How much does the ACT cost?
How much does the ACT cost?
$69 registration fee (no writing section)
$94 registration fee (with writing section)
ACT test cost
The ACT costs $69 if you take the test without the optional writing section or $94 including the writing section. ACT score reports are free for you, your high school, and up to four colleges, and additional score reports cost $19. Colleges and universities use ACT exam scores to make admissions decisions.
| Test or service type | Fee |
|---|---|
| Registration (no writing section) | $69 |
| Registration (with writing section) | $94 |
| Late registration | $38 |
| Standby testing | $69 |
| Add or remove the writing test | $25 |
| Change test date or location | $44 |
| View scores online | Free |
| Score report | Free reports for you, your high school, and up to 4 colleges $19 for each additional report |
| Test Information Release (TIR) | $32 if order is placed before the test $40 if order is placed after the test |
| Score verification | $58 for multiple-choice test scores $58 for writing test score |
ACT registration fee
The ACT registration fee is $69 for the standard test with no writing section or $94 for the test with the writing section. This fee includes the exam and free online score reports for you, your high school, and up to four colleges.
If you miss the regular registration deadline, you can opt for late registration or standby testing:
Late registration: There is an extra $38 fee if you register during the late registration period, which is typically available for about two and a half weeks after the regular deadline for your desired test date.
Standby testing: If you miss the late registration deadline, you can pay a $69 fee for standby testing—a waitlist that admits students on a first-come, first-served basis if there are any available seats and test materials after all registered students have been admitted. If no seats are available, ACT refunds the standby fee.
ACT score service fees
After taking the ACT, you'll want to receive your score and share official score reports with the schools of your choice. ACT charges the following fees related to scoring your exam and reporting your scores:
Viewing your score online is free.
Score reports:
Sending score reports to up to four colleges and universities is free.
Sending score reports to a fifth and sixth school costs $19 in total.
Additional score reports cost $19 each.
Score verification costs $58 for either the multiple-choice section or the writing section or $116 for both sections. This service is available for up to 12 months after your test date. If you pay for score verification, ACT will verify:
Your multiple-choice test scores were checked against the correct scoring key.
Your written essay was scored by two independent, qualified readers, and by a third reader if the first two scores differed by more than one point in any domain.
Your written essay was correctly captured and displayed to readers.
Additional ACT test fees
You'll face these additional fees if you change, reschedule, or cancel your ACT test:
Changing your test date or location costs $44.
Adding or removing the writing test costs $25. This option is only available through the late registration deadline for your scheduled exam. Before registering for the ACT, check with your top college choices to see if they require the optional written essay.
Test Information Release (TIR) costs $32 if you order it before the test begins or $40 if you order it after the test. TIR gives you a digital copy of the test questions, your answers, the answer key, and the score conversion table. If you took the optional writing test, you'll also receive a copy of the writing prompt, your scores, and the scoring rubric.
ACT study guides
ACT offers several resources to help students prepare for the test:
The Official ACT Prep Guide costs $24 for the e-book version or $30 for the paperback version.
Individual subject guides like The Official ACT English Guide or The Official ACT Mathematics Guide cost $16 to $18 each.
To save money, consider buying the prep guide and all four subject guides bundled at a reduced price. The Official ACT Prep Guide & Subject Guides bundle costs $69.
Free ACT practice tests are available on the official website.
Study guides from other sources like The Princeton Review range from $20 to $30 on average and typically come with access to online practice tests.
ACT prep courses
Prices for ACT prep courses range from $150 to $1,900, depending on the features included and whether the program is self-paced or includes live online instruction.
Consider hiring an ACT tutor for more personalized, one-on-one instruction tailored to your needs. A tutor can evaluate your current knowledge and help you determine which areas of study to focus on.
ACT fee waiver
ACT offers fee waivers for students who demonstrate financial need. You must meet the following eligibility requirements to apply for a fee waiver:
Be currently enrolled in the 11th or 12th grade in high school.
Take the ACT test in the U.S., U.S. territories, or Puerto Rico.
Meet one or more of these indicators of financial need:
The family’s total annual income is at or below USDA levels for free or reduced-price school lunches.
The student is enrolled in a program for economically disadvantaged students, such as Upward Bound or Gear Up.
The family receives public assistance or lives in federally subsidized public housing.
The student resides in a foster home, is a ward of the state, or is experiencing homelessness.
ACT originally stood for American College Testing. The name was shortened to ACT in 1996.
What is the ACT test?
The ACT is a standardized test used by most colleges and universities to make admissions decisions. The test measures a high school student's general educational development and their readiness for college-level education.
What is on the ACT test?
The ACT contains four tests with a total of 215 multiple-choice questions that measure the student's knowledge and skills in English, reading, mathematics, and science.
The ACT also offers an optional writing test with one writing prompt describing a complex issue and three different perspectives about that issue. Students must write an essay developing their own perspective on the issue and analyzing the relationship between their perspective and one or more of the other perspectives provided.
| Test section | Number of questions | Minutes allowed | Measures |
|---|---|---|---|
| English | 75 | 45 | Ability to revise and edit essays and short texts in various genres |
| Mathematics | 60 | 60 | Mathematical skills typically acquired by the beginning of grade 12, such as algebra, geometry, and some trigonometry |
| Reading | 40 | 35 | Ability to read closely, integrate information from multiple sources, and reason logically about the texts |
| Science | 40 | 35 | Interpretation, analysis, evaluation, reasoning, and problem-solving skills used in the natural sciences |
| Writing (optional) |
1 essay | 40 | Writing skills taught in high school English classes and entry-level college composition courses |
When do you take the ACT test?
Most students take the ACT during the spring of their junior year or fall of their senior year of high school. Make sure you leave yourself enough time to retake the test before applying to colleges if you're not happy with your score on the first attempt.
FAQs about the ACT test
How long is the ACT test?
The ACT consists of four multiple-choice tests and one optional writing test. The four multiple-choice tests take 2 hours and 55 minutes total, not including the 15-minute break between the second and third tests. The optional writing test lasts 40 minutes.
What is a good score on the ACT test?
What is considered a good ACT score varies by college. Highly competitive Ivy League colleges look for scores in the 30s, while other schools may consider scores in the mid-20s competitive.
Each section of the ACT test is scored from 1 to 36. The average score ranges are:
Below average: 1 to 16
Average: 17 to 24
Above average: 25 to 36
What is the difference between the SAT and ACT test?
The SAT and ACT cover many similar subjects, and neither test is necessarily better than the other. Most colleges accept scores from either exam and don't prefer one over the other. However, there are some differences between the two tests:
The ACT includes a science section, which may be beneficial for students pursuing a STEM degree.
The ACT offers an optional written essay section. The SAT no longer offers this option.
The SAT uses an adaptive scoring system that adjusts the difficulty and number of questions based on the student's performance on previous questions.
The SAT is shorter at 2 hours and 14 minutes, compared to 2 hours and 55 minutes for the ACT without the written section or 3 hours and 35 minutes with the written section.
The SAT allows more time per question, but the questions tend to be more complicated than those on the ACT.
Are the SAT and ACT tests important?
Most four-year colleges and universities in the U.S. require applicants to submit ACT or SAT scores as part of the admissions process. Schools receive thousands of applications each year, and high scores on the SAT or ACT help them narrow down their selection of students.
Scoring well on the SAT or ACT may help you qualify for more merit-based scholarships. A high score can also help students with less-than-stellar GPAs demonstrate their academic improvement.
How to find an ACT tutor
Preparing for the ACT with a tutor can help you achieve a higher score and eliminate the need to take the test again. Follow these tips to find a reputable ACT tutor near you:
Look for tutors with experience helping students prep for the ACT or for specific sections of the test.
Read reviews of ACT tutors on Tutors.com and Google.
Ask for references with contact information.
Confirm their tutoring experience and educational background.
Ask if they'll offer a trial session to see how well you work together.
Questions to ask ACT tutors
Ask these important questions to ensure you find the best ACT tutor for you:
What experience do you have tutoring students for the ACT?
Have you helped students improve their ACT scores?
Can you describe your teaching methods and style?
What is your hourly rate for tutoring?
How many sessions will it take to prep for the ACT?
Do you offer packages or discounts if I book multiple sessions?
Which ACT study materials do you recommend?
Do your prices include practice exams?
Can you provide references?
Using our proprietary cost database, in-depth research, and collaboration with industry experts, we deliver accurate, up-to-date pricing and insights you can trust, every time.