Standby Testing
You can try to test standby if you've missed the deadline for late registration for a test center in the United States, U.S. territories, Puerto Rico, or Canada.
Standby testing—what you need to know:
- Because advance arrangements are required, students requiring accommodations due to a disability cannot test as standbys.
- Testing as a standby costs $39.50 in addition to the basic fee for your test option.
- You are not guaranteed a seat or test booklet.
- Test centers admit standbys on a first-come, first-served basis and only if there are enough seats, materials, and staff remaining after admission of all registered students.
- Do not try to make arrangements with a test center supervisor or contact ACT to find out if a particular test center will have room on test day. The supervisor will not know if any standbys can be admitted until all registered examinees have been seated on test day. You may be turned away.
- Standby testing is not available outside the U.S. and Canada.
Standby testing—what you need to do:
- Prior to test day, get a registration packet from the guidance office at your high school.
- Test center schedules are subject to change. To find out which test centers are currently scheduled to test on your test date, check the list of test centers.
- Arrive at the test center before 8:00 a.m. even though you may not be admitted.
- Bring your completed registration folder. Make sure it is sealed in the registration envelope with your name and address clearly printed in the return address box (do not bring cash). If you do not turn in a sealed registration envelope that includes your completed registration folder and your fee payment at the test center, you will not receive test scores. (This is true even if you are inadvertently admitted and allowed to test.)
- Your fee payment must include at least the basic fee plus the $39.50 standby fee (Total: ACT [No Writing] = $69.50, ACT Plus Writing = $84.00).
- Bring acceptable identification. You will not be admitted without it.
- If you are trying to test standby for a Sunday or Monday test center, you must bring a letter from your cleric or a notarized statement to verify your religious beliefs prohibit Saturday testing. You will not be admitted without it.
- Because the standby registration folder is processed after the test date, you will not be able to change college codes or cancel reports after the test date.
- Read the information about test day procedures.