ACT is a standard exam for international students to pursue their undergraduate degrees in the USA and Canada. The ACT exam evaluates your skills in four sections and determines your eligibility for higher education. Here are the ACT exam fees and dates for 2025.
ACT exam: An overview
| ACT full form | American College Testing |
| Conducted by | ACT, Incorporated |
| No. of sections | 4 + one optional writing section |
| How many questions are on the ACT? | 215 + one optional essay |
| Total duration | 2 hours 55 minutes (additional 40 minutes for optional essay) |
| ACT score range | 1-36 |
Table of Contents
- ACT exam: An overview
- ACT exam pattern
- ACT score range
- ACT exam dates
- ACT exam fees
- ACT Test Cancellation
- Special Testing Windows
- ACT Test Centers
- Frequently asked questions
ACT exam pattern
Before we move on to the test dates and fees, let’s check out the exam pattern to understand the scores and the average. There are four main sections and one optional section in the ACT exam.
ACT exam pattern
| ACT exam sections | No. of questions | Total duration (in minutes) |
|---|---|---|
| English | 75 | 45 |
| Mathematics | 60 | 60 |
| Science | 40 | 35 |
| Reading | 40 | 35 |
| Writing (optional) | 1 (essay) | 40 |
Data updated as of Jan 2025
ACT score range
The ACT exam has a score range between 1-36 for each section. The grades are then calculated to obtain an average of the four sections.
ACT average score
| ACT exam section | ACT average score |
|---|---|
| English | 19.9 |
| Reading | 21.2 |
| Maths | 20.2 |
| Science | 20.6 |
Data updated as of Jan 2025
ACT exam dates
The ACT exam is conducted on different dates for national and international students. Make sure to check the registration dates for your location before applying. The international test dates apply to students outside the United States, the US territories, and Puerto Rico. Students should also ensure that they complete the registration process before the deadline.
2025 National Test Dates Schedule
| Test Date | Regular Registration Deadline Late Fee Applies After This Date | Late Registration Deadline | Photo Upload and Standby Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|
| February 8, 2025 | January 3 | January 20 | January 31 |
| April 5, 2025 | February 28 | March 16 | March 28 |
| June 14, 2025 | May 9 | May 26 | June 6 |
| July 12, 2025* | June 6 | June 20 | July 4 |
*No test centers are scheduled in New York for the July test date.
ACT exam fees
The ACT has a standard exam fee structure for national and international students. Remember, the fees are non-refundable unless otherwise specified.
ACT exam fees
| ACT fee component | Fees | Details |
|---|---|---|
Complete ACT exam (without optional writing) | $181.50 | Includes reports for you, your high school, and up to 4 colleges (if you provide codes during ACT registration) |
Complete ACT exam (with optional writing) | $206.50 | Includes reports for you, your high school, and up to 4 colleges (if you provide codes during ACT registration) |
| Change in test option | $25 | Switching to ACT (without writing) before testing begins |
| Late registration | $38 | Registering or changing test dates after the regular registration period. |
| Standby testing | $69 | ACT will refund your fees if you are not allowed on test day or your registration is cancelled due to no photo |
| Change in test date | $44 | Changing test date |
| Change in test centre | $44 | Changing the test centre |
| Sending score reports to 5th & 6th college preference | $19 | Request online before the test |
| Additional score reports | $19 | Requesting additional score reports online after registration |
Test information release | $32 | The charges apply if you request it before the test |
| $40 | The charges apply if you request it after the test | |
Score verification | $58 | For MCQ verification |
| $58 | For writing verification | |
| $116 | For MCQ and writing verification |
Data updated as of Jan 2025
ACT Test Cancellation
ACT does not refund the fee if you cancel the ACT exam. Both basic registration and additional service fees are non-refundable if you decide not to take the test. So, it is always better to reschedule the ACT exam than cancel the assessment. ACT charges a fee of $44 for changing the test date.
The candidates will be notified if the conducting body cancels the ACT Exam. If the candidate cannot travel to the test centre due to severe weather, but the test centre stays open, then they may register for a future test date. However, the change fees will apply. If the test centre cancels a test date due to bad weather or other unforeseen circumstances, ACT will refund your registration fees.
Special Testing Windows
ACT provides candidates with disabilities with appropriate accommodations based on their needs. All requests for accommodations by the candidate should be submitted before the late registration deadline for the preferred test date through the Test Accessibility and Accommodations (TAA) system.
The candidate and the school official must make arrangements for testing within the applicable special testing window if no approved accommodations can be provided at a computer-based test site. For example, if the candidate's school cannot administer special testing, they can find a willing school for testing and work with ACT to request testing at that location.
The candidates can choose either the ACT without writing or the full ACT with the optional writing section while requesting special testing. However, the candidates can only take the writing section after taking the multiple-choice sections during the two-week testing window. The answer documents will only be scored if the tests are completed within the designated two-week testing window.
ACT special testing window for respective exam dates
2025 Special Testing Windows
| Test Date | Testing Window |
|---|---|
| February 8, 2025 | February 8 - February 23 |
| April 5, 2025 | April 5 - April 20 |
| June 14, 2025 | June 14 - June 29 |
| July 12, 2025* | July 12 - July 27 |
*Special testing is not available in New York for the July Testing Window.
Once their accommodations are approved, the candidates appearing to test via Special Testing will have a special testing label on the admission ticket. However, the candidates must still make arrangements with the school officials to take the test.
ACT Test Centers
The ACT exams are held seven times a year at numerous places across India. The candidates have to select the test centres at the time of registration. Here is the list of the ACT test centres in India.
ACT exam centres in India
| Ahmedabad |
|
| Jaipur |
|
| Bangalore |
|
| Bhopal | Billabong High Intl School |
| Bhubaneswar | KiiT International School |
| Chennai | USIEF Chennai |
| Dehradun | The Doon School |
| Hyderabad |
|
| Indore | Swati Jain College |
| Kodaikanal | Kodaikanal International School |
| Kolkata |
|
| Lucknow | King George Inter College |
| Mohali | Learning Paths School |
| Mumbai |
|
| Mussoorie | Woodstock School |
| New Delhi |
|
| Pune | Mahindra UWC of India |
| Vadodara | Navrachana International School |
Data updated as of Jan 2025
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to write the ACT?
Here is the basic price for registration for the ACT exam. There are additional costs for any services you require for the assessment.
| ACT fee component | Exam fees |
|---|---|
Complete ACT exam (without optional writing) | $181.50 |
Complete ACT exam (with optional writing) | $206.50 |
What is the age limit for the ACT exam?
Any national or international student above the age of 13 can take the ACT exam.
What are the highest marks in ACT?
The ACT exam follows a score range of 1-36. So the highest mark one can score in the exam is 36.
What are the average marks on the ACT?
| ACT exam section | ACT average score |
|---|---|
| English | 19.9 |
| Reading | 21.2 |
| Maths | 20.2 |
| Science | 20.6 |
When is the ACT exam held in India?
Here are the ACT exam and registration dates for 2025 in India.
| Test Date | Regular Registration Deadline |
|---|---|
| February 8, 2025 | January 3 |
| April 5, 2025 | February 28 |
| June 14, 2025 | May 9 |
| July 12, 2025* | June 6 |
