn more about what’s actually on the ACT.

Contrary to popular belief, the SAT and the ACT are very different exams. They’re both scored differently, for example, and although they test similar content, they do so in fundamentally distinct ways.

Understanding the ACT format is central to developing foundational strategies for your ACT test prep journey. In this post, we’ll walk you through the test’s format, scoring, and more.

Here’s what we cover:

What is the ACT?

The act format, how is the act scored.

• ACT Test Dates 2020

In the world of college entrance exams, the SAT has been around longer than the ACT (by twenty years, actually).

However, as we just mentioned in our introduction to this post, colleges accept either test equally! For this reason, we encourage all of our students to ensure that they are signing themselves up for the  right  test.

What does the “right test” mean?

The “right test” is the one that is  more  likely to cater to your strengths and, ultimately, generate a high score. You can ask yourself these five questions to see whether the ACT or the SAT will do just that.

In the meantime, here’s what you need to know about the ACT in general:

• It is a standardized test, just like the SAT!
• The ACT is a “national college admissions” test produced by ACT, Inc.
• The test consists entirely of multiple-choice questions (excluding the Essay)
• It contains four required sections: English, Math, Reading, and Science
• Every U.S. college accepts ACT scores from applicants

According to ACT, Inc. , the ACT is a “curriculum-based achievement test.” This means that it is designed to test content and skills that students are directly  learning in their high school classrooms.

Two of the ACT’s required sections, Math and English, do indeed focus nearly entirely on content most students will have encountered in high school. These content areas include basic English grammar, Algebra 1 and 2, geometry, trigonometry, and others.

The other two required sections, Reading and Science, are more skills-based, assessing a student’s ability to read texts and data critically.

We’ll take a deeper dive into ACT format, timing, and scores now.

The ACT consists of five timed sections, in this order:

• Essay ( optional )

Here’s a breakdown of the ACT format, including the number of questions and timing per section:  

One of the biggest challenges students face on the ACT is  timing . Completing 75 English questions in 45 minutes, for example, is no easy feat. The same goes for answering 40 questions on ACT Reading on top of  reading passages in just 35 minutes.

Additionally, it’s important to note from a general strategy perspective that the two very content-heavy sections, English and Math, come first, while the two skills-based sections, Reading and Science, are at the end.

The ACT English section contains 5 passages, with 15 questions per passage. Questions do not appear at the end of each passage, as they do on the Reading section, but rather throughout each text.

On ACT English, students will encounter questions about basic English conventions and writing strategy.

Here are the general areas tested:

• Punctuation
• Transition words
• Concise and clear writing
• Conjunctions, prepositions, and modifiers
• Vocabulary in context
• Author’s purpose
• Expression and organization of ideas

The questions on the ACT Math section are arranged in order of increasing difficulty. This means that, in general, the first third of ACT Math questions are low-difficulty, the middle third are medium-difficulty, and the final third are high-difficulty.

Students who have completed Algebra 2 are likely to be familiar with all content on the ACT Math section. Here are the general principles and content areas tested:

However, the ACT may not test this content in a straightforward way!  

The ACT Reading section consists of 4 passages of the following genres:

• Literary narrative
• Social science
• Natural science

One of these passages will be a dual passage, which will require students to compare 2 smaller passages (Passage A and Passage B).

Every ACT Reading passage has 10 questions . 

Guess what? This is the only section of the ACT that  does not require  any outside content knowledge! For this reason, students should anticipate approaching ACT Reading from a purely strategic perspective.

What kinds of questions can you expect to see on this section? Here’s a list:

• Character analysis
• Words in context
• Literary devices

The ACT Science section may sound daunting, but it basically tests the following skills:

• Data analysis
• Figure and graph interpretation
• Analysis of experiments
• Scientific knowledge*

*There are about 2-3 questions per ACT Science section that require outside knowledge. However, this knowledge is  most likely foundational knowledge students will have learned in high school science classes.

This section consists of 6 “passages.” Each “passage” will contain some text and/or graphics in the form of charts, figures, tables, and/or graphs.

There are three passage types:

• Experiments (3)
• Charts and graphs (2)
• Two scientists/theorists (1)

Experiments passages require students to analyze and/or compare scientific experiments or studies, while Charts and Graphs passages typically involve one scientific concept and a few figures. Lastly, students will have to compare and analyze the perspectives or theories of two scientists or theorists.

With ACT Science, it’s very easy to get lost in the technical, scientific jargon of each passage. That’s why it’s so important to zero in on what each question is really  asking and to analyze the figures prior to answering each question.

For the ACT essay task, students must analyze an issue and three different perspectives on this issue. They will then have to craft an essay response that discusses their perspective of the issue, including specific evidence and examples.

The ACT essay is optional. We give our input on whether or not students should sign up for the optional ACT essay in this post here .

ACT scoring is relatively simple. Each individual ACT section (English, Math, Reading, and Science) is scored between 1 and 36. 1 is the lowest score you can achieve on an individual section, while 36 is the highest score you can achieve on each section.

Here’s what that looks like:

Your total ACT score, what’s called your  composite score , is the  average  of your scores on these individual sections. Just like individual section scores, composite scores range from 1 to 36 .

ACT essay responses are scored  separately,  and essay scores do not influence your section or composite scores! You will essentially receive five ACT essay scores: one “composite” essay score on a scale of 2-12, and four “domain” essay scores on a scale of 2-12. These “domain” scores refer to specific categories in the ACT essay scoring rubric.

This score report also includes ELA and STEM scores, U.S. and State Ranks, information on “college readiness benchmarks,” and “Detailed Results.”

You don’t need to worry too much about this added info, but, just in case, we discuss rankings and college readiness benchmarks in our What’s a Good ACT Score? post.

ACT Test Dates 2022

Just like the SAT, the ACT is officially administered seven times each year. Here are the national ACT test dates for 2022-23:

*Please note that the July 2023 testing date is not available at testing centers in New York.

If you receive testing accommodations, you will test anytime within a “Special Testing Window.” We discuss this further in our post on ACT testing accommodations .

Missed a registration deadline? Don’t worry! You can likely still sign up for a test if spots are still available at your testing location; you will have to pay an additional fee, however.

As you can see, the ACT is structured very differently than the SAT!

This curriculum-based college admissions test includes four multiple-choice sections: English, Math, Reading, and Science. The entire test with the optional Essay takes just under four hours.

Timing can be challenging on the ACT, especially for students who feel more comfortable reading difficult texts and analyzing data at a slower pace. However, one of the best ways to address timing issues is to practice, practice, practice.

You can do this on your own or with an expert. Either way, we’re here to help guide your ACT test prep journey in the right direction.

Contact us for a free consultation today!

Kate is a graduate of Princeton University. Over the last decade, Kate has successfully mentored hundreds of students in all aspects of the college admissions process, including the SAT, ACT, and college application essay. 

CHECK OUT THESE RELATED POSTS

How to Proctor Your Own SAT Practice Test

July 2, 2022

Taking official practice tests is one of the best ways to prepare for the SAT. Here you will find detailed instructions for how to take your own practice SAT test.

Is the SAT Optional? Your Guide to Test-Optional Colleges in 2021

January 26, 2021

The SAT is a standard component of the college admissions process--or is it? Is the SAT optional? Do you have to take it to go to college? We weigh in here.

ACT Testing Accommodations: Everything You Need to Know

December 5, 2019

Students with specific learning challenges may be eligible for ACT testing accommodations. What are these, and are you eligible? Learn more here in our detailed guide.

The 2019 ACT Change — What Does It Mean for You?

November 1, 2019

Beginning in September 2020, ACT test-takers will be able to retake individual sections of the test. What does this mean for you? We weigh in here!

How to Proctor Your Own ACT Practice Test

May 21, 2018

Taking official practice tests is one of the best ways to prepare for the ACT. Here you will find detailed instructions for how to take your own practice ACT test.

Privacy Preference Center

Privacy preferences.

ACT Writing and SAT Essay Requirements

On january 19th, 2021, college board announced that they will no longer administer the sat subject tests in the u.s. and that the essay would be retired. read our blog post  to understand what this means in the near term and what the college board has in store for students down the road., our articles on subject tests and the sat essay will remain on our site for reference purposes as colleges and students transition to a revised testing landscape. as an admission tool, students should consider the essay as canceled. compass recommends our students forgo the sat and act optional essays on future exams..

The SAT Essay and ACT Writing continue to pose a conundrum for students. While College Board and ACT have made these components optional, a small number of colleges continue to require or recommend them. Compass believes that students should no longer take the SAT Essay or ACT Writing unless they are applying to (or thinking about applying to) one of the few colleges that still requires the essay. Students who have already taken the essay should not be overly concerned about scores. One reason the essay is fading away is that the scores simply aren’t that accurate or useful. Colleges never really found a use for them, and the essays created an unnecessary obstacle for some applicants.

Rather than worrying about an essay score that is mostly ignored by colleges, Compass believes students should spend their time strengthening the more valuable pieces of their academic portfolio: high school GPA and, more specifically, success in rigorous courses like APs. Compass offers AP and academic tutoring in over 50 subjects to help students stay on pace with their coursework. Our team of subject specific expert tutors will guide the program from start to finish. We also offer a Study Skills and Organizational Coaching program to provide students with the tools they need to excel in the classroom.

The following table of popular colleges provides a wide range of institutions and policies.

Colleges with essay optional policies often do not specify whether submitted essay scores will be used for admission. When the college explicitly states that scores will not be evaluated, we have listed the policy as “Not Considered.” “Optional” should not be interpreted as meaning that the college uses submitted scores. We recommend contacting the school if you have specific questions.

ACT and SAT Essay Requirements - Class of 2019 and Beyond

* In response to COVID-19, these schools have announced temporary test optional or test blind policies, which also effects their essay requirements and recommendations. Please check with the individual schools for more information.

** University of Montana Western has students submit ACT Writing in order to satisfy English proficiency requirements.

Post a comment or send an email to [email protected] with questions or recommended changes.

Related posts:

ACT Writing scores have gone through multiple changes. To try to clear things up, Compass has published ACT Writing Scores Explained . A similar analysis for the SAT is also available.

Our College Profiles page  provides SAT and ACT scores for some of the most competitive colleges in the country.

Score choice and superscoring policies can be found for more than 400 popular colleges and universities.

Subject Test requirements continue to evolve, so Compass keeps an up-to-date list.

Updated 6/24/2020

About Art Sawyer

Art graduated magna cum laude from Harvard University, where he was the top-ranked liberal arts student in his class. Art pioneered the one-on-one approach to test prep in California in 1989 and co-founded Compass Education Group in 2004 in order to bring the best ideas and tutors into students' homes and computers. Although he has attained perfect scores on all flavors of the SAT and ACT, he is routinely beaten in backgammon.

SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER

Role: --- Student Parent/Guardian Counselor Other

Class Year: --- 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 Other N/A

Popular Posts

• National Merit Semifinalist Cutoffs Class of 2025 April 8, 2024
• SAT and ACT Policies and Score Ranges for Popular Colleges and Universities May 10, 2024
• Colleges that Allow Self-Reporting of SAT and ACT Scores November 20, 2023
• National Merit Scholarship Program Explained October 4, 2023
• Using digital PSAT Scores to Compare SAT and ACT October 23, 2023

Recent Posts

• Compass Hosts Counselor Symposia Featuring Admissions Veteran Jonathan Burdick May 3, 2024
• Unusual Surprise for the June ACT Online April 30, 2024
• Testing Policies in the Spotlight April 22, 2024

Previous Post The PSAT and National Merit for the Class of 2022

Next post 2020 ap exams in review, 173 comments.

Hi Art, Hope you are staying safe. Son is sophomore who will be taking the September ACT. He is not a great writer, does not like writing, and does not want to take the writing portion. He likely will score in the 33-35 range and apply to a variety of schools (a couple top [sub-10% acceptance rate] privates and top publics, as well as some less competitive universities and colleges). Not applying to any UC schools. Do you think lacking the writing score — which likely would be average — will hurt him? Put another way, would doing the writing help him at schools where it is “optional” assuming his score is not great but not terrible? Thanks. ST

ST, If colleges were completely honest, they would admit that the Writing test is dead. Some won’t state it so bluntly because it sounds like writing is not important. I don’t think there will be any colleges that care about your son’s Writing score by the time he applies. He should pass on it in September.

Thanks Art — appreciate the great advice here and on this web site generally!

If I’m understanding correctly, the only students who need to be taking the writing/essay exams are those applying to the first 9 schools on your list that are “required” or “recommended”? In this wild west post-Covid era of college testing where it seems the only constant thing is change, it is hard to understand why anyone would still take the essay portion if they aren’t applying to any of those 9 schools. We are in CA so it used to be needed for the UC’s but as you noted even that has changed. So now post-Covid, do you still advise most of your students to take the writing exams, or feel that there is “more upside than downside” to taking them? My 11th grader previously did the SAT w/essay and scored 760 R&W, 650 M, and 4/4/5 on the essay. He’ll be retaking it to improve his math score, or possibly switching over to the ACT since SAT isn’t offered this summer (He was scheduled for the March exam that was cancelled the day before, so we are re-evaluating our options). Thanks very much for your insight.

BSS, I’d go even a step further and say that — except for students applying to West Point — the essay can finally be retired. I’m not sad to see it go!

Given that your son is already considering the ACT, I’d recommend looking at July ACT and August SAT dates. Not that he needs to take both, but the strategy is a hedge against cancellations. Registration for some students just opened up for the SAT dates, but it sounds like your student will need to wait until registration goes wider on June 3.

Duke: “Recommended” Duke website: “We do not require the optional essay.” https://admissions.duke.edu/apply/ I don’t see anywhere that they recommend it.

Also, on your Subject Test page: Duke: “Recommended Strongly ” Duke website: “We do not require Subject Tests.” I see nothing that would indicate it is “Recommended Strongly”. https://admissions.duke.edu/apply/

Caltech – “Optional” Caltech website – “Caltech also does not require the SAT Essay or ACT Writing exam sections. These sections will not be considered in the application review process.” http://admissions.divisions.caltech.edu/apply/first-yearfreshman-applicants/standardized-tests

I believe the vast, vast majority of the colleges you list as “Optional” similarly don’t even consider a writing score.

Thanks for reaching out! And thank you, in particular, for the Duke update. Just a few weeks ago we checked their site and they still had Subject Tests listed as recommended strongly with the “or ACT” twist. We’ve updated the Subject Test page to reflect that. We still have Duke listed as recommending the essay because of this: https://today.duke.edu/2018/07/duke-makes-sat-essay-act-writing-test-optional-applicants (this announcement is from almost two years ago, but we haven’t heard anything to specifically counter it.)

We recognize that the essay is becoming increasingly less relevant in admissions, and we have plans to revisit this list and put the “Optional” schools in better context.

Hello Mr. Sawyer, I have an SAT score of 1510 and my essay score is 5/4/6 should I consider taking the SAT again to improve the essay score if I plan to apply to the top universities such as Harvard, Yale and Duke.

Mazin, You should not repeat the SAT just because of your Essay score. You may have seen the news yesterday that College Board is phasing out the Essay. It is simply no longer a concern.

Mr. Sawyer, what are you thoughts on the ACT writing (essay). Do you expect it to follow suit and discontinue it like the SAT essay?

Marjorie, My first thought is that — ACT’s decision aside — students should not take the Writing test. It is disappearing for good reason — it’s just not very good or useful.

ACT will make a business decision, just as College Board did — although not necessarily with the same immediate result. ACT may want to retain the fees it is receiving for the Writing test. It may also try to wait just long enough not to seem that it is following College Board’s lead. ACT typically implements changes during its school calendar year of Sept – July. I would not be surprised to see the essay discontinued after the summer administrations.

Mr. Sawyer-Wanting some advice. My junior just took the ACT and scored a 33 composite with a 35 in English and a 34 in reading. Our school had recommended the writing test so he took it and bombed it with a 6/12. He has taken all honors and AP English classes offered and done excellent. GPA is 3.95 unweighted. I wonder if his horrible handwriting played a role but now he is stuck with a 6 on writing. Should he retake the test just to improve that score? If so does he take it with writing again or simply try to score a 33 without writing and submit that score. He’s looking at Carleton, Pomona, Grinnell along with some others.

Sarah, One of the reasons the essay has been abandoned is just how fluky the results can be. I would not recommend retesting only to raise his Writing score.

By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy .

© 2024 Compass Education Group. SAT, PSAT, NMSC, National Merit, Merit Scholar, ACT, ISEE, SSAT, HSPT and AP are registered trademarks not owned by Compass Education Group. The trademark holders were not involved in the production of, and do not endorse, this website.

• OUR APPROACH
• DIGITAL SAT / PSAT
• ACADEMIC / STUDY SKILLS
• COLLEGE WRITING PREP
• HSPT / ISEE / SSAT / SHSAT
• ACT/SAT FUNDAMENTALS
• SAT, ACT, & PSAT
• TEST PREP ESSENTIALS
• MATH SUMMER BRIDGE
• PROCTORED (In-Person or Live Online)
• INTERACTIVE (Online, On-Demand)
• DIGITAL ADAPTIVE (New for Class of ’25 & Beyond)
• SELF-ADMINISTERED
• RESOURCE CENTER
• COMPASS GUIDE
• PRIVACY POLICY

The Optional SAT Essay: What to Know

Tackling this section of the SAT requires preparation and can boost some students' college applications.

Getty Images

Even though an increasing number of colleges are dropping standardized test requirements, students who must write the SAT essay can still stand to gain from doing so.

Although the essay portion of the SAT became optional in 2016, many students still chose to write it to demonstrate strong or improved writing skills to prospective colleges.

In June 2021, the College Board opted to discontinue the SAT essay. Now, only students in a few states and school districts still have access to — and must complete — the SAT essay. This requirement applies to some students in the SAT School Day program, for instance, among other groups.

How Colleges Use SAT, ACT Results

Tiffany Sorensen Sept. 14, 2020

Whether or not to write the SAT essay is not the biggest decision you will have to make in high school, but it is certainly one that requires thought on your part. Here are three things you should know about the 50-minute SAT essay as you decide whether to complete it:

• To excel on the SAT essay, you must be a trained reader.
• The SAT essay begs background knowledge of rhetoric and persuasive writing.
• A growing number of colleges are dropping standardized test requirements.

To Excel on the SAT Essay, You Must Be a Trained Reader

The SAT essay prompt never comes unaccompanied. On the contrary, it follows a text that is about 700 words long or approximately one page. Before test-takers can even plan their response, they must carefully read and – ideally – annotate the passage.

The multifaceted nature of the SAT essay prompt can be distressing to students who struggle with reading comprehension. But the good news is that this prompt is highly predictable: It always asks students to explain how the author builds his or her argument. In this case, "how” means which rhetorical devices are used, such as deductive reasoning, metaphors, etc.

Luckily, the author’s argument is usually spelled out in the prompt itself. For instance, consider this past SAT prompt : “Write an essay in which you explain how Paul Bogard builds an argument to persuade his audience that natural darkness should be preserved.”

Due to the essay prompt’s straightforward nature, students should read the passage with an eye toward specific devices used by the author rather than poring over “big ideas.” In tour SAT essay, aim to analyze at least two devices, with three being even better.

The SAT Essay Begs Background Knowledge of Rhetoric and Persuasive Writing

Since your SAT essay response must point to specific rhetorical devices that the author employs to convince the reader, you should make it a point to intimately know 10-15 common ones. The more familiar you are with rhetorical devices, the faster you will become at picking them out as you read texts.

Once you have read the passage and identified a handful of noteworthy rhetorical devices, you should apply many of the same essay-writing techniques you already use in your high school English classes.

For instance, you should start by brainstorming to see which devices you have the most to say about. After that, develop a concise thesis statement, incorporate quotes from the text, avoid wordiness and other infelicities of writing, close with an intriguing conclusion, and do everything else you could imagine your English teacher advising you to do.

Remember to always provide evidence from the text to support your claims. Finally, leave a few minutes at the end to review your essay for mistakes.

A Growing Number of Colleges Are Dropping Standardized Test Requirements

In recent years, some of America’s most prominent colleges and universities – including Ivy League institutions like Harvard University in Massachusetts, Princeton University in New Jersey and Yale University in Connecticut – have made submission of ACT and SAT scores optional.

While this trend began as early as 2018, the upheaval caused by COVID-19 has prompted many other schools to adopt a more lenient testing policy, as well.

Advocates for educational fairness have long expressed concerns that standardized admissions tests put underprivileged students at a disadvantage. In light of the coronavirus pandemic , which restricted exam access for almost all high school students, colleges have gotten on board with this idea by placing more emphasis on other factors in a student’s application.

To assess writing ability in alternative ways, colleges now place more emphasis on students’ grades in language-oriented subjects, as well as college application documents like the personal statement .

The fact that more colleges are lifting their ACT/SAT requirement does not imply that either test or any component of it is now obsolete. Students who must write the SAT essay can still stand to gain from doing so, especially those who wish to major in a writing-intensive field. The essay can also demonstrate a progression or upward trajectory in writing skills.

The SAT essay can give a boost to the college applications of the few students to whom it is still available. If the requirement applies to you, be sure to learn more about the SAT essay and practice it often as you prepare for your upcoming SAT.

13 Test Prep Tips for SAT and ACT Takers

Tags: SAT , standardized tests , students , education

About College Admissions Playbook

Stressed about getting into college? College Admissions Playbook, authored by Varsity Tutors , offers prospective college students advice on Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate courses, SAT and ACT exams and the college application process. Varsity Tutors, an advertiser with U.S. News & World Report, is a live learning platform that connects students with personalized instruction to accelerate academic achievement. The company's end-to-end offerings also include mobile learning apps, online learning environments and other tutoring and test prep-focused technologies. Got a question? Email [email protected] .

Ask an Alum: Making the Most Out of College

You May Also Like

Poll: antisemitism a ‘problem’ on campus.

Lauren Camera May 13, 2024

Federal vs. Private Parent Student Loans

Erika Giovanetti May 9, 2024

14 Colleges With Great Food Options

Sarah Wood May 8, 2024

Colleges With Religious Affiliations

Anayat Durrani May 8, 2024

Protests Threaten Campus Graduations

Aneeta Mathur-Ashton May 6, 2024

Protesting on Campus: What to Know

Sarah Wood May 6, 2024

Lawmakers Ramp Up Response to Unrest

Aneeta Mathur-Ashton May 3, 2024

University Commencements Must Go On

Eric J. Gertler May 3, 2024

Where Astronauts Went to College

Cole Claybourn May 3, 2024

College Admitted Student Days

Jarek Rutz May 3, 2024

US South Carolina

Recently viewed courses

Recently viewed.

Find Your Dream School

This site uses various technologies, as described in our Privacy Policy, for personalization, measuring website use/performance, and targeted advertising, which may include storing and sharing information about your site visit with third parties. By continuing to use this website you consent to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use .

   COVID-19 Update: To help students through this crisis, The Princeton Review will continue our "Enroll with Confidence" refund policies. For full details, please click here.

Enter your email to unlock an extra $25 off an SAT or ACT program!

By submitting my email address. i certify that i am 13 years of age or older, agree to recieve marketing email messages from the princeton review, and agree to terms of use., how long is the act.

Time is your enemy on the ACT, and you have to use it wisely. After all, how often do you take a test in school with a minute or less per question? Don’t panic! Get  the ACT timing tips you need to manage your pace throughout each section of the test.

How long does the ACT take?

The ACT is 3 hours long (technically 2 hours and 55 minutes). Including breaks, the exam takes 3 hours and 30 minutes to complete. If you sign up for the optional essay (the ACT Plus Writing ), the test clocks in at 3 hours and 40 minutes or just over 4 hours with breaks.

Here’s how your time is broken up by section:

How many questions are on the ACT?

The ACT has a total of 215 questions with 1 optional essay. The English section has 75 questions, the math section has 60 questions and the reading and science sections both have 40 questions.

What Time Does the ACT Start?

ACT test-takers are required to report to their test center by 8:00 am. The test begins after students are checked in and seated, usually by 8:30 am. Note that if you are taking the test on the computer, you may be taking the ACT at different times, including in the afternoon—be sure to look at your test ticket after you register for the ACT.

Finding the Right Pace for You

Your personal pacing strategy will depend on:

• your  ACT score goals
• what works best for you

See what’s working and what’s not by taking practice tests. We’ve got a free ACT practice test right here. Here are some ACT timing tips to keep in mind as you practice for your test date:

Read More: What's a Good ACT Score?

English Test

The most important thing is to finish. Try finding all the easy questions (the ones you know how to do) on the English Test first. Learn more about working questions out of order in our ACT Tips and Tricks article.

Spend more time to do fewer questions, and you’ll raise your accuracy. How do you know if you’re going too fast? Check your practice tests for careless errors on questions you should have gotten right. Get some ACT math practice here .

Reading Test

Practice extensively to find the pace that works best for you on the Reading Test . 

• Some students are slow but good readers. If you take 35 minutes to do fewer passages, you could get all of the questions right for each passage you do.
• Other students could take hours to work each passage and never get all the questions right. But if you find all the questions you can do on each passage (and guess on the rest of the questions), you could hit your target score.

Science Test

The ACT science test may have either 6 or 7 passages. Be aggressive and keep moving! Spend the time needed to ace the easiest passages first. Then move on the more difficult passages. Even on hard passages, work the the questions that look easiest first.

Read More: How to Write the ACT Essay

Writing Test (the Essay)

Outlining your essay before you write will keep you on track. Plus, organization is key to a great ACT writing score —you'll be doing yourself a big favor!

Remember, there is no guessing penalty on the ACT. Always mark an answer even if you don’t “work” the problem.

Build the right ACT prep plan for you

Our private tutors will help you build a prep plan that's customized to your score goals, study habits, and schedule.

Find a Tutor

Explore Colleges For You

Connect with our featured colleges to find schools that both match your interests and are looking for students like you.

Career Quiz

Take our short quiz to learn which is the right career for you.

Get Started on Athletic Scholarships & Recruiting!

Join athletes who were discovered, recruited & often received scholarships after connecting with NCSA's 42,000 strong network of coaches.

Best 389 Colleges

165,000 students rate everything from their professors to their campus social scene.

SAT Prep Courses

1400+ course, act prep courses, free sat practice test & events,  1-800-2review, free digital sat prep try our self-paced plus program - for free, get a 14 day trial.

Free MCAT Practice Test

I already know my score.

MCAT Self-Paced 14-Day Free Trial

Enrollment Advisor

1-800-2REVIEW (800-273-8439) ext. 1

1-877-LEARN-30

Mon-Fri 9AM-10PM ET

Sat-Sun 9AM-8PM ET

Student Support

1-800-2REVIEW (800-273-8439) ext. 2

Mon-Fri 9AM-9PM ET

Sat-Sun 8:30AM-5PM ET

Partnerships

• Teach or Tutor for Us

College Readiness

International

Advertising

Affiliate/Other

• Enrollment Terms & Conditions
• Accessibility
• Cigna Medical Transparency in Coverage

Register Book

Local Offices: Mon-Fri 9AM-6PM

• SAT Subject Tests

Academic Subjects

• Social Studies

Find the Right College

• College Rankings
• College Advice
• Applying to College
• Financial Aid

School & District Partnerships

• Professional Development
• Advice Articles
• Private Tutoring
• Mobile Apps
• Local Offices
• International Offices
• Work for Us
• Affiliate Program
• Partner with Us
• Advertise with Us
• International Partnerships
• Our Guarantees
• Accessibility – Canada

Privacy Policy | CA Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information | Your Opt-Out Rights | Terms of Use | Site Map

©2024 TPR Education IP Holdings, LLC. All Rights Reserved. The Princeton Review is not affiliated with Princeton University

TPR Education, LLC (doing business as “The Princeton Review”) is controlled by Primavera Holdings Limited, a firm owned by Chinese nationals with a principal place of business in Hong Kong, China.

Choose Your Test

Sat / act prep online guides and tips, act test dates: full guide to choosing (2023, 2024).

ACT General Info

Looking for info on 2022-2023 ACT test dates? Knowing the correct ACT test dates is crucial for a solid test-taking plan. Though you might be tempted to go ahead and register for the next possible test date, what you should really be doing is finding a date that works well for you and your schedule.

In this guide, we offer an overview of upcoming ACT test dates, registration deadlines, and score release dates. We also give you tips on how to choose an ACT test date and go over which test dates work best for juniors, seniors, and more.

ACT Test Dates and Deadlines for 2023-2024

ACT test dates are generally on Saturdays, but you might be able to take the ACT on a different date if you have a religious exemption or are taking a special administration of the test.

Here, we give you the upcoming ACT test dates, normal registration deadlines, late registration deadlines, and score release dates. The dates are organized into two tables: one for the remaining 2022 test dates and one for the 2023 test dates.

ACT Test Dates 2023

The test dates for 2023 have all been confirmed by ACT, Inc . , as have the registration deadlines and score release dates.

*The first date is when multiple-choice scores come out; the second date is when complete scores (with the Writing section) come out.

ACT Test Dates 2024

The test dates and registration deadlines for 2024 have been confirmed by ACT, Inc. through July 2024.  The score release dates are based on estimates of past score releases.

*The first date is when multiple-choice scores come out; the second date is when complete scores (with the Writing section) come out. **No test centers scheduled in New York on this date.

In the tables above, there are two dates in the "Online Score Release" columns. The first date is for multiple-choice scores — your composite ACT score and your individual section scores for English, Math, Reading, and Science. The second date is for complete ACT scores; these are your multiple-choice scores plus your Writing (essay) score .

If you take the ACT without Writing, you should generally receive your full ACT score report around two weeks after your test .

If you take the ACT with Writing, note that the essay usually takes an additional two weeks for scoring, meaning you won't receive your full ACT score report (with your essay grade) until about four weeks after your test date. Also, be aware that any colleges you put down to get your scores won't have access to your official ACT score report until your essay has been graded as well.

ACT Test Dates 2023-24: Visual Calendar and Trends

To help you plan your test-taking schedule, we've created a handy visual representation of the 2023-24 ACT dates. This calendar shows us how ACT tests are staggered throughout the year, as well as where the9999 overlapping of score release dates and registration deadlines often occurs:

You probably noticed right away that ACT test dates are clustered closely together in the fall and more spread out in the spring. This is done to give seniors more chances at attaining their ACT goal scores before college application deadlines (typically in the late fall and early winter).

The tests in the spring target juniors and students studying for the test early. Of course, you don't have to be in a certain grade level to take any of the administrations—you're welcome to sign up for whichever ACT dates you want, regardless of where you are in high school.

ACT scores generally come out right around the registration deadline for the next test. This can make it tricky to take two back-to-back exams, but you will usually get at least your multiple-choice scores before the late registration deadline, so it's still possible (though not necessarily advisable) to sign up for the next test.

In addition, registering for back-to-back ACTs doesn't give you sufficient time to prep for your retake . With such a short amount of time to study in-between tests, you'll likely see only minor (if any) improvement in your scores.

ACT / SAT Test Dates May Change Sign up to Receive Free Updates

Choosing the Best ACT Test Dates for You: 5 Key Factors

Which ACT test date (or dates!) you choose is ultimately up to you. But whether a test date is the right test date for you depends on five primary factors, which we go over here.

#1: Know When your Applications Are Due

One of the most important factors is your college application deadlines.

Generally, ACT scores are released 10-14 days after the exam. After that, ACT, Inc. sends score reports in batches to schools as often as schools choose to receive them (usually this is at least once every two weeks ). This time frame, however, does not include the processing time for ACT scores, which can vary significantly for each school.

So what does all of this mean for you? Basically, you must take the ACT well in advance of your college application deadlines so you can ensure your ACT scores get to your schools in time.

We suggest taking the ACT at least four weeks (ideally more) before your applications are due. If you're taking the ACT with Writing, give yourself even more time— at least six weeks. Common deadlines are January 1 for regular decision and November 1 or 15 for early action / early decision .

Don't forget: if your scores arrive late or aren't processed until after your school's application deadline has passed, your application could get disqualified. So the earlier, the better!

#2: Don't Rely on Priority Score Reports

In the past, the ACT offered students the ability to order priority reports, which would get scores to their universities sooner. This was primarily used by students whose ACT test dates were very close to their college application deadlines!

As of 2020, the ACT no longer offers priority score reports to test takers. That means you'll need to be on top of your test date info! Make sure that the regular score reports will make it to your universities on time by taking the ACT well before your application due dates.

#3: Plan How Many Times You May Want to Take the ACT

You should also be thinking about how many times you're willing to take the ACT in order to reach your goal score. Is there a chance you'll want to retake it?

At PrepScholar, we recommend taking the ACT two or three times in total:

• First, as a junior in your fall semester
• Second, as a junior in your spring semester
• Third, as a senior in your fall semester (or the summer before fall semester)

If you didn't take the exam at the beginning of your junior year, try to take it for the first time in February. This way you'll get your scores in March and will have plenty of time to study and decide whether you'd like to retake the ACT in June, July, or later.

Try to avoid registering for back-to-back dates in the fall of your senior year. You likely won't get your scores until the regular registration deadline for the next test has already passed.

Furthermore, it'll be a struggle to prep efficiently with such little time in-between tests. Plus, you'll probably be pretty busy with college applications as it is!

#4: Decide How Much Time You Want to Dedicate to ACT Prep

Another huge factor is time. How many months will you be able to devote entirely to ACT prep? By how many points do you need to improve your baseline score to reach your goal score? (Your baseline score is the score you start with before you begin any prep. You can find yours by taking an official ACT practice test .)

Our usual recommendation is to study for the ACT for three to six months . This amount of time should allow you to hone your test-taking skills and strategies without burning you out.

However, what's more important than months is the total number of hours you put in. Here are our estimates for the number of hours you'll need to study for the ACT based on how large of a point improvement you want:

• 0-1 ACT point improvement: 10 hours
• 1-2 ACT point improvement: 20 hours
• 2-4 ACT point improvement: 40 hours
• 4-6 ACT point improvement: 80 hours
• 6-9 ACT point improvement: 150 hours+

Clearly, the bigger the improvement in points, the more hours you'll need to study. This is why it's helpful to craft an ACT study plan as soon as possible—ideally, long before your test date!

But not everyone has ample free time they can spend studying for the ACT. At a minimum, try to commit to 10 hours of ACT prep . If you only have a month or so before test day, our in-depth guide will show you what steps to take to get the score you want .

#5: Plan Around Your Obligations

Lastly, before choosing an ACT test date, consider how your desired test date fits into your overall schedule. Will you have any obligations on that date or in the time leading up to it? Do you have any commitments that might prevent you from being able to study effectively for the ACT?

We suggest using a planner to keep track of major events and tests you have coming up. Include all major school and extracurricular activities, such as school plays, sports tournaments., AP exams , school projects, family vacations, weddings, etc.

If there are any conflicts with your desired test date, you can then look for an alternate date that'll be a better fit for your personal schedule.

Quick Guide: When Should Juniors Take the ACT? When Should Seniors?

We can't tell you which exact ACT test date will work best for you, but we can give you some advice on which test dates best suit certain situations. Below are four common scenarios with quick tips on the ACT test dates you'll want to prioritize for each.

Scenario 1: You're a Junior

• For 1st Test: September, October, December
• For 2nd Test: February, April, June

There are no risky ACT dates if you're a junior since your college applications won't be due until sometime during your senior year. Really, you can take the ACT whenever you want!

That said, we recommend taking the test at least twice : once in the fall of your junior year and once in the spring. This way you'll have the entire summer to finalize your college plans and decide whether you want to take the ACT again.

If you didn't take the ACT your fall semester, aim to take it as soon as possible in the spring, ideally in February or April. Either of these dates ensures you'll have time to retake the test if you want to in June or July before you start your senior year.

Scenario 2: You're a Senior

• Best Dates: July, September, October
• Riskier Dates: December

September and October are popular test dates for seniors because they offer you one final shot at getting the ACT score you want before college applications are due. Incoming seniors also have a July test date, which we strongly recommend opting for if you're worried about carving out time for ACT prep in the fall.

December is risky. If you've got application deadlines in early January, December ACT scores might not get to your schools in time. (This partly depends on whether you're taking the Writing section.) But if your deadlines are in late January or later, December should be OK.

Scenario 3: You're Applying Early Action/Early Decision

• Best Dates: June, July, September
• Riskier Dates: October

Most early action deadlines are November 1 or 15, so it's important to take the ACT as early as possible, preferably in June or July before senior year. Taking the test over the summer ensures you'll have one final chance to retake it your senior year in September (should you still want to raise your scores).

Just don't rely on the October test date. Only if your deadlines are on or after November 30 (as is the case with the University of California system) would we suggest possibly opting for the October test date. But this is playing it extremely close, so stick with September if you can!

Scenario 4: Your College Application Deadlines Are in February or Later

Most schools require applications to be submitted by November, December, or January. But those whose applications aren't due until February or later offer seniors more options for ACT dates.

Below are various late college application deadlines, their latest recommended ACT test dates, and the riskier ACT dates. With the recommended dates you should have little to no trouble in getting your scores to schools in time, whereas the riskier dates are less reliable and you might fail to get your scores in by the deadline. Choose wisely!

ACT Test Dates: Summary

The ACT is normally offered seven times a year:

Note that the July test date is only  available within the US (though it's not administered in New York, much like the February test date).

When choosing an ACT test date, it's important to consider the following factors:

• When your college application deadlines are
• Whether you're taking the Writing section or not
• How much time you're willing to dedicate to ACT prep

Once you've answered these questions, you'll be on your way to picking out a surefire ACT test date!

What's Next?

Ready to register for the ACT? Use our in-depth walkthrough to help you sign up for the test, and read our guide to find the best test center for you !

Need additional help choosing an ACT test date? See our factors you should think about before setting a test date . It's also important to consider the time you have to study and the advantages of taking the ACT multiple times .

Wondering whether to take the SAT or the ACT? Check out our complete guide to which test will be easier for you .

Want to improve your ACT score by 4+ points? Download our free guide to the top 5 strategies you need in your prep to improve your ACT score dramatically.

Fred is co-founder of PrepScholar. He scored a perfect score on the SAT and is passionate about sharing information with aspiring students. Fred graduated from Harvard University with a Bachelor's in Mathematics and a PhD in Economics.

Ask a Question Below

Have any questions about this article or other topics? Ask below and we'll reply!

Improve With Our Famous Guides

• For All Students

The 5 Strategies You Must Be Using to Improve 160+ SAT Points

How to Get a Perfect 1600, by a Perfect Scorer

Series: How to Get 800 on Each SAT Section:

Score 800 on SAT Math

Score 800 on SAT Reading

Score 800 on SAT Writing

Series: How to Get to 600 on Each SAT Section:

Score 600 on SAT Math

Score 600 on SAT Reading

Score 600 on SAT Writing

Free Complete Official SAT Practice Tests

What SAT Target Score Should You Be Aiming For?

15 Strategies to Improve Your SAT Essay

The 5 Strategies You Must Be Using to Improve 4+ ACT Points

How to Get a Perfect 36 ACT, by a Perfect Scorer

Series: How to Get 36 on Each ACT Section:

36 on ACT English

36 on ACT Math

36 on ACT Reading

36 on ACT Science

Series: How to Get to 24 on Each ACT Section:

24 on ACT English

24 on ACT Math

24 on ACT Reading

24 on ACT Science

What ACT target score should you be aiming for?

ACT Vocabulary You Must Know

ACT Writing: 15 Tips to Raise Your Essay Score

How to Get Into Harvard and the Ivy League

How to Get a Perfect 4.0 GPA

How to Write an Amazing College Essay

What Exactly Are Colleges Looking For?

Is the ACT easier than the SAT? A Comprehensive Guide

Should you retake your SAT or ACT?

When should you take the SAT or ACT?

Stay Informed

Get the latest articles and test prep tips!

Looking for Graduate School Test Prep?

Check out our top-rated graduate blogs here:

GRE Online Prep Blog

GMAT Online Prep Blog

TOEFL Online Prep Blog

Holly R. "I am absolutely overjoyed and cannot thank you enough for helping me!”

• Plan for College and Career
• Take the ACT
• School and District Assessment
• Career-Ready Solutions
• Students & Parents
• Open Search Form
• The ACT Test

• Registration *

Test Center Locator

High School Codes Lookup

• Photo Submission Requirements

Standby Testing

• Accommodations and Supports
• Free ACT Test Prep
• Official ACT Subject Guides
• The Official ACT Prep Guide
• ACT Kaplan Test Prep Suite
• Rescheduled Test Centers
• CAS Calculator FAQ
• Understanding Your Scores
• College Codes Lookup
• How to Send Scores
• Your Test Questions and Answers
• How Schools Use Scores
• ACT vs. SAT
• When to Take the ACT

Other ACT Services and Products

ACT Test Registration Information

Everything you need to know about registering for the ACT.

Register for the ACT | Requirements | Test Dates  | Costs | EOS | Special Circumstances

Prep for College This Summer With ACT!

With your June ACT registration, you get:

• $9 off your ACT Test Information Release (TIR) question and answer key* (Promo code JUNETIR ).
• Access to a FREE college planning event hosted by Encourage ® .
• Exclusive participation in Q&A sessions with ACT’s lineup of college counseling professionals (dates and seats will be limited).

Offers are only good until May 19 at 11:59 p.m. CT, so start planning for college today! 

June Promo FAQs

How do i use the $9 test information release (tir) promo code.

In order to use the promo code, the TIR must be purchased in a separate transaction from your test registration. Place the TIR in your cart and enter the JUNETIR voucher code provided during the checkout process on MyACT to receive $9 off. This code cannot be transferred and cannot be redeemed for cash or credit and cannot be combined with any other offers. This offer only applies to those taking the paper test in June.  

How do I receive access to the FREE Encourage event?

Registration for the June ACT grants automatic access to the Encourage event. You will receive an email with additional details and your event registration confirmation at a later date.   

How do I receive access to the Q&A sessions with counselors?

Registration for the June ACT grants automatic access to the Q&A sessions. You will receive an email with additional details and your event registration confirmation at a later date.

What if I have already registered for the June ACT?

If you have already registered for the June test but have not yet purchased a TIR, you can log in to your MyACT account and purchase the TIR separately and use the $9 off promo code. Remember, the TIR is your personal question and answer key to help boost your test prep strategy and learning. You will also still receive access to the free event and exclusive Q&A sessions.

How long is the promo code valid?

The promo code must be redeemed by the time the extended June ACT registration closes on May 19 at 11:59 p.m. CT.

Can the $9 promo code be used for any ACT test date?

The $9 TIR promo code is valid for the June 2024 ACT test date only and can only be used for the paper test. 

*$9 off promo code for TIR only valid when taking the paper test in June. This code is non-transferable and cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer or redeemed for cash or credit. This code is only applicable for the base exam and TIR. Add-ons and/or additional products or services are not covered, including but not limited to the writing exam, additional test preparation solutions not specified or additional score reports. This code and the purchase of the TIR only applies to those taking the paper test in June.  

Not Quite Ready To Register? Sign Up for a Reminder Alert So You Don't Miss the Deadline!

Upcoming test dates (national).

View more information on test dates .

To Register, You Will Need About 30 Minutes and...  

Computer with internet, credit card or other payment, high school course details, headshot photo, a fresh, flexible way to take the act.

Starting February 2024, ACT will offer an online testing option at select locations nationwide. Learn more about ACT’s online national test experience .

National test dates are for the United States, US territories, and Puerto Rico.

• If you missed the regular registration deadline for a test date, you can still register by the late registration deadline for an additional fee.
• If you did not register for a test date by the late registration deadline, you may be able to request  standby testing  for an additional fee.

Deadlines occur at midnight Central Time.

If you are unable to test on a Saturday test date for religious reasons, there may be options available to you. See  Non-Saturday Testing .

All requests for Accommodations and English Learner supports , including appeals, must be submitted by the late registration deadline through the Test Accessibility and Accommodations (TAA) system.

2024 Spring and Summer National Test Dates Schedule 

*No test centers are scheduled in New York for the July test date.

Test Information Release for the 2024 testing year will occur in April and June. See www.act.org/the-act/tir for more information.

2024-2025 National Test Dates Schedule 

Test Information Release for the 2024-2025 testing year will occur in September, December, and February. See  www.act.org/the-act/tir  for more information.

Additional Information for Registration

We need your photo.

As part of your registration process and ACT test security requirements, you will be asked to provide a recent photo of yourself.

Photo requirements

Accommodations and English Learner Supports

Before you register, learn more about the process to request accommodations or English Learner (EL) supports.

Learn about making a request

When You Should Test

Consider choosing a test date at least two months ahead of the application deadlines of all the colleges and scholarship agencies you might want to apply to.

Multiple-choice scores are normally reported within 2–8 weeks after the test date. If you take the ACT with writing, scores will be reported only after all of your scores are available, including writing, normally within 5–8 weeks after the test date.

ACT Test Center Locator

Search for an ACT test center near you.

Your High School Code

You may need this code when interacting with ACT.

The ACT Writing Test

The writing test is an optional 40 minute essay that measures your skills as a writer.

Learn more about the  ACT with writing .

Parent Email Address

You may opt to send copies of important messages to a parent or guardian email address.

Calculator Policy

To learn what calculators can be used during the test, see our Calculator Policy (PDF).

Retesting Restrictions

You may not receive scores from more than one test date during a scheduled national (Saturday, non-Saturday, or rescheduled test date arranged by ACT). If you are admitted and allowed to test a second time, we will report only the scores from the first test. The second or third set of scores will be cancelled without refund.

You may not receive scores from more than one test date per state administration (initial or makeup) if your school participates in ACT State and District Testing. If you are allowed to test more than once, we will report only the scores from the first test. The second set of scores will be cancelled.

How Much Does the ACT Cost?

Learn more about fees and other services, or if you might be eligible for a fee waiver.

Saying “Yes” to EOS

Get discovered by colleges. When you register you can opt-in to ACT’s Educational Opportunity Service (EOS). EOS will connect you with colleges, universities, and financial aid institutions based on your plans and interests. Expand your vision for college and open up new ways to pay for it. 

Information on opting out of EOS.

Special Circumstances  

Registration changes.

After you register for a test event, you will be able to make changes to your record. For a small fee, you can make a test center change and a test date change (if changes are made at the same time).

Test Center Change for the same test date  - If a seat and materials are available for your test option at your new preferred test center on your preferred test date, you will be able to make a test center change.  You cannot request a test center change after the  late registration deadline . Instead, find out about requesting  standby testing .

Test Date Change  - A test date change can be used to sign up for a different test date if you are absent or unable to test on the original test date or if your registration is cancelled for failure to meet ACT's test security requirements.

Note: If you paid with an  ACT Fee Waiver , the waiver will be reapplied to your new test date, but covers only the test fee or late fee for your test option, you must still pay the change fee.

Test Option Change – Before the late registration deadline, you can add the writing option or change between paper and online testing, if a seat is available.

Missed the Test

If you miss the test for any reason, including illness, injury, being denied admission at the test center for lack of ID, or late arrival, your options are listed below.

IMPORTANT: Once you break the seal on your test booklet, you cannot later request a test date change, even if you do not complete all your tests. You must register again and pay the full fee for your test option if you want to retest.

Request and pay for a test date change

Log in to your MyACT account  and select "Make Changes to Your Registration" or call ACT Registration at  319.337.1270  by the regular deadline for the new test date. You will be charged the full fee for the new test date in addition to the test date change fee.

If you call during the late registration period, you will also be charged a late fee. In either case, your basic fee for the original test date will be refunded. (If you register for a new test date instead of making a test date change, your basic fee for the original test date will not be refunded.)

If you decide you do not want to test on another test date, your registration fee and any additional fees (such as late fee or test center change fee) are nonrefundable. If you do not test, no score reports will be sent.

Arranged Testing

ACT reviews arranged testing requests for examinees who qualify under certain conditions such as distance from test centers and confinement to correctional institutions.

Arranged Testing Policies and Procedures (PDF)

If you miss the late deadline to register for a test date, or to request a test date or test center change, you may choose to sign in to your ACT account to request and pay for standby testing. Accommodations may be available for standby testing, but seats are not guaranteed. You may contact ACT to see if there is an available seat, test materials, and staff to administer the test.

Terms and Conditions

For complete details, refer to the Terms and Conditions - English  (PDF), Spanish (PDF)

This action will open a new window. Do you want to proceed?

Welcome to ACT

If you are accessing this site from outside the United States, Puerto Rico, or U.S. Territories, please proceed to the non-U.S. version of our website.