ACT FAQS

Frequently Asked Questions

• Registering for the ACT—answers to your questions about signing up for the test, solutions to common registration problems, and information about circumstances that may affect which registration method you use.
• Taking the test—everything you need to know about preparing for the test, including details about what to expect on test day, acceptable identification, and prohibited calculators.
• Scores—answers to common questions about score reports, score reporting schedules, sending additional score reports, and understanding your scores.

Signing up for the ACT

General questions about the ACT

• What is an ACT Web account and why do I need one?
• What is the ACT?
• Who can take the ACT?
• What accommodations are available for students with disabilities?
• Why should I take the ACT?
• When are the test dates and registration deadlines?
• What is the difference between the ACT and SAT?
• When should I test?
• Should I test again?
• Are there any restrictions on how often I can test?
• How much does it cost to take the ACT?
• Can I get a copy of the test questions and answer key?
• I have questions about the optional Writing Test. Can you help?

Registration questions

• Can I take the ACT in a location other than the U.S., U.S. territories, Puerto Rico, or Canada?
• How do I pay when I register online?
• Is online registration secure for payment by credit card?
• How can I add/change/cancel my college choices/high school code after I register?
• Why was I assigned to a test center that was not one of my original choices? Can I change this?
• I want to cancel my registration. Can I get a refund?
• How can I make changes to my registration?
• I’ve changed my mind about taking the ACT Writing Test. Can I add or remove it before test day?
• I can’t test on the date I registered for online? What can I do?

Special circumstances

• Am I eligible for a fee waiver?
• Is non-Saturday testing available?
• Can homebound or confined students take the ACT?
• Is extended time allowed for examinees whose native language is not English?
• Is the ACT offered in languages other than English?
• Can junior high students take the ACT?
• What if there are no scheduled test centers near my home on any test date?

Taking the test

Test day

• What time does the test start?
• What if I’ve lost or never received my admission ticket?
• Why do I need to bring my admission ticket?
• What should I take to the test center?
• What if I’ve missed the late registration deadline?
• Can I change my test center, test option, or test date on test day?
• What happens if there is bad weather on test day?
• What if I miss the test date I signed up for?
• What identification will I have to show at the test center?
• How do I get ready for test day?
• What calculators are permitted and prohibited?
• What is standby testing?
• Is standby testing the same as a Test Date Change on the day of the test?
• I tested as a standby. How do I pay my fee?

Test prep

• How do I prepare for the ACT?
• Does ACT call to sell test prep services or give information to test prep companies?
• How many questions are there and how long will the test take?
• What are some tips for successful testing?
• Which subject areas do the multiple-choice questions cover?
• How do I prepare for the ACT Writing Test?

Scores

Viewing scores online

• How soon can I view my scores?
• Is there any way to view my scores sooner?
• Why can’t I see my scores when I try to view them online?
• What can cause scores to take longer?
• Why are my multiple-choice scores available online before my Writing scores?
• After I view my scores, can I cancel reporting to colleges or my high school?

Getting scores

• I haven’t received my score report yet. How long does it take?
• Can you give me my scores by phone, email, or fax?
• How can I get my scores more quickly?
• Why didn’t my high school get my score report?
• Why can’t a college locate my ACT scores?
• Where are my Test Information Release materials?

Sending scores

• How do I send my scores to others?
• What are my options for sending my scores and how much will it cost?
• Can I send my multiple-choice scores without sending my Writing scores?
• Can I send my Writing scores without my multiple-choice scores?
• What if I want to send my scores, but don’t remember when I took the ACT?
• How often are scores reported to colleges?
• Can I send my scores to a high school or uncoded college? Can I order a personal copy of my score report?
• Can I order Additional Score Reports at no charge for a previous test date?
• Can I send scores from two different test dates as one score report?
• When will the college receive my scores?
• Can I cancel my order?

Understanding scores

• What is the highest possible ACT score?
• How does ACT figure test scores?
• I don’t think my test was scored correctly; can I have it hand-scored?
• What are ACT’s scoring policies if there is a problem at a test center?

Score reports

• How do I correct or add my Social Security number or ACT ID to my score report?
• How do I delete a test date record?
• Some of my information is wrong on the score report. How do I correct it?
• Which scores are reported if I test more than once?
• When will my college need to have my ACT scores?
• Will colleges accept my student copy of the ACT score report?
• Will anyone be able to see the essay I wrote?
• What is my ACT ID and why is it important?