Several states and districts require or fund a school-day ACT for public high school students as part of accountability or graduation pathways—but "required" usually means your school schedules it, not that every college applicant nationwide must take the ACT. Policies change, so confirm with your district and the official ACT state-testing pages for the current year.
What "require the ACT" usually means
- School-day / statewide testing: juniors (sometimes other grades) take the ACT during a school day, often at no cost to families.
- Graduation or accountability: some states use the ACT as a college-ready benchmark or as one option among assessments.
- Not the same as college admissions: colleges still set their own testing policies (required, optional, or flexible). A state-required ACT does not force you to submit scores everywhere.
School-day vs national Saturday ACT
School-day testing is convenient and often free, but options may differ from a national Saturday registration: Writing is frequently omitted, Science choices may follow the school's setup, and score-use timelines can feel different. If colleges on your list want Writing, you may still need a national date—see should you take ACT Writing.
Choosing which exam to prioritize when your state offers one for free is also covered in ACT or SAT, which test.
Who is covered
Public school students in participating districts are the usual audience. Private school and homeschooled students often must register for a national ACT themselves unless their school opts into a contract. Homeschool registration details are in how to register for the ACT as a homeschooled student.
How to check your state
- Ask your counselor whether juniors take a school-day ACT or SAT.
- Ask whether Writing or Science is included.
- Confirm whether scores are released to you for college use and when.
- Decide if you still want a national Saturday date for a retake or Writing—see how to register for the ACT.
The bottom line
State-required ACT testing is about school-day administration, not a universal college rule. Know what your district offers, what it leaves out, and whether you still need a national sitting for your college list.
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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.