Area students who plan to take the ACT assessment in October need to register by Sept. 17, either online or by getting registration materials from a high school counselor.

The American College Test is a 31/2 -hour college admission examination that consists of tests in English, math, reading and science. Beginning in February of 2005, it will include an optional 30-minute writing test. ACT results are accepted by virtually all U.S. colleges and universities.

There are three test sites in Umatilla and Morrow counties for high school students interested in taking the ACT:

Heppner High School, Oct. 23 and April 9;

Hermiston High School, April 9;

Blue Mountain Community College in Pendleton, Oct. 23, Dec. 11 and April 9.

Registration deadlines vary depending on the test date. Those planning to take the test in October must register by Sept. 17.

Students can register online at www.act.org or by getting materials from their high school counselors.

The basic registration fee is $28, which includes results reports for the student, the high school and up to four college choices. A fifth and sixth college choice can be added for $7 each.

The new optional writing test, which will only be available to those students who take the test next April, has a $14 fee.

If students would like to receive their test scores online earlier than they would receive them in the mail, they can pay an extra $8.

The ACT launched a new Web site Monday for students taking the exam that features information that changes according to the needs the student has during the year. Services at www.actstudent.org include online registration, early scores and score reporting, testing information, free test prep questions, college search and online applications, financial need estimator, as well as student stories about college planning.