The 2018 ACT Calendar of Test Dates and Deadlines
The ACT is one of two tests commonly required of college applicants across the country. Although many students still take the SAT, an increasing percentage are now opting for the ACT. In fact, in 2016, 64% of high school graduates took the ACT.
ACT test dates are generally announced up to two years in advance, but they are not finalized until the preceding spring, at which point registration deadlines are also announced. As of now, test dates and deadlines through June 2018 are available, and test dates through the end of 2018 are also available, but no associated deadlines will be announced until spring 2018.
In this post, we’ll present an updated calendar of ACT dates and deadlines for 2018, along with some important information about them and our top tips for preparation and studying.
Here is the 2018 ACT Calendar of Test Dates and Deadlines!
| Test Date | Registration Deadline | Late Registration Fee | Complete Score Release** |
| Feb. 10, 2018* | Jan. 12, 2018 | Jan. 13-19, 2018 | Feb. 21- April 6, 2018 |
| April 14, 2018 | March 9, 2018 | March 10-23, 2018 | April 24 – June 8, 2018 |
| June 9, 2018 | May 4, 2018 | May 5-18, 2018 | June 19 – Aug. 3, 2018 |
| July 14, 2018* | June 15, 2018 | June 16-22, 2018 | July 24, 2018 – Aug. 27, 2018 |
| Sept. 8, 2018 | TBA Spring 2018 | TBA Spring 2018 | TBA Spring 2018 |
| Oct. 27, 2018 | TBA Spring 2018 | TBA Spring 2018 | TBA Spring 2018 |
| Dec. 8, 2018 | TBA Spring 2018 | TBA Spring 2018 | TBA Spring 2018 |
- *No test centers are scheduled in New York for the February and July test dates.
- **ACT Scores begin to be released.
- Note: The dates provided in this charts are based on information released by the ACT. Visit www.act.org for the most up-to-date published information.
What You Need to Know About the 2018 ACT Calendar
When reviewing the ACT test dates and deadlines, it’s important to understand that there are two distinct parts to the ACT test registration. First, you will need to fill out the student information page that collects such information as your age, name, and address. Next, you’ll need to submit a photo of yourself to be used on test day in order to ensure that no one else takes the test for you. For each test date, you’ll need to the deadline for registration, the deadline for registration with a late fee, and the deadline for submitting your photo.
Students should also be aware that there are no test centers available in the state of New York for the February and July test dates. New York residents may still take the test on these dates, but they will need to travel out of state to do so.
Finally, keep in mind that all registration materials submitted by mail must be received by the registration deadlines, regardless of when they are postmarked. We advise students registering by mail to allow up to three weeks for their registrations to be received when mailed domestically. Alternatively, Priority Mail is a smart choice.
If you’re getting ready to take your ACT, whether for the first time or the fourth time, we at CollegeVine have compiled some useless tips and strategies to help you out along the way. For useful information at every stage of your ACT prep, check out the CollegeVine posts below.
To learn more about what the ACT is, how it’s organized, and what your score actually means, check out our posts that introduce the ACT and some of its nuances. Here we summarize the ACT format, describe how it’s scored, and help to interpret what these scores mean. For all your general ACT questions, check out these posts:
ACT Statistics: Participation and Rankings By State
Which Section of the SAT and ACT is Most Important?
When Should I Take the SAT or ACT?
A Guide to Disability Accommodations for Standardized Testing
The Complete Guide to the ACT Score Report
How the ACT is Graded: A Breakdown
How Does the Scoring Curve Work for the ACT?
Can a Good SAT or ACT Score Offset a Bad GPA?
If you’re interested in learning more about a specific section on the ACT, you’ll find our section-specific guides a big help. With an Ultimate Guide for each section along with section-specific strategies and study tips, you won’t want to miss the insightful tips shared here:
A Guide to the English Section of the ACT
Four Common Mistakes to Avoid on Your English ACT
Three Grammar Rules Every Student Messes Up on the ACT
A Guide to the Math Section of the ACT
Five ACT Math Mistakes to Avoid
A Guide to the Optional ACT Writing Section
Five Tips to Score a 12 On Your ACT Essay
The 50 Best Vocab Words for the ACT Essay
A Guide to the Science Section of the ACT
Finally, if you’re getting ready to take the ACT and want to brush up on your general content knowledge or strategy, check out the awesome tips in our ACT prep guides. There are many commercial ACT study guides, but few are based on the same insider knowledge we have at CollegeVine. For a glimpse into our favorite ACT prep tips, check out these posts:
How Many SAT or ACT Practice Tests Should You Take?
What Parents Need to Know about SAT and ACT Studying Prep
What to Bring (And Not Bring) to the ACT
Should You Retake Your Standardized Tests?
10 Tips to Improve Your ACT Score
Do I Have to Self-Report My Test Scores?
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