If you are planning to take a SAT or ACT test, you will want to plan your budget. For your convenience, we have detailed the fees for the tests, and the waivers to possibly take the test for free!
As a brief overview:
The SAT costs $60
Late registration is an additional $30
The ACT (no writing) costs $68
Late registration is an additional $36.
Both tests offer fee waivers: if you are eligible, you might be able to take the test for free, and get some other things for free too!
The SAT costs a little bit less than the ACT, but they are still close in price. You should choose which test to take based on your performance on practice tests (you can take those with us) - and definitely do not choose the SAT just because it is cheaper. The ACT might be the better match. Let’s take a closer look at the ACT’s prices and fees.
ACT Test Options and Prices
| Fee | Details |
The ACT -no writing | $68 | If you are applying to colleges, then this is probably the most popular option. Most colleges do not need a writing score submitted. This includes reports for you, your high school, and up to four colleges (if codes are provided when you register). NOTE: In most cases, Tried & True recommends that you do not enter college codes when you register. We would prefer that students wait and see their scores before submitting them to colleges. There are some exceptions to this. Free with fee waiver. |
The ACT -with writing | $93 | If your high school or the college you are applying to requires the writing section, then the price is $25 more. This includes reports for you, your high school, and up to four colleges (if codes are provided when you register). More about the ACT with writing NOTE: In most cases, Tried & True recommends that you do not enter college codes when you register. We would prefer that students wait and see their scores before submitting them to colleges. There are some exceptions to this. Free with fee waiver. |
Test option change | $25 | You may add or remove the writing test through the late deadline in MyACT. |
ACT Additional Fees
| Fee | Details |
Late registration | $36 | Registration or test date change made during the late period for a national test date. Free with fee waiver. |
Standby testing | $68 | Unlike the SAT, the ACT offers standby testing. If you miss the late deadline to register for a test date, standby testing provides a non-guaranteed opportunity to test. This is refunded if you are denied admission to the test center on test day, or registration was canceled due to no photo provided. More about standby testing |
Change fee | $42 | Includes making a Test Date Change or Test Center Change. |
Score reports to 5th & 6th college choices | $18 | Request online before the test date. Refundable on written request if you do not test. NOTE: In most cases, Tried & True recommends that you do not enter college codes when you register. We would prefer that students wait and see their scores before submitting them to colleges. There are some exceptions to this. |
Additional score reports | $18 | You can request additional score reports online after registration. |
Score verification | | If you think the ACT failed to grade your test accurately, then you can purchase a score verification. If a scoring error is discovered, your scores will be changed and corrected reports will be released to you at no charge. Also, new scores will be sent to all previous score report recipients at no charge. In addition, your score verification fee will be refunded. |
| $55 | For multiple-choice test score verification. |
| $55 | For writing test score verification. |
| $110 | For both multiple-choice and writing test score verification. |
Purchase a copy of your test questions and answers
Only students who are approved for accommodations based on disability or English Learner supports have the opportunity to purchase a digital copy of their test questions and answers.
By purchasing Test Information Release (TIR), you will receive a digital copy of the multiple-choice test questions, your answers, a copy of your answer document, the answer key, and the conversion table used in determining your ACT scores. If you took the optional writing test, you will receive a copy of the writing prompt, the writing test scoring rubric, and your essay scores.
TIR is only offered to 2 groups of students:
National testers: examinees who test on select national test dates
Special testers: examinees who register for the April test date and test during the designated Special Testing Window
See our blog on accommodations to learn more, such as the difference between National testing and Special testing accommodations, and the Special Testing Window dates.
If you are eligible based on accommodations, then you can buy the TIR currently for $32.00 if you place the order prior to the test.
The TIR price increases to $40.00 if the order is placed after the test.
If you or your student received a fee waiver and accommodations, then your TIR is absolutely free!
It is included at no extra cost, just order the TIR in MyACT during registration (and for six months following the test date).
ACT Fee Waiver
Fee waivers are available to students who qualify. To apply for the ACT fee waiver program, you must meet the following eligibility requirements:
Be currently enrolled in high school in the 11th or 12th grade.
Be testing in the United States, US Territories, or Puerto Rico.
Meet one or more of the indicators of economic need listed below:
Enrolled in a federal free or reduced-price lunch program at school, based on US Department of Agriculture (USDA) income levels
Enrolled in a program for the economically disadvantaged (for example, a federally funded program such as GEAR UP or Upward Bound)
Note: If the student participates in one of these programs but is not economically disadvantaged that students is not eligible for a fee waiver.
Resides in a foster home, is a ward of the state, or is homeless
Family receives low-income public assistance or lives in federally subsidized public housing
Family’s total annual income is at or below USDA levels for free or reduced-price lunches on the USDA Food and Nutrition Service website
See the Eligibility Requirements for the ACT here:
How do you apply for an ACT fee waiver?
There are two methods:
Requesting a fee waiver through a school
Requesting a fee waiver on your own (homeschooling etc)
If you are requesting a fee waiver through your school:
Talk with your school counselor to learn if you are eligible and to apply.
If you are requesting a fee waiver on your own:
Homeschooled students and others who are requesting a fee waiver on their own must contact their local school district.
If you are eligible, then the school or school district will fill out a form and begin the fee waiver registration process. They will give you an ACT fee waiver code. When you register for the ACT, use your ACT fee waiver code.
Sign in to your My ACT account.
As you register for your test, enter the serial number printed on the top right corner of your fee waiver.
Click “Submit” to accept the fee waiver.
Fee waiver forms are normally delivered within ten working days of receiving the order and are emailed to the account on record. Finally, you will fill out the fee waiver form, submit it, and receive the glorious rewards.
Additional Benefits
The fee waiver includes several benefits.
The registration fee for up to four ACT tests, with or without the optional writing test for National testing, is waived. In addition, late registration fees are waived.
Students registering with a fee waiver will also receive free access to the Kaplan® ACT Self-Paced Course.
Students registering with a fee waiver will also be able to send unlimited additional ACT score reports to colleges and/or scholarship agencies at any time during their college search process at no additional cost.
Students may be able to apply to colleges at no cost.
Students who test with an ACT fee waiver may also request a Waiver or Deferral of College Admission Applications Fee.
You must submit your fee waiver directly to the college to which you are applying (not to ACT). The colleges may consider your request at their discretion.
You can always reach out to the college to confirm your eligibility directly.
Unfortunately, fee waiver quantities are limited. Once funds are exhausted, fee waiver requests will become unavailable for ordering and MyACT will no longer accept the codes during registration. If you receive a fee waiver, it is likely best to not to wait too long before registering to take a test. You can always register for a test at a later date, and change it if you need to.
PLEASE NOTE: International Students
ACT fee waivers may be available for international students only if they are taking the test in the US, US territories, or Puerto Rico.
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Please reach out with any questions!