What are the ACT exam dates and fees for 2024?

Updated on: May 9, 2024
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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 2024.

ACT exam: An overview

ACT full formAmerican College Testing
Conducted byACT, Incorporated
No. of sections4 + 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 range1-36

Data updated as of March 2024

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 sectionsNo. of questionsTotal duration (in minutes)
English7545
Mathematics6060
Science4035
Reading4035
Writing (optional)1 (essay)40

Data updated as of March 2024

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 sectionACT average score
English19.9
Reading21.2
Maths20.2
Science20.6

Data updated as of March 2024

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.

ACT exam dates for international students 2024

Test dateRegistration deadlineLate fee requirementPhoto upload deadline
February 23-24, 2024January 26, 2024February 09, 2024February 16, 2024
April 12-13, 2024March 15, 2024March 29, 2024April 05, 2024
June 07-08, 2024May 10, 2024May 24, 2024May 31, 2024
July 12-13, 2024June 14, 2024June 28, 2024July 05, 2024

Data updated as of March 2024

ACT exam dates for students in the US, US territories, and Puerto Rico 2024

Test dateRegistration deadlineLate fee requirementPhoto upload deadline
February 10, 2024January 05, 2024January 19, 2024February 02, 2024
April 13, 2024March 08, 2024March 22, 2024April 05, 2024
June 08, 2024May 03, 2024May 17, 2024May 31, 2024
July 13, 2024*June 07, 2024June 21, 2024July 05, 2024

Data updated as of March 2024

*No test centres are allotted 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 componentFeesDetails

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$25Switching to ACT (without writing) before testing begins
Late registration$38Registering or changing test dates after the regular registration period.
Standby testing$68ACT 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$44Changing test date
Change in test centre$44Changing the test centre
Sending score reports to 5th & 6th college preference$18.50Request online before the test
Additional score reports$18.50Requesting additional score reports online after registration


 

Test information release

$32The charges apply if you request it before the test
$40The charges apply if you request it after the test



 

Score verification

$58For MCQ verification
$58For writing verification
$116For MCQ and writing verification

Data updated as of March 2024

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

ACT exam dateSpecial testing window
February 23-24, 2024February 23 - March 10, 2024
April 12-13, 2024April 12-28, 2024
June 07-08, 2024June 07-23, 2024
July 12-13, 2024July 12-28, 2024

Data updated as of March 2024

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

Indo American Educ Society

Ahmedabad International School

J.G. International School

Jaipur

Jayshree Periwal International School

Neerja Modi School

Bangalore

St Joseph Boys High School

Candor International School

BhopalBillabong High Intl School
BhubaneswarKiiT International School
ChennaiUSIEF Chennai
DehradunThe Doon School
Hyderabad

Sreenidhi International School

USIEF Hyderabad

IndoreSwati Jain College
KodaikanalKodaikanal International School
Kolkata

South City International School

USIEF - Kolkata

LucknowKing George Inter College
MohaliLearning Paths School
Mumbai

Aditya Birla World Academy

Lala Lajpatrai Inst Of Management

Singapore International School

Transitions Lab Univ Prep School

MussoorieWoodstock School
New Delhi

Council For American Education

U.S. India Educational Foundation

PuneMahindra UWC of India
VadodaraNavrachana International School

Data updated as of March 2024

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 componentExam 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 sectionACT average score
English19.9
Reading21.2
Maths20.2
Science20.6

When is the ACT exam held in India?

Here are the ACT exam and registration dates for 2024 in India.

Test dateRegistration deadline
February 23-24, 2024January 26, 2024
April 12-13, 2024March 15, 2024
June 07-08, 2024May 10, 2024
July 12-13, 2024June 14, 2024