What is the Most Effective Way to Prepare for the ACT?

Test Preparation ACT Preparation
1

I am taking the ACT this year and am unsure of the most effective way to prepare. Should I be buying practice books (if so what are some good ones) or should I hire a tutor? I know I should do practice tests and figure out how to best approach the test for myself but I’m unsure since the whole process seems very complicated to me.

2

Buy the “Real ACT Prep Book” (Red Book) to do problems and look online for the new essay prompts.

It has real practice tests and should be all you need. I went from a 32 to a 35 by doing only two practice exams.

3

@summerincali
The best way to study for the ACT is to practice with REAL ACT tests. The 3rd edition of the Real ACT Book (Red Book) has 5 tests to get you started. They are old, but you will get a feel for most of the concepts. Then move on to released tests from 2013/2014/2015. Using the work throughs in the ACT Black Book is also very helpful.

*****DO NOT USE THE READING PROMPTS IN THE RED BOOK. Use the materials a at this link instead: http://www.actstudent.org/writing/enhancements/

TIME each practice session to simulate the real test.

English 75 questions in 45 min.
Math 60 questions in 60 min.
Reading 40 questions in 35 min.
Science 40 questions in 35 min

Score your test, and then review only what you got WRONG after each practice session.

I suggest the following schedule:

Take 1 section each week night/with review for 4 nights/week.

Twice per month on a Saturday or Sunday take a full ACT test/with review.

Track your progress!

Here is a detailed sample schedule to get started, modify it to meet your needs:

Mon: English section with review

Tues: Math section with review

Wed:. Reading Section with review

Thu. Off

Fri: Science Section with review

Sat: FULL ACT with review

Sun: Off

4

@summerincali

Actually, adding on to what HereToHelpYou said, I gave myself less time for each section.

English 40 Min
Reading 30 Min
Science 30 Min

This really pushed me to work faster, and when the real ACT came around, I had about 5-8 minutes spare time per section.

5

What tips do you guys have for the math and science sections? They are my weakest ones.

6

Thank you for your help. I’ll purchase those books and get on that studying soon.

I’m in the same boat as you TheTennisNinja. Math is a weaker subject of mine. If you did have a certain section that was weaker for you, did you do something extra to improve it?