The best way to slay any intimidating task is to break it down into manageable chunks. And when it comes to the massive task of getting into college, one of the most important “chunks” is choosing precisely WHEN you’re going to take your ACT or Digital SAT! That’s why I, as a standardized testing pro who loves helping kids score sky-high on these exams, always deliver you each year’s ACT and SAT sitting dates as soon as they’re all available.
This key question of when to test unlocks your whole testing timeline, especially because it often takes more than one attempt to hit your target score.
So whether you plan to take the ACT/SAT for the first, second, or fifth time next academic year, this post has got the deets you need. By the time you’re done reading this post, you’ll already be further on your way to an excellent score!
Article Contents
1. Digital SAT Test Dates, 2024-25 (U.S. AND international)
a. When are SAT scores released?
b. How to register for the SAT
a. When are ACT scores released?
b. How to register for the ACT
3. ACT Test Dates (International)
a. When are non-U.S. students’ ACT scores released?
SAT Test Days for U.S. and International Students, 2024-25
Two things to note here:
U.S. and international students always have the same test dates for the SAT, but this year, all have the same registration deadlines, too.
The below dates are all for the Digital SAT, not the paper SAT. As of a few months ago, the non-computer version of the test has gone the way of the dinosaur for students everywhere!
How quickly are SAT scores released?
For the now-defunct paper SAT, scores were typically released 13 days after the National Test Date. For the new, Digital SAT, score release dates are not yet an official science. This (current) spring, DSAT scores were released 13 days after the test date, so the above table’s projections are based on that figure.
How to register for the Digital SAT
You can register for the SAT by mail or online via the College Board website. To register by mail, ask your school counselor for the Student Registration Booklet, fill out the form, and mail it in. It’s easier to register online, though, if you’re able to get to do so. Here’s what you’ll do:
Create a free College Board account.
Enter your name and information, which must match your ID.
If you want to opt into the Student Search Service, fill out the pertinent questions.
Upload a photo that fits these specifications.
Check out with a payment method, like a credit card—unless you have a fee waiver.
What Are the 2024-2025 ACT Dates for the United States?
+ If you cannot take the test on a Saturday for religious reasons, you may be able to take the test another day of the week. Follow these instructions to pursue that option.
* No test centers are scheduled in New York for the July test date.
** These projections are based on last year’s ACT score release schedule.
ACT registration for the upcoming 2024-25 school year opens in the middle of July. To make sure you’re aware when registration opens—and can reserve a seat in your preferred testing center on your preferred date—you can sign up on the ACT website to get automatically notified.
When do ACT scores come out?
For U.S. test-takers, ACT multiple-choice scores begin to be released 10 days after a given test sitting. (So, two Tuesdays after your test date, for regular Saturday test-takers.) However, some students will have to wait longer to see their scores.
In particular, if you take the ACT with Writing (the essay component), receive special accommodations, do not take your test on a Saturday, etc., it might take longer—up to eight weeks after your test date!—to get your score back. In fact, even if none of those conditions apply to you, you may STILL not get your score as fast as some of your peers.
So, if you log into your MyACT account on the “expected score release” date above and don’t see a score yet, just try back every Thursday and Tuesday until you do—which should no more than be eight weeks after your test date.
How do I register for the ACT?
Use this link to register for the ACT. The process will require:
About 30 minutes.
A computer with internet access.
A payment method, like a credit card, unless you qualify for a fee waiver.
A recent photo / photo ID that meets the ACT’s requirements.
Details of the courses you’re taking in school, like the classes’ exact titles and your grades in them.
When can Students outside the U.S., U.S. Territories, and Puerto Rico take the ACT in 2024-25?
A NOTE ABOUT ACT TEST DATES outside the U.S.:
As the above chart indicates, the International ACT test is offered during two-day windows, and at some testing centers it’s even offered in the morning AND in the afternoon on both days. Thus, some locations provide up to FOUR available test times on a given weekend: for instance, October 25th in the AM, October 25th PM, October 26th AM and October 26th PM!
A NOTE ABOUT International ACT SCORE RELEASES:
If you take the ACT outside the U.S., you can actually receive your multiple-choice scores and Composite Score as quickly as TWO BUSINESS DAYS after you take the test! Granted, that’s the earliest date at which the ACT first starts issuing scores. For whatever reason, your score might not be in that first set that’s released! So, all together, it can take as little as two business days, and as long as ten weeks, to learn how you did on the ACT.
How do I register for the ACT outside the U.S.?
Go to this link. You’ll need:
About 30 minutes.
Internet access.
Credit card or alternate form of payment.
Details of the classes you’re taking in school, like your grades/marks in those courses and their exact titles.
Your Next Steps
Phew! Did you get all that? Now that you know WHEN the SAT and ACT tests will take place during the next school year, here’s what you should do when you reach the end of this blog post:
If you haven’t yet decided which standardized test you’ll take, today’s the day to do that. I promise, the choice will be less agonizing than you think! There are two straightforward ways to figure it out:
A) Take my free quiz: is the ACT or the Digital SAT the best test for you?
B) Let me take the burden of the big-picture thinking off your plate. Schedule an Ace the Test: Game Plan™ package today.
Figure out WHEN you’re going to to take your first SAT or ACT. You can choose your Testing Timeline from among the four most common timelines I’ve assembled here.
Determine how long you need to study for the SAT or ACT. This blog post will help.
And of course, if you need an assist during any part of this process, you know where to find me.
