ACT Preparation

Here are the 10 Key Steps:

1- Register for the ACT

Registering for the test will include creating an account on the ACT website if you haven’t done so already.

When you pick a date, make sure you give yourself enough time to prepare. I would advise picking a date at least three months in advance if you’re totally unfamiliar with the test to give yourself adequate breathing room for studying.

2- Become Familiar with ACT Structure and Format

The ACT is out of 36 points. It consists of four multiple-choice sections—English, Math, Reading, and Science, each scored out of 36 points. The rounded average of these four section scores becomes your composite score. There’s also an optional Writing essay test, scored out of 12 points. Writing is not factored into your composite score.

• English section: 45 minutes - 75 questions
• Math section: 60 minutes - 60 questions
• Reading section: 35 minutes - 40 questions
• Science section: 35 minutes - 40 questions
• Writing section: 35 minutes - 1 topic (optional)

3- Get Oriented with the ACT’s Content and Question Styles

The different sections of the ACT each test different knowledge and skill areas. Hence, how to prepare for ACT English will be different from how to prepare for ACT Math, and so on.

Additionally, the ACT has its own particular question styles and formats that you’ll want to become familiar with before test day. Otherwise, you could be thrown by some questions even if you know the content!

4- Identify Your Weaknesses

After you have an overall idea of what and how the ACT tests, you’ll want to establish a baseline of your own skills.

The most reliable way is to take a complete, timed ACT practice test to identify your weaknesses, so you can target them in your prep.

5- Set a Target Score

After you’ve gotten a sense of your initial skill baseline, set a target score for how much you want to improve. Your target score should be something you can realistically accomplish in the time frame you have. 1-2-point improvement from your baseline in a month is totally reasonable. A 6-point improvement in that time frame? Not so much. Keep in mind that you’ll have to put in more time for more point improvement.

6- Create a Study Schedule

It’s best to spend a consistent number of hours every week preparing until you take the test to avoid needing to cram close to the test date. So to determine how many hours you should prep each week, divide the total number of prep hours you think you need by the number of weeks until the test.

7- Learn Essential Test Content

Once you have a goal and schedule, it’s time to learn content! “Content” refers to the knowledge you need to answer ACT questions. So that will include learning grammar and mechanics for English, brushing up on functions for Math, reviewing how to write a hypothesis for science, and so on and so forth.

8- Practice Test Strategies

Knowledge isn’t enough to succeed on the ACT—you also need to learn the most effective strategies to approach the test. “Strategy” refers to things like learning how to eliminate wrong answers, guess when you need to, manage your time, and additional section-specific tips. With expert guidance of Skillz MENA team you’ll be able to come up with your own personal best approach to all parts of the test.

9- Use Practice Questions and Tests

There are two key parts to practicing for the ACT:

The first part is to practice questions. You can use practice questions to target the skills you need to improve for the test.

The second part of ACT practice is completing at least a couple of complete test practice runs. When you do a complete test practice run, use an official practice test and test yourself under the same conditions that you’ll be in on test day

10- Be Ready for ACT Day!

To give yourself the best chance to succeed on test day, be sure to engage in all your best test-taking practices! So, get lots of sleep the night before, and pack your bag with pencils and an approved calculator!

Check out with the Skillz team!