December ACT Test Date

Hey, I'm planning on taking the ACT and noticed there's a test date in December. Does anyone know if it's too late in the admission process to take the December test? Will colleges still accept my scores if I send them after this date?

The December ACT test date is generally acceptable for regular decision applications, but it won't be accepted for most early action or early decision 1 deadlines. In many cases, colleges will accept December test scores for regular decision applicants, but you'll want to send those scores directly to the schools you're applying to as soon as they become available, so that they reach the admission offices promptly. To further expedite the process, you can use ACT's Score Reporting Service to send the scores automatically upon the release.

For early action/early decision 1 applicants, you'll want to check the college's website or contact their admissions office directly to see if they accept December test scores. Some institutions may accept late scores if they haven't reached a decision on your application, or for merit scholarship consideration. However, generally the deadline to submit your scores is in early November, and you shouldn't rely on colleges being flexible, so it's important to be aware of each school's requirements.

If the December test date works best for you but you still want to apply early, keep in mind that many schools offer an early decision 2 pathway, where applications are typically due in early January. For early decision 2, taking the ACT in December should be just fine, although, again, you'll want to prioritize getting your score to your early decision 2 school as soon as possible.

In summary, the December ACT test date is suitable for regular decision applicants at most colleges, but you should double-check each school's score submission deadline and send your scores as soon as they become available. For early action/early decision, verify with the colleges whether they accept late scores or not, but don't count on it.

It's always important to check the specific score submission deadlines for the colleges you're applying to. Most colleges usually list specific dates or indicate the latest-test-date-accepted on their website or admission materials. And don't hesitate to reach out to the admissions office directly if you have any questions - they're there to help you, after all! Best of luck with your testing journey, and college process as a whole!