June ACT Cancellations Create Frustration, Confusion
With two-thirds of testing centers closed for the June 13th ACT, students look to July and beyond.
As testing agencies navigate ongoing developments with Covid-19, millions of students have had their SAT or ACT exams cancelled or rescheduled.
For instance, the June 13th ACT remains scheduled in roughly one-third of listed testing centers, which are given autonomy to cancel or reschedule the exam according to regional Covid-19 containment guidelines. Recently, the ACT released an updated Covid-19 FAQ page as well as details on individual test site closures. Going forward, the organization plans to send out an email alerting all students currently registered for the June 13th ACT at a closed test site to opportunities for rescheduling or processing refunds. Until then, the ACT will continue to post updates on their website.
While waiting for this email, your first move within this tricky testing terrain should be to check the ACT website for your test site name or code to determine whether your test center has confirmed or cancelled their exam. If ACT reports that your testing center is still open, we suggest calling or emailing the center directly to confirm. (You can usually identify the test coordinator and locate their email address in the staff directory on the school website.)
if your test has been cancelled…
One of the keys to success in the college admissions process, particularly when it comes to test-taking, is maintaining (even a temporary) end goal in mind—something that will provide continued engagement and accountability. We recommend acting quickly to reschedule your test date once you receive the ACT’s emailed instructions. The next ACT national test date is currently scheduled on July 18th, and spots will likely fill quickly considering the smaller number of participating centers (high schools are generally closed and unstaffed during summer) and social distancing protocols. Because test centers are responsible for the decisions to stay open or close, make sure to call the center where you plan to test before registering to confirm it is still open. (ACT has set the deadline for testing centers to make this decision by As everyone is well aware by this point, a lot can change in a month.
If there are no spots available nearby to test in July, and you can afford the inconvenience, consider traveling to a farther testing location. You can also register directly for the September ACT if you have trouble locating available testing sites for July.
While all the uncertainty surrounding test-taking during a global pandemic probably feels daunting, remember that colleges have signaled intentions to be uniquely flexible in response to the impacts of the coronavirus on testing, grades, and extracurriculars. Adjustments to admission requirements will likely continue to be made—keep an eye on our page for the most up-to-date information on rescheduled exam dates and college application prerequisites.
Reach out if you’ve got questions about these new developments in the college admissions process or how to navigate ACT or SAT test date cancellations.
