Every 2026 ACT national test date with its regular deadline, late deadline, and the cost of registering late. Regular registration closes about five weeks before each test date.
Source: ACT national test dates schedule. Set your reminder for the regular deadline column.
| Test date | Regular deadline | Late deadline (+$40) |
|---|---|---|
| June 13, 2026 | May 8, 2026 | May 29, 2026 |
| July 11, 2026 | June 5, 2026 | June 24, 2026 |
| September 12, 2026 | August 7, 2026 | August 21, 2026 |
| October 24, 2026 | September 18, 2026 | October 9, 2026 |
| December 12, 2026 | November 6, 2026 | November 27, 2026 |
| February 13, 2027 | January 8, 2027 | January 22, 2027 |
| April 17, 2027 | March 12, 2027 | March 26, 2027 |
The late deadline runs roughly three weeks after the regular deadline. Adding $40 to the standard $68 registration brings late ACT registration to $108. Standby testing is available after the late deadline at $75 above the test fee.
Pick your test date from the table, find its regular deadline, and set a reminder pointed at that date. Advance notice fires 7, 3, and 1 days before, so the deadline does not pass while you are studying for the test itself.
Reminder pre-set for the next regular deadline (June 5, 2026 — for the July 11 ACT). Adjust to whichever cycle you are targeting:
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The ACT late fee is the highest of the major college entrance exams. A student missing the regular deadline pays an extra $40 — more than the cost of a Khan Academy SAT prep subscription, which is free.
Unlike the SAT, the ACT lets you show up on test day without registering — for a price. Standby testing costs $75 above the standard test fee, total $143. You request a standby ticket online a week before the test, then arrive early on test day. If the center has space and a proctor available after all registered testers are seated, you test. If not, you receive a partial refund and go home.
Standby is not a strategy. Centers fill at major-metro locations on popular dates. You cannot pick your center. For most students, registering for the next national test date is faster, cheaper, and more reliable. See missed the exam registration deadline for the recovery playbook across SAT, ACT, and AP.
For juniors, the April or June ACT is the standard first attempt — you take it once, see your score, and decide on a retake. June is popular because it falls right after AP exams, when test prep momentum is still high.
For seniors with early-action or early-decision applications, the September ACT is the practical last chance. October scores often arrive too late for November deadlines. December scores work for regular decision but not for any early plan.
Once you pick a date, find its regular deadline in the table and set an exam registration reminder for that date. The reminder is the difference between $68 and $108.
Registration for each ACT test date opens about three months before the test. For 2026 dates, you can typically register starting in March (for June and July tests) and June (for September onward). Registering early secures your preferred test center.
The standard ACT registration fee is $68 for the no-writing test in 2026. Late registration adds $40, bringing the total to $108. The optional writing section adds $25. Test center change fees and standby testing fees are separate.
The late deadline runs about three weeks after the regular deadline. The late fee is $40 on top of the standard $68, totaling $108. After the late deadline closes, your only option for that test date is ACT standby testing.
If you missed both the regular and late deadlines, you can request a standby ticket and show up at a test center on test day. If the center has an available seat after registered testers are placed, you test. The standby fee is $75 on top of the test fee, and seating is not guaranteed.
Register at least four to six weeks before the test. Major-city test centers fill quickly, especially for the spring and fall dates that align with college application timelines. Late registration not only adds $40 in fees, it also limits which centers still have seats.
Seniors aiming for early-action deadlines (typically November 1 or 15) should take the ACT in September at the latest. The October ACT may not return scores in time for early action at most colleges. The December ACT is fine for regular decision but cuts it close everywhere else.
Set the reminder for the regular deadline. Skip the late fee, the standby line, and the wait for the next test date.
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