Yale will adjust how they do things for some student’s this year, such as reading a student’s complete file without the test scores – and then passing judgement on that student when the scores are received. After all, that’s how it works for student’s who apply in the SCEA cycle and take the November SAT test. The November SAT test results don’t come out till around Thanksgiving, but Yale still accepts those November scores and admits students that way every year. They’ll just do the same with the ACT test.
So, a student should complete the Common Application and self-report the scores they already have. The ACT should be reporting scores before Thanksgiving, so in the end, all student’s applying in the SCEA cycle will be considered.