Where to look for your ACT login information

Your ACT username and password are usually in the confirmation email ACT sent you when you registered for a test or created your account. Check the inbox and spam folder for any message from ACT (noreply@act.org or act@act.org). If you registered through your school, the email may have come from your school's testing coordinator instead.

If you cannot find that email, the ACT website itself has a tool to recover both pieces of information. Go to act.org, click "Sign In" in the top right, then select "Forgot Username?" or "Forgot Password?" depending on which one you need. You will be asked to enter the email address associated with your account, and ACT will send you a recovery link.

Your school's testing coordinator may also have a record of your username if you registered through them. Call or email your school's testing office and ask them to look it up in their system.

Key Takeaways

  • Your original registration email from ACT contains both your username and password, so check your inbox and spam folder first.
  • The ACT website has a "Forgot Username?" and "Forgot Password?" tool that sends recovery information to your registered email address.
  • Your school's testing coordinator can look up your username in their records if you registered through your school.
  • Your username is usually your email address or a variation of your name, while your password is something you created during registration.
  • If you cannot access the email address on file, contact ACT customer service at 319-337-1000 to verify your identity and update your account.

What your username typically looks like

Your ACT username is most often the email address you used when you registered. If you signed up through your school, it might be a student ID number instead, or a combination like firstname.lastname@schooldistrict.edu.

Some schools set up batch accounts for all their test-takers, in which case your username might be something your coordinator assigned rather than something you chose yourself. If you are unsure, ask your testing coordinator what format your school uses.

Resetting your password if you do not remember it

Go to act.org and click "Sign In." Select "Forgot Password?" and enter the email address on your account. ACT will send you a link to create a new password. The link usually works for 24 hours, so act quickly if you receive it.

When you create your new password, make it something you can remember but not something obvious like your birthdate or the word "password." ACT requires at least 8 characters, including uppercase and lowercase letters, a number, and a special character (like ! or @).

If you registered through your school

Schools often create ACT accounts in bulk for their students, which means your login information may have been generated for you rather than chosen by you. Your testing coordinator should have given you a temporary username and password when you registered, either in person, by email, or printed on a sheet.

Check any papers your school gave you during test registration, or ask your coordinator to resend the login information. Some schools use a separate portal (like Naviance or your school's student information system) to manage ACT logins, so your coordinator may need to reset your password through that system instead of through ACT directly.

Contacting ACT if you still cannot find your information

If you have tried the recovery email and checked with your school and still cannot access your account, call ACT customer service at 319-337-1000. They are open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Central Time. Have your full name, date of birth, and the email address you think is on file ready when you call.

ACT may ask you to verify your identity by providing your Social Security number or the last four digits of it. Once they confirm who you are, they can reset your password or send you your username. If your email address on file is no longer active, they can update it to a current email and send recovery information there instead.

Keeping your login information safe

Once you have your username and password, write them down or save them in a password manager (like Bitwarden, 1Password, or the password manager built into your browser). Do not share your login with anyone else, and do not use the same password for your ACT account that you use for email or banking.

If you think someone else has accessed your account, change your password when ready by going to act.org, signing in, and looking for "Account Settings" or "Change Password" in your profile menu. If you cannot sign in because the password has been changed, use the "Forgot Password?" tool to reset it again.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is my username the same as my ACT ID number?

No. Your ACT ID is a number ACT assigns to you for test scoring and reporting. Your username is what you use to log into the website — usually your email address. You will see your ACT ID on your test registration confirmation and score report.

Can I change my username?

Most of the time, no. If your username is your email address and you want to use a different email, you can update your account email address through your profile settings, but the login username itself cannot be changed. Contact ACT customer service if you need to discuss other options.

What if I registered years ago and do not remember which email I used?

Try the "Forgot Username?" tool with every email address you have used. If none of them work, call ACT at 319-337-1000 with your name and date of birth, and they can search their records for the email on file. You may need to verify your identity with additional information.

Do I need my username and password to see my test scores?

Yes. You must log into your ACT account at act.org to view your scores online. Some schools also post scores through their own portals, so check with your testing coordinator to see if that option is available.

What should I do if I think my account has been hacked?

Change your password when ready using the "Forgot Password?" tool. If you cannot access your account, call ACT customer service at 319-337-1000 to report the issue. They can lock your account and help you regain access.