Every year, there are fourteen national ACT and SAT test dates offered at various testing sites across the United States. Any high school student can register for and take the ACT or SAT exams on these select Saturday mornings.
In addition to the fourteen national ACT and SAT test dates available each year, there are also a handful of in-school test dates offered.
These in-school test dates are not listed in the charts below as the availability of testing during the week for free at your school is entirely dependent upon the state you live in and school you attend. You'll need to contact your counseling office directly to inquire about the PSAT, ACT, or SAT testing opportunities that may be available to you through your school.
Upcoming ACT Dates & Deadlines | ||
|---|---|---|
ACT Test Date | Registration Deadline | ACT Scores Available |
| Jan. 15th | Feb. 16th |
April 17, 2021 | Mar. 12th | Apr. 27th |
June 12, 2021 | May 7th | June 22nd |
July 17, 2021 | June 18th | July 27th |
September 11, 2021 | Aug. 6th | not yet available |
October 23, 2021 | Sept. 17th | not yet available |
December 11, 2021 | Nov. 5th | not yet available |
Upcoming SAT Dates & Deadlines | ||
|---|---|---|
SAT Test Date | Registration Deadline | SAT Scores Available |
March 13, 2021 | Feb. 12th | Mar. 26th |
May 8, 2021 | Apr. 8th | May 21st |
June 5, 2021 | May 6th | July 14th |
August 28, 2021 | not yet available | not yet available |
October 2, 2021 | not yet available | not yet available |
November 6, 2021 | not yet available | not yet available |
December 4, 2021 | not yet available | not yet available |
You can access more information about upcoming test dates from ACT, Inc. here and College Board, the makers of the SAT, here.
There are a lot of myths out there about testing so, in addition to the upcoming exam dates for 2021 that are listed in the chart above, here are my top three tips for students and their families as they plan their ACT or SAT testing journey.
1. Choose your test wisely.
Both the ACT and SAT are accepted for admission and scholarships. And, while the two exams test similar concepts, they do so very differently. Rather than attempt to study for both tests at the same time, select the exam that is a better fit for you from the start and focus exclusively on improving your score on your stronger test. You'll expend less energy preparing and your scores will improve as much as they possibly can. Click here to find out whether the ACT or SAT is your better fit.
2. Test on back-to-back test dates.
Instead of testing and playing the waiting game which prolongs the torture of the testing season, plan well from the start. By preparing for your chosen exam and then taking that test on two consecutive test dates, you'll increase your odds of improvement and be done with testing faster than your friends.
You can plan which test dates to take using this free printable PDF of all upcoming ACT and SAT test dates and deadlines.
3. Never test "cold".
Like it or not, the ACT and SAT have an impact on your admission potential as well as your scholarship opportunities. And - spoilers - you don't have to be a 99th percentile student to earn some serious cash for college.
But winging it is a big mistake.
If you're studying for your chemistry test next Tuesday, you should invest some time in preparing for your college admissions exam. You can get started learning the test taking strategies that will give you an edge on test day right now by downloading my free eBook - the Insider's Guide to the ACT & SAT.