How to Register for the ACT Exam - The ACT is a standardised test needed by overseas students seeking admission to undergraduate colleges primarily in the United States and Canada. The ACT test, or "American College Testing," is an MCQ-based online exam designed to assess applicants' writing, mathematical, verbal, and scientific skills. There is also an optional writing portion available while registering for the ACT. Students can pay an additional cost upon enrolment to take the ACT's writing part.
When applying for undergraduate programs at overseas institutions, a variety of factors must be considered. The ACT (American College Testing) test is one of the requirements that many universities in the United States and Canada ask of students applying to pursue bachelor's degrees at their institution.
To avoid unpleasant surprises, you should understand the nature of the ACT exam before beginning the enrolment process. So, keep reading because this blog will teach you all you need to know about ACT registration, including ACT exam eligibility, how to apply for ACT, and how much the ACT exam costs.
There is a thorough step-by-step instruction for ACT registration. International students who wish to take the ACT exam must register only through the online platform. First, to register for the ACT exam, the following conditions must be met:
Possession of a computer or laptop with internet access.
Submit thorough high school course details.
Availability of a credit or debit card for paying ACT registration costs.
The complete registration procedure usually takes 30 minutes (approx). Let's take a look at a step-by-step guide for international students registering for the ACT exam in 2024.
Step 1: Begin by creating a MyACT account on the ACT's official website. This entails signing up for a new account and giving the essential profile information. You will get information about ACT registration via your registered email address.
Step 2: Find the ACT exam registration option and click on it. A dialogue window will open, giving students directions for submitting their ACT exam applications.
Step 3: After reading the instructions and verifying that you have the necessary paperwork for ACT registration, you should choose your testing options. If you are an Indian student, certain selections may have already been pre-selected for your convenience.
Step 4: Based on your choices, select an appropriate test day and ACT test centre. Registration deadlines are normally three to four weeks before the exam date. To prevent having to make changes later, make your choices and submit the ACT exam application properly.
Step 5: After filling out the initial information up to step 4, you will get access to the ACT application form. The section includes the following procedures for completing the ACT exam application:
Begin by submitting a headshot photo and adding educational information about yourself and your parents.
Select up to four universities to which you want to send your ACT scores.
Please choose how you want your ACT score reports sent to the universities you've chosen.
Finally, fill out the ACT application and submit all required paperwork to confirm your enrollment for the ACT exam.
Step 6: To complete your registration (assuming you choose the non-writing option), you must pay the exam price of USD 171.50 (INR 14,240.50). This payment can be paid with a debit or credit card, or using an online payment option.
The ACT exam costs for 2024 are described in the table below:
ACT Tests |
Fee |
Description |
ACT (no writing) |
USD 176.50 (INR 14680.13) |
It covers your score reports for yourself and up to four universities (if codes are provided when you register). |
ACT (writing) |
USD 201.50 (INR 16731.55) |
It includes your score reports and up to four institutions (if codes are entered at registration). |
Option Change Fee |
USD 25 (INR 2075.88) |
You can add or remove the writing test until the late deadline in your MyACT account. |
Students who make changes to their ACT applications may pay additional fees for alterations in the following areas:
Additional Costs |
Fees |
Late registration fee |
USD 36 (INR 2989) |
Change fee |
USD 42 (INR 3,487) |
Score reports to 5th and 6th college choices |
USD 16 (INR 1328) |
Additional Score Reports |
USD 18 (INR 1495) |
Are you ready to register for the ACT? Learn about what you need to do and make a decision before registering for the ACT.
The quickest way to register is online using your ACT Web Account. You can also get a registration package from your high school guidance office. (Note: If you're taking the ACT outside of the United States, be sure you register through the ACT's International Portal.)
To check exam dates, costs, and deadlines, first visit the ACT site. You may also look into the standards and methods for applying for extended leave or other accommodations. The ACT website allows you to access your account, register, examine your scores, and obtain score reports.
Don't allow your ideal exam date to pass you by. Check registration deadlines to ensure you may sign up for the desired exam day.
The ACT essay is optional, therefore you can choose between the ACT Plus Writing and the ACT (No Writing). Some colleges you apply to may demand ACT writing scores, thus we recommend taking ACT Plus Writing.
The ACT Plus Writing costs more than the ACT without writing, although ACT also provides price waiver services. While you may send a score report to four colleges for free, there are expenses for sending scores to more than four institutions.
The registration procedure includes completing the ACT's survey about your grades and interests, but you are not compelled to respond. To save time, you can submit only the needed information, indicated by an asterisk.
This is an excellent resource to help you prepare if you decide to retake the ACT. Six to eight weeks following the exam, you will receive a copy of the test and your answers. This service is offered for an extra price and only on test days in December, April, or June. The Test Information Release can be ordered up to three months after the test date, although it is more convenient to buy when you register.
Now that you've officially registered for the ACT, it's time to start to work. How you prepare will be determined by the amount of time you have to study and the topics you need to focus on.
Make sure your testing schedule includes extra time to retake the test if you don't earn the desired score. Even if only one or two parts are poor, retaking the test will help you improve in those areas. ACT will now automatically calculate a superscore for you based on the average of your top scores in each part across all test dates. Here is some basic information concerning superscoring, as well as ACT's superscoring policy.
Begin with a free ACT practice exam to determine your strengths and weaknesses. We can assist you in determining the best ACT preparation choice based on your objectives, learning style, and timetable.
After you've learnt how to register for the ACT, let's look at some typical errors to avoid throughout your registration:
Avoid missing application deadlines.
Locate your test facility ahead of time and fill out the necessary data.
Prior to your photos, thoroughly review the submission guidelines.
Get the Test Information Release before
It is very advised to plan your ACT exam in advance. It can be a time-consuming procedure to register, prepare for the ACT, and then take the exam. However, the work is always worthwhile because your grades might help you get into your ideal overseas university.
Q.1. What are the registration fees for the ACT?
The ACT registration cost is $150 USD for overseas students who do not wish to take the writing test. The price for students taking the written exam is $166.50.
Q.2. How can I sign up for the ACT?
You can register for ACT via the online application found on the organization's official website.
Q.3. Can you use a calculator on the ACT?
ACT advises that you bring an approved calculator that you are acquainted with for use exclusively on the mathematics test. If you test online, a calculator is offered on the test platform; however, you may bring your own calculator. It is your obligation to determine if your calculator is authorised.
Q.4. What are the age limits for taking the ACT?
There is no age limit specified in the ACT qualifying criteria. Candidates from all age categories are eligible to take the college admission exam. The ACT exam is often taken by high school graduates over the age of 13 years.
Q.5. Who is qualified to take the ACT exam?
The ACT exam is intended for high school graduates, however kids in grades 6–9 are also eligible. The minimum age required is thirteen years. It is an entrance test for college and university admissions, with no specified academic requirements for scores or courses.
Q.6. What is the format of the ACT test?
The ACT test has four multiple-choice sections: English, Mathematics, Reading, and Science, with an optional writing portion. Some schools and institutions demand or recognise A C T writing scores, therefore you may want to take the writing aspect.
Q.7. How can you cancel your ACT registration?
While the $63 registration price for the ACT is nonrefundable (as are any fees paid for late registration or test site changes), students may request refunds for extra services such as additional score reports. However, you can adjust the date of your ACT if it helps.
To modify your test date, log in to your MyACT account at ACT.org and go to the dashboard. Click the option labelled "Make Changes to Your Registration." While this costs $25, it can save you from losing the entire registration price.