ACT Test Dates in 2025

If you’re planning on taking the ACT in 2025, you have several dates to choose from. This year, thanks to the way the ACT enhancements are rolling out, your test date is quite important. Depending on when you take the test, you may have a shorter version with some significant changes related to how much time you have per question and per section. And in addition to the version of the test you get, there are also lots of considerations based on your schedule and school applications. 

ACT Version Change Rollout Dates

The ACT is in the process of undergoing several changes, most notably to the timing and amount of questions per section. You can read more about that in-depth here, but at a quick glance: 

• Shorter test length: The exam will have 44 fewer questions and the test will last about 2 hours instead of the current 3 hours. 
• More time per question: With an average increase of 18% more time per question, time management is easier.
• Flexibility in sections: You will now have the option to take the ACT with or without the science section. 
• Online and paper options: Students can still choose to take the test either online or on paper.
• Gradual rollout: These changes will first be made for the digital test only, but will roll out to the paper exam throughout 2025 and early 2026.

More specifically, students who take the digital ACT will experience the enhanced test starting in April 2025. Beginning with the September 2025 ACT, all students testing on a Saturday, both online and on paper, will experience this version. Finally, school and district ACT dates will have this option starting in Spring 2026– so if you want to take the new, shorter version of the ACT, you’ll want to take it digitally or on a Saturday. 

ACT 2025 Test Dates

Here are the ACT test dates announced so for 2025:

• February 8, 2025
• April 5, 2025
• June 14, 2025
• July 12, 2025

These dates do not conflict with any SAT dates for 2025, so if you plan to take both exams, they won’t interfere!

2025 ACT Registration Deadlines

The ACT registration deadlines are earlier than the SAT deadlines; regular registration closes five weeks and a day prior to the test date. However, the late registration deadlines are relatively generous, closing a week and a day before the exam. Registering early is a good idea to secure your preferred test location and avoid late fees. 

In addition to registering, you also have to upload a picture of yourself as part of test-taking security measures. If you don’t upload your picture before the deadline, you won’t be allowed to take the test– so don’t wait! 

Test Date	Regular Registration Deadline	Late Fee Applies After This Date	Late Registration Deadline	Photo Upload and Standby Deadline
February 8, 2025	January 3	January 20	January 31	January 31
April 5, 2025	February 28	March 16	March 28	March 28
June 14, 2025	May 9	May 26	June 6	June 6
July 12, 2025	June 6	June 20	July 4	July 4

Note: At the time of publication, there are currently no testing centers scheduled in New York for the July 12, 2025 ACT exam.

Prep Expert Courses for Each ACT Test Date

For our ACT students, we offer 6 week and 8 week courses. Each of these courses entails two instructional sections per week and a weekly self-proctored practice exam to measure your progress. They also come with a 4 point score increase guarantee to ensure success.

Each of the ACT Prep Expert course instructors is in the 99th percentile of ACT scorers and has thousands of hours of tutoring knowledge and experience. Let’s meet them now:

Mr. Miguel Chavira, a UT Austin graduate, offers students a wide variety of strategies. He is known for encouraging self-reflection and helping students develop their goals. He leads students towards more optimal test-taking methods and helps them take charge of their learning and progress. 

Dr. Ilia Kolmagorov, PhD, has a doctorate in linguistics and is a top 1% ACT scorer. He has years of experience working with both college and university-levels students, and has also worked for a nonprofit supervising research projects. He loves to help students master their studies and experience breakthroughs. 

Ms. Olivia Owens, is a repeat top 1% ACT scorer and a National Merit Scholar, which meant she earned a full-ride scholarship. A keen scientist and mechanical engineer, she guides students through standardized test prep and gets them ready for high scores and guaranteed scholarship money.

February 8 ACT

• 6-week Flagship ACT PrepCourse with Mr. Miguel Chavira
  • December 14 → January 24
  • Saturday & Sunday Classes
  • 3:00PM – 6:00PM Pacific Time

This weekend class meets on Saturday and Sunday afternoons, perfect for students with a busy weekly schedule! 

• 6-week Flagship ACT Prep Course with Mr. Miguel Chavira
  • December 16 → January 26
  • Monday & Wednesday Classes
  • 3:00PM – 6:00PM Pacific Time

If your student is a student athlete or has weekend extracurriculars, a weekday schedule might be preferable.

• 6-week Flagship ACT Prep Course with Dr. Ilia Kolmagorov, PhD
  • December 17 → January 27
  • Tuesday & Thursday Classes
  • 3:00PM – 6:00PM Pacific Time

Tuesday/Thursday classes are well-situated in the middle of the week, and Dr. Kolmagorov is a top tutor for ACT classes.

• 6-Week Flagship ACT Prep Course
  • December 21 → January 31
  • Saturday & Sunday Classes
  • 12:00PM – 3:00PM Pacific Time

This course starts in late December, which means it won’t interfere with pre-holiday school exams.

• 6-Week Flagship ACT PrepCourse with Ms. Olivia Owens
  • December 28 → February 7
  • Saturday & Sunday Classes
  • 9:00AM – 12:00PM Pacific Time

This course finishes right before the February 8 exam, so you’ll have Ms. Owens’s support and advice right up to time!

April 5 ACT

• 6-Week Flagship ACT PrepCourse with Dr. Ilia Kolmagorov, PhD
  • February 8 → March 21
  • Saturday & Sunday Classes
  • 9:00AM – 12:00PM Pacific Time

A great option for early risers, this course means your student will still be able to relax on the weekends and get ready for a productive week at school.

• 6-Week Flagship ACT Prep Course
  • February 10 → March 23
  • Monday & Wednesday Classes
  • 3:00PM – 6:00PM Pacific Time

With a Monday/Wednesday schedule, many students find it easy to take the self-proctored practice tests on Friday to be ready for the next week’s instruction.

• 6-Week Flagship ACT Prep Course with Dr. Ilia Kolmagorov, PhD
  • February 15 → March 28
  • Saturday & Sunday Classes
  • 3:00PM – 6:00PM Pacific Time

Dr. Kolmagorov has a PhD in linguistics, so if you’re struggling with the language sections on the ACT, he might be an ideal instructor for you!

• 6-Week Flagship ACT Prep Course with Dr. Ilia Kolmagorov, PhD
  • February 18 → March 31
  • Tuesday & Thursday Classes
  • 3:00PM – 6:00PM Pacific Time

Weekday afternoon/evening prep courses fit nicely into many students’ schedules. 

• 6-Week Flagship ACT Prep Course
  • February 22 → April 4
  • Saturday & Sunday Classes
  • 12:00PM – 3:00PM Pacific Time

This is the last class offered before the April 5 ACT!

June 14 ACT

• 6-Week Flagship ACT Prep Course with Dr. Ilia Kolmagorov, PhD
  • April 19 → May 30
  • Saturday & Sunday Classes
  • 3:00PM – 6:00PM Pacific Time

This course lets your student get started early for their summer ACT; make sure it aligns with their extracurricular schedule, achievement banquets, and other end-of-year activities.

• 6-Week Flagship ACT Prep Course with Dr. Ilia Kolmagorov, PhD
  • April 21 → June 1
  • Monday & Wednesday Classes
  • 3:00PM – 6:00PM Pacific Time

Most schools are out by June 1, so if your student’s schedule changes at the end of the spring semester, this might be a good schedule for their test prep.

• 6-Week Flagship ACT Prep Course with Mr. Miguel Chavira
  • April 26 → June 6
  • Saturday & Sunday Classes
  • 12:00PM – 3:00PM Pacific Time

If your student has a heavy AP course load, weekend test prep courses won’t interfere with their AP exam schedule.

• 6-Week Flagship ACT Prep Course
  • April 29 → June 9
  • Tuesday & Thursday Classes
  • 3:00PM – 6:00PM Pacific Time

This course is a great option for juniors who might have a lighter final exam schedule than senior students. 

• 6-Week Flagship ACT Prep Course with Mr. Miguel Chavira
  • May 3 → June 13
  • Saturday & Sunday Classes
  • 9:00AM – 12:00PM Pacific Time

The last course before the June 14 test date, you can rest assured that Mr. Chavira will encourage your student over the finish line. 

July 12 ACT

• 6-Week Flagship ACT Prep Course
  • May 19 → June 29
  • Monday & Wednesday Classes
  • 3:00PM – 6:00PM Pacific Time

This course gives you two weeks of lead time before the July 12 exam, so adding in a weekend review is definitely an option.

• 8-Week Capstone ACT Prep Course with Dr. Ilia Kolmagorov, Phd
  • May 20 → July 6
  • Tuesday & Thursday Classes
  • 3:00PM – 6:00PM Pacific Time

For students who want more time to prepare, an 8-week course gives them two additional practice tests and 85 hours of instruction. 

• 6-Week Flagship ACT Prep Course with Dr. Ilia Kolmagorov, PhD
  • May 24 → July 4
  • Saturday & Sunday Classes
  • 12:00PM – 3:00PM Pacific Time

Most high schools let out by the last week of May, so this course is good for students with a packed semester schedule.

• 6-Week Flagship ACT Prep Course with Mr. Miguel Chavira
  • May 27 → July 7
  • Tuesday & Thursday Classes
  • 3:00PM – 6:00PM Pacific Time

If your student is in summer sports, this course won’t interfere with weekend games!

• 6-Week Flagship ACT Prep Course with Dr. Ilia Kolmagorov, Phd
  • May 31 → July 11
  • Saturday & Sunday Classes
  • 9:00AM – 12:00PM Pacific Time

This is the last class offered before the July 12 ACT, offering your student support right up until the end.

Additionally, if you’ve already taken a prep course and want to know when to take a weekend course, remember that our weekend reviews are on Saturdays and Sundays, so you will want to schedule those for the week before the test. These weekend reviews are taught by our excellent instructors, just like our full-length ACT prep courses. They are 6 hours on Saturday and 6 hours on Sunday, offering a last-minute crash course to bolster your student’s self-confidence and test-taking skills the weekend before their ACT test day. 

2025 ACT Test Date	Weekend Review Date
February 8, 2025	February 1-2, 2025
April 5, 2025	March 29-30, 2025
June 14, 2025	June 7-8, 2025
July 12, 2025	July 5-6, 2025

Choosing an ACT Test Date

Choosing the right ACT test date is an important step in your preparation. Begin by assessing your academic calendar and extracurricular commitments. Look for a date that doesn’t conflict with major events like school exams, sports tournaments, or family obligations. This will ensure you have ample time to study and focus without added stress. 

Many students prefer to take the ACT in the spring of their junior year, as they are likely to have completed most of the coursework covered on the test. However, starting earlier, such as in the fall, can provide additional opportunities to retake the test if needed. Consider your college application deadlines as well, aiming for a test date that allows enough time to receive your scores and send them to schools.

Next, think about your personal preparation timeline. If you’ve just started studying, choosing a test date several months away gives you time to build familiarity with the content and refine your strategies. For students who have already been preparing, an earlier test date might be more suitable. Additionally, think about your comfort level with seasonal factors, such as weather or travel during winter or summer test dates, to minimize disruptions. By planning thoughtfully, you can select a date that aligns with your goals and maximizes your performance potential.

Get Ready for the ACT with Prep Expert

Getting ready for a standardized test like the ACT is quite different from preparing for school exams, and well-designed prep courses give students the best chance at high scores. When your student takes a Prep Expert course, they get access to strategies and tips from top scorers, as well as practice tests and smart feedback that will help them improve. At PrepExpert, we guarantee that our students will improve their scores– have a look at our catalog of ACT offerings and see how we help students succeed!