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A lot goes into preparing for standardized tests like the ACT and it’s easy to overlook little-but-significant tasks, like registering for the exam. If you missed the ACT registration deadline, no worries—the ACT has a late registration period. Registering for the ACT late does come at a cost, however; late registrants must pay an additional ACT late registration fee.
Late registration for the ACT typically extends for two weeks after the close of the regular registration period. Below is a list of the available 2021 ACT test dates, along with their registration and late registration deadlines.
ACT Test Date
Registration Deadline
Registration with Late Fee
March 13–26, 2021
*No test centers are scheduled in New York for the July test date.
As mentioned earlier, the ACT late registration deadline is normally two weeks after the regular registration deadline, and the cost for late registration is $35. The ACT late registration cost is in addition to the normal ACT fees. The registration process is the same as it is for regular registration. Below is a closer look at the cost of the ACT.
Full ACT (no writing)
Full ACT with writing
Full ACT (no writing) + late registration fee
Full ACT with writing + late registration fee
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Some students may qualify for a fee waiver from the ACT to cover the cost of both registration and late fees. Eligible students may use a maximum of four separate fee waivers, which include an unlimited number of score reports and free access to The Official ACT Self-Paced Course , provided by Kaplan. Test waivers do not cover the expense of test date changes, test center changes, standby fees, or other services.
A fee waiver must be requested by a student’s high school guidance counselor—students cannot request a fee waiver on their own. Students must meet three criteria to qualify for a fee waiver:
Qualifying indicators of economic need are:
The USDA household size and family income level required to qualify for the reduced-price lunches in the continental U.S., U.S. territories, and Washington, D.C., in 2020-2021 are listed below. Note, the income thresholds are slightly higher in Alaska and Hawaii which are found here .
