so, ill be taking the act in april for the first time ever.
how should i prepare? other than practice tests of course.
what details should i know so that i know the test inside out?
If you look online, you can find general lists of topics that are on the test. See if you’re familiar with them, and study any that you aren’t, especially the obscure grammar rules and math topics. I’d practice reading and science with real practice tests, since those sections are just kind of weirdly put together, so that’s really the best way to prepare. Otherwise, the strategies are a lot like most other standardized tests, skip hard problems and do them at the end, don’t leave anything blank (There’s no penalty for guessing) and answer questions in your test booklet, then transfer them to the answer sheet after you finish a full page to minimize mistakes, and keep from wasting time switching back and forth or breaking your focus to bubble in every 30 seconds.
Do it fast. Timing is difficult in this exam, but you’ll get used to it. Try finishing with a few minutes to spare. For reading, it may be a good idea to skim questions first.