I have to take the July ACT…right now the only possible 2 testing locations don’t have any available seats (even though it’s not past the late registration deadline).
Do I request standby testing at one of these locations, or do I sign up for the act at a school super far from me and then just show up to one of these schools? Thanks
Testing centers often have a maximum capacity and can fill up before the late registration deadline.
Not sure what “super far” means. An hour? 5 hrs?
I’d say sign up where you have a guaranteed seat. If you can be okay without getting a standby seat, then go standby,
If you are thinking of testing in September I would recommend registering now.
I agree with @svlab112 that you’re always (obviously) better off with a guaranteed seat. In this instance, if “super far” means driving half the night or staying in a hotel somewhere then it may not be worth the guarantee since you won’t bring your a game to the test. If you have no choice but to test in July then you have a decision to make based on your own circumstances. I know three students who have take the test standby at different locations in the past 7 years and all of them got in. I believe that it’s first come, first served - so if you do this you will want to arrive on the earlier side. If the testing site has enough testing materials, or enough people cancel - you’ll be ok. (I believe testing materials are sent to testing sites in packs of 25, so there are certainly times when there are extras.)
I tried to register our D for the Sept ACT just yesterday and it doesn’t look like that date is available for registration yet. Not sure when they open it up.
If by “sign up for the act at a school super far from me and then just show up to one of these schools?” you mean register for a school far away and then show up at one of the schools close to you, that would be a bad thing to do.
“To be considered for admission to the test center, you must bring acceptable photo identification and your printed Standby Ticket for that center and have your name on the Standby Roster at that test center.”
If you’re going to show up at a local location, sign up as stand-by there.
How far away/how much effort to get to the schools with openings? If you really “have to take” it, then sign up where there’s an opening and figure out a way to be there. That’s the only way to know you have a seat.
ACT testing for the entire year opens in July, so you can’t register for September yet. Come July, you’ll be able to register for September through late July. I suggest not waiting until the very last day of the late registration period of the last test of the year.
Actually tried to register D for the September ACT yesterday - it said not until 8/1/19. The only available option was to do standby for the July date.