If your child is applying to college, he or she will likely need to submit a score for the ACT. For students applying to college in the coming year, now is the time to start looking at application requirements and deadlines to see when to take any and all applicable standardized tests. Here are the Spring and Summer 2017 test dates for the ACT:
Test Dates | Registration Dates | Scores Posted Online |
April 8, 2017 | March 3, 2017 | April 18, 2017–June 2, 2017 |
June 10, 2017 | May 5, 2017 | June 20, 2017–August 4, 2017 |
Additional test dates are listed here.
Find test locations here and register your child to take the ACT at act.org.
Test Preparation
The vast majority of students will benefit from some type of preparation before taking the ACT. Some students may only need to take a few practice tests, others may also need to work on specific question types, and others may need to take a multiple-week course with an instructor. All kids are different!
One of the best ways to determine how much your student will need to prepare for the ACT to maximize his or her score is to take a full-length, real-time prep test!
New Orleans and Jefferson Libraries teamed up with The Princeton Review to offer free (yes, FREE!) full-length, real-time prep tests. Tests were administered in March and April and the remaining test dates and locations and listed below. You must pre-register your child. Also, keep in mind that seats are limited, so you should register early!
Mid-City Library 4140 Canal Street New Orleans, LA 70119 (504) 596-2654
Saturday, May 13, 2017 9:30 AM – 1:30 PM
The Princeton Review Office New Orleans 8200 Hampson St #259, New Orleans, LA 70118 (504) 826-8406
Saturday, May 13 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Saturday, Jun 24 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Jefferson Parish East Bank Regional Library 4747 W. Napoleon Avenue Metairie, LA 70001 (504) 838-1190
Saturday, August 5, 2017 9:30 AM – 1:30 PM
Saturday, October 7, 2017 9:30 AM – 1:30 PM
Saturday, November 4, 2017 9:30 AM – 1:30 PM
Students should arrive the day of the practice test at least 10 minutes early. Each student must bring a valid photo ID, #2 pencils, and a calculator. The Princeton Review also has a free ACT online demonstration and practice test available for students to familiarize themselves with the exam format and content. Register for that online here.
In addition to the above prep tests, students can find free ACT study books at the New Orleans Library, and more tests through the library’s website databases, Homework LA and Learning Express. (Scroll down to find the databases. You may need your library card in order to access content.) The ACT also provides a free study guide, which you can download here.
Another great resource is Khan Academy. They do an excellent job of going through what your child needs to do to prepare for the ACT (and other standardized tests): identify his or her weaknesses, make a study plan, and track his or her progress. The best way to use Khan Academy to study for the ACT is to identify an area of weakness and search the website for the subject area. Khan Academy does a particularly good job of walking students through all areas of mathematics.
We wish your college-bound teen lots of success with the ACT!
