Get Prepared for the ACT

Get a Great ACT Score

Take the stress out of the process by developing a plan. Here is a simple strategy for getting the highest score you possibly can on the ACT.

1. Know What to Expect on the Test

   1. Know What to Expect on the Test

   The ACT is a national college admission and placement examination. It was first administered in the fall of 1959 and is currently available in all 50 U.S. States. Students who perform badly on the SAT often find that they do better on the ACT. The ACT is more widely used in the Midwest and South, while the SAT is more popular on the East and West coasts.

   The ACT is curriculum-based. The ACT is not an aptitude or an IQ test. Instead, the questions on the ACT are directly related to what students have learned in high school courses in English, mathematics, and science.

   The tests are: English, Math, Science, Reading and Writing.

   For each test you will receive a separate ACT score (1 to 36) and a Composite ACT score, which is an average of these 4 tests. The composite score is between 1 and 36. The national average is about 21.

   You will also receive subscores in English, Math, and Reading that range between 1 and 18. These scores provide you with more detail about your performance, but they are not actually used by schools.

   Usually when you are asked about your ACT "score," it is your composite score that is being referred to. On the ACT, each question correctly answered is worth one raw point. Unlike the SAT, there is no penalty for marking incorrect answers on the multiple-choice part of the test.

   In February 2005, an optional writing test was added to the ACT, mirroring changes to the SAT that took place later in March of the same year. If you take the Writing Test, you will receive a Writing Test subscore and a Combined English/ Writing score. Most schools recommend you take the Writing Test.

   The ACT Test is offered six times a year, typically in September, October, December, February, April and June. For more info on the specific sections of the ACT, check out www.act.org or the other Grockit forums!

   Information originally posted by Vivian Kerr in the Grockit ACT Forums

2. Master the Skills Covered on the 5 sections of the ACT (English, Math, Science, Reading, Writing)

   2. Mastering the Skills

   Unlike the SAT, which combines its different content areas into one long test, the ACT is divided into 5 individual tests. The key to success on the ACT is to understand the challenges each test requires and to develop your skills to meet those hurdles. Here are some tips to get you started with each test; check out the Grockit blog and forums for many more!

   ACT English Tips

   Look for redundancy. Shorter is always better as long as it doesn't change the meaning of the sentence.

   Learn your grammar. Knowing the usage of proper Punctuation and Grammar will help you move quickly through this test. A great place to start is the Grockit ACT blog.

   Trust yourself! If something doesn't "feel right" to you, trust your instinct. Even if you aren't sure what the exact error is, there is probably a better choice. Always go for clarity over wordiness.

   ACT Math Tips

   Skip the hard ones! On the ACT you'll have 60 minutes to answer 60 questions, so if it seems like any one question will take you over 1 minute to solve, skip it and move on.

   Pick numbers. Whenever you see variables in the answer choices, remember that you can always replace the variables with easy-to-manage, low numbers.

   Backsolving. If you get stuck on a problem and can't think of a way to approach the math, try plugging in the answer choices back in the problem. Eliminating four wrong answers is just as good as solving for the correct one!

   ACT Science Tips

   Answer everything. Many students are tempted to leave answers blank on the Science test because of the intimidating material. Don't! It's important to remember that there is no wrong answer penalty on the ACT! Your best guess is better than nothing!

   Look for patterns. Make sure to pay careful attention to any diagrams, data tables or graphs that accompany the Science passages. You'll need to understand the trends of the data to get the questions correct.

   ACT Reading Tips

   Read actively. Ask yourself questions as you read, such as, "What's the author's point of view?", "What is the function of each paragraph?" and "What is the main point of the whole passage?" Take notes as you go and you'll be better prepared to answer the questions.

   Predict an answer. Before you look at the answer choices, use the passage to predict your own answer. Then match your prediction to the answer choices. This will save you time. Don't get stuck weighing answer choices. Match your prediction and move on!

   Watch the time. Timing is essential on the ACT Reading Test as you'll only have 35 minutes to tackle 4 passages. That only gives you about 9 minutes to read each passage and answer the 10 questions that accompany it. You'll need to practice taking some full-length tests to get the hang of it, so don't despair if you find yourself lagging behind at first!

   ACT Writing Tips

   Plan before you write. Make sure you spend at least 5-10 minutes coming up with your thesis and 2-3 examples before you start writing your essay. It may seem like you will run out of time, but actually by having a strong plan you'll be able to write your essay from start to finish without getting off-track.

   Information written by Grockit instructor, Vivian Kerr

3. Develop an ACT Study Plan

   3. Developing an ACT Study Plan

   1. Create a Study Schedule. It's very important to work backwards from your test date. Be realistic with yourself about how many hours/days per week you can study and stick to it! Discipline is important. What will you study each week? If you have two weeks to go, hold off on taking a full-length test and work on learning and practicing strategy. If you are a few months away, you can definitely add several full-length tests into your study schedule, but focus first on the content areas.
   2. Learn About the Content Areas. A great place to begin learning about the test itself is at ACTStudent.org. If you can, order an official copy of the Real ACT Prep Guide. It includes 3 full-length practice tests as well as answers and explanations. Start doing some practice problems on Grockit to get a feel for the format of the test and to begin to learn your personal strengths/weaknesses. Don't worry if you get a lot of questions wrong at first. Create an ACT study folder and add a "Formula Sheet" and a "Vocab Sheet" where you can write any unfamiliar math formulas and vocabulary you come across in your studies. Make flashcards if that is an easy way for you to learn!
   3. Practice Strategies for Each Test. Read the Grockit ACT blog and ACT Forums and make a list of strategies for each test. Try them out and see which ones work best for you. Be patient if you don't see your scores shoot up immediately. The new strategies may slow you down or mess you up at first but practicing them will give you extra tools on test day.
   4. Take a Full-length Test. Once you've practiced enough problems so that you've refreshed your knowledge and test-taking skills, schedule a time for yourself to sit down and take a 4-hour test. Set a timer for each section and try and find a quiet room to mimic test-taking conditions. The goal is not to get every question correct, but to get a feel for what the timing of each section is like. You may not finish each test on your first try, but you'll know what strategies you need to practice.
   5. Concentrate on Process, not Performance. Preparing for a test takes organization, practice and a positive mental attitude. There is no such thing as a "good" or a "bad" test-taker. Some students are just more familiar with the content areas and strategies than others. Test-taking is a learned skill, so don't be discouraged. Create a checklist of your study sessions so you can reward yourself as you get work done!

   Information written by Grockit instructor, Vivian Kerr

College and Scholarship Applications

It's time to apply to colleges and universities. Now what? Read this three part series by Vivian Kerr.

• Part 1: Selecting Colleges & Universities
• Part 2: Managing the Application Process
• Part 3: Applying for Scholarships