How to Register for the ACT
Registering for the ACT isn't difficult, but you do want to make sure you plan ahead and have the information you'll need at hand. Before you begin registering, make sure you know the registration deadlines for the exam you plan to take. They tend to be about five weeks before the actual exam.
Step 1. Visit the ACT Website and Create an Account.
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Note: The first and last names provided there must match the required photo identification presented on test day.
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Step 2. Click the "Register" button and proceed through the next several pages.
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You will be asked to fill in the following information:
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Personal information like left-hand vs. right-hand (so you get placed in an appropriate testing desk), religious affiliations, parental educational background, and disabilities. Remember, this is all voluntary information.
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A high school summary like the type of school you attended and courses you've taken.
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Your college plans such as preferences regarding school size, whether or not you plan to enroll full time or not, and college interests.
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Register for the ACT With Writing.
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Your specific testing date and location.
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Where you'd like your score reports to be sent. You can choose up to four colleges with the basic fee, so you'll save money if you've decided where you'd like them to go before you register.
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Intended future college major and career choices.
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You'll also be asked during this process to upload a current photo. Make sure to follow the parameters exactly, or you could be banned from taking the ACT on test day. Both the photograph and the name on your identification are important pieces of information that ACT uses to make it difficult for anyone to cheat by having someone else take the exam for them.​
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Step 3. Pay and Click "Submit"
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You can check the current ACT fees here.
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Step 4. Print your admission ticket.
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What to Bring on the Test Day
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Bring a printed copy of your ticket to the test center. If you have lost your ticket, you can print another through your ACT web account. If you do not bring your ticket, your scores will be delayed.
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Bring you current official photo ID.
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Bring sharpened, soft lead No. 2 pencils with good erasers (no mechanical pencils or ink pens).
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Bring a watch to pace yourself, but do not bring a watch with an alarm. If your alarm sounds during testing, you’ll be dismissed and your answers will not be scored.
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Bring a permitted calculator to be used on the mathematics test only.
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