-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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 knz92Y6bdsfeqpTvHV0Cdw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001179110-04-003141.txt : 20040212
<SEC-HEADER>0001179110-04-003141.hdr.sgml : 20040212
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040212151909
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001179110-04-003141
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040211
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040212

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			EXACT SCIENCES CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001124140
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SERVICES-COMMERCIAL PHYSICAL & BIOLOGICAL RESEARCH [8731]
		IRS NUMBER:				204782291
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		100 CAMPUS DRIVE
		CITY:			MARLBOROUGH
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			01752
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5086831200

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		100 CAMPUS DRIVE
		CITY:			MARLBOROUGH
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			01752

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	EXACT CORP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	20000919

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			HARDISON DON M
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001209588

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-32179
		FILM NUMBER:		04590932

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		EXACT SCIENES CORP
		STREET 2:		63 GREAT ROAD
		CITY:			MAYNARD
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			01754
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4 -
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-02-11</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001124140</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>EXACT SCIENCES CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>EXAS</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001209588</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>HARDISON DON M</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>100 CAMPUS DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>MARLBOROUGH</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>01752</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>President, CEO and Director</officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable></nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option Grant</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>7.72</value>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-02-11</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate>
                <value>2004-02-11</value>
            </deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>90000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>7.72</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2014-02-11</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>90000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>90000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Stock option grant pursuant to Issuer's 2000 Stock Option and Incentive Plan which complies with Rule 16b-3</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Exercisable over a four year period beginning on February 11, 2005 with 25% exercisable after one year and in equal installments thereafter.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">The fair market value of the Issuer's common stock on the date of grant.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks>*** Stephen A. Read, Attorney-in-fact, pursuant to a Power of Attorney on file with the Commission, which Power of Attorney is incorporated herin by reference.</remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>***</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-02-12</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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