How Does Retaking the ACT Work?

Retaking the ACT is a straightforward process, and understanding how it works can help you plan your testing timeline strategically. This guide covers the registration process, how many times you can retake the test, superscoring, and how to decide whether a retake is right for you.

Retaking the ACT: What You Need to Do

To retake the ACT, you'll need a MyACT account, which gives you access to the registration portal. From there, you sign up for a specific test date and pay the registration fee.

The ACT is offered multiple times per year, typically in September, October, December, February, April, June, and July. Check the ACT website for the most current test dates, since they shift slightly each year.

On test day, bring:

• A valid photo ID
• Your printed test ticket
• No. 2 pencils (not mechanical)
• An approved calculator
• A snack for the break (optional but recommended)

How Many Times Can You Retake the ACT?

There's no limit. You can retake the ACT as many times as you want until you're satisfied with your score.

This matters because many colleges accept what's called a superscore. Superscoring means the school takes your best section score from each test administration and combines them into one composite. So if you scored highest in Math and Science on your first attempt but improved in English and Reading on your second, the superscore would combine all four of those bests.

This makes retaking strategically valuable. If you already have strong section scores in certain areas, you can focus your prep on the weaker sections before your next attempt. The ACT automatically calculates your superscore in your MyACT account after you've completed multiple administrations.

Not every school superscores, though. Check each college's admissions page to confirm their policy before assuming they'll use your best combination.

Should I Retake the ACT?

For most students, yes. ACT data shows that among students who retested, 57% earned a higher composite score, with an average improvement of about 2.9 points.

That said, there are a few things to weigh before registering again.

Diminishing returns are real. After several attempts, most students hit a score ceiling where additional retakes don't produce meaningful gains. Taking practice tests between administrations helps you gauge whether more improvement is realistic. If your practice scores are consistently close to your actual score, you may have reached your ceiling for now.

Burnout is a risk. Retaking the same standardized test repeatedly can lead to fatigue and frustration, which can actually cause your score to drop. Space out your attempts and make sure you're doing targeted prep between them, not just re-sitting the exam and hoping for the best.

Watch your deadlines. Your score needs to reach colleges before their application deadlines. Here's a general timeline:

• For early decision/early action deadlines in November, the September or October ACT is typically the last administration accepted.
• For regular decision deadlines (usually around January 1), the December ACT is generally the final option.

These cutoffs vary by school, so confirm directly with each college's admissions office. They field these questions constantly and will give you a definitive answer.

Section Retakes

The ACT previously announced plans to allow students to retake individual sections rather than the full exam. As of now, section retesting has not been widely implemented. You should check the ACT website for the latest updates on whether this option is available for your test date. For the time being, plan on retaking the full exam.

Wrap-Up

Retaking the ACT is common, and the data supports doing it. Most students who retake see at least some improvement, especially with focused preparation between attempts.

If you're still not satisfied with your score after retaking, keep in mind that many schools have adopted test-optional policies. You may not need to submit a score at all. That said, a strong ACT score can still strengthen your application at test-optional schools, so it could be worth pursuing a higher score depending on your situation.

For more help with each section of the ACT, check out these guides:

• English: Fiveable's ACT English Overview: What's On It?
• Math: Fiveable's ACT Math Overview: What's On It?
• Reading: Fiveable's ACT Reading Overview: What's On It?
• Science: Fiveable's ACT Science Overview: What's On It?
• Essay: Fiveable's ACT Writing Overview: What's On It

Looking for even more practice? Check out this list of ACT prep resources.