When it comes to planning for the ACT, there are a few critical things that students need to consider. This isn’t like a typical test that students memorize some information for and then work through the next day. Rather, the ACT tests concepts that are much broader and take longer to master. In addition to this, students have to work at a quick pace if they hope to finish the entire test within the time constraints provided. That’s why we’ve laid out a 3-part ACT test prep plan that has proven to help students reach their full potential on ACT test day.

Your ACT Test Road Map to Success!

Step 1: Master the Content

So many students make this HUGE mistake when they start prepping for the ACT: they try to master the content AND the time constraint at the same time. BAD IDEA. Think about it. This is pretty complicated material, and if it’s new or hard for you, why are you going to force yourself to both LEARN IT and DO IT FAST right away? That’s a recipe for a super stressed out test prepper. Instead, work on the content AT YOUR OWN PACE first.

Start by doing a practice section for each of the four ACT sections - English, math, reading, and science. From there, correct your tests and look for PATTERNS of types of questions that you’re missing. This step is crucial! If you don’t pinpoint the concepts that are holding you back, how are you supposed to improve on them? Once you know what you’re bad at, practice these concepts frequently until you have a better understanding and are able to answer the questions correctly on the practice tests.

Test Prep Tip #1: Keep your goal score in mind as you go through the entire test prep process. If your goal is a 25, you don’t need to get scoring a perfect 36 on the practice tests. Make your practice and your goal reflect each other.

Step 2: MASTER THE TIME CONSTRAINT

Once you are able to complete practice sections and reach your goal score (or close to it) at your own pace, now you’re ready to start working on time management. This is the hardest part of the test for so many students. After all, you certainly aren’t used to being examined on how quickly you understand and work through information at school, so this is a pretty new task that can be infuriating for some.

Start by trying to work through individual practice sections for each part of the test but this time add on the official timer. There might be sections where the time constraint isn’t a problem for you - that’s awesome! However, there might be other sections where you really struggle to work fast enough. That’s where strategies come in.

Test Prep Tip #2: The strategy that helps your friend work within the time constraint might not work well for you. We are all unique with how we test and learn. You need to TEST strategies to determine what is going to work well for YOU.

When it comes to determining the best strategies for you, the best thing you can do is TRIAL AND ERROR. There are many different ways that you can approach the different sections of the test, but what works well for you might take some practice to find. Start by testing some strategies. If you really hate a certain method and your score ends up terrible, then that isn’t the strategy for you. I promise you will KNOW when you land on a strategy that works well to help you reach your goal score.

Test Prep Tip #3: Don’t forget about your GOAL SCORE. Depending on what your goal is, you might NOT need to attempt every single question in each section of the test.

Looking for strategy help? Here are some resources that might help you find your best strategy plans:

ACT English Strategies Overview
ACT Math Strategies Overview
ACT Reading Strategies Overview
ACT Science Strategies Overview

Step 3: Practice, Practice, Practice

Finally, there is one last step that needs some attention if you want to reach your full potential on the ACT. You need to PRACTICE. How much you practice is up to you, but there is a lot of evidence to suggest that the more you study the better test day will go. For most students, the more exposure they get to a certain part of the test, the easier it becomes, and this continues no matter how much you practice the test. Again, keep your goal score in mind. Once you reach the point where you’re meeting your goal score consistently across all ACT sections during your practice, you’re probably ready for test day.

Test Prep Tip #4: Keep your TIMELINE in mind. When will you take the test? How much time do you have to prepare? If you only have a couple of weeks until test day, you’ll need to devote A LOT of time between now and then to practicing and studying. If you have a few months to prepare, you can move at a slower pace, but still make sure to devote consistent, quality time to your studies. ACT progress does not happen overnight - you need to dedicate the right amount of time.

Many students search for a quick-fix, one-size-fits-all solution to mastering the ACT. Unfortunately, there really is no such thing. Sure, there are tips and tricks that you can use to help you avoid certain errors or boost your score by a point or two, but tips and tricks will really only get you so far. Your best bet is to actually master the content and the timing of the test, and this generally takes a good amount of time and dedication.

How important is it to you to get into your #1 or #2 college? Will a higher ACT score help you get there? Will it also save you a bunch of money on tuition? It totally might!

If you’re looking for someone to help you reach your best possible ACT test score, look no further. Here at The Prepared Student we have mastered the art of helping students improve their understanding and knowledge surrounding all areas of the ACT. Furthermore, we’ll work with you to find the best strategies and methods for your testing and learning style. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you’re interested in learning more about one-on-one tutoring with the ACT experts: Fill Out the New Student Inquiry Form Here

Good luck, and happy studying!

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