How Many Times Can You Take the ACT? A Complete Guide

If you’re planning to take the ACT (American College Testing), you might wonder if there’s a limit to how many times you can take the ACT. The short answer is no: there’s no official limit.

You can take the ACT as many times as you’d like until you’re happy with your score. Still, most students only take the ACT two or three times, since that’s often enough to see improvement. How often you choose to retest depends on your goals, prep time, and college deadlines.

Understanding how ACT retakes work, how colleges view multiple scores, and what it costs to try again can help you make smart decisions as you plan your testing strategy. Here, we’ll break down what you need to know to make the most of your ACT experience.

• How Many Times Can You Actually Take the ACT?
• Can Colleges See How Many Times You Take the ACT?
• How Much Does It Cost to Retake the ACT?
• How to Decide When to Retake the ACT
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Takeaways

How Many Times Can You Actually Take the ACT?

There isn’t a set limit on how many times you’re allowed to take the ACT. You can register for it as often as you’d like, but most students take it two or three times before they’re satisfied with their scores. Each test gives you another shot to improve and show what you’ve learned since your last attempt.

Because the ACT is offered several times throughout the year, you have flexibility in choosing when to test again. This means you can plan around your school schedule, prep time, and college deadlines so that every attempt counts.

How many times can you take the ACT in a year?

You have the chance to take the ACT up to seven times each year, which matches the number of national test dates available:

Note: No test centers are scheduled in New York for the July test date. The September test offers Science Optional testing (available in both online and paper formats).

These test dates typically fall between February and December, so you can spread out your attempts and pick the ones that work best for you.

Many students choose to take the test first during their junior year, then again in the summer or early in the senior year to improve their scores before college deadlines. Since the test is offered multiple times, spreading out attempts allows you to review your scores and refine your preparation strategy between tests.

Can you take the ACT more than once?

Absolutely. Retaking the ACT is common and often a smart move for students aiming to improve their scores. In fact, about 43% of ACT test takers choose to take the exam more than once. This shows that retesting is a normal part of the process, not something to worry about. Because the ACT tests both your knowledge and your test-taking strategy, practice and familiarity usually lead to better results.

Getting comfortable with the test format, timing, and the types of questions you’ll see on the exam gives you a real advantage the second or third time you take it. And even a small score increase can strengthen your college applications or scholarship chances significantly.

If you’re considering a retake, use your first score report to identify weak spots and focus your study efforts there. This way, you’re more likely to see meaningful improvement and avoid unnecessary test fatigue.

Ideal number of test attempts

Most students find that two or three test attempts are ideal. The first test gives you a baseline, the second shows improvement, and a third—if necessary—can help you reach your goal score. Taking the ACT too many times, however, can lead to fatigue and less motivation to study effectively.

Use your earlier attempts as learning experiences. Look over your score reports, identify weak areas, and adjust your study plan before taking the test again. A focused approach between attempts is the best way to make meaningful progress without overdoing it.

Can Colleges See How Many Times You Take the ACT?

Colleges typically don’t see every time you’ve taken the ACT unless you choose to send multiple score reports. When you register and after you test, you control which scores colleges receive through your ACT account. This means you can decide to report only the scores that best represent your abilities and keep earlier or lower scores private.

Score choice and reporting

Like the SAT’s, ACT’s Score Choice gives you the power to select which test scores to send to colleges and scholarship programs. You aren’t required to send all your scores—only those from specific test dates or your highest scores. This helps you showcase your strongest performances and simplifies your application process.

Besides sending scores during registration, you can also send additional score reports afterward, which is helpful if you improve after applying. Each score report shows all the section scores from that test date together; you can’t mix and match portions from different tests in Score Choice.

Superscoring policies

Superscoring means some colleges combine your highest section scores from multiple ACT test dates to create a new, stronger composite score. Since 2016, ACT automatically calculates your superscore in your MyACT account if you’ve taken the test more than once.

Starting in 2025, the ACT superscore composite will include only English, math, and reading scores, excluding science, although the science score will still be part of your STEM score. The optional writing test isn’t included in the superscore, but some colleges require it separately.

Research shows that superscoring is a fair and student-friendly method that better predicts college success than using just your latest or highest single test date score. Many colleges now see superscoring as aligning with their holistic admission approach, helping students put their best foot forward.

Strategic score submission

Each college has its own policy on test scores, so it’s worth doing a bit of research before you submit. Some schools want to see all your test scores, while others only look at your highest scores or create a superscore from your best section results.

Understanding these policies helps you decide which scores to send. If a school superscores, submitting multiple test dates could work in your favor by showcasing your strongest performance across different sections. For schools that don’t, you might only need to send your top score, saving you the cost of extra score reports.

Taking a few minutes to plan your score submission strategy can save you money and help you put your best foot forward for admissions and scholarships.

How Much Does It Cost to Retake the ACT?

Retaking the ACT involves paying the standard registration fee each time you register, along with potential additional costs depending on your choices and circumstances. Knowing these costs upfront can help you budget effectively for multiple test attempts and any extra services you might need.

Standard registration fees

The basic registration fee covers the main parts of the ACT, with an extra fee if you add the optional writing test. Here’s a look at the current pricing:

Additional fees

Be aware that additional fees may apply in certain situations:

These extra fees can add up if you retake the test multiple times or need flexibility with your registration.

Fee waivers and financial aid

Eligible students can receive fee waivers covering up to two ACT tests, including the writing and science sections if chosen. These waivers also include up to four free score reports, helping reduce the cost of testing and score submission. Fee waivers are typically requested through school counselors to support students with financial need.

How to Decide When to Retake the ACT

Deciding when to retake the ACT depends on your goals, your prep time, and how much you’ve improved since your last attempt.

Most students find it helpful to take the ACT first during their junior year, then test again in the spring or early fall of senior year to raise their scores or qualify for scholarships. Retesting gives you the chance to adjust your study plan, focus on weaker sections, and use new knowledge gained in school to improve your results.

Consider the following:

Identify areas for improvement.

Before retesting, review your score report in your MyACT account to pinpoint your weaker sections—whether that’s English, math, reading, or science. ACT recommends using your past results to create a focused study plan that addresses specific problem areas.

You can also order ACT My Answer Key (formerly called Test Information Release) if you took a national test on one of the eligible dates (September, April, or June). It includes a copy of your test questions, answers, and the scoring key. Students who use this tool to analyze their mistakes have been shown to achieve twice as much improvement on their next attempt as those who do not.

Allow time for preparation.

Give yourself at least one to two months between tests to prepare effectively. Use that time to review your score breakdowns, practice under timed conditions, and work through free ACT practice resources. ACT’s preparation materials—like the Official ACT Prep Guide or the free ACT Practice Test—mirror real test questions and help build comfort with timing and pacing.

You should also factor in your personal circumstances. If you weren’t feeling well, rushed your preparation, or struggled with nerves during your last test, use this downtime to strengthen those areas before retesting. A calm and prepared mind often leads to better results than rushing back into another test right away.

Plan around college deadlines.

When planning your retake, pay close attention to college and scholarship deadlines. Scores usually release within 2–4 weeks of your test date, so plan accordingly to ensure they arrive before application cutoffs.

ACT recommends that students take their final attempt by early fall of senior year, especially if you’re applying for early decision or early action programs. For most students, this timeline allows enough room for improvement while keeping scores current for college and financial aid review.

Taking the time to reflect on your last test, review your score data, and prepare with clear goals can make your next ACT attempt your strongest yet. Each attempt brings new insight, and even a one-point increase in your composite score can improve scholarship eligibility and college options.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How many times can you take the ACT test?

There’s no official limit on how many times you can take the ACT, though most students take it two or three times to reach their goal scores.

2. Can you retake individual sections of the ACT?

Not yet. You can only retake the full test, but ACT allows superscoring, so you can combine your best section scores from different test dates.

3. Do colleges see all of your ACT attempts?

No. Colleges only see the scores you choose to send, and you can select specific test dates or use your superscore.

4. When should you retake the ACT?

Most students retake it in the spring of junior year or early fall of senior year, giving time to prepare and still meet college deadlines.

5. Is retaking the ACT worth it?

Yes. ACT data shows that 43% of students retake the test, and more than half of them improve their scores, which can help with admissions and scholarships.

Takeaways

• There’s no official limit on how many times you can take the ACT, but most students test two or three times to reach their goals and improve their scores.
• You can take the ACT up to seven times a year, giving you flexibility to choose test dates that fit your schedule and study plan.
• Colleges only see your scores if you choose to send them, and many accept superscores, which combine your best section scores from multiple attempts.
• The ACT test costs $68 for the core test, with optional add-ons for writing and science, plus other registration and reporting fees, but fee waivers are available for eligible students.
• Planning the right time to retake—based on your score report, college deadlines, and preparation time—can help you perform your best.
• If you want expert help improving your results, consider working with a private ACT or SAT tutor who can create a personalized strategy to help you reach your target score.