How to Prepare for the ACT

Written By Tarang Pande

Preparing for the ACT can feel overwhelming, but with a clear strategy and the right resources, you can tackle each section effectively. This guide offers specific, actionable advice on how to prepare and includes top sources where you can access free or paid study materials.

1. Understand the Test Structure

Before diving into preparation, familiarize yourself with the structure of the ACT:

  • English: 75 questions, 45 minutes

  • Math: 60 questions, 60 minutes

  • Reading: 40 questions, 35 minutes

  • Science: 40 questions, 35 minutes

  • Optional Writing: 40 minutes

Knowing this will help you allocate time to each section, both in preparation and on test day.

2. Take a Diagnostic Test

Start with a full-length diagnostic test to assess your strengths and weaknesses. This will give you a clear picture of which sections need the most work.

Where to find diagnostic tests:

  • ACT Official Website: Offers a free ACT practice test here.

  • Khan Academy: While focused on the SAT, many concepts overlap, and they offer diagnostic quizzes to assess math and reading.

  • PrepScholar Free Diagnostic Test: PrepScholar provides a free ACT diagnostic test with detailed results and explanations.

3. Create a Detailed Study Schedule

Once you’ve taken a diagnostic test, create a study schedule that targets your weaker areas while reinforcing your strengths.

  • How much time should you spend?

    • Aim for at least 8-12 weeks of study time. This ensures you can cover all topics without rushing.

    • Study for 45 minutes to 1 hour on weekdays and 2-3 hours on weekends.

Pro tip: Break down your study time by section and set concrete goals for each session. For example, one day might be dedicated to mastering punctuation rules in the English section, while another is focused on solving quadratic equations for Math.

4. Best Study Resources

Here are trusted resources that offer both free and paid options:

  • ACT Academy (Free): The official ACT study platform. You’ll get personalized practice based on your strengths and weaknesses from diagnostic results. It covers all sections with plenty of practice questions.

  • Khan Academy (Free): While geared towards the SAT, Khan Academy’s math and reading lessons overlap with ACT content. It’s great for building foundational skills. Visit Khan Academy.

  • The Princeton Review ACT Prep (Paid): Known for its comprehensive content review, Princeton Review offers both online courses and in-depth study guides. Their online platform provides access to numerous full-length practice tests and personalized progress tracking. Visit Princeton Review.

  • Magoosh ACT Prep (Paid): Magoosh offers affordable self-paced courses with video lessons and practice tests. They also provide detailed analytics to track your progress. .

  • ACT Black Book (Paid): This highly recommended prep book breaks down the exam strategies you need to succeed, focusing on specific techniques rather than rote learning.

5. Concrete Strategies for Each Section

  • English:

    • Focus on grammar rules, punctuation, sentence structure, and rhetorical skills. Practice identifying subject-verb agreement errors and correct punctuation.

    • Strategy: Do practice questions in chunks and immediately review mistakes to understand why you missed them.

    Resources:

    • Grammarly Blog and Purdue OWL for brushing up on grammar rules.

    • The Ultimate Guide to ACT English by Erica Meltzer (Paid) offers great strategies for mastering this section.

  • Math:

    • Focus on mastering key concepts like algebra, geometry, and trigonometry. Memorize formulas as they won’t be provided during the test.

    • Strategy: Practice with timed drills to improve both speed and accuracy.

    Resources:

    • Mathway and Khan Academy for free tutorials on specific math concepts.

    • The College Panda's ACT Math: Advanced Guide and Workbook (Paid) is a great resource for high-level practice.

  • Reading:

    • Practice reading passages from various subjects—fiction, humanities, and natural/social sciences. Time yourself when answering questions to ensure you’re staying within the time limit.

    • Strategy: Focus on extracting main ideas and understanding the author’s purpose quickly.

    Resources:

    • ReadTheory offers free reading comprehension exercises.

    • The Critical Reader by Erica Meltzer (Paid) is another good resource for boosting reading skills.

  • Science:

    • The science section is more about interpreting graphs and experiments than actual scientific knowledge. Practice reading charts, tables, and hypotheses quickly.

    • Strategy: Avoid getting bogged down by scientific jargon. Focus on the data interpretation and relationships between variables.

    Resources:

    • CrackACT offers free science practice tests.

    • The Complete Guide to ACT Science by Brian Stewart (Paid) offers focused science practice and strategies.

6. Use Timed Practice Tests

Taking full-length, timed practice tests is essential for building endurance and developing effective pacing strategies. Take at least 3-4 full-length practice tests over the course of your preparation to simulate the actual test.

Where to find practice tests:

  • Official ACT Prep Guide: This guide includes real ACT tests from previous years, which is invaluable for realistic practice.

  • PrepScholar offers detailed online ACT practice tests.

  • ACT Kaplan Test Prep includes practice questions and full-length tests with explanations.

7. Analyze Your Mistakes

Each practice test or section review should include a thorough analysis of your mistakes.

  • Create an error log: For each question you miss, write down why you got it wrong. Was it a misreading, a time issue, or a gap in content knowledge? By identifying the pattern, you can avoid making similar mistakes in the future.

Tool to track your mistakes:

  • Google Sheets or Excel can be used to track errors, note the reasons for mistakes, and mark improvements.

8. Join Study Groups or Consider Tutoring

Studying with others can help reinforce your learning. Consider joining an ACT study group or partnering with a friend who is also preparing. Alternatively, if you struggle with certain areas, consider hiring a tutor for personalized instruction.

  • Where to find tutors:

    • Wyzant or Varsity Tutors offer online tutoring services for all ACT sections.

    • Study Group: Ask your friends or classmates who are also preparing for the ACT to form a study group, whether in-person or virtually.

9. Rest and Test Day Tips

Preparing for the ACT isn’t just about studying hard; it’s about being mentally and physically ready on test day.

  • Get plenty of rest the night before the exam.

  • Prepare your test day essentials: Have your admission ticket, photo ID, #2 pencils, an approved calculator, and snacks ready.

  • Stay calm and pace yourself: On test day, take deep breaths, read each question carefully, and stick to your pacing strategies.

ACT preparation requires discipline and a well-structured plan. By following these concrete strategies and utilizing the resources outlined, you’ll be well-equipped to achieve your best score. Remember, consistent practice and reviewing your mistakes will set you up for success.

Good luck with your ACT preparation journey!

Tarang Pande
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