The ACT can be taken as early as junior high and as late as 2 months before your college application deadlines (it can sometimes take that long to get your ACT scores back).
Most high school student are advised to take the ACT in spring of their junior year when you have the most academic experience and the April ACT test dates is a big favorite of many college counselors.
The problem with this advice, when given without taking a few specifics into account, is that a lot of students are very busy in spring.
There are 3 questions that can help you determine your perfect, low-stress testing timeline.
- What level math are you studying?
- What does your activities calendar look like?
- What grade are you in?
What Level Math Are You Studying?
The math section of the ACT covers concepts from arithmetic up to Algebra 2 with a few Pre-Calculus concepts woven in for good measure.
If possible, we recommend that students have one semester of Algebra 2 under their belts before they begin preparing for the ACT.
Remember the Golden Rule, though.
The most important thing is that students take (2) exams by June of junior year.
If you won't be enrolled in or completely through Algebra 2 before June of junior year, you'll still want to take the ACT before the end of the school year.
- If you've taken Algebra 2 as a freshman or sophomore, you can entertain any test dates that occur once your course is fully complete.
- If you'll take Algebra 2 in junior year or later, take your first ACT in February or April of your junior year.
2. What does your calendar look like?
The ACT testing timeline is more flexible than you think.
It's offered seven times a year: September, October, December, February, April, June, and July.
That gives you plenty of opportunities to select a test date that works around your own personal schedule.
- Do you play a fall sport?
- Are you involved in the spring musical?
- Do you volunteer on a seasonal basis with a favorite organization?
- Will you be taking AP or IB exams in the spring?
But keep in mind that the test date is a finish line.
Ideally, the marathon started 2-3 months earlier when ACT prep began.
Just as you can avoid testing during your busy season by carefully selecting your test dates, you should likewise plan well to avoid preparing during your busy season too.
Your ideal testing window should take place during a downtime in your schedule, but… When planning which ACT test date to take your first exam on, back up 8-12 weeks from the actual test date and consider how busy that window of time will be for you because prep takes more time and is more intense than testing itself.
3. What grade are you in?
Since ACT scores are valid for 5 years, you could begin testing as early as 8th grade.
And with 7 ACT test dates per year over 5 years, that means there are 35 test dates you can choose from.
However, for the sake of ease and sanity, let’s narrow this range a bit.
The ideal window for low-stress ACT testing opens in the spring of sophomore year and closes the summer after junior year.
Keeping your level of math and your calendar of activities in mind, you should plan to take the ACT as early as possible but only after preparing to ensure that you have a little stress as possible on this journey.
Can you still test during your senior year too?
Absolutely!
But, ideally, senior year testing is for adding a few additional points to an already solid ACT score.
Having ACT scores you're proud of by the end of your junior year ensures that you can finalize your college list the summer between junior and senior year with real exam results - not wishful-thinking results - as a firm basis for clear-eyed decisions.
When building your college list, you should have many perfect-fit options that you can both get into and pay for once you get there.
(If you have more questions about that part of the process, the After-The-ACT part, reach out to our sister company March Consulting, to have any and all of your college admissions questions answered.)
Ready to start your journey to higher ACT scores?
You can get started right now!
1. Find your specific ACT test date here
2. Download our free eBook, The Insider's Guide to the ACT & SAT, in which we share 35 of my top strategies for success on both college admissions exams.
3. Sign up for an online ACT prep course that allows you to personalize and focus your efforts, plus go at your own pace. (Pressed for time? One of the Higher Scores offerings can help you discover strategies to improve your score in as little as 4 hours!)