How Do I Obtain My ACT Scores: 2025 Delivery Guide
If you took the ACT on a national test date and opted into online score reporting, your scores are typically available in your MyACT account about two weeks after the test. That’s the fastest route. Paper score reports arrive by mail a few weeks after that, and scores are also sent automatically to the colleges you listed when you registered. This guide walks through how to obtain your ACT scores through each method — online, by mail, and by request — plus what to do if something looks off.
Getting Your Scores Online Through MyACT
The MyACT portal is the primary delivery channel for ACT results. You create an account (or log into one) using the same identifying details from your registration, and your scores post there as soon as they’re processed.
What you need to log in
- Your MyACT username or the email you registered with
- Your password
- Your date of birth and other verification details if prompted
If you never set up a MyACT account, you can still create one after testing and link it to your registration record. The ACT recommends doing this before test day so your account is ready when scores release.
Understanding the release timeline
Scores don’t all drop at once. They are released in batches as answer documents finish processing. Most multiple-choice scores appear within about two weeks of a national test date; writing scores, if you took the optional essay, can take a bit longer. You’ll get an email notification when your scores are ready — but you can also just log in and check.
If you tested through a school-day administration or a state/district contract test, online delivery may work differently. In those cases, your school often receives and distributes scores first.
Reading your score report
Your report shows your composite score plus section scores for English, Math, Reading, and Science, each on a 1–36 scale. It also includes:
- STEM score and ELA score — combined indicators drawn from your section results
- Progress toward career readiness indicators
- College readiness benchmarks showing whether you met the threshold in each subject
A short worked example: a student who scores 24 English, 26 Math, 22 Reading, and 25 Science has a composite of 24 (the four section scores averaged and rounded). Her report would also flag whether she cleared the benchmark in each area.
Receiving Paper Reports and Score Sends
Even in the digital era, physical reports still matter — especially for records you want on paper.
What arrives by mail
A few weeks after your scores post online, a paper score report is mailed to the address on your registration. It includes your scores and the colleges or scholarship programs you designated. If you opted for the writing test, the essay score appears there too.
Where your scores are sent automatically
When you register, you can select up to four colleges to receive your scores for free. Those sends happen automatically once scoring is complete. Sends requested after scores release cost a fee per report and must be ordered through your MyACT account. Keep in mind that some colleges superscore the ACT, so sending multiple test dates can work in your favor.
To review official policies on delivery windows, fees, and score release, see ACT. It’s the authoritative source and worth checking if your timeline looks unusual.
When Scores Are Delayed or Missing
A delay is frustrating, but most causes are routine: an irregularity review, a mismatch between your answer document and your registration, the essay scoring queue, or two MyACT accounts under different emails.
First, confirm you’re logging into the correct account. If the two-week window has passed with no results and no notification, contact ACT directly through the MyACT help options or the phone number on your admission ticket. Have your test date, test center, and registration ID handy. If you need scores for an application deadline, reach out as soon as you notice a problem rather than waiting another week.
Requesting Scores After High School
Scores don’t disappear when you graduate. ACT maintains score records, so former students can still order reports. Log into MyACT — or create an account — and request score sends to the schools or programs that need them. There is a fee per report, and delivery to the recipient generally takes about a week after the order processes. If you’re applying to graduate or professional programs that accept ACT scores, the same ordering process applies. Request your sends at least two weeks before any hard deadline; processing plus delivery can eat into a tight timeline.
Sending Scores: Free vs. Paid
Choosing when to send is one of the few decisions you fully control in this process.
| Factor | Free sends at registration | Paid sends after release |
|---|---|---|
| Number allowed | Up to four | As many as you order |
| Cost | No charge | A fee applies per report |
| Timing | Automatic once scoring completes | Ordered by you, then processed |
| Flexibility | Locked in at registration | Choose recipients any time |
The trade-off is straightforward. Free sends save money but commit you before you know your scores. Paid sends cost more but let you wait and decide which results to share — which is why many students test more than once before ordering.
Key Takeaways
- Online is fastest. Scores typically post to MyACT about two weeks after a national test date; you’ll also get an email notification.
- Free sends happen automatically. Up to four colleges you listed at registration receive your scores without any action on your part.
- Paper reports follow. A mailed report arrives a few weeks after scores release online.
- Scores release in batches, not all at once, and essay scores can lag behind multiple-choice results.
- Extra sends cost money — order them through MyACT, and allow about a week for delivery.
- Missing scores? Check your account first, then contact ACT promptly, especially if a deadline is close.
- Your scores stay on file after high school, so you can still request official reports later.
