What should you bring to the ACT?
Bring your printed admission ticket, an acceptable photo ID, sharpened No. 2 pencils with erasers and, if you use one, an approved calculator for the Math section. Add a silent watch, a snack and water for the break, and spare batteries. Phones must be off and put away. Plan to arrive by 8:00 a.m. unless your ticket says another time.
In more detail
Your photo ID is the one thing you cannot test without, and the printed ticket is the other thing to pack. Print your admission ticket from your MyACT account after your photo is approved. Forget it and you can still be admitted, but on the paper test missing match information can delay your scores. Your ID must be an original, valid photo ID on a hard plastic card, issued by a city, state or federal agency or by your school, and the name must match your registration. Paper copies and phone photos do not count. If your ID is unusual, check ACT's list of acceptable IDs first.
For the paper test, bring two or three sharpened No. 2 pencils with erasers. Pens, mechanical pencils and highlighters are not allowed. A calculator is allowed on the Math test only, and models with a computer algebra system, such as the TI-89, TI-92, TI-Nspire CAS, HP Prime and ClassPad, are banned. Put fresh batteries in the night before, since you cannot share a calculator.
Pack for comfort too: a silent watch that is not a smartwatch, a snack and water for the break (eat outside the testing room), and layers in case the room is cold. Leave books, notes, scratch paper and headphones at home. If you take the ACT online at a test center, check your ticket for what else to bring.
ACT test day checklist
| Bring | Leave at home |
|---|---|
| Printed admission ticket | A phone that is on, smartwatch or fitness tracker |
| Acceptable photo ID | Books, notes and scratch paper |
| Two or three sharpened No. 2 pencils with erasers | Pens, highlighters and mechanical pencils |
| Approved calculator with fresh batteries | A computer algebra calculator (TI-89, TI-Nspire CAS, HP Prime) |
| A silent watch | Headphones and earbuds |
| Snack and water for the break | Food or drink in the testing room |
Step by step
- 1
A week before: check your ticket for your test center and start time, and plan how to get there.
- 2
The night before: print the ticket, find your ID, sharpen the pencils, check your calculator model and batteries, and pack a snack and water.
- 3
Lay out clothes in layers, and go to bed on time.
- 4
On the morning: eat breakfast, leave early and plan to arrive by 8:00 a.m.
- 5
At check-in: turn your phone off and put it away as the staff direct.
- 6
At the break after Math: eat your snack outside the room, then reset for the second half.
How StudyPDF helps
The night before is for a light review, not new material. Upload your notes or the pages of your prep book you missed most, and StudyPDF builds a short quiz from them. It marks which concepts you still get wrong, so you can spend your last hour there and then stop. Pack your bag first, then study.
See also
Do it on your own course
Upload your lectures and ask Bo. Cited answers, plus flashcards, exams, and more built from your material.
More questions
What happens if I forget my ID or ticket?
Without an acceptable photo ID you will not be admitted, and you would miss that test date. A forgotten ticket is less serious: you can still test, but on the paper test missing match information can delay your scores. Put both in your bag the night before and check ACT's current list of acceptable IDs.
Can I use a calculator on the whole ACT?
No. ACT allows approved calculators on the Math test only. Put it away for the other sections.