I took the ACT for the first time in June. Since the test is expensive, my parents wanted me to score high on my first try. In the two weeks sandwiched between final exams and the ACT, I spammed many practice tests and clutched up. When my results came out a few weeks later, I did better than expected. Now, I’m sharing my strategies with you so you don’t have to scroll through the ACT subreddit for free resources like I did.
General Strategies
The good news is that standardized tests can be trained and don’t require much talent. Anyone can learn these tricks, so tell yourself that your dream score is possible. Again, the ACT is a standardized test. They repeat question types, so taking many practice tests is a good strategy.
Practice tests can be found in ACT prep books, the official ACT website (and other college prep sites), and online forums like the ACT subreddit. If you’re short on money, check out practice books at the library. Keep in mind that 3rd party test writers (other students, college prep companies) will have a different style than the official ACT so try to practice with official ACT tests.
Once you have the content down, experiment with different strategies to discover what’s optimal for you. That’s how I learned that I do better if I read the questions first on reading and science.
English
For this section, you are given 5 passages and 15 questions per passage. The questions ask you to edit various parts of the passage. I’m not kidding, this part is basically a grammar test! So study up on grammar.
- Know what semicolons, dashes, parenthesis, and colons actually do.
- Brush up on verb tenses and rules for agreement.
- Familiarize yourself with unconventional sentence structures (clauses that start with gerunds and conjunctions).
- Remember that a sentence = subject + predicate. If you aren’t sure if it’s a complete sentence, strip it of prepositions, adjectives, adverbs, and other modifiers, and just look for the basic sentence formula.
- When in doubt, plug the answer choices back into the blank and go from there.
- Keep main ideas of the passage in mind when answering the “does the edit fit the purpose of the passage” questions.
- Practice A LOT until grammar becomes second nature. Many ACT practice websites have grammar practice examples.
- Keep an eye on time. Remember, reading is the “fastest” section. You need to answer 75 questions in 45 minutes. That’s less than a minute per question!
Math
For this section, there are 60 multiple-choice questions to solve in 60 minutes. Some problems share the same scenario or diagram. From my math team experience, the number of problems you practice is directly proportional to your success (study up if you didn’t understand that sentence). The math itself isn’t too advanced, but you might want to review unfamiliar topics.
Here are some other tips:
- Brush up on geometry formulas: Surface area and volume of cones, spheres, cubes, pyramids, cylinders are frequently on the test.
- Be familiar with quadratics. Know their graphs and how to solve quadratic equations.
- Practice with basic matrices, vectors, and trigonometry.
- Know basic probability and statistics, such as mean, median, and mode.
This is mainly a speed and accuracy test, so practice many problems to become a faster test-taker. Read the questions carefully and check to see that you are solving for the exactly what the question is asking for. They will throw in tricky word problems, so take your time on those if you can. Its okay to skip difficult problems if you don’t have time.
Reading
For this section, there are 40 problems to do in 35 minutes. There are 4 passages and 10 questions per passage. I find that if I read questions before I read the passage, my brain subconsciously searches for answers when I read. This trick might not work for every person, but it’s worth a try. Read carefully to understand the main point of paragraphs or passages, but don’t take too long.
The passages are in this order:
- Narrative (fictional stories, like novels in English class)
- Social sciences (a science article for business/economics/politics etc. Harvard Business Review is a good example)
- Humanities (scholarly analysis of literature, history, art, music, etc.)
- Science (scientific discoveries and theories. Read science news for practice)
One passage is a double passage that compares the arguments and viewpoints of 2 smaller excerpts, so be prepared for that. All of these passages have some sort of core change or argument. The ACT wants to see if you can clearly identify and explain this change.
Read reputable news (that’s not Buzzfeed) for practice. The ACT passages are somewhat sophisticated, but accessible and not dauntingly esoteric. Listening to NPR or reading the NYT after you finish your Wordle goes a long way.
Science
I think they’re getting rid of the science section, but in case you take a science ACT, I have the ultimate strategy: This section looks like a reading test with graphs, but don’t read the paragraph above the graph! Read the question first, find your answer on the graph, and answer the question. This will literally triple your speed, because 90% of the answers come straight from the graphs!
That being said, review your general graphs and experimental design notes from science class. READ THE AXES AND COLUMNS CAREFULLY! They sometimes flip the X and Y or put multiple axes on a graph to confuse you! If a passage is about scientists debating a hypothesis, treat it like a reading passage. Summarize each scientists’ point.
The test isn’t prior knowledge heavy, but some basic prerequisites can help.
- Physics: forces (gravity), magnets, waves
- Chemistry: atoms, PH scale, states of matter
- Biology: cells, basic ecology, some genetics
It will take some time and effort, but preparation will be worthwhile. If you feel uncomfortable with the testing format, you can also consider taking the SAT or trying out a new digital ACT.
Best of luck!
