ACT® test dates and deadlines, 2026–27
Every national ACT test date for 2026–27, with its registration and late deadlines, the photo upload deadline, and the day the first scores come out.
| Test date | Register by | Late registration until | Photo upload and standby until | First scores out |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York testing available starting with July 2027. |
Projected dates for 2027–28
ACT lists these as projected and subject to change. It has not published their deadlines yet.
How to pick a date
- Leave time to study before your first date, and a later date in reserve in case you want a second try. ACT can combine your best section scores from different dates into a superscore.
- Register before the regular deadline: late registration costs extra.
- Not sure the ACT is your test? Read SAT or ACT: which should you take?
- See how your section scores turn into a Composite with the ACT Composite calculator.
Questions
What if I miss the registration deadline?
You can still register until the late registration deadline in the third column. ACT charges a late fee for that, so register by the first deadline if you can.
When do ACT scores come out?
ACT releases multiple-choice scores as soon as they are ready, usually within a few weeks. The last column is the first release date ACT publishes for each test date; scores taken online often arrive sooner, and Writing scores later.
Do these dates apply outside the United States?
No. They are the national test dates for the United States, U.S. territories and Puerto Rico. Outside the U.S. the ACT is taken online at a test center; check act.org for those dates.
What is the photo deadline?
ACT needs a photo of you uploaded before test day. The fourth column is the last day to upload it, and also the last day to ask for standby testing.
Find where to start
Find your level in English, Math, Reading and Science, then practice the skills that move your Composite.
Take the ACT diagnostic