Outside the United States, the ACT costs $188.50. The same three sections cost $70 in the US, and the international SAT costs $111. International ACT testing is computer-based only, held at test centers over two-day windows, and ACT says scores can post as soon as four business days after you test. Everything below comes from ACT's non-US pages, checked on 18 September 2026.
How much does the ACT cost outside the US?
From ACT's non-US fees page, next to the US prices from ACT's main fees page.
| What you register for | Outside the US | Inside the US |
|---|---|---|
| ACT (English, Math, Reading) | $188.50 | $70 |
| ACT with Science | $198.50 | $75 |
| ACT with Writing | $213.50 | $95 |
| ACT with Science and Writing | $223.50 | $100 |
An international student pays $118.50 more than a US student for the same three sections. Science costs $10 outside the US and $5 inside it. Writing is $25 in both. Late registration ($42), the change fee ($49) and extra score reports ($20) are the same numbers on both pages. The full US fee list is in how much the ACT costs.
One caution before you pay. ACT's non-US fees page does not say which testing year its prices belong to, so confirm the total on the checkout screen rather than trusting a figure you read months earlier, including ours.
Is the ACT or the SAT cheaper for international students?
The SAT, by a wide margin.
| ACT, outside the US | SAT, outside the US | |
|---|---|---|
| One sitting | $188.50 | $111 |
| Two sittings | $377 | $222 |
| Difference over two sittings | $155 in favor of the SAT | |
Some SAT centers in Hong Kong, Macau, Singapore, South Korea and Taiwan add a $24 facility fee, which takes one SAT sitting to $135. That is still $53.50 under the ACT. Our international SAT guide has the SAT side in full.
Cost should not pick your test. Your score should, and SAT vs ACT shows how to compare the two fairly. But if a practice test of each puts you in the same place, the SAT saves an international family $155 over two sittings, and that is a fair tiebreaker.
When are the international ACT dates for 2026-27?
From ACT's non-US registration page. The 5 September 2026 window has already passed.
| Testing window | Deadline | Late deadline |
|---|---|---|
| 23-24 October 2026 | 25 September | 9 October |
| 11-12 December 2026 | 13 November | 27 November |
| 12-13 February 2027 | 15 January | 29 January |
| 2-3 April 2027 | 5 March | 19 March |
| 11-12 June 2027 | 14 May | 28 May |
| 9-10 July 2027 | 11 June | 25 June |
These are not the US dates. US national tests fall on single Saturdays, listed in ACT test dates for 2026-27. International testing runs across two days, with morning and afternoon sessions where a center offers both, so you choose a day and a session as well as a date.
How does international ACT testing work?
ACT's page on international testing says it is computer-based, at test centers. There is no paper option and no home testing. US students can still choose paper, which we compare in ACT online or on paper, but that choice does not exist for you.
The format is the shorter one. ACT's non-US pages say the three-section Composite, with Science optional, applied from the September 2025 test, and that further changes with fewer questions arrived for international testers from February 2026. How that Composite is built is in how the ACT is scored.
Scores come back fast. ACT's registration page says international scores begin to post as soon as four business days after the test, though occasionally they take up to eight weeks. For the 23-24 October window, ACT lists the initial score release as 29 October. That is three days before a 1 November early deadline, which is tight but workable if you send scores the day they arrive.
The SAT side of this decision, including registration and centers, is in the SAT for Indian students. Read both before paying for either test.
Frequently asked questions
How much does the ACT cost for international students?
$188.50 for English, Math and Reading. With Science it is $198.50, with Writing $213.50, and with both $223.50. The same core test costs $70 in the United States.
Is the international ACT on paper or computer?
Computer only. ACT testing outside the United States is computer-based and held at test centers. There is no paper option and no home testing.
When are the international ACT dates for 2026-27?
Two-day windows on 23-24 October and 11-12 December 2026, then 12-13 February, 2-3 April, 11-12 June and 9-10 July 2027. The October window's deadline is 25 September, with late registration until 9 October.
How fast do international ACT scores come out?
ACT says scores begin to post as soon as four business days after the test, though occasionally they take up to eight weeks. For the 23-24 October 2026 window, the initial score release is 29 October.
Is the ACT or the SAT cheaper outside the US?
The SAT. One international SAT sitting costs $111 against $188.50 for the ACT, a gap of $155 over two sittings. Even at SAT centers with the $24 facility fee, the SAT is $53.50 cheaper per sitting.
Does the international ACT use the shorter format?
Yes. ACT says the three-section Composite with optional Science applied to international testing from September 2025, with further changes and fewer questions from February 2026.