Are there any other tips available to help me prepare for the ACT?

Aside from studying of the information, there are a great many tips that can help you do well on the test. Practicing some of these techniques will not necessarily help you know more than you already do; but it will help you perform your best on the exam. 

 

·        Think of the ACT as a game. Just as in any other competitive game, you should know the rules and employ strategy. Approaching it in this way will help you relax and not allow stress to destroy your thinking skills.

·        Manage your time wisely. The best way to practice using your time effectively is to take practice tests and to simulate the real situation, meaning no talking, music, or breaks.

·        Realize that the difficulty rises. The last few questions on each section will be more difficult and require more skill than the first ones. So, if time is running out and you’re having trouble with the last couple questions, recognize that it may be better to go back and check your other answers.

·        Don’t waste time. This seems so obvious, but many people regret after the test the time that they wasted re-reading directions, coming back from their breaks late, or daydreaming. Be aware of this; you only have to focus for a few hours, and then you’re done!

·        Read the questions carefully. Don’t allow the stress of a ticking clock to make you skip parts of what you’re reading. If you misinterpret the question, your rushing did you no good.

·        Answer all the questions. Although the SAT is designed to subtract points for wrong answers, the ACT does not. You can only help yourself by possibly getting the answer right. However, it is most advantageous for you to at least try and rule out an obviously wrong answer rather than just guessing “A,” “H,” “C.”

·        Identify deception. With practice, you’ll start noting how the test writers attempt to give deliberately deceptive answer choices. Practice recognizing these and ruling them out.

·        Retake the test. If you are not satisfied with your first score because it doesn’t seem to adequately represent your ability, feel free to take it again. Usually, schools will accept the highest score.