My name’s Molly Wert, a Junior, and member of NHS, SNHS, and APSA, and here are my two cents about studying for the ACT. I just took the ACT this past spring, so what did and didn’t work for me is fresh on my mind! Here are some tips to prep for test day to walk away earning the score you want!
Getting Started
First things first, pick a test day. Make sure the date you choose doesn’t interfere with other activities such as sports or trips. Even if you can squeeze the test in, you want to be on top of your game so pick a week/weekend that is relatively open. Next, plan out about 3 months before. You want to give yourself ample time to study at a manageable pace and lock the info into your long term memory!At this point, doing a little bit of introductory research on what the test format is like, what will be expected of you, what it is used for, and how it is scored is always smart. Now let's get studying!
Personalizing and following a plan FOR YOU
Best way to study is to know where your own personal gaps and strengths are and go from there. Start with taking a practice test to experience the different kinds of questions and formats in order to benchmark where you are at. Don’t take this score to heart. We are just getting started!
There are many different ways to study for the exam:
If you know instructor led review is the most beneficial for you, there are many tutors and other guided resources you could look into: OntoCollege Test Prep, The Princeton Review, or Kaplan.
On the other hand, if you know self guided studying is the way to go, here are some tips on resources to work through at your own pace:
There are great Youtube videos that narrow down on any topics of your choice. Pick the ones you know you need more help on!
Can purchase ACT prep books such as: The Princeton Review’s, Barron’s, or The Official ACT’s. These are full of helpful information, content, and practice tests!
Whether following a program or personally studying, creating and sticking to a plan is a great way to hold yourself accountable and fit everything in as test day approaches. Sit down with a calendar and schedule time for study sessions and the content you want to cover. Be specific in your plan as a vague “study for ACT” will lead to low quality studying or even skipping it as a whole. A label such as, “2-4 pm make and study quizlet of ACT grammar rules + read Chapter 15 of prep book” includes setting aside time and recording specific tasks. This way you are more likely to tackle your “to-dos” and make the most of your prep time!
As you are making your way through your studying plan, make sure to take practice tests. This will help you familiarize yourself with the format and time constraints of the test along with applying content! Also, being able to see what you missed/what you did well on helps you adjust and focus your studying time efficiently leading up to test day.
Test Day
It’s go time! How you take care of yourself the night before and the day of your test has a larger impact than you might think. Although you may be tempted, don’t stay up late cramming the night before your test. You’ve been studying the past couple months! You’re ready! If you’re one of those people, and can’t resist studying a little bit, just spend a small amount of time going over the things you struggle to remember the most. Keep in mind the work has been done and now it’s time to trust yourself and show what you know!
Good luck test takers!
-Comment below when you are taking your first ACT. If you already took it, what was your best studying strategy?-
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