The ACT website provides a list of upcoming ACT dates. Factors worth considering before registering for a test date may include how much time you will need to prepare, how many times you plan to retake the test and which test dates will allow scores to be submitted in time for consideration by the schools to which you are applying.
The ACT website offers a free online book called Preparing for the ACT, which includes a full practice test and scoring guidelines. The test's duration is approximately 3 hours and 30 minutes for the required sections, and another 30 minutes for the optional writing section. Completing the practice test can offer an accurate gauge of where you can expect to score based on your current level of preparedness. The results are helpful in determining areas in which you need more practice before your test date.
The Real ACT Prep Guide is the only official ACT preparation book on the market. It includes three practice tests that were actually administered on past test dates, along with explanations for the answers to each practice test question. Additional ACT preparation books from other companies are also available. Other options for preparation include classroom courses or private tutors.
ACT scores range from 1 to 36. You may take the ACT up to 12 times, and it is your decision which scores to report to colleges. However, while you are free to report scores from more than one test date, reporting any section's score from a single test date means reporting all the sections' scores from that test date. You may not mix and match sections' scores from different dates to yield one strong score for submission to colleges.
The ACT offers a test-information service that allows you access to your test questions, your answers, the answer key and the scoring guidelines from your test date. You may request this service anytime between the time you register and three months following the test date. You can use this material to help you improve your performance on a future test date if you plan to retest and aim for a higher score.