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ACT Exam 2025 - Dates, Syllabus, Fees, Test Centres, Sample Paper
About ACT 2026
What is the ACT exam? ACT or the American College Testing is the most commonly accepted entrance exam for undergraduate schools in USA and other universities abroad. The exam consists of MCQ based questions in the subject areas like English, mathematics, and reading. The writing and science section is optional. The upcoming ACT exam dates 2026 are February 14, Aril 11, June 13 and July 11, 2026. The exam assesses the skills of the candidate that are required for studying post-secondary education and the skills that are acquired at the high school level.
Latest Updates - In 2025, new changes were introduced both for the ACT online test and the pen and paper ACT test. The details of the ACT exam changes are given below.
ACT Update | New Details |
Number of Questions | 44 questions removed overall |
ACT Duration | Now takes 125 minutes instead of 195 |
Time Per Question | You get more time to answer one question |
Options Reduced | Math questions now have 4 choices instead of 5 |
Science Section Optional | You can choose to skip the science section (varies by state/school) |
The ACT exam is conducted multiple times a year. You can appear for the test at the ACT exam centres located in the major Indian cities. The ACT registration process is simple and can be done online. There is no specific eligibility to take the ACT test, so students from 9 to 12th classes can take the exam to study in USA or other countries.
ACT Full Form
The full form of ACT is American College Testing. The ACT is a non profit organisation and also helps students to measure their college readiness. All of the universities in USA and more than 200 universities in other countries abroad accept the ACT exam for the undergraduate admission process.
ACT Vs SAT
The ACT test and SAT Exam are a bit similar undergraduate entrance exams. Both of these exams are widely preferred by international students. However, many elements differentiate these tests in multiple ways.
Particulars | ACT | SAT |
Administered by | ACT, Inc. | College Board |
Sections | English, Math, Reading, Science, (Optional: Writing) | Reading & Writing, Math |
Test Format | Paper and digital modes | Digital only |
Total Time | 2 hours 55 minutes (without essay); 3 hours 35 minutes (with essay) | 2 hours 14 minutes |
Math Focus | 25% of the total score | 50% of the total score |
Calculator Use | Allowed on all math questions | Allowed on all math questions |
Science Section | Dedicated Science section (interprets data, graphs, experiments) | No dedicated science section (science-related content may appear in Reading/Writing) |
Reading Passages | Longer passages, multiple questions per passage | Shorter passages, one question per passage |
Scoring Scale | 1-36 composite (1-36 per section) | 400-1600 (200-800 per section) |
Adaptive Testing | No (questions are not adaptive in the same way) | Yes (digital SAT adapts difficulty based on performance in the first module) |
ACT Exam Dates 2026
These ACT exam 2026 dates are different for USA applicants and other international students who are located outside the USA country. Indian students can refer to the ACT international test dates to take the ACT exam in India.
ACT Exam International Test Dates
Test Date | Registration Deadline | Late Registration Deadline | Photo Upload/ Standby Deadline |
| February 14, 2026 | Jan-09 | Jan-27 | Feb-09 |
| April 11, 2026 | Mar-06 | Mar-24 | Apr-06 |
| June 13, 2026 | May-08 | May-29 | Jun-08 |
| July 11, 2026 | Jun-05 | Jun-24 | Jul-06 |
For further details, check the official website.
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ACT 2026 Highlights
| Full Exam Name | American College Testing |
| Short Exam Name | ACT |
| Conducting Body | ACT |
| Exam Level | University Level Exam |
| Participating Colleges | 36 |
| Exam Duration | 4 Hours |
ACT Important Dates
ACT American College Testing (session 2026)
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: How many times can one take the ACT exam?
A:
There is no limit on re-attempting the ACT exam. Generally, students take the ACT Exam twice or thrice till they get the desired ACT score.
Q: Who is eligible for the ACT exam?
A:
Students who are planning to study undergraduate courses in the USA or other abroad colleges can take this exam for admission purposes. Mostly, high school students in the 11th and 12th classes take the ACT test. As there is no specific eligibility to take the ACT test you can even appear for the exam during your 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10th class.
Q: What is the score range for the ACT exam?
A:
The score range is between 1 to 36. The final score or the composite score is the average score of the four sections.
Q: Is the ACT harder than the SAT?
A:
Yes, the ACT exam is a bit harder than the SAT, because it has four sections in English, reading, math, and science. There is also an additional writing section which is optional in the ACT. With the longer test duration and more exam syllabus, the ACT can be considered harder than the SAT.
Q: Can I make changes to the ACT test date?
A:
Yes, you can change your test dates but it must be done before the late registration deadline. To use this service for the ACT, you are required to pay an extra fee for the date change.
Q: What is the best month to take the ACT?
A:
High school students are advised to take the ACT Exam in their junior year when they have certain academic experience to secure the desired ACT score. Usually, April ACT Dates are preferred by students.
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Hello Student
93.08 percentile in jee mains is not so hopeful percentile marks to get NITs for engineering course of study. To get top NIT student has to secure at least 99 to 98 percentile of marks in jee mains examination. As you have got 93. Jio percentage of marks
Hey applicant!!
Now since you are pursuing your 11th Standard, you can prepare really well as it is the best time for you to utilise your time and seat for the exam, next comes your best preferable time to appear is in the month of November when you don't have
Hello Priya,
Let us assume two forces F1 and F2.
In the question , there are two conditions given and accordingly we need to solve the equations by forming two equations.
In the first condition, the angle between two forces is 90 degree so apply the formula for the resultant
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