At a glance
- Next windows
- 11 to 12 Dec 2026, 12 to 13 Feb 2027
- Core test fee
- $188.50 (with science $198.50)
- Late fee
- $42
- Composite
- 1 to 36, from English, math and reading
- Format outside the US
- Computer-based at test centres
ACT international dates and deadlines, 2026-27
| Test window | Registration deadline | Late deadline and photo upload | Initial score release |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 September 2026 | 7 August | 21 August | 10 September |
| 23 to 24 October 2026 | 25 September | 9 October | 29 October |
| 11 to 12 December 2026 | 13 November | 27 November | 17 December |
| 12 to 13 February 2027 | 15 January | 29 January | 18 February |
| 2 to 3 April 2027 | 5 March | 19 March | 8 April |
| 11 to 12 June 2027 | 14 May | 28 May | 17 June |
| 9 to 10 July 2027 | 11 June | 25 June | 15 July |
Source: ACT international registration page and 2026-2027 international test date flyer, checked October 2026. Each window has morning and afternoon sessions on both days; which sessions a centre runs varies.
ACT fees for international students
| Option | Fee (US dollars) |
|---|---|
| The ACT (English, math, reading) | $188.50 |
| The ACT with science | $198.50 |
| The ACT with writing | $213.50 |
| The ACT with science and writing | $223.50 |
| Late registration | $42 |
| Change of test date or centre | $49 |
| Score reports to 5th and 6th colleges, or additional reports | $20 each |
Source: ACT international fees page. Fees include reports to you and up to four colleges named at registration. Fees are non-refundable.
What is on the ACT now
Since the 2025-26 changes the composite score uses English, math and reading only. Science and writing are optional.
| Section | Questions | Minutes |
|---|---|---|
| English | 50 | 35 |
| Math | 45 | 50 |
| Reading | 36 | 40 |
| Science (optional) | 40 | 40 |
| Writing (optional essay) | 1 essay | 40 |
Source: ACT test overview. Students who take science also receive a science score and a STEM score.
Choosing an ACT window from the Gulf
For US Early Action and Early Decision deadlines in November, the October window is the last safe one for students applying this year. Initial scores from 23 to 24 October arrive on 29 October. For Grade 11 students, the February or April window leaves June and July for a retake before senior year.
Test centres outside the US choose which windows they open, and seats in the Gulf are limited. Search for centres in MyACT as soon as registration opens and book the morning session if your child tests better early. Remember the photo upload deadline: a registration without an approved photo is not complete.
Many families weigh the ACT against the SAT. The ACT is not adaptive, but it allows less time per question than the SAT (45 math questions in 50 minutes against 44 in 70), so pace matters more. Our SAT or ACT guide compares them in detail.
Test day checklist
- Printed admission ticket from MyACT.
- An original, current official photo ID in hard plastic card format, with names matching the registration, or the ACT Student Identification Form completed by a school official.
- A permitted calculator for the math test, and a plain watch without an alarm.
- No phone or smartwatch in the testing room, including at break.
How ACT lessons work
The ACT rewards pace as much as knowledge, so a tutor starts with a timed official practice test to see where time and marks go, then works on the sections that move the composite most. Typical lessons mix short timed sets with review of the reasoning behind wrong answers. Lessons are one to one, online and 60 minutes, set around the school week.
Common questions
Is the ACT offered in the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Qatar?
ACT runs computer-based testing at authorised centres outside the US, and each centre chooses the windows it opens. Search for a centre in your country in MyACT when you register.
Is the ACT on paper in the Gulf?
No. Outside the US the ACT is computer-based and taken at a test centre, not at home.
When do ACT scores come out?
Initial scores are released about five days after each international window, for example 17 December for the 11 to 12 December 2026 window. Writing scores can take longer.
Can my child take the ACT twice in one window?
No. ACT reports only the first test from a single test date; scores from a second attempt in the same administration are cancelled without refund.
What does ACT tutoring cost with LiveTutor?
$15 per 60-minute one-to-one lesson, on a weekly plan of 1 to 5 lessons billed monthly. The first lesson is a free trial.
Sources
Dates and figures on this page come from these official and published sources. Always confirm deadlines on the official page before acting on them.