How do I study for the ACT if I don't know how to do it?

The English part is fine. I just finished Geometry this year however and I am going to be a junior entering Alg 2. Math isn;t my strongest suit but I’ve consistently recieved A’s in my math classes all my life. I want to study for SAT/ACT Math and I can’t afford a tutor or a test prep. The questions I struggle on are materials covered in classes that I won’t be covering until 2 years later. I try to read the explanations to the answers but I don’t understand it. I’m in a muddy situation. What can I do?

SAT prep is available online for free through Khan Academy. From what I’ve read online here, that prep will get you into the pretty-decent-score range, but not necessarily perfect score range. To increase your score to the top levels, you cam buy books. Others on this board have recommended the Panda prep books (google Panda SAT prep). I haven’t tried this myself, but I’m passing along what I’ve read.

The ACT is a little more tricky currently because the books for review haven’t been updated, at least they hadn’t been as of last June. You can check Amazon for the Big Red SAT prep book and see in the comments section whether it’s been updated yet or not. There’s a thread on these boards about best books for ACT prep.

Basically the way you prep for both of them is to practice practice practice. When you get a wrong answer, make sure that you understand why you got the answer wrong before allowing yourself ot move on. Practice that type of problem again, until you can do it correctly.

Pay attention in math class this year and take the test in late spring.

I agree, don’t be in such a hurry to take the tests. Start taking them in the Winter (Jan SAT or Feb. ACT) after you have a semester of Alg II under your belt. Most of the math on the test will have been covered by that point. There may be a few questions of information you haven’t covered, but you can still get a good score without those problems.

As someone else said, I highly recommend Khan Academy. It’s helped me improve my score, and I am AWFUL at math, despite being in AP Calc! It also has different levels and explanations/videos to help. I recommend starting at your level math course and working your way up and hopefully that’ll help you? You could also delay taking your ACT until the spring or even the June date.