Are you ready to take the ACT® test, but unsure about how much the test will cost you, your parents, or your guardian? Do not stress out—we are here to give you everything you need to know about the fee required to take the ACT® exam. Luckily, the ACT® exam is not as expensive compared to other tests out there.

Just like any other requirement for the college application process, taking the ACT® (and even using your ACT® scores) entails an assortment of fees. Here, we will provide a detailed breakdown of every possible ACT® registration cost and score fee that you need to keep in mind before registering.

One of the most important things to keep in mind is that many of these fees involving the ACT® are avoidable and unnecessary. Be sure to read this article to the end, as we discuss some tips and strategies for saving as much money as possible on the ACT®.

Below is a chart summarizing the registration fees:

Below is a chart showing the optional add-on fees:

Score Report & Analysis Costs for the ACT® (Updated for 2017)

You’ll need to receive, analyze, and send out your scores to various colleges after completing the ACT® test. Below is a chart outlining all possible post-test services and their costs.

How much does the ACT® Cost?

Registration Fee

The registration fee for ACT® can take two forms: Registration without the Writing section and registration with the Writing section. These registration fees cost $42.50 and $58.50, respectively. The ACT® (with Writing) is only required for certain schools, so be sure to check the specifics for the colleges to which you’re applying. Both fees cover score reports for you, your high school, and up to four colleges, if you provide the codes for each college during registration. The extra $16.00 for the Writing test fee is refundable on written request, only if you are absent on test day or you decide to switch from ACT® (Writing) to ACT® (without Writing) before testing begins.

Are you or your family concerned that the registration fee seems too high? If so, you may qualify for an ACT® fee waiver. Information about eligibility requirements with details on how to get a fee waiver is sent out to high schools every summer. Later in this post, we will explain this waiver further.

Nine Additional ACT® Costs You may Need to Pay

At times, there are other costs you have to pay in addition to the ACT® exam fee. We will separate those optional ACT® fees into two categories: Special Handling Requests (fees related with actions before you take the exam) and Score Services (fees you pay after you take the exam and receive your scores). We will discuss each fee so that you can know what you are paying for.

But always keep in mind that all of these fees are optional, and it’s completely possible to take the ACT® without necessarily paying any of these extra costs. Being aware ahead of time what the fees are and when they can pop up can help you avoid them later on.

Special Handling Requests

Telephone Registration – ACT® Cost: $15

There are three different ways you can register for the ACT®. The most convenient way is registering online. You can also complete a paper registration at your college counselor’s office. Finally, if you have registered for the ACT® within the last two years, you can register by phone by calling 319-337-1270 between 8:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. (Central Time), Monday through Friday. You are charged this fee when you register for the ACT® on the telephone.

Late Registration – ACT® Cost: $27.50

This fee is only applicable for test takers in the U.S or Canada. If you are registering for the ACT® and you miss the registration deadline, you can still register (under the condition that there are still test center seats available). However, registering late will cost you an additional $25.50 fee. Again, this is only for students in the United States or Canada.

Standby Testing – ACT® Cost: $51

Do not panic if you don’t make the late deadlines to register for a test date or to request a test date or test center change. You may decide to sign in to your ACT® account to request and pay for standby testing. This fee is for being on a wait list for a particular test center/date. The fee is refunded if you’re denied admission on test day.Also note that to take a test as a standby, you must submit your request during a limited “Standby Request Period” prior to the test date.

Test Date Change – ACT® Cost: $25

If you change your test date, you will be charged a certain ACT® fee. It is compulsory that you pay the basic registration fee for the new test date, in addition to the test date change fee. If you apply for a date change after the usual deadline for the new date, you will also be required to pay the late registration fee. However, your initial registration fee for the original test date will be refunded. You must do complete this process at least four days before you were originally scheduled to take the exam.

Test Center Change (on the same test date) – ACT® Cost: $25

The same conditions as those for a test date change also apply for a test center change.

International Fees – ACT® Cost: $51

If you register for the ACT® outside the United States or Canada, it is mandatory that you pay an ACT® fee for you to take the test outside the U.S or Canada. This fee includes the basic registration fee, so do not panic—you will not pay for the basic registration fee.

Score Services – ACT® Cost: $0

Viewing Scores &Score Reports Online/ Sending Score Reports (first four reports)

After taking the test, you can check your score report online at no cost. You still need to send official score reports to schools, which can also be done at no cost for the four colleges you listed during your registration. You can enter up to four school score report requests at no cost. This info can be given when you register or when you are taking the test.

Score Report (each additional report) – ACT® Cost: $12

As mentioned above, your ACT® registration fee includes four free score reports. If you decide to send additional report to more schools after using your first four reports, you will be charged this fee for each additional score report that you request. For instance, if you decide to add a 5th and 6th report, you will be charged an additional $24 total for those two reports. Also note that you are to request additional reports online before the test date. This fee is refundable on written request if you do not actually take the test.

Priority Score Reporting – ACT® Cost: $16.50

Do you need a score report to be sent urgently? If you do, priority report requests are usually processed and sent within two days. This fee is per score report, so the total amount changes depending on the number of score reports requested.

Test Information Release (TIR) – ACT® Cost: $20

If you request and pay for a Test Information Release (TIR) during the registration process at a national test center on a national test date that offers this kind of service, then you are eligible to receive a copy of the multiple-choice test questions used to determine your score, a list of your answers from your test, and the answer key used for scoring. For those who took the Writing test, you’ll also receive a copy of the writing prompt, the scoring rubric, and the scores that two readers assigned to your essay. This process requires an additional fee.

How to Reduce Your ACT® Costs (ACT® Registration & Reporting Costs)

As you can see from the breakdown above, the cost for ACT® registration and score reports can add up if you’re pressed for time. But if you plan ahead, you can avoid many unnecessary fees, such as the fee for sending additional score reports to schools. Here are some tips that can help you reduce your cost.

Take the Test Early

You might not have a choice but to pay $16.50 for a priority score report if you’re looking to get your official score reports to schools right before their application deadlines. This could happen if you take the ACT® at the last minute, or if you wait to send official score reports. Although this is inevitable in certain circumstances, you’ll surely save yourself money (and pointless stress) if you take your test earlier rather than later.

It will take about two to three weeks for your multiple choice scores and essay score to be posted. You should aim for at least another two weeks for colleges to receive your score reports. To avoid panic or excess fees, try to schedule your ACT® test no more than seven weeks before your scores need to be used or sent.

Register Early

You will end up increasing your total registration costs by almost 50%if you miss the normal deadline and have to register late. Meanwhile, if you register months before the test, it will not only save you money, but it will also guarantee that there are seats available for your desired test date. Choosing a test date that works for you can also jump start your motivation to study, and you’ll be able to budget your time to prepare for the test carefully.

Make Use of the Four Free Score Reports

As discussed above, you are entitled to four free score reports. Make sure that before you take the ACT®, you have done your homework to decide the schools you want to send these reports to, so as to reduce the chance of “wasting” score reports on schools that you later decide you’re not interested in. You can list the four schools as early as when you register, and as late as the Monday nine days after the published test date. This will surely save you up to $48.

In some cases(e.g., if you’re applying to more than four colleges), paying for additional score reports is mandatory. But if you wait to take the ACT® until you have a good idea of which colleges you want to go to, you can reduce the total number of additional score reports you need to send, because your four free reports will each be sent to schools you’re truly interested in and will apply to.

Apply for a Fee Waiver if You’re Eligible

Is your family concerned about affording the ACT®? Don’t worry—the ACT® offers fee waivers to certain students, for which you may qualify if you meet all of the following eligibility requirements:

• You are currently enrolled in high school in grade 11 or 12
• You are a US citizen, or testing in the US, the US territories, or Puerto Rico
• You meet at least one or more of these requirements:
  • You’re enrolled in or eligible to participate in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP)
  • Your family income falls within guidelines for free or reduced price lunches
  • Your family receives public assistance
  • You’re enrolled in a federal, state, or local program for low-income students (e.g. Upward Bound)
  • You live in subsidized housing, foster care, or are homeless
  • You have a ward of the state or an orphan

If you meet the eligibility requirements, you can be awarded up to two fee waivers total. Each waiver covers registration costs, but without any additional score reports or add-on fees. You can apply for a fee waiver through your school counselor. Since this process can take time, try to apply for a fee waiver well in advance of the test dates you want.

Conclusion: Total ACT® Test Costs and how to Keep them Down

The ACT® is a less expensive test to take compared to others, but can be expensive to low-income families, especially with additional costs associated with the test. The ACT® registration fee without Writing is $49.50, and while the fee with the Writing section is $58.50. But for international students, the fee is $51.

There are additional costs if you decide to change the place or date of your test, or if you want to receive extra scoring services after you complete the exam.

Some people are eligible for ACT® waivers, but if you’re not, only register for a test when you’re sure of the date and place that best fit you, and do your homework about the colleges you want to list for your four free score reports in other to reduce the total cost.

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