Planning on heading to college after graduation? Then you should also be planning to take a college entrance exam like the ACT or SAT.

You should take one of the tests during your junior year in high school and plan to retake it early in the fall of your senior year if you aren't happy with your scores.

Freshmen and sophomores, you have a little while longer to worry about this, but that doesn't mean you can't get a leg up. Try taking the PLAN test from ACT or the Preliminary SAT (PSAT), both of which can help prepare you for when you're ready for the real deal -- and in the case of the PSAT can qualify you for the National Merit Scholarship.

Though both the ACT and SAT are virtually universally accepted at Arkansas colleges and universities, scores from at least one are required to enroll. Plus, scores help determine if you're elibigle for scholarships, including the Arkansas Academic Challenge Scholarship, which can give you up to $4,500 per academic year and is renewable for up to four years. Pretty snazzy, huh?!

Now that you know about the importance of taking and scoring well on these tests, take a look at the ACT and SAT test dates and their registration deadlines below. Not sure which test is right for you? Check out our guide here. For full details, including late registration fees, see ACTStudent.org and SAT.CollegeBoard.org.

ACT Test Dates & Registration Deadlines

• Sept. 8, 2012 – Register by Aug. 17, 2012
• Oct. 27, 2012 – Register by Sept. 21, 2012
• Dec. 8, 2012 – Register by Nov. 2, 2012
• Feb. 9, 2013 – Register by Jan. 11, 2013
• April 13, 2013 – Register by March 8, 2013
• June 8, 2013 – Register by May 3, 2013

SAT Test Dates & Registration Deadlines

• Oct. 6, 2012 – Register by Sept. 7, 2012
• Nov. 3, 2012 – Register by Oct. 4, 2012
• Dec. 1, 2012 – Register by Nov. 1, 2012
• Jan. 26, 2013 – Register by Dec. 28, 2012
• March 9, 2013 – Register by Feb. 8, 2013
• May 4, 2013 – Register by April 5, 2013
• June 1, 2013 – Register by May 2, 2013