Most students take the ACT for the first time in the spring of junior year, which leaves room for a retake in the fall of senior year before application deadlines. The best test date is one that falls at least a couple of months before your earliest college and scholarship deadlines. The ACT is offered several times a year, so you have real flexibility to pick a date that fits your schedule and your prep.
When the ACT is offered
Nationally, the ACT runs on several Saturdays spread across the year, typically in the fall, winter, spring, and summer. That spacing means you can usually find a date that lands after you have had time to prep and well before your deadlines. Seats and formats can fill up, so register early once you choose. If you have not registered yet, see how to register for the ACT.
The typical timeline
- Sophomore year: optional early attempt or a practice run for some students, though many wait until junior year.
- Junior year (spring): the most common first sitting. You have covered enough math and built enough reading skill, and you leave time to retake.
- Summer before senior year: a great retake window, with fewer school distractions to study around.
- Senior year (fall): your last comfortable shot before most regular deadlines. Cutting it closer than this is risky.
How to choose your specific date
Work backward from two things: your deadlines and your prep. First, pick a date at least two months before your earliest college or scholarship deadline so your scores arrive in time (and so you could squeeze in a retake if needed). Then make sure you have enough runway to prepare for it. Our guides on when to start studying for the ACT and how long to study for the ACT help you count backward to a start date.
Give yourself room to retake
Plan your first date early enough that a second attempt is possible, since many students improve on a retake. If your colleges superscore, a retake can lift individual sections without risking your best marks. See how many times you should take the ACT and how ACT superscoring works.
Balance it with the rest of your life
The best date also fits around your other commitments. Avoid weekends stacked against big school exams, sports championships, or a packed activity schedule. A date when you can prep calmly and rest the night before beats a technically-ideal date you walk into exhausted. Also note the accommodations deadline if that applies to you, covered in how to get ACT accommodations.
The bottom line
Aim for a first sitting in spring of junior year, choose a specific date at least two months before your deadlines, and make sure you have enough time to prep and to retake if you want to. Then register early to get the seat and format you want.
Start practicing
Start with a free diagnostic, then drill your weak spots with 15-question quizzes and track how you're doing across Reading, English, and Math. Compare plans whenever you're ready to go further.
This article offers general ACT prep guidance. The ACT can change from year to year, including its format, scoring, policies, test dates, and fees, so always confirm the latest details on the official ACT website at act.org before you make decisions. ACT® is a registered trademark of ACT, Inc. thirty-six is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by ACT.