Preparing for a standardized test like the ACT or SAT starts with knowing when the tests are administered and what the registration deadlines are for each exam date.

Find national ACT and SAT test dates below, along with their registration deadlines.

Upcoming 2022 ACT EXAM DATES

February 12, 2022

April 2, 2022

June 11, 2022

July 16, 2022

2022 TEST REGISTRATION DEADLINES

February 12, 2022: January 7, 2022 Registration Deadline

April 17, 2022: February 25, 2022 Registration Deadline

June 11, 2022: May 6, 2022 Registration Deadline

July 16, 2022: June 17, 2022 Registration Deadline

2022 SAT EXAM DATES

March 12, 2022

May 7, 2022

June 4, 2022

2022 TEST REGISTRATION DEADLINES

March 12, 2022: February 11, 2022 Registration Deadline

May 7, 2022: April 8, 2022 Registration Deadline

June 4, 2022: May 5, 2022 Registration Deadline

How much does the ACT cost?

The cost to take just the regular ACT, which is comprised of sections on English, math, reading, and science, is $52.00. The cost to take the regular ACT plus the additional writing section is $68.00. The ACT will charge additional fees for services such as changing your test date, changing the type of test your student will take, registering late, and signing up for standby testing. You can learn more about ACT pricing and fees on their website here: ACT Test Costs

How much does the SAT cost?

The cost to take just the regular SAT, which includes two math sections and evidence-based reading and writing and language is $49.50. The cost to take the standard SAT with optional writing section included is $64.50. College Board will charge additional fees for services such as changing your test date, changing the type of test your student will take, registering late, and taking the exam internationally. You can learn more about SAT pricing and fees on the College Board website here: SAT Test Costs

What if I don’t register before the registration date listed?

If you miss the registration deadline, it probably is not the end of the world. The ACT and SAT both open a late registration period for approximately two weeks after the standard registration deadline has passed. The cost goes up moderately when you register late, but it is not an unreasonable amount. Other than this additional fee, the only other potential difficulty you may run into is testing centers being full.

Where are ACT and SAT tests administered?

There are many national ACT and SAT testing locations throughout the country. Most often, testing locations include high schools, colleges, and universities. To find a testing location that will be convenient for your child, you can check out their websites: ACT Test Center Locations & SAT Test Center Locations

What if my preferred testing location is full?

If your testing center is full, you have the option of signing up for an SAT waitlist ACT “Standby Testing.” There is an additional fee for signing up for standby testing, and there is no guarantee that your student will get to take the ACT or SAT that day. How this works is your student will go to the testing center as if he or she is going to take the exam, and if students who are registered for the test do not show up, positions open up for students that are on the standby testing list. For the ACT, open spots are rewarded to students based on their position on the standby testing list, so, similar to regular ACT registration, time is of the essence when signing up for standby testing. For the SAT, positions are rewarded on a first-come, first-served basis, so students who are at the testing center earliest are given priority.

How long does it take to get scores back after a test?

For both exams, you can receive your scores to the multiple choice portions of the tests within about two weeks.

ACT scores for the 4 main sections of the test begin to be reported 10 days after the exam date. Students can check their online ACT accounts starting 10 days after their test to see if their scores have been released yet. Students will be able to see their composite score (the average of all 4 section scores), as well as their individual scores out of each section. All sections are scored on a scale of 1-36. The scores for the writing section of the ACT take longer to be released, as these have to be scored by humans. Writing scores begin to be reported 2 weeks after an exam date. The writing section is scored on a scale of 1-12.

SAT scores are reported within about two weeks but can sometimes take up to four weeks to be available. The SAT is scored out of a possible 1600 points, with the areas of math and reading/writing being reported separately and then combined for a composite score.

How many times can students take the ACT and the SAT?

There is no limit to the number of times that a student can take the ACT or SAT exam. Many students will end up taking the tests two or three times before they are happy with their scores.

How long should students spend preparing for the ACT or SAT?

By beginning to think about the ACT or the SAT at the end of sophomore year or beginning of junior year, students are giving themselves a year or more to plan and prepare. We recommend that students spend between 4-8 weeks studying leading up to exam dates, but the real answer to this question depends on your current situation and your goal situation. You don’t want to study nonstop for a full year, but focusing for a month or two leading up to the test has shown great results for students who put in the time commitment. Students looking to increase their test scores by 8 points will need MUCH more time spend studying and preparing than students hoping to raise their scores 2 points. Check out our equation to help you determine how much time you should spend preparing for the ACT.

How do students decide what their ACT goal score should be?

A big reason that the ACT is so important is that it provides a consistent data point which colleges can use to compare student applicants from all across the world. Students should consider where they hope to go off to college and what the ACT scores of students at those colleges look like. For example, a student who hopes to attend the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul should aim for an ACT score that at least falls within the average of those of current St. Thomas students: 24-29. This will increase the probability of a student being accepted to the school, as the admissions team will see that they are academically a good fit. Additionally, many schools offer merit-based scholarships to students who receive certain ACT scores or fall within certain thresholds of ACT score and GPA combinations. What does that mean? That means certain ACT scores could save you money on tuition. That is huge! Make sure to do your homework and know whether this is how colleges you will apply to structure their financial aid. It might be worth taking the ACT a 4th time if you can raise your score 2 more points and save yourself $16,000 over the course of 4 years. Check out more about the TWO BIG REASONS that students should care about their ACT scores.

The Key Takeaway:

A lot goes into preparing to take an important standardized exam like the ACT or the SAT. First and foremost, be proactive. Start thinking about the exam early and plan ahead. Make sure you know when the test is given and on which test dates you should plan to take the test. Make sure to consider things like school sports seasons and other outside activities that may conflict with certain test dates. Thinking about the ACT and SAT tests earlier makes the whole process a lot less stressful.

Good luck, and happy studying!

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