ACT Test Dates & Information

How to Get Your ACT Score Report

ACT scores are generally available for online viewing on your ACT web account within two weeks after your testing date.

Official score reports are released by postal mail within 3-8 weeks after each test date; however ACT  (With Writing) score reports are only released after the writing score is available, within 5-8 weeks after the test date.

Ivy League Tutoring strongly recommends that you order and pay for a Test Information Release (TIR) at the time of registration in order to receive a copy of the test booklet with a list of your child’s answers and the answer key. If your child took the writing test, you will also receive a copy of the writing prompt, scoring rubric and scores assigned. This service will provide your child with the opportunity to review the questions they missed (with a tutor or independently) to improve upon their score.

What Is the ACT Composite Score?

The score which colleges care the most about is the ACT composite score, which ranges from 1-36. The composite score is calculated by adding the four sub-test scores for English, Mathematics, Reading and Science (each on a scale of 1-36) and dividing by four to get the average.

ACT Superscoring

Historically, college admission offices have not superscored the ACT and have only used a student’s single highest composite score from a single test date. However, that is beginning to change as growing numbers of students are taking the ACT multiple times, and some colleges now will superscore the ACT.

Superscoring is when a college takes the highest subtest scores from various test dates to a get a new higher “superscore,” also known as the “combined highest composite” score. This scoring system allows for the fact that students do not always perform at their best on any one given test date. In addition, this scoring approach is already standard procedure in SAT scoring.

Students should refer to individual college admission websites to determine each college’s policy towards ACT scoring. If information about superscoring is not posted on the college’s website, you can call the admissions office to inquire about the policy.

How to compare current SAT to ACT scores

You can convert SAT to ACT scores with this concordance table here.

ACT Registration Tips

If you’re looking for information on how to register your child for the ACT, here are some nuts and bolts about the process:

• Registering online at www.act.org is the most efficient way to register and requires a credit card.
• Students can also register via postal mail if they cannot pay with a credit card.
• International students must register online.
• If requesting extended time or other accommodations, you’ll need to submit required documentation to take the test with accommodations. Follow these three steps to apply for accomodations.
• Regular registration deadlines (approximately 5-6 weeks prior to test date) and late registration deadlines (approximately 3 weeks prior to test date) can be found in our ACT Tests & Deadlines chart. If you miss the late deadline to register for a test you can apply for Standby Testing for a separate fee.
• Current ACT registration fees are as follows:
  • ACT (No Writing): $60
  • ACT (With Writing): $80
  • Late registration fee: Additional $35
  • Change fee: $35 (make a test date or test center change)
  • Standby testing: Additional $56 (refunded if denied admission)
• Some colleges require the ACT with Writing (which includes an essay), so you should check with the colleges to which you’re applying to see if they require the essay. The trend in recent years has been for college not to require the essay.
• Ivy League Tutoring strongly recommends that you order the Test Information Release (TIR) when you register. This additional service ($25) provides you with a copy of the test questions, a list of your answers, and the answer key. Reviewing the problems you missed on the test is an excellent way to improve your score. If you took the ACT with essay, you will receive a copy of your writing prompt. TIR is only available for three test dates a year in December, April, and June