Without taking the optional 40-minute writing test, the ACT is still 2 hours and 55 minutes long. It is a daunting task to try and cram all the knowledge you need for the test into your brain in just 30 days. That’s why you need to get organized. Take the time to plan out exactly how and when to study for the ACT.

The 1 Month ACT Study Plan How-to Guide

Find out what materials you need to help you study for the ACT, what study methods you should use, and what you need to do each day to keep yourself on track to getting the score you want. In all cases, this will require developing a very detailed plan.

Can You Prepare for the ACT in 1 Month?

Yes, it is possible to prepare for the ACT in 1 month, but it requires planning, dedication, and persistence. It also depends on your baseline and how many more points you need to get to your target score.

The more points you need to add to your baseline to get to your target score, the more time you’ll have to put into studying.

Baseline Score

The first thing you should do is take an ACT practice test to see where you’re at. This will help you plan your study guide by giving you a baseline and an idea of how many points you have to go to get to your target score.

Take the official ACT practice test as if it were the real thing. Find a quiet place to work, set a timer, and do not take breaks longer than what you would be allowed during the ACT. This practice testing format gives you an accurate reading of your current abilities and where you need to go.

Once you finish, you’ll need to figure out your score from the raw data to a scaled number. That’s your baseline, and from there, you can set a target score that will determine how much more studying you have to do.

Target Score

This is the score that you want to get on your ACT. While a perfect ACT score is 36, the average is 21. A good score for the ACT is 21 and above, so aim for something reasonable but attainable.

You’ll also want to look at the college you wish to apply for and see if they have a set ACT score to gain admission. A good rule of thumb is to get into the top 75th percentile of the most demanding school you want to apply for. This way, you’ll be sure to gain entry into all the schools you apply to.

How Much Studying You’ll Need to Do

How many points you need to gain will determine how many hours you need to put into preparing for the ACT. Here’s an average of how many hours it will take to get to your target score.

• 0-1 point boost: 10 hours
• 1-2 point boost: 20 hours
• 2-4 point boost: 40 hours
• 4-6 point boost: 80 hours
• 6-9 point boost: 150+ hours

These are approximations since everyone studies at a different pace, but it’s a good general reference to go by. Since you only have a month to study, it could mean a lot of cramming if you need a big point boost. Make sure you don’t burn yourself out and do poorly when test day comes around.

Be realistic with your goals and do the best you can with the time available. For example, if you desire to boost your points highly, study for a longer period of time before completing another practice test. This will prevent you from wasting precious study time on a lengthy practice test.

What Materials are Needed

If you don’t have an ACT prep book, you’ll want the official prep guides to help you out. Additionally, consider the various websites that can help you with prepping for your ACT. You can even take a self-paced course to help you through the fundamentals of the ACT. We recommend the Best ACT Prep Courses here. An ACT Prep app is also available to help you ace your test.

The following materials have proven very useful to a number of test-takers:

• The Official ACT English Guide
• The Official ACT Mathematics Guide
• The Official ACT Reading Guide
• The Official ACT Science Guide
• ACT flashcards
• The Official ACT Prep Guide
• A timer for taking practice tests
• A calendar or online app to get you organized

Gather what works best for you and use it to your advantage!

How to Study for the ACT in a Month

Not only do you need to have a plan in place on when you’ll study for your ACT, but you also need a plan for how you’re going to study. It does no good reading the guides and not doing practical exercises or tracking your progress.

Use Practice Tests to Track Your Progress

At the beginning of each week, go ahead and take a practice test to see how you’re improving. Not only will it show if your study plan is effective, but it will also prepare you to take the actual test.

Like finding your baseline, you need to make it as close to the actual ACT as possible. Taking the practice test as if it’s the real thing spurs your brain into the correct frame of mind. It puts your brain and body under the same type of stress and pressure that you’ll get on the official test day.

Review Basic Topics in English, Math, and Science

The test focuses on three subjects: English, Math, and Science. The subtopics of these subjects make up different percentages of the entire examination. Familiarizing yourself with these will help your overall performance and pinpoint any topics you aren’t strong on so you can focus on them.

English has four subtopics that cover everything from run-on sentences to idioms to wordiness.

• Rhetorical skills: 40-55%
• Sentence structure: 20-25%
• Punctuation: 10-15%
• Grammar and usage: 10-15%

Math has six subtopics which mainly cover algebra and geometry.

• Pre-algebra: 20-25%
• Plan geometry: 20-25%
• Coordinate geometry: 15-20%
• Elementary algebra: 15-20%
• Intermediate algebra: 15-20%
• Trigonometry: 5-10%

There isn’t much you need to know for science other than how to read a chart or graph. However, the ACT for science typically has four questions where you can’t deduce the answer from the question itself. The best way to know the answer to these is to brush up on basic biology, chemistry, physics, and science-based math skills.

Focus on Weaker Subjects

This test is one occasion where you don’t want to play to your strengths. Figure out which subject is your weakest and get the basics down. Take more time to study this subject without distractions, and you will find your points in that category increasing faster than you could imagine.

Focusing on your weaknesses will boost your overall score as it is likely the area where you are losing the most points. By studying your weakest subject first, you can look at it with fresh eyes and an alert mind.

1 Month ACT Study Plan Week by Week

The best way to organize your calendar is to take a practice test at the beginning of each week and score it to know how much you improve from the previous week. Then split your subjects into different days so you can focus on one exclusively.

Our brains don’t do well at multitasking, so focusing on one subject at a time is the best way to store the knowledge you’re learning in your long-term memory banks.

Week 1

Your first week is all about getting your baseline and seeing where you need to improve. Then go through your calendar and pick days where you can devote several hours of your time to a single ACT subject. Keep those days consistent throughout the week, so it becomes a habit to sit down and study rather than procrastinate or forget.

When you review your test, take the time to go through it and see what you got right and what you didn’t. This will help cement correct answers into your mind as well as showing you opportunities for improvement.

The review of your test should take at least as long as actually taking it, if not more. Don’t be afraid to split taking the test and reviewing into different days.

You should make a detailed list of topics to study so you know what to focus on during your prep times in each subject.

• Take a baseline practice test
• Review your test thoroughly
• Study and prep for each section of the examination, reviewing foundational information first

Week 2

You should start this week with another full-length practice test, going over your answers once more. Is there anything from your list of things to study you can cross off? Did your score get better? Celebrate the little wins, and don’t get discouraged if nothing seems to be improving. Seeing improvements can take time, after all.

If you’re having trouble answering all the questions, you should also practice test-taking strategies this week so you can nail all of them in one sitting. Remember to take the test like it’s the real thing to get used to the time constraints.

• Take a full-length practice test
• Review the test
• Celebrate the little wins
• Buckle down and keep studying the fundamentals of each subject

Week 3

You’re halfway there. You should start getting out of the foundational review and deep-diving into more problematic areas such as functions or idioms.

Start this week the same as all the rest with a full-length practice test and review. Remember that it’s okay to let your brain rest between test-taking and review. Looking at it with fresh eyes and a fresh mind is preferable.

Continue celebrating the small wins as you become more comfortable taking this test and learning the knowledge you need to ace it.

• Take another full-length practice test
• Go through a review
• Celebrate crossing things off your to study list
• Deep dive into problem subjects that trip you up

Week 4

It’s the last week of studying. Take a deep breath, and continue studying as much as possible this week. Then allow your mind a couple of days to rest and recharge before your test day.

Whatever you do, do not cram the night before the test. If you still haven’t gotten Idioms yet, frantic cramming won’t help you. In fact, it will probably hurt you because you haven’t given your brain a chance to put it into long-term memory.

Start this week like you’ve done every week so far and take a practice test before reviewing it.

Since this is the last week of reviewing, focus on things you know you can pick up to get those few extra points. Study to perfect your performance on those questions you’re getting right about 75% of the time.

Don’t be afraid to throw in some foundational review and test-taking strategies as well to make sure you have everything cemented into place.

• Take a final full-length practice test
• Review what you’re getting right most of the time
• Perfect those answers for more points
• Celebrate that it’s almost over
• Take a couple of days off before the test to let your mind rest
• Walk-in on test day confident that you’ll nail it

In Summary

When it comes to planning for the ACT, there are many things to take into consideration. You need to know where you’re at, where you want to be, how to study effectively, and have plenty of studying materials and practice tests available.

If you plan on taking the ACT and don’t have time to prep several months in advance, this 1 month ACT study plan will help you succeed. Remember to organize everything, set alarms, so you don’t forget, continue to study, and relax because you got this.

The ACT is an important standardized test that measures students’ readiness for college. The ACT administrators carefully create and score each question. It has four sections – English, Mathematics, Reading, and Science – each has specific rules to follow. 

For the Mathematics and Science portions of the test, the ACT has a particular policy for calculators. Though you can use a calculator during the math part of the exam, the ACT limits the models and capabilities of the calculators you use. These limits prevent cheating. 

The ACT lays out the rules in a freely-available PDF on the ACT website. There are a few exceptions that you should acknowledge, but the exceptions are primarily for accessibility.

Here’s what you need to know about the ACT calculator policy, including its restrictions and recommendations.

Prohibited Calculators for the ACT

The ACT Calculator Policy is particular about what is and is not allowable during the exam. For the ACT Aspire test in Grades 3-5, you can’t use a calculator at all. For all other versions of the exam, they’re highly restricted and closely monitored.

According to the distributors of the ACT, there are five types of calculators that you cannot use under any circumstances during the exam:

• Calculator models capable of using a computer algebra system- These calculators offer an unfair advantage due to preset formulas.
• Any computer, including PDAs- You could use these to access the internet and gain outside resources.
• Any type of electronic writing pad- Many of these types of machines have access to the internet or a note-taking system.
• Calculators built into electronic communication devices such as cell phones- These calculators sit within the apps of a device that allows you to communicate and access cheat answers online.
• Calculators with QWERTY keyboards- Though not directly communication devices, keyboard calculators make it easy to copy down test questions to distribute after the test.

There are a few minor exceptions to these rules. For instance, calculators delivered by ACT proctors that have passed a review for security are allowed. Even if these have QWERTY keyboards, the proctors will collect them at the end of the exam.

One example of an exception to these rules is the Sharp EL 9600. You may use this calculator, despite its pen input.

If a proctor sees that you have a prohibited calculator during the test, they will ask you to leave and scrap your test. There may be further restrictions depending on whether you were using the calculator to cheat.

Specifically Banned Models

The official ACT Calculator Policy document does directly ban a few models of calculators from the top companies. 

• Texas Instruments- You cannot use any TI-Nspire CAS, TI-89, or TI-92 models.
• Hewlett Packard- You can’t use the HP Prime, HP 48GII, or any models beginning with HP 40G, HP 49G, or HP 50G.
• Casio- You cannot use the fx-CP400, ClassPad 300, Classpad 330, Algebra fx 2.0, or any models beginning with CFX-9970G.

Approved Calculators for the ACT

For the ACT, you are generally allowed to bring any type of calculator not listed in the categories above. It is the examinee’s responsibility to know whether their calculator will be okay to use during the exam and to make sure that they prepare. 

The test’s administrators suggest putting new batteries in your calculator before the exam. Test the calculator to ensure it works properly before you leave home. 

The administrators also recommend bringing either extra batteries or a backup calculator if your primary device stops working for any reason.

A few brands of calculators don’t quite go against the restrictions listed in the above section but come relatively close. Some borderline models have special regulations to be followed. 

• You should wipe any programs and documents stored on a calculator before the exam begins. 
• Do not bring a calculator with paper tape on it. 
• Calculators should make no noise.
• If there is an infrared data port on the device, cover it with thick tape (not paper tape).
• Remove all power cords before the test.

There are exceptions for calculators that function for accessibility, such as those that speak out loud or run with braille. Any accommodations must be authorized in advance by ACT officials.

In the case of a computer test, the examinee may use either a handheld calculator or a preapproved on-screen calculator program. Neither of these should be able to connect to the test directly or be internet enabled.

The Best Calculators for the ACT

Speaking generally, the calculator you use on the ACT should be one with which you are familiar and one that you are comfortable using, on top of fitting into ACT guidelines. 

The proctors recommend you use a calculator (though you are permitted to take the test without one), as it can improve your speed and prevent small mistakes. 

Here are some of the best options for calculators to use on the ACT.

TI-83 or TI-84

Texas Instruments calculators are classics for standardized testing and schooling in general. They’re compact, simply laid out, and are commonly used, making them a familiar choice. They allow for functions that you’ll see in algebra and geometry that can streamline the process, and there are hundreds of tutorials online for their use.

Casio fx-9750GII

Casio is an excellent option for those who would rather spend slightly less but still want a quality calculator. 

Though the functions of this calculator are somewhat more limited than Texas Instruments’ offerings, it still has a long battery life, charting functions, and clearly displayed graphics. It also includes intuitive formula input, which can reduce your test time significantly.

HP 39GS

Sitting squarely between Casio and Texas Instruments in price is Hewlett Packard (HP). Though more well known for their computers, HP does make a decent line of graphing calculators, and the HP 39GS is one of the best. 

HP offers split-screen functionality and switching functions that can increase your efficiency. Unfortunately, it doesn’t support many higher functions.

Conclusion

Knowing which calculators are allowed and prohibited can prevent awkward on-the-day confiscation and may even save your test. 

Be sure to check the updated policy before your testing date to ensure your calculator is within regulations and that you have everything you need to keep it running during the test.

The ACT can be stressful. Make it less so with the right calculator by your side.

How to Cram for the ACT Test

When it comes to studying for the ACT, most people need several months to do their best. But if you’ve got less than three weeks to go and you’re feeling under-prepared, there’s no reason to panic. Smart, targeted preparation can help you make the most of your remaining prep time. Keep reading to learn how to cram for the ACT test. The basic steps to cramming for the ACT test are:

1. Review Test Directions
2. Take Several Practice Exams
3. Review English Grammar
4. Practice Reading
5. Know Your Math Formulas
6. Analyze Scientific Writing
7. Prepare Your Calculator

Before the Test

Follow these tips the week or two before the ACT to maximize your study hours.

Review Test Directions

Time is critical on the ACT, so make sure you understand all test directions and how to fill in the bubbles before taking the test. While test instructions may seem like the least of your worries, familiarizing yourself with them beforehand will ensure you don’t waste valuable time on exam day. 

Take Several Practice Exams

The most effective way to cram for the ACT is by taking as many timed practice exams as you can. Practice tests get you used to the rhythm and length of the test. They also teach you how to manage your valuable time on exam day, which will help you feel less anxious. 

Another reason to take practice exams is that they reveal your weaker areas. For example, you may notice after doing a few that your English or math scores are lower than the rest of the subjects. Low scores show you where to focus your efforts.

As you work through the practice exams, go over every wrong answer and take some time to understand why you got it wrong. This process helps you to understand the logic of the exam. 

Review English Grammar

Knowing the rules of English grammar is imperative for ACT success. Go back and review things like subject-verb agreement, punctuation, verb tenses, and parts of speech. While the exam doesn’t require you to explain grammar rules, you do have to understand how to apply them in different contexts. 

Practice Reading

Mimic the exam by critically engaging with challenging material in the weeks and days leading up to the test. Read newspaper articles, difficult books, and academic texts to get more comfortable with advanced content and analyze them. Practice asking questions and making observations, which will help make you more comfortable with this process on exam day. 

Know Your Math Formulas

Whereas the SAT provides you with equations and formulas, the ACT requires test-takers to know these formulas by heart. If you can’t remember a particular formula, you won’t be able to solve the problem, so take time to write down and memorize the most crucial ones. 

Analyze Scientific Writing

The good news about the scientific portion of the test is that it’s not a science test like one you’d take in school. Knowledge of chemistry, biology, or physics isn’t required; instead, you answer the questions solely based on information in the texts provided. 

Brush up your analytical skills by reviewing science passages and identifying elements like variables (independent and dependent), the goal of the experiment, and hypotheses, if provided. 

Prepare Your Calculator

The ACT allows you to have simple programs that can solve functions, so prepare your scientific calculator for test day by downloading the ones you’ll need. Some of the most helpful formulas include the following: 

• Quadratic formula
• Distance formula
• Volume and surface area of a cone
• Midpoint formula
• Standard deviation

Not sure how to download programs for your calculator? Check out this guide to learn how. 

A word of caution: the ACT has a strict calculator policy about which programs test takers can use and which calculators are allowed, so make sure you comply before test day. 

The Day Before the Test

What you do the day before the test is less about studying and more about ensuring your body is primed to help your mind do its best. 

Prepare Your Backpack

Make a checklist of everything you’ll need for test day, and gather your things the night before. Aside from your printed ticket to the test center and your ID, make sure you have the following items: 

• A calculator
• Two to three pencils
• A pencil sharpener
• Snacks
• A jacket or sweatshirt  

Get Enough Rest

The night before the exam, it may be tempting to stay up late cramming. However, you need to be well-rested to do your best, so go to bed at a reasonable time. 

The Day of the Test

Here are some tips to maximize your performance on test day.

Fuel Properly

There’s nothing more distracting while trying to solve math problems than a growling stomach. So be sure to eat a high-energy breakfast with plenty of protein and healthy fats to sustain yourself on test day. You should also get enough food in the days leading up to the exam to keep energy levels high. 

And even if you normally drink coffee, your daily caffeine kick can make you jittery–not to mention, it’s a diuretic. Needing to go to the bathroom during the exam can be distracting and affect your performance, so you may want to forego coffee. 

Don’t Be Afraid to Guess

Unlike other exams, the ACT does not penalize test takers for guessing. If you don’t know the answer to a question, guess! Similarly, if you’re running out of time, fill in the remaining questions with the same letter. 

Take the Test Again Later

It’s possible that even by following these tips, you will still not be as prepared as you could be. The ACT is a complex test that requires you to be familiar with the material and the exam format. It typically takes months of preparation to achieve the best results, and you may have better luck retaking the test later–and following a stricter study program. 

Wrapping Up

While it’s essential to give yourself enough time to prepare, the above strategies will help you make the most of limited study time. We hope you found them helpful. Feel free to leave a comment below with any ACT-related study questions. 

When you have to form a study guide for ACT English, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. There’s a lot of content to cover, and not all of it is straightforward.

Breaking it up into smaller sections will help it become more manageable. Preparedness comes in many forms, and one of those is knowing what to expect. Understanding the format, knowing the content, and being prepared to work on your weak points will also help drive up your average. 

A study guide for ACT English needs to cover these five areas: 

• Know what to study
• Practicing test experiences
• Focusing on weak points
• Strategies for answering questions
• Good study habits

What You Need to Know

The ACT English section has two sections, Usage and Mechanics, and Rhetorical Skills. Each has three subsections broken into different lengths and percentages.

If you know what to expect on the test in terms of format and content, making a study guide for ACT English tests will be much easier and less stressful. Preparedness starts at understanding what you need to study, including what your strong and weak points are.

Usage and Mechanics

• Punctuation
• Grammar and usage
• Sentence structure

Rhetorical Skills

• Strategy 
• Organization
• Style

Not Tested

• Spelling
• Vocabulary

The Usage and Mechanics sections focus on how to craft proper sentences to make grammatical sense.

Punctuation (10-15%)

• Comma use
• Period use
• Apostrophe use
• Colon use

Take the entire sentence into account to see where the punctuation makes sense.

Grammar and Usage (15-20%)

• Subject and verb agreement
• Pronoun and antecedent agreement
• Modifiers and modified word agreement
• Idiomatic usage
• Verb formation
• Pronoun case
• Formation of superlative and comparative adjectives and adverbs

Sentence Structure (20-25%)

• Placement of modifiers
• Shifts in construction
• Relationships between and among clauses

Rhetorical Skills often need more study, as these sections require critical thinking and decision making.

Strategy (15-20%)

• Relevant passages in context
• Developing topics by adding material that supports or not allowing material that takes away

Organization (10-15%)

• Organize ideas

Choose effective sentences: 

• Opening sentences
• Transitional sentences
• Closing sentences

Style (15-20%)

• Select appropriate words for tone
• Select appropriate sentences for style
• Manage elements for sentence effectiveness
• Avoid ambiguity, redundancy, wordiness

Practice Tests

Often, practice test questions you find on the internet or in a library won’t give you the right idea of what to expect. The format, level of difficulty, and even the content itself might not be an accurate portrayal of a real ACT. 

Therefore, when you’re looking for practice questions, be sure to search for copies of older ACT exams. These exams won’t be in commission anymore, so you won’t have to worry about getting an unauthorized look. What they will do is present the correct format and difficulty level you will see on the real test.

You can find older, official exam questions through your teachers, or ACT prep resources like websites or books.

Discover Your Weak Points

Knowing where your skills are weak can help you determine what to study and how much. Once you’ve obtained a few practice materials, you can easily figure out what kinds of questions stump you.

In doing a practice test, skip the ones you aren’t sure about. Go back to these later and take note of which ones you struggle with the most. 

When you’re rounding up your problem questions, ranking them can give you a better idea of where your skill set is at. Some questions you’re unsure about might be easier than others. Some, you might think are impossible. Rank them from possible to impossible.

For “impossible” questions, ask yourself why they seem impossible. Are you completely lost in what they’re asking of you? If so, trace the question back to the category they refer to (sentence structure, organization, style, etc). Once you know the category your question comes from, you can search that topic in-depth, starting with the basics.

Reviewing the Basics

The basic ideas behind each category and subcategory are crucial because they always give you a starting point to go back to. The basics will give you a foundation upon which to build, so if you know these backwards and forwards, you can move on to more complex ideas.

Questions you Guess

If you have a list of questions where you don’t know the answer, but you think you could guess, practice more questions with similar formats or content.

If you’re frequently guessing, this could mean you know the basic theory, but after that, it gets a little fuzzy. You don’t have confidence in what you know. Review your notes like building blocks—first the basics, then everything that builds off of it.

If it’s the question wording that’s throwing you off, practice strategies for finding the correct answer. For a multiple-choice question, cross off the answers you know are wrong first. Then you’ll have a better chance of success focusing on what’s left.

If the answer involves trading possible words or phrases with others to make a different sentence, read the sentence aloud with the different words inside to see how it sounds. If it sounds weird, it’s probably not your answer. 

Emphasis on Knowing Rules

However, avoid becoming dependent on your ear. Knowing grammatical rules will do much more for you, especially if no one you know regularly employs them. If you’re not used to hearing proper grammar or sentence structure, it won’t sound correct in a test format.

Test Strategies

Part of your study guide for ACT English should involve creating test strategies. When taking your practice tests, review them in the same way you would the real thing. That way, when you do sit down at the ACT, you don’t have to get overwhelmed because you’ve practiced your process.

One of the best ways to go through an exam like this is to give it a look over first. See how many questions there are and which ones are multiple-choice, short, long, or otherwise. 

Even if you know the format ahead of time, it’s good to get a thorough look at what you’re about to do. Then there won’t be any surprises, you won’t miss any vital questions, and you can decide how to manage your time.

Once you’ve looked over the exam, decide where you want to start. For any question you don’t have an immediate answer to, skip it and come back later. That way, you can save time by getting the easy questions done first.

In tackling the harder questions, try not to dwell on them too long, or you’ll go overtime. Pick and choose the ones you think you’re capable of doing, and try to get the ones that are worth more. 

Never leave a high score question blank. Even if you’re not sure about your answer, guessing will give you a chance. If you don’t even try, you definitely won’t get it right.

Studying Tips

Knowing what you have to study is all very well, but what about how you study? Set up some guidelines and boundaries for yourself and others to follow so you can put your best effort in.

Studying Space

If you try to learn in a noisy environment, it’s not going to work very well.

Try to find a nice quiet place to concentrate. Review your notes where nothing can distract you, reread from the textbook, take some time to do practice questions. If you have a specific studying spot, don’t use it for anything else. 

For instance, if you study in your room, don’t try to play any video games there. The temptation to game instead of concentrating will become a problem, and you’ll spend most of your time struggling to ignore your console.

Studying Schedule

If you can, set up a designated time for your studying. Make a habit of spending half an hour or more looking over your material and focusing on your weaker knowledge points. Doing this at the same time every day will help your focus, so your brain knows it’s time for studying. 

Telling your family about your study time and when you need them to be quiet will also help. You can work together to find a relaxing hour for you to get your work done.

Study with Classmates

Sometimes your peers can explain tricky concepts far better than your teacher can. Not only will you have support reviewing English together, but you can also help each other by comparing previous notes or test scores. 

Conclusion

Setting up a time and place specifically for you to study will help get your brain in review mode. Using resources like your classmates can not only motivate you, it can also help you understand concepts you struggled with in class.

Knowing the format and content of your test is crucial, as is practicing on older official ACTs. You can get used to the style of questions and their difficulty level, so you won’t have any surprises on the day of the exam. Lastly, working through your more shaky understandings and making a test strategy can help you prepare for anything that comes your way.

Have any questions or other tips to share? Leave them in the comments.

The ACT (American College Testing) exam is one of the most widely accepted college entrance exams. But if you’ve never taken this test before, you may struggle to prepare for it.

To study for the ACT, you’ll want to access helpful study guides and materials, create a study plan, and time your practice sessions. You may also want to join a study group and enroll in an online ACT preparation course. The right choices for you depend on your personal preferences. 

Let’s explore how to study for the ACT so you can earn the highest possible score!

Use Free Resources

Students should first research the study resources available for free. Several reputable online resources could help you learn more about the exam and what to expect before taking the test.

For example, the official ACT website has a helpful ACT Test Day article that can help you prepare to take the exam yourself. This website also has a treasure trove of information regarding the four major test sections and their common questions.

You can also download the Preparing for the ACT Test guide from this website. However, you will need to share your name and email to access this document. Still, this guide includes a full practice test, question examples and explanations, and test-taking strategies. That’s a massive amount of study materials for absolutely no cost!

If you’re a high school student, your guidance counselor or career resource counselor may be able to provide you with additional study materials and guides, free of charge. Be sure to inquire at your school about any available ACT resources. 

Of course, online materials might not always be enough to help you prepare for the ACT. If you’d like multiple practice tests and more in-depth information concerning this exam, you may want to invest in a physical study guide.

Purchase Study Materials

You can also choose to purchase study materials to help prepare you for your upcoming exam. The Official ACT Prep Guide, for example, is over a thousand pages of information, practice tests, explanations, and scholarship guides. 

You can also purchase digital versions of ACT study guides if you’re hoping to save room on your bookshelf. However, having a physical preparation guide on hand could be beneficial, especially if you’re a tactile learner.

Besides, hard copies tend to be relatively inexpensive, especially when compared to online preparation course costs. However, keep in mind that study guides are often quickly outdated and only valid for the year listed on the cover.

Additionally, the number of full practice tests included in each one varies. You may end up having to retake the same tests multiple times, which isn’t the best way to prepare for the ACT. If possible, consider supplementing your physical study book with an online equivalent.

Take an Online Prep Course

If you’re looking to make the best possible investment in ACT study preparation, you may want to enroll in an online prep course. Fortunately, there are several options from which to choose, including slower-paced online courses.

Kaplan offers several ACT prep courses ranging from $99 to more than $600. These prices reflect interactive services, with the most costly courses including personalized online tutoring. 

The Princeton Review also offers ACT prep courses, though these classes are far more expensive than Kaplan’s courses. Still, if you’re looking for the most comprehensive online ACT preparation, you may want to invest in one of these options.

Practice Every Day

Practice might not always make perfect, but it can make better. If you’re unhappy with your practice test scores, it may be time to implement a daily study habit.

There’s an official ACT question-of-the-day that can help get you started, but you can also use a study guide or practice test. Be sure to practice one question from each of the four major sections to ensure a well-rounded study session.

It might also be a good idea to create a daily or weekly study plan. If you’re someone who responds well to schedules and organization, a study plan could be the ideal solution to your ACT studying needs.

Create a Study Plan

If you’re a high schooler preparing for college, there’s a good chance you have a packed schedule. But you must make accommodations for studying to do well in the ACT.

Even if your weeknights are full of homework and extracurricular activities, there’s always time during the weekends to get a few study sessions in. You may need to sacrifice a few hours of free time to study for this exam, but you likely won’t need to spend several months preparing for the ACT.

You should start studying for the ACT approximately two months before you plan to take it. Any more than this can be restrictive, especially if you’re already busy with other activities. Any less than this, and you will feel unprepared on test day.

To create your study plan, you’ll want to determine how much time you should study for. Eight weeks is a great place to start. You’ll then need to decide how many hours per day or week you intend to study. The tricky part is sticking to this plan and remaining consistent about your study habits.

If you are uncertain which test areas are your strongest or weakest, you might also struggle to study effectively. After all, if you’re already skilled with algebraic equations, there’s little sense in spending an extra hour each day studying them! Always focus on the areas that need the most improvement.

Find Your Strengths and Weaknesses

Are you familiar with the four test types included in the ACT? If you’re not taking the time to focus on these various sections, you might find it challenging to study for the ACT.

You may also miss out on the chance to focus on your areas of weakness. 

Finding your strengths and weaknesses can significantly impact your test-taking experience and final score. To do this, you’ll need to keep track of your practice test section scores.

If you find that your cumulative score keeps dropping due to one or two sections, change your study habits to focus on those areas. 

For example, if you score well in the STEM sections (mathematics and science) but poorly in the ELA sections (English and reading), try spending more time studying the latter. That way, you’re using your time wisely to improve your overall ACT score.

Time Your Practice Sessions

The ACT is a timed test. If you’re not careful, you can easily spend too much time on a single question, losing precious time to answer simpler ones. Timing your practice sessions is a great way to acclimate yourself to the ACT test-taking procedure.

To get started, you’ll need to access or print a full ACT practice test. You’ll then need to make a note of each section’s time limit. For example, the Reading portion is only 35 minutes long, but the Math section is a full hour. 

You can use a stopwatch or your phone to track your time while you complete the practice test. When your time for the session is up, close your test booklet and take a short break. 

Then, reset your timer to the correct number and move onto the next section. Repeat until you’ve finished your practice exam. If you’ve left several questions blank due to poor time management, you may want to embrace a new test-taking strategy.

Learning to skip complex or frustrating questions is a great way to avoid leaving several multiple-choice bubbles blank. Remember, once you have the easier questions answered, you can go back and address the more complex ones.

Join a Study Group

Joining an ACT study group can also be a very helpful idea. You don’t need to own a car or have a ton of free time to become a part of a study group or to start your own. However, it’s best to study with a group dedicated to the exam. While it might seem like a good idea to study with friends, you may, unfortunately, distract each other. 

Varsity Tutors offers a free ACT Prep Class with multiple online discussion areas, allowing you to chat with fellow students and ask questions. Of course, your school or local university might also offer free ACT study groups or classes. You’ll never know until you check!

Final Thoughts

The ACT isn’t as challenging as it initially seems, especially when you know how to prepare for it.

However, if you’re not making full use of your resources, you might struggle during the exam. Using official study guides and resources, taking multiple practice tests, and sticking to a study plan can all assist in making you more prepared for the test.

The ACT.org is well-aware of dilemmas such as these, that’s why they have launched the ACT Profile, which is a free online college and career planning tool. This tool responds to your needs when it comes to your question “What do I do?” in terms of planning for your college education and career later on.

The ACT test will open new doors for you. You may have studied for months to take this test, aiming to get a high score so that you can enroll in the college or university of your choice. After the ACT testing, you can find yourself at a crossroads, starting from where you would pursue higher education to choosing your major and applying for a scholarship.

We have Practice Test that you can use: Practice Tests for ACT Math 

How Does The ACT Profile Work?

The ACT Profile is a mobile resource that takes note of your interests, values, and abilities and matches them to your prospective majors and occupations. The most credible government and private resources are used by the ACT Profile as they provide high-quality information to guide you in your major or occupation choices.

Through the ACT profile app, students can interact with their peers and teachers.  These parties are also able to plan for activities and share resources in an effort to work together to pursue the best education and career options for the future.

Related Topic: ACT Test Introduction, Registration, Dates & Score

The Benefits Of Signing Up For An ACT Profile

In a nutshell, the ACT Profile will help you:

• Explore your options after high school.
• Discover your interests and majors that complement your interests, values, and abilities.
• Discover schools that fit your budget and educational needs.

When you sign up for an account in ACT Profile, it will be yours for life. You can upload photos and videos that highlight your strengths in your account. To make your profile more attractive and viable, you can also build a digital portfolio and feature it there. You can use another app, Pathbrite, to make your ACT Profile look more interesting. Being web-based, Pathbrite can assist you in sharing your portfolio and credentials to the colleges of your choice and your possible employers.

Other than students, parents, and counselors are also free to register and create an account in ACT Profile. To be able to do this, go to actprofile.org and sign up using a computer, a tablet or a smartphone. You then proceed with creating your profile where you are required to respond to self-assessments that will emphasize your unique values, interests, and abilities. As you enter details about yourself, you can get support by accessing interactive major and career maps.

In the ACT Profile, you will be asked to enter your responses to the app’s interest inventory feature. The career section of this tool includes 26 sections, all featured in the Career Map. As you click on a particular career area, you will be presented with a list of careers. Click on a certain career and it will bring you substantial information about the tasks and the training involved, along with the salaries, etc.

You can highlight some majors, schools, careers, and occupations as your “favorites” in your ACT Profile. You can revisit these areas of interest later. When you return, you can check if your areas of interest match your educational plan. Through the ACT Profile tool, you can explore various workable options and save your “favorites” while at the same time share them with fellow students, school admission officers, counselors, and parents, among others who also have an ACT Profile.

We have Practice Test that you can use: Practice Tests 2 for ACT Science

Valuable Features In ACT Profile For Immediate Guidance

A recent feature that has been added to ACT Profile is the “expanded counselor”. This feature is designed to help counselors use their ACT Profiles to reach out to their students. Counselors can view their students’ insights and selections so they can better help them with their college and career plans.

A host of benefits are offered by the ACT Profile to students, counselors, schools and colleges, parents, school admission officials and employers as they become proficient in using this app. With proper information, guidance and preparation, students can become more motivated to plan for their education and future.

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• ACT Practice Tests for Science
• ACT Registration and Requirements
• Practice Tests 3 for ACT Math
• Practice Tests 3 for ACT English
• 3 Things You Need To Do On Actual ACT Test Date
• How To Apply For The ACT Test
• How Hard Is The ACT Test?

The ACT Reading section can go by so fast. Time is of the essence in this test. You’ll come across 40 questions that you have to answer in 35 minutes, which means you have to answer each question in less than a minute. It can be a challenge if you have a problem with your reading speed, so you have to know some practical ACT Reading tips for slow readers.

Be aware of the necessary skills for reading the passages in the ACT Reading test and answering the questions before the clock runs out.

Check our Practice Tests 3 for ACT English 

1. Learn how to analyze.

This is the first skill that you have to know in order to cope with the Reading section of the ACT. It doesn’t have anything to do with the speed of your reading, but with pacing. Analyze the questions being asked after the passages.

One of the most effective ACT tips for slow readers is to take a look at the question, try and figure out the answer and proceed on to reading the explanation. Do the same process for every question in the test. Go over the easy and simple questions first. Most students would want to speed up with this process, but you have to analyze each of the questions until you become familiar with them.

Related Topic: ACT Test Introduction, Registration, Dates & Score

2. Get to know the skill of timing.

This is when you become focused on being time-oriented. You’ll be required to read four passages in the Reading section of the ACT test and you need to answer 40 questions in 35 minutes. That gives you less than a minute to respond to every question.

What you should do in this case is to give yourself 8 minutes to read and answer the questions for each of the passages. Make it 4 and 4 to be sure. This means that you need to read a passage for 4 minutes and spend the other 4 minutes answering the questions. You should have consumed 32 minutes by then, which gives you an extra few minutes to go back and work on the questions that you found difficult.

We have Free Practice Tests 3 for ACT Math

3. Speed read and skim, don’t over-read the passages.

Your skill for speed reading is called for in this step. Four minutes of your time needs to be allocated for skimming. Fast reading is required here because other than familiarizing yourself with the concepts in the passage, you have to answer each question as well.

A lot of reading is necessary because you should be looking at the question and then go back to the passage where you can find the answer. But since the first tip (analyze) has already taught you to become familiar with the questions, you can quickly go over them and speedily look for the answers in the passage.

Focus your time on reading the first paragraph because it tends to contain a lot of information. Then go down to the conclusion or the bottom paragraph. It is just as crucial. After doing these, move back to reading the body paragraphs. You’re actually skimming when you’re doing this. Note that you’ll be able to derive much useful information if you concentrate on reading the first sentence and the last sentence of each paragraph.

Related Topic: ACT Practice Test

4. Do away with the boredom by making your reading fun.

Boredom can make you easily forget what you have just read. That’s why you should find a way to make your reading fun and interesting. It’ll be easy to comprehend if you do so. Make a mental game out of the reading task that you’re doing.

You can, for instance, pretend that you’re a seven-year-old kid playing with your friends, and you’re digging for treasure in your yard. And that your pirate’s chest that’s full of gold is the bunch of information that you need to fill in the right bubbles in your answer sheet. Working up your imagination can make reading fun.
These ACT Reading tips for slow readers are only as good as you expect them to be if you have already practiced your skills by doing ACT Reading practice tests. Take advantage of these materials and include them in your study plan so that you can get rid of test anxiety and tackle the ACT Reading section like a pro!

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• Registration and Requirements
• Free Practice Tests for ACT Science
• Free Practice Tests for ACT Math
• Free ACT English Practice Tests 
• ACT Test Day Requirements To Bring With You On The Exam Day
• How ACT Reviewers And Guides Help You Boost Your ACT Score
• Why You Need Help In Preparing For Your ACT Test

If you need to take the ACT for college or university admissions, you want a great score that puts you in the top percentile. Not happy with your ACT score? Find out how to improve your ACT score by 10 points with these tips, tools, and tricks.

The ACT (American College Testing) is an aptitude test used by many institutes of higher education as a benchmark in measuring students’ abilities for admissions. Do you need to take the ACT to get into college or university? Then you undoubtedly want to get the best score possible.

Have you already taken the ACT or an ACT practice test and aren’t happy with your score? Don’t stress. It’s possible to improve. It simply takes some time, effort, and preparation. This guide explains how to improve your ACT score by 10 points.

10 Tips for How to Improve Your ACT Score by 10 Points

The ACT covers four primary subject areas, math, reading, English, and science. Each area is given a scaled score from 1 to 36 (36 being the best). These area-specific scores add up to get an average composite score, ranging from 1 to 36.

Students’ scores are ranked according to percentiles, comparing them to the competition. Since the test-takers and their scores change every year, the percentiles change too. For example, in 2016, if you scored a 36 total, this put you in the 99th percentile, meaning you scored better than 99% of test-takers. However, achieving a 36 total in 2020 puts you in the 100th percentile.

The better you score, the better your percentile—and the more impressive your ACT results will be to college and university admissions officers. Read on to find out how to boost your score by as much as ten points.

1. Start Studying Early

Don’t save ACT studying for the last minute. You want to leave plenty of time to master this test’s format, content, and unique style. It isn’t like the usual exams you might take in school. On top of that, the ACT is a high-pressure situation with high stakes.

Many people find that the stress associated with the test—since it can influence college admissions decisions—adds to the difficulty. In short, you want to be as prepared as possible so that this added anxiety doesn’t get to you. As soon as you know your next test date, start studying.

2. Use Your Old Score Report for Guidance

If you aren’t happy with your last ACT result, you might want to throw it in the garbage. Stop! Your score report contains valuable information that can help you do better on your next test. Make sure you understand how to read your score report and hang on to it.

Check out the detailed results section of your score report and identify the lowest-scoring section (out of the four: math, reading, English, and science). This lets you know where you should focus your energy in the future.

For example, let’s say the science section of the test was your lowest scoring area, while math was your second-lowest scoring area. If you bring up each of those subsection scores by five points, you’ll be able to achieve the ten-point improvement you’re striving for. Focus your energy accordingly.

3. Create a Study Plan

In general, it’s best to leave yourself at least six weeks of space between ACTs. Rushing to retake the test is unlikely to give you the plus-ten-points result you are hoping for. Less than six weeks isn’t enough time to achieve a significant change.

Once you have your next ACT date booked, map out a study plan. Depending on how well you score in each subsection, accommodate a suitable amount of time to study and improve.

For example, if you want to focus on math and science and have seven weeks to prepare, you might concentrate three weeks on math and three weeks on science—and give yourself one extra week to do practice tests. This ensures you aren’t left rushed right before the test.

4. Focus on Improving Your Time Management

The ACT is a timed test. It should thus come as no surprise that one of the most challenging elements is simply finishing each section on time. Part of your ACT prep should therefore include time management. It is, thankfully, relatively straightforward to improve your times.

Keep a stopwatch by your side whenever you complete a practice test (or use your phone as a timer). You can check your time regularly to see how well you’re doing in terms of keeping up.

Further, you can start practicing skills that will help you improve your time management on the actual test day. For example, it’s often best to skip tough questions that will take up loads of time. You can always come back to them later. Being able to identify time-wasters is critical.

5. Memorize Essential Rules and Formulas

Part of improving your time management means simply learning how to do things more quickly. There are a few steps you can take to improve your time. For the math and science sections, it’s often helpful to memorize specific basic formulas, for example.

This way, you don’t have to waste time recalling a formula and instead jump directly into problem-solving. Useful math formulas to remember for the ACT include the area of triangles, the slope-intercept formula, the quadratic formula, and trigonometry functions.

6. Improve Your Reading Speed

Even if your reading score was acceptable, improving your reading speed can also be a critical component to tremendous ACT success. Why? The test itself is a written format, and you have to read every question and comprehend it fully to provide an accurate answer.

Slow reading can leave you behind time-wise in any section, be it math or science. There are many ways you can improve your reading, such as learning how to scan a text. This YouTube video provides some great tips on improving your reading speed.

7. Invest in ACT Test Prep Materials

If you’re wondering how to improve your ACT score by 10 points, you’re probably willing to invest some money into the problem. ACT materials are one worthy investment. You can get books, practice tests, and guided tutorials to help you improve.

Many of these materials are readily available on Amazon. Since the ACT evolves annually, make sure to get a recent study guide that corresponds to the year you plan to take the test. You don’t want to work with outdated materials that are no longer relevant.

If you aren’t making the progress you want with ACT prep materials alone, you might also consider getting a tutor. A professional can structure your ACT study plan and guide you through lessons. They can also provide valuable moral support.

8. Practice, Practice, Practice

Don’t just take one practice test before your next ACT. Take as many as you can! Practice tests allow you to hone your new skills and get more comfortable with the general test format. You can also learn new strategies, like figuring out when to skip a question.

After every test, review your total score and your section subscores. Take the time to look at questions that confused you to pinpoint what the issue was. For example, was there a formula you could have known that would have helped? Learning it now may help you in the future.

9. Find Ways to Tackle Your Nerves

After all that preparation, you don’t want to end up doing poorly on your ACT because nerves got to you. This is a high-pressure situation, so it’s understandable to be anxious. However, it’s up to you to figure out how to manage that anxiety to not interfere with your test.

There are many ways to help minimize test anxiety, from self-encouragement to showing up to the testing site early. You can also try on-the-spot exercises to soothe yourself, such as deep breathing or meditation. Take a moment to calm your mind before you start.

10. Follow a Strict Game Plan Before Your Next Test

The night before your ACT, try to relax. Eat a healthy dinner, clear your schedule, and set yourself an early bedtime. You want to be well-rested and alert on test day. If you have trouble falling asleep due to nerves, try taking a warm bath or listening to some relaxing music.

Set out all the supplies you’ll need for the ACT the night before, such as pencils or calculators. You can also save time by setting out the clothes you’re going to wear on test day. This will save you stress and hassle the following day, ensuring you have no distractions.

Finally, eat a healthy breakfast before you head to the test. You may not be hungry if you’re feeling nervous, but you will need food for energy and keep you focused. When you’re trying to improve your ACT score, the last thing you want is to be distracted by a rumbling stomach.

The Final Word on How to Improve Your ACT Score

Your ACT score won’t magically improve overnight without any effort from your side. It’s up to you to identify problem areas and make changes accordingly. With the right study plan and adequate preparation, you can improve your score.

First of all, you may ask, “What’s a good ACT score?”

The best way to answer that question is by understanding why graduating high school students take this standardized test in the first place, to get admitted to their chosen colleges or universities.

While passing the ACT is already an achievement in itself, it may not be enough to get a student to the college of their choice. Even a good score like 29, which is above the national average is not enough if you want to get into an ivy league school.

If you want to enter Princeton, for example, you would need to aim for a score of 32 to increase your chances of ensuring your slot. That’s because more than 75% of test passers scored above 32 based on the data of U.S. News & World Report: National Universities Ranking.

Check our Practice Tests for ACT English

• • Composite Score
  • 21 Tips to Get the Best ACT Score Possible
  • The Night Before The Test Preparations:
  • The Day Of The Test:
  • During The Test:
  • Additional Study Tips:

How ACT Scores Are Calculated

While ACT scoring not complicated, it is not straightforward either. In ACT, your raw score is converted into a scaled score for each section. The score scale ranges from 1 to 36. Then your scaled scores for each section are averaged to get your composite ACT score, which ranges from 1 to 36. This may sound confusing for now so it will be explained further below.

Your raw score is the number of questions you answer correctly for each section. This is the most straightforward way to score -no further calculations, no waste of time, just count the correct answers and it’s done. However, using raw scores for ACT brings a little problem. The problem is that ACT test questions are different for each test date. Some test dates may have harder or easier questions. To ensure that scores are within the same standards they scale the scores.

Your raw scores for each section are translated to scale scores. For example, if you correctly answer 9 to 10 questions in the English section, you get a scale score of 5.

Take note however that the raw to scaled score translation may differ for each ACT test date. That is because that adjust the scale based on the difficulty of the ACT test on a certain date.

Related Topic: ACT Test Introduction, Registration, Dates & Score

Once the scaled scores for each section are calculated, they are averaged to get your composite score, which is also the final score. Needless to say, you have to answer everything right to get the composite score of 36 except in match, which allows for one mistake.

Start reviewing with our helpful contents: Practice Tests for ACT Math

While an ACT composite score of 36 may be difficult to achieve, it is definitely the best goal to aim. Here are some easy but effective tips to help you get that elusive score of 36 on your ACT test:

1. Balance studying and leisure activities.

It is easy to think that studying only without giving yourself some downtime is a good way to learn. But that is wrong. You would easily lose your motivation that way. Have some fun too.

2. Don’t let your brain experience a burnout.

Studying too much without giving your brain a rest would result in burnout and when that happens it will be hard to learn anything. Take breaks when studying to give your brain some time to process what you’ve learned.

3. Improve your sleeping habits.

When you study, your brain stores what you read in the short-term memory. Information only gets transferred to the long-term memory when you sleep. So get enough sleep.

4. Take practice tests often.

ACT Practice tests familiarize you with the test structure and improve your skills. It also tells you what you need to improve on.

5. Make a study schedule and stick with it.

The human brain loves familiarity, that is why it learns best when you feed it information at the same time of the day, every day.

6. Eat healthy, brain-boosting foods.

Eat foods to support brain function such as avocados, blueberries, walnuts, and dark chocolate.

7. Use an ACT study guide.

Look for an ACT study guide that gives you an overview of the test and the topics you need to study. You don’t need to study all the topics you have studied in high school, so a study guide will tell you where you should begin and end.

More review materials: ACT Practice Tests 3  for English

8. Prepare everything you need for the test the night before.

Make sure that your requirements are ready for the test.

9. Give your brain a rest.

You don’t want your brain to get tired the night before the exam because it needs all the energy it can muster for the difficult test. There is no need to review the day before the exam.

10. Sleep early.

So you can wake up early and have more time to prepare.

11. Write down your thoughts.

Feeling anxious? Let go of the anxiety by writing it down on paper. Writing them down will help release nervous feelings.

Related Topic: ACT Scores

12. Eat a good breakfast, so that you don’t run out of energy during the test.

A good breakfast should have protein for energy, water for hydration, and carbs to satisfy your hunger.

13. Double check that everything you need is in your bag.

You don’t want to reach the testing venue only to come home because you forgot something.

14. Go to the test site at least 30 minutes before the exam.

This gives you a short time to rest before the test.

15. Relax.

Forget any other problem you have and just focus on the test.

More review materials: ACT Science Practice Test

If you’re thinking of going to college, then you would probably need help in preparing to take a college admission test like the SAT or the ACT. A good ACT score can help a student get into top colleges and universities, as well as qualify for college scholarships. So, you need to kick off your ACT prep early. This article will give you prep tips to help you prepare for the ACT.

The American College Testing or ACT is a multiple-choice test given five times annually at various locations. The ACT test has an optional essay section. The test is designed to measure the student’s academic achievement in four major curriculum areas: English, Science, Math, and Reading. Materials covered on the four sections of the test correspond to the topics covered in regular high school classes. Numerous colleges and universities in the US use the student’s ACT scores as part of the admission process.

Check our ACT English Practice Tests

• Benefits Of ACT Test Preps
• Popular Test Prep Methods For High School Students
• Take practice tests
• Join an ACT prep class
• Prep Online
• Get a private tutor
• Get good ACT test prep books
• Relax and rest before test day

The ACT test doesn’t test the intelligence of the student and it doesn’t necessarily reflect the student’s high school grades. The ACT is a predictable test and students can prepare for it by taking review classes and answering practice tests.

Preparing for the college admission exam is like studying for any tests Students need to review the test format to become familiar with its content. A good study guide and ACT practice tests will help you:

• Answer questions on ACT
• Get great ACT Scores
• Compare the ACT and the SAT
• Have the best tips and strategies for the ACT test

The best tip for mastering the ACT test is to start preparing early. In fact, students are recommended to start their ACT test prep the summer between their sophomore and junior year. Many students will then go on to take the ACT test during their junior year and during the fall of their senior year.

Related Topic: ACT Test: What You Need To Know

1. Take Practice Tests

What would be your score if you take the ACT test today? To find out how you would measure up, take a practice test under conditions that imitate the real ACT testing environment. For instance, shut off your phone and use a timer while taking the practice test.

The practice test score of the students would be their baseline. Students can use their baseline score to help them create a study plan based on what they need to work on. If you think you need to focus on math drills, build up your vocabulary and tame test day jitters – the ACT practice tests also familiarize students with the different sections and directions of the real ACT test so there would be no surprises.

ACT practice tests will help you see your strengths and weaknesses so you can create a targeted action plan for enhancing your score. Students can also follow it up with other test prep books to keep practicing right up to the ACT test day.

2. Join An ACT Prep Class

If students find it hard to study on their Saturdays off, they might want to consider a class guided by an instructor who will hold them accountable. Test prep classes for the ACT test ranges from small group settings to larger classrooms coached by ACT test experts if students take a prep course via school. Find an environment that’s best for you. You can see our post to help you on studying for the ACT.

Check our ACT Practice Tests 5 for Science

3. Prep Online

Super busy students may find it hard to schedule an ACT prep class between after-school jobs and their leisure time. However, online ACT test prep lets student prepare for ACT when and where it suits them best, skip ahead or repeat lessons. Online ACT test prep is best for self-starters who prefer to study at their own pace.

4. Get A Private Tutor

If you want a completely customized approach, you can consider preparing for the ACT test with a private tutor. Private tutoring sessions guarantee you will get immediate feedback as well as personalized lessons to your learning style and needs. For instance, if students have mastered sentence completion but need to work on Geometry, their tutor will adjust their ACT prep plan accordingly. Private tutoring sessions are also the most flexible method in terms of scheduling and it is great for students with limited availability or fast-approaching deadlines. Private tutors will meet your convenient time and place.

More review materials: Practice Tests 3 for ACT Math 

5. Get Good ACT Test Prep Books

ACT test prep books are just like study guides. These will help students know what kind of questions to expect in the actual ACT test and will tell them which section they need the most help with – if any. The ACT test prep books also help students understand what kind of strategy or method they need to follow to score better on the real ACT test.

6. Relax And Rest Before Test Day

On the day before the real ACT test, get plenty of rest and a good night sleep. Have a healthy breakfast before heading off to the test. Make sure you bring everything you need for the ACT test, such as pencils, calculator, and your ACT admission ticket. Even if you are a fast test taker, use up given time to your advantage.

With all the preparation you have done, you are bound to get the ACT test score you’re aiming for to get into a good college or to apply for a scholarship.

If you want to know more about the ACT, see our post here on the History Of The ACT.

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Just as students prepared for what’s on the ACT test, they also will benefit from gearing up for all the logistics of taking the exam. Students must get everything they need gathered and packed away in their bag the day before their ACT test. All of their ACT prep would count for nothing if they didn’t make it to the test or have the proper pencils to answer their test papers. Test-takers will still appreciate having their backpack pre-packed as they are getting ready the morning of their ACT test.

It would be a good idea for students to print a couple copies of their ACT admission ticket, indicating they have a good ACT test prep. Test-takers must not leave this to the last minute, as printers can break or they may rely on school or their local library for printing resources.

You must eat breakfast, bring snacks and drinks, and do any exercises that help to cope with stress. Your physical health can have a huge impact on your ability to answer the test.

Test-takers must not bring their cell phone to the ACT test. Even if they are confident it’s in silent mode, they never know – it’s not worth the risk of having their ACT scores canceled. Students are not allowed to bring their cell phones in the testing room.

As part of students ACT prep, test-takers must make a checklist and double check that they have everything they need before leaving in the morning. By ensuring that you’re well-prepared, you’ll have an easy and relaxing morning as possible before your ACT test and you can focus all your attention on doing your best.

Learn more: ACT Math Test Overview, Content Type And Tips To Score High

1. Prepare What You Need To Bring.

   

ACT admission ticket.

Students are required to bring the printed ACT admission ticket. The ACT will not accept images of the admission ticket from a cell phone or other devices. To print the admission ticket, you must log into your ACT account.

Photo ID.

The full name of the test-taker should match the name he registered with, and the picture of the test-taker should clearly resemble the picture he uploaded during registration.

Acceptable forms of ID include driver’s license, passport, and current official school ID. If students don’t have any of these, they can also have a school official fill out the ACT Identification Letter Form.

Unacceptable forms of ID include Learner’s permits, credit cards, employee IDs, Social Security cards and birth certificates. Students must have an ID with their admission ticket.

Related Topic: ACT Test Introduction, Registration, Dates & Score

#2 Pencils and an Eraser.

Students are not allowed to use pens, highlighters, liquid paper, mechanical pencils, and any other writing utensils, not even for the ACT Essay section.

Calculator.

Students can use most 4-function, scientific, as well as graphing calculators, but with certain restrictions.

As long as students have their printed admission ticket, calculator, ID, #2 and pencils, they should have no problem making it through their ACT test.

You can also check our post here on What To Bring On the ACT Test Day here.

Related Topic: ACT Test Dates

2. Arrive At The Test Center Earlier Than Your Test Schedule.

It’s important that test-takers arrive on time to their ACT testing center, as ACT won’t admit latecomers to the test. It would be ideal to arrive at the ACT testing center around 7:30 a.m., or a little earlier if you are worried about logistics like a parking spot. Arriving much earlier could mean you’re not rushing to get in after test-takers have already started to enter the ACT testing center. The sweet spot would be right around 7:30 a.m.

Adding up to preparing the day before the ACT test, students should also familiarize themselves with the route before ACT test day if they are taking the test somewhere other than their usual high school. Students should consider what traffic conditions will be like to prepare for any unexpected delays. Underestimating the time it takes to get to the ACT testing center will be a highly stressful way to kick off your day.

Upon entering the ACT testing center, students must make sure they know where their belongings are supposed to be and they must double check that their cell phone is turned off. The ACT is strict in prohibiting any technology that could make a sound or could possibly record the ACT testing materials, so a mistake like this could result in a test getting canceled.

Start reviewing with our helpful contents:  ACT Scores

3. Listen To Instructions.

Test-takers must make sure to listen to all the instructions of the proctor and must follow them. The whole process of the actual ACT test is rather rigid, and test-takers need to fill out everything correctly to ensure their ACT test scores don’t get delayed. Also, just as a ringing cell phone, as well as opening and looking at the test booklet before the ACT test officially begins, could result in your ACT scores getting canceled.

The proctor will instruct test-takers when to start the test, so wait for the proctor’s green light before kicking off on your first section. Once you’ve gotten through this process, you will finally start taking the ACT test.

Taking The ACT Test

The ACT comprises of four test sections, or five sections if you choose to take the ACT Essay test. The ACT test sections are always in the same order: English, Math, Reading, Science, and the optional Writing. Once you commence the ACT test, it would look like this:

• Start with the 45-minute ACT English test.
• When instructed by the proctor, go immediately onto the 60-minute ACT Math test.
• Take a 5-minute break – have a snack or use the restroom. Return to your desk and complete the next two ACT tests.
• Tackle the 35-minute ACT Reading test.
• When instructed, move right onto the 35-minute ACT Science test.
• If you are not taking the ACT Writing test, gather your things and leave quietly. However, if you will take the Writing section, take a 5-minute break after the Reading and Science tests. After you complete the Writing section, you’ll be all finished with your ACT test!

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