ACT Checklist For Test Day

After all the time and studying that you’ve done for the ACT, now comes the nerve-wracking test day. There’s little reason to stress though as all you need to do is bring a few items with you and be mindful of the ACT’s official rules.

Let’s take a look at our ACT checklist on what you should and what you shouldn’t bring on test day.

If you’re just starting to look into taking the ACT, then be sure to check out our various ACT prep course options.

Make Sure The Testing Center Is Open

Before test day comes, make sure that the testing center your going to is open; it’s easy to check.

Sometimes unfortunate circumstances like bad weather, power outages, etc. shut down particular testing centers. To make sure that you are not affected in the case of such an emergency, the best thing to do is check the official ACT website. Once there, check out the “Rescheduled Test Centers” page for the latest updates.

If your testing center is clear and open, then you’re good to go. Let’s start to break down then what you’ll absolutely need to bring with you, what would be nice to bring, and what you absolutely CANNOT have on you on test day.

ACT Checklist – What You NEED To Bring With You

Let’s look first at what you have to bring with you, no questions asked.

Here’s what you absolutely have to have with you on test day:

Your Printed Ticket

Acceptable Photo ID

Watch

Permitted Calculator

Snacks

First, don’t forget to bring a printed copy of your admission ticket; without it, your score release will be delayed and you run the risk of not even being able to get in. If you’ve lost your ticket, don’t stress; you can go online via your ACT web account and print off another copy.

As far as Photo ID goes, there are a couple of options available to you:

Current Official Photo ID: It must be an original, valid ID issued by either a government agency or your high school, issued in a hard plastic card format. Also, your first and last names must match the ones on the ticket. The photo must also be clearly recognizable as you.

ACT Student Identification Form with photo: If you don’t have a photo ID in the aforementioned format, then you can bring with you a completed ACT Student Identification Form with a photo. The form itself can be downloaded from the ACT website and must be completed by either a school official or public notary. You aren’t allowed to have a relative fill it out for you.

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Let’s now look at what kinds of ID are not allowed (get ready, the list is long):

ACT ticket alone

Birth certificate

ChildFind ID card

Credit, charge, bank or check cashing cards, even with photo

Diploma

Family portrait or graduation picture, even if the name is imprinted on the photo

Fishing or hunting license

ID issued by an employer

ID letter that is not an official ACT identification form

Learner’s driving permit (if it doesn’t include a photo)

Temporary/replacement driver’s license (if it doesn’t include a photo)

Organization membership card

Passport or other photo ID so old that the person presenting it cannot be identified

Personal recognition by anyone, including members of the test center staff, classmates, parents, counselors, and teachers

Photo ID of parents

Photo with your name embossed or printed on it by a photographer

Photocopies or reproductions

Photos issued by a business for promotional purposes (e.g., amusement parks)

Police report of a stolen wallet or purse

Printed, stamped, or photocopied signatures

Published photo, including yearbook or newspaper

Report card

Social Security card

Telephone calls to counselors, teachers, or school officials

Traffic ticket, even with a physical description and signature

Transcript, even with photo

Web page with photo

As you can see, the ACT is very stringent about what it will and will not accept, so be sure to pay attention to this list as test center staff will check to make sure you have the right materials in order.

Bring at least two sharpened no.2 pencils with you. Make sure they are sharpened beforehand and have good erasers because you aren’t allowed to use either mechanical pencils or pens. Moreover, if you elect to do the Essay section, then you can only complete it by pencil alone.

When it comes to your watch, the biggest thing to remember is making sure it doesn’t have an alarm. If your watch sounds off an alarm during the test, you will be personally dismissed from the testing center and your scores will not be recorded. However, having a watch with you can help you keep a good pace while working on each section.

Regarding the calculator, you are only allowed to use it on the Math section alone. In theory, you do not have to use one at all, because the questions are designed so that you can answer without one. However, to save time, it’s normally advisable to bring one. But it is your responsibility to make sure it is a permitted unit.

For more information, be sure to check out our “ACT Calculator List” post for a full breakdown on what is and is not permitted to use on test day. Read More- ACT test prep