SAT and ACT requirements: who can take them

There are no eligibility requirements for the SAT or ACT: any student can register. You need a College Board account (SAT) or MyACT account (ACT), a photo or ID that meets each test’s rules, and the fee, unless you qualify for a fee waiver.

Sources: ACT’s registration page; College Board. Checked October 11, 2026.

What you need

Retakes

• ACT: you can only receive scores from one test date per national administration; extra attempts are cancelled without refund.
• Both: many students take a test two or three times; check how your colleges treat multiple scores and superscoring.

Accommodations and fee waivers

Both College Board and ACT offer testing accommodations and fee waivers for eligible students. Apply early; ACT’s accommodations deadline matches its regular registration deadline.