When Do You Take the ACT? Best Grade and 2026-27 Dates

TL;DR

Most students take the ACT in their junior or senior year. ACT says fall of junior year is a popular time for a first attempt, spring of junior year suits a retake, and fall of senior year works if you apply early. You can take the ACT as many times as you want, and sophomores can test early. The next national date is December 12, 2026 (register by November 6, or by November 29 with a late fee), followed by February 27, 2027.

Most students take the ACT in 11th grade, and many retake it in the fall of 12th grade. ACT's own timing guidance gives a similar path: a first test in the fall of junior year, a retake in the spring, and a last chance in the fall of senior year if you apply early. This guide shows you which grade fits your situation, the 2026-27 dates and deadlines, and how the 2025 changes to the ACT affect your timing.

What grade do you take the ACT?

ACT also notes that juniors have fewer opportunities for retakes before application deadlines. If you start in the spring of junior year, you leave less room to try again, so plan your first attempt around your application timeline.

When should you take the ACT for the first time?

Two good windows exist. Fall of junior year works if you want a baseline score and room to improve. Spring of junior year works if you want more preparation time first. Both leave the summer and fall of senior year for a retake.

NAT tutors suggest working backward from the date you want your final score:

1. Pick your application deadlines and note when your colleges need scores.

2. Pick your last realistic test date.

3. Plan one retake before that date.

4. Plan your first attempt about two to three months after you start preparing.

"I'd rather see one later attempt than two rushed ones, every single time." NAT ACT tutor Isaiah Fuji Brensihan [HUMAN LAYER INPUT NEEDED: confirm Isaiah's approval of this quote and his credentials before publishing. The live page lists a 36 ACT score and nine years of tutoring.]

The ACT readiness checkpoint (NAT guidance)

This checkpoint is NAT's own guidance. It is not an ACT rule. Before you register for a first official test, check three things.

1. Math coverage. You have finished Algebra II, or you are within about six weeks of finishing it. ACT math can also include geometry and some trigonometry. [HUMAN LAYER INPUT NEEDED: confirm the trigonometry statement against ACT's current content description.]

2. Reading stamina. You can read a long passage and answer questions without losing focus. Try a timed reading section from a practice test.

3. Test endurance. You can sit for 2 hours and 5 minutes of focused work. That is the length of the required sections of the enhanced ACT.

If you fail one of the three, delay your first test and fix the gap with targeted practice.

Is sophomore year too early to take the ACT?

ACT says it is early, and also says sophomores can take it. Testing in 10th grade can show you where you stand and can help you qualify for dual credit opportunities. For most students, it is a practice test that costs money.

Isaiah Fuji Brensihan has spent nine-plus years tutoring math, science, computer science, and SAT/ACT prep, and he scored a 36 on the ACT before studying computer science at Harvey Mudd College. His calm, patient style hides a direct opinion about when students are wasting attempts. At NAT, he is the tutor who most often tells families to check the math sequence before they book a test date.

Sophomore testing makes sense if you have finished Algebra II, you need a score for dual enrollment or a specific program, or your school offers it free. Otherwise wait.

2026-27 ACT test dates and deadlines

ACT's registration page shows the following national test dates. Check ACT's full list of test dates before you register.

A late fee applies after the regular deadline. ACT says no test centers are scheduled in New York for the July test date. Registration closes about five weeks before each test date.

If you want to test in December, the regular deadline is November 6, 2026. After that, register with a late fee by November 29.

The latest you can take the ACT

Check each college's score deadline. Some programs set earlier cutoffs than the application deadline.

How the enhanced ACT changed your timing strategy

The ACT changed in 2025. The online test updated in April 2025 and the paper test followed in September 2025. Three changes affect your timing.

• A shorter required test. English, math, and reading are required. ACT says a college-reportable Composite is available after 125 minutes of testing.

• Science is optional. The composite averages English, math, and reading only. If you take Science, you get a separate score, and students with both math and science scores also receive a STEM score.

• Writing is optional. It adds 40 minutes and a separate score.

Decide which sections to take before you register, because the choice affects your fee and your test day. Here are the fees on ACT's registration page: $70 for English, math, and reading, plus $5 for Science and $25 for Writing. Confirm current fees on ACT's page when you register. Our guide to whether to add the ACT Science section shows how to decide.

Maya Campbell scored a 36 on the ACT and teaches SAT, ACT, math, and English at North American Tutors, with seven years of classroom and one-on-one experience across age groups. Her Columbia University neuroscience background makes her attentive to how fatigue and scheduling pressure interact. She is one of the NAT tutors who watched the Enhanced ACT change the calendar advice she gives families.

The practical takeaway: schedule around application deadlines and the optional Science decision, not around the old endurance assumption.

How many times should you take the ACT?

There is no limit. ACT says there is no limit to how many times students can take the ACT, and that colleges generally accept superscores.

Here is how to use your attempts well.

1. Take your first test with a plan, not as a guess.

2. Review your results before you retake. ACT offers a Test Information Release for national tests in September, April, and June, which shows your questions and answers. You can order it for up to six months after a qualifying test date.

3. Retake only if you have a specific fix, such as one weak section.

4. Check whether your colleges superscore, since that changes how many attempts help.

One NAT student, Everleigh, began ACT preparation in early February with a starting composite score of 23. She took her first official ACT in April and a second in June, using the results from her first attempt to identify areas needing further work. With targeted preparation from NAT tutor Brian Min, she achieved a 31 ACT Composite Superscore over four months, an improvement of 8 points.

Read Everleigh's full success story: https://www.northamericantutors.com/success_stories/everleigh.d

The free in-school ACT

Some states and districts give the ACT to students during the school day, often in the spring of junior year. If your school offers it, ask your counselor whether it counts for college reporting in your state. You can still test on a national date to try for a higher score. ACT lists state and district testing information on its site.

Should you take the ACT or the SAT first?

Take a full, timed practice test of each and compare. The two tests differ in format and timing. Choose the one where you score higher or feel more comfortable. Our SAT vs ACT guide walks through the comparison. For SAT timing, see when to take the SAT.

Do you have to take the ACT?

Not always. Colleges set their own policies. Many accept either the ACT or the SAT, some are test optional, and some require a score. Check each college's admissions page before you register. If you want to see what a specific selective school expects, read our guide to what ACT score is good.

How to register for the ACT

1. Create an ACT account on ACT's registration page.

2. Choose your test date and sections.

3. Upload a photo and pay the fee.

4. Register before the deadline. ACT registration closes about five weeks before test day.

5. Print your ticket and check your test-center rules.

Your ACT timeline, step by step

1. Check your colleges' score policies and deadlines.

2. Take a full, timed practice test.

3. Choose your first test date and sections.

4. Prepare for two to three months with focused practice.

5. Register before the deadline.

6. Review your results and decide on a retake.

7. Retake in the spring of junior year or the fall of senior year, whichever fits your deadlines.

If you want a coach to build this plan with you, one-on-one ACT tutoring pairs you with a tutor who plans around your calendar.