11 Tips for Taking the ACT Test

11 Tips for Taking the ACT Test

Posted on Tuesday, September 19th, 2017 at 9:00 am.

In the world of college admissions tests, there are two big players: the SAT and the ACT. As you begin your junior year of high school, you will want to start thinking about which one you are going to take. Some students choose to take both tests, but this can be a risky strategy if you don’t have time to prepare for both tests. The good news is that you have plenty of time to prepare before you have to decide which test to take in spring of your junior year. Here are some tips for taking the ACT test.

1) Know the Test—There are four sections on the ACT: English, math, reading, and science, with an optional writing/essay section. You will have 2 hours and 55 minutes to complete the ACT without writing and 3 hours and 35 minutes with writing. Make sure that if you choose to take the writing section that you give yourself enough time to write a strong essay in your allotted 40 minutes.

2) Know when it is offered—The ACT is offered six times per year in September, October, December, February (except in New York), April (except in New

1. Take the ACT to see how you do.

2. Take a practice test before you take the ACT. You can use the free official ACT practice tests and we also have a list of some of our favorite online practice test resources.

3. Practice taking the test without any distractions at home or school. Some students like to take a few practice tests on their own in order to better understand their strengths and weaknesses so they can make an initial study plan that targets what they need to work on most.

4. Leave yourself plenty of time to study and prepare for the test. It may be helpful to use an online calendar, such as Google Calendar, to create a schedule with key dates and deadlines, including when you will take your practice tests and when you will reserve your seat at an upcoming ACT testing center.

5. Choose a quiet location where you can concentrate and be comfortable while taking the practice exams at home or school before the real thing.

6. Don’t try to cram for the ACT—studying for it over time is much more effective than trying to memorize everything right before the test date! Make sure you work on all sections of the ACT—English, Math,

While there is no way to guarantee a good score on the ACT, there are many things you can do to prepare yourself, both in and out of the classroom. Here are 11 tips that will help you get the most out of your ACT experience:

1. If you can, take the test more than once and choose your best score.

2. Take the test early enough so that you have time to retake it if you want.

3. Aim for a composite score of 22 or higher, taking into consideration your college choices and scholarship criteria.

4. Do not skip any questions—you do not lose points for incorrect answers.

5. Watch your timing—pace yourself so that you have time to answer all of the questions in each section.

6. Read carefully: Read all of the answer choices before selecting one, even if you think you have found the correct answer quickly because something may sound familiar or look like something else you’ve seen before or even because it is close to what you thought was correct but is not exactly right.

7. Be careful on questions with negatives: Double-check that you understand what a question is asking when it uses words like “except,” “not,” or “least

1. The ACT is a standardized test, like the SAT. This means that all of the questions are written to a strict formula and that it’s “fair” to everyone who takes the test.

2. If you’re taking the ACT for the first time, you should use the results as practice, not as an end-all, be-all summation of your abilities.

3. Don’t worry too much about what your friends score on the ACT, as each student will have his/her own strengths and weaknesses when it comes to standardized tests.

4. The ACT is not easy!

5. Don’t study for just one week before your test date! It takes months of cumulative review to do well on this test.

6. Students who have taken ACT prep courses in the past tend to score higher on average than students who haven’t taken any prep courses at all.

7. Use official materials from the ACT and study at least 2 hours every day in order to achieve a high score on this test!

8. The best way to prepare for the ACT is with a tutor who has experience teaching and tutoring for this type of exam.

9. If possible, take a practice exam before you actually take the real one so

The ACT is a test that measures your skills in English, Mathematics, Reading, Science and Writing. It is a standardized test used for college admissions in the United States. The ACT is the most popular college admissions test in the United States. It is accepted by all four-year colleges and universities in the United States as well as more than 225 universities outside of the U.S. The ACT has up to five components: English, Mathematics, Reading, Science and an optional Writing Test. The ACT Plus Writing includes the four subject area tests plus a 30-minute writing test. Students taking the ACT Plus Writing should allow additional time for the writing component of the exam (about three hours total).

1. Don’t cram the night before.

2. Get a good night’s sleep.

3. Eat breakfast.

4. Take some deep breaths and relax before you start the test.

5. Read directions carefully. If you aren’t sure what to do, ask the proctor for help as soon as possible (and before starting the section).

6. Pace yourself-don’t spend too much time on any one question or section.

7. If you get stuck on a problem, don’t waste time trying to figure it out-skip it and move on to other questions or sections you can answer more easily (you can always come back later if you have time).

8. Answer every question even if you have to guess (there is no penalty for guessing).

9. Check answers after finishing each section, especially if you are running out of time, so that you are sure your answers are recorded correctly on the answer sheet and in the test book (if they aren’t, raise your hand immediately).

10. Use all available time-it’s better to give an answer than none at all (and remember tip number 8!).

11. Don’t let yourself be distracted by other students during the test; focus on doing your own