Standby Testing
You can try to test standby if you've missed the late registration deadline for a test center in the United States, U.S. territories, Puerto Rico, or Canada.
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 $40.00 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-admitted basis and only if there are enough seats, materials, and staff remaining after all registered students have been admitted for their test option.
- Do not try to make arrangements with a test 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 for their test option on test day. You may be turned away.
- Standby testing is not available in locations other than the U.S., U.S. territories, Puerto Rico, or Canada.
What you need to do:
- Prior to test day, get a registration packet from your high school counselor.
- 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 to test.
- Bring your completed registration folder, sealed in the registration envelope with your name and address clearly printed in the return address box (do not enclose 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 $40.00 standby fee (Total: ACT [No Writing] = $71.00, ACT Plus Writing = $86.00).
- 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.
- Read the information about test day procedures.