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ACT Exam Preparation Tips 2024: The ACT exam syllabus and pattern differ for every section that is assessed. There are four major sections in the ACT exam and students can devise their plan of action based on their strong and weak points. It is always recommended to go step-by-step to get done with the final preparation. The best way would be to pick one section of the ACT exam and get done with it starting from scratch till the student gets expertise in it. Once a section is complete, the next step would be to move on to another section and so on.
The official sources of the ACT exam suggest the best way to prepare for this exam is to attend all the difficult classes in your high school. Apart form that, ACT.org also suggests some exam day tips and strategies that can prove to be helpful tools before and while taking the ACT exam.
Students should be able to divide their time for ACT exam preparation in such a manner, that they have ample time to revise and sit for mock tests to get a good score. A regular check on vocabulary plus reading a newspaper is always helpful in the long run as well and not just for ACT exam preparation. In this article, we have prepared a section-wise approach with ACT preparation tips covering the entire syllabus of the exam.
Q: When should I begin preparing for ACT exam?
Applicants should begin preparing for ACT exam a month or two prior to the ACT exam date preferably. However, those applicants who are weaker in any of the four sections of either Reading, Writing, Maths or Science can begin preparing for ACT slightly earlier based on their previous knowledge or preparation. Max to max one should keep atleast two months in hand in this scenario. Plus more time would be needed to attempt mocks as well.
Q: How much time is needed to prepare for ACT if I am weak in Maths?
Maths is all about practice and ACT Math syllabus tests all major topics tested in high school. Thus, there is only one solution, begin preparing for ACT Maths section well before time, as soon as you leave school and look for some good resources to brush up your basics. Once your basics are clear you will not face issues in cracking the ACT Math section questions. Maths for weaker students may be laborious but preparing for it before hand with ample practice can prove beneficial. One should begin Maths section preparation atleast three months prior to ACT exam date.
Q: Can I prepare for ACT exam from any resource material?
No, there are certain resource materials available which can be useful for ACT exam preparation. Some of the resources available for ACT preparation are as follows:
- There are official ACT Prep Guides avaialble online which can be used for preparation.
- ACT Test Guides
- Kaplan's online self-paced course for ACT prep.
- Online test prep for applicants abroad.
Q: Which is the best way to prepare for ACT reading and writing section?
The best way to prepare for ACT reading and writing section is to read as much as possible and be able to discuss with others. A regular reading habit can prove beneficial in cracking the reading and writing section of ACT exam. Applicants can pick up some literature novels or read a newspaper regularly, this will help in increasing the reading speed of the applicant and the applicant will be able to learn new vocabulary which will be useful in using them in the ACT exam, and overall will help in preparation too. Plus regularity in reading is must so that there is consistency in habit and thought.
For those who enjoy reading newspapers can enhance their vocabulary by attempting the crossword and other games on the newspaper, this will further help applicants in honing their skills for the reading and writing section of the ACT exam.
ACT Exam 2024 Prep Strategies
Students who are keen on studying abroad and wish to take the ACT test to prove their college/university readiness must prepare for the exam as per the below-given preparation tips and strategies.
- Know the syllabus and check which topic has the maximum weightage and the ones with the least weightage. Prepare the topics that have high weightage first.
- Get back to the basics for conceptual clarity and start from the lowest level to work your way up in preparing for the ACT. Plus, check concepts where you have least or no clarity about and then get to those where your knowledge is apt.
- While attempting the MCQs in the ACT exam, be careful about - your speed, read the instructions in questions asked carefully, mark each answer and use logic in difficult questions.
- Reviewing your answers in the ACT exam is equally crucial, hence, time yourself in such a manner that there is sufficient time to come back to the questions attempted and review them.
The following preparation tips to crack ACT in a well-thought-out plan would help students more in their preparation phase.
Q: What are the tips to prepare for ACT exam?
There are just a couple of tips that one must keep in mind before preparing for ACT exam:
- Check the ACT exam syllabus first, mark the topics where the students are confident enough and mark those where they lack confidence.
- See how much time will you take to prepare for ACT and then begin preparing for the exam based on the timeline keeping the above point in mind.
- Setting up a schedule and making a timetable and following it is must to crack plus prepare for ACT.
- A separate time must be kept for attempting mock exams.
- Those who still need mocks should keep a week or two for extra preparation.
Q: How to strategise to prepare for ACT exam in a month?
If the applicant has chosen to appear for ACT exam, then he/she needs to first devise their strategy of preparation. ACT preparation may seem difficult for some while the others may be easy for others. Applicants need to first check how much are they prepared to give the exam. In case the applicants have some confidence in any one or maybe two sections of the ACT, they can easily prepare for the third section of ACT and prepare easily in a month's time.
This should be the ideal strategy of ACT exam preparation if aiming for a month:
- Attempt mocks and check how much preparation you need and then identify the green and red areas.
- Identify the topics or areas which need maximum help in terms of prep.
- After the applicants have identified the areas that need maximum preparation, they should devote time to it and work on it.
- Keep revising the strong sections or topics at regular time period or on alternate days so that they keep in touch.
- Finally, attempt mocks so that they help the applicant in understanding their progress overall, plus they are able to target those areas of lapse also.
Following these tips, applicants can prepare for ACT exam in a month's time.
Q: Is ACT exam difficult for Indian students?
Yes, the ACT can be difficult for Indian students for the following reasons:
- English Section: While many Indian students have strong English skills, the ACT's American English usage and conventions, may differ from British English commonly taught in India.
- Reading section: The passages often contain American cultural references and contexts that might be less familiar to Indian students.
- Science section: While Indian students typically have strong Science fundamentals, the focus is on interpreting data and graphs rather than pure scientific knowledge.
- Time pressure: The ACT is known for its strict time limits, which can be particularly challenging if English isn't your first language.
However, enough practice can lead to success in any exam.
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ACT Preparation Tips 2024
There are four sections that are tested in the ACT exam - English, Mathematics, Science and Reading sections. These sections comprise a total of 215 questions in the MCQ format. The first step towards preparation is to be thorough with the ACT exam syllabus and then section-wise chalk out which sections would take the maximum time to prepare and which ones would take lesser time to prepare. Check out the ACT prep tips below, step-wise in order to crack the exam:
Those topics which the applicant feels would take more time to prepare should be taken up first and those with lesser time can be picked up later. Making a schedule and sticking to it is important. Regular revision of already completed topics can be beneficial, students will gain confidence with each revision. The mock tests are necessary for the students to understand their overall performance. Hence, if these tips are followed, the student will be able to crack the ACT exam with good scores.
Follow the following ACT prep tips for each section in detail below.
Q: Can I crack ACT without preparation?
No, without preparation it is difficult to crack the ACT exam. No matter how knowledgeable the person may be he/she will require some practice at some point of time. Without practice it can be difficult to crack ACT exam too. ACT exam preparation is a long term practice and it takes time to hone skills in order to crack the ACT exam. Hence, ensure that you begin preparation for ACT exam and not just rely on over confidence to crack the exam.
There can be many exceptions to the rule and applicants may be able to crack the exam with certain tricks and tips as well. Thus, applicants should ensure they take the long route first and if needed they should resort to shortcuts.
Q: What are the tips to prepare for ACT exam?
There are just a couple of tips that one must keep in mind before preparing for ACT exam:
- Check the ACT exam syllabus first, mark the topics where the students are confident enough and mark those where they lack confidence.
- See how much time will you take to prepare for ACT and then begin preparing for the exam based on the timeline keeping the above point in mind.
- Setting up a schedule and making a timetable and following it is must to crack plus prepare for ACT.
- A separate time must be kept for attempting mock exams.
- Those who still need mocks should keep a week or two for extra preparation.
Q: Which is the best book to prepare for the ACT exam?
Here are some of the most highly recommended books for ACT exam preparation:
- The Official ACT Prep Guide (2024-2025):- This book is highly recommended for the following reasons:
- Published by ACT organisation
- Includes 6 full-length practice tests in the book and 8 online
- Includes new and updated writing prompts
- Contains full answer explanations by the makers of the ACT
- Tips on how to give your best on the exam day
- Digital flashcards customisable test banks, and more.
- Barron's ACT Study Guide Premium 2024
- Comprehensive content review
- Includes 6 practice tests with detailed explanations
- Strong math and Science sections
- Well-structured strategies
- Online practice with timed testing and scoring
- Expert advice on exam scoring, recertification and more
- Princeton Review ACT Premium Prep, 2024
- Detailed strategies for each section
- 8 full-length practice tests: 4 in the book and 4 online
- Clear explanations of concepts
- Good for learning test-taking techniques
- Kaplan's ACT Prep Plus 2025
- 5 full-length practice tests
- Online resources and quizzes
- Good for self-study
- Strong in strategy development
However, the Official ACT Prep Guide is recommended as a primary resource for beginners.
ACT 2024 Prep Tips: English Section
As per the ACT exam syllabus, the English section comprises 75 questions. The time allotted for this section is only 45 minutes, hence you need to be really quick.
Always remember the key to Promptness: Speed comes with practice!
- Observe the writing style in every passage you have to attempt.
- You need to carefully observe the elements of writing such as tone and emphasis that the text conveys.
- Be mindful of inquiries with no underlined divides—that implies you will be gotten some information about a segment of the entry or about the section all in all.
- Examine each answer decision and decide how it contrasts with the others. A considerable lot of inquiries in the test will include more than one part of writing.
- Select the best answer. Peruse and consider the entirety of the appropriate response decisions before you pick the one that best reacts to the inquiry.
- Reread the sentence, using the answer you have selected.
Also Read: How to Calculate SAT and ACT Superscore?
Q: Which is the best way to prepare for ACT reading and writing section?
The best way to prepare for ACT reading and writing section is to read as much as possible and be able to discuss with others. A regular reading habit can prove beneficial in cracking the reading and writing section of ACT exam. Applicants can pick up some literature novels or read a newspaper regularly, this will help in increasing the reading speed of the applicant and the applicant will be able to learn new vocabulary which will be useful in using them in the ACT exam, and overall will help in preparation too. Plus regularity in reading is must so that there is consistency in habit and thought.
For those who enjoy reading newspapers can enhance their vocabulary by attempting the crossword and other games on the newspaper, this will further help applicants in honing their skills for the reading and writing section of the ACT exam.
ACT Prep Tips 2024: Mathematics Section
The Mathematics section, which has 60 questions, is granted a time slot of 60 minutes. It means that on average, we need to answer 1 question in 1 minute. It seems exhausting, doesn’t it? Luckily Mathematics is a subject, which can be practised as much as possible to increase our speed. Phew!
Calculation Tips: Practice makes a man perfect!
- The questions are generally twisted, which we often call trick questions. It is suggested that you carefully read the questions in order to understand the kind of answer applicable.
- Do not rely on a calculator unless you are not sure that it is permitted in the exam and exam centre. Bigger problems can be solved using calculators, which are allowed in such exams.
- Keep updated with the latest information on types of calculators that are allowed to avoid taking with you a forbidden calculator. Nevertheless, the exam consists of basic level Mathematical problems that can be solved over the fingertips.
- Increase the basic skills of mathematics by daily practising it daily life. Get thorough with the basics: Addition and Subtraction of large numbers as well as Multiplication and Division in 2-3 digit numbers.
ACT Prep Tips 2024: Reading Section
The ACT Reading Test comprises 40 inquiries that need to be answered in 35 minutes.
- Read all the passage(s) cautiously.
- Read and consider the entirety of the appropriate responses before picking the one that is suitable to react to the inquiry.
- Refer to the passage(s) while solving the questions.
ACT 2024 Prep Tips: Science Section
A genuine ACT Science Test comprises 40 questions that need to be replied in 35 minutes only.
- Read the entire passage cautiously.
- Refer to the logical data given in the passage while addressing the question.
- Read and consider all the choices given before picking the one that best reacts to the question.
- Note viewpoints that are conflicting in certain passages.
ACT Preparation 2024: Writing Tips for Essays
Those applicants who choose to go for the additional writing section will have to prepare along the lines of writing an essay. Check out the following tips for essay tasks for the preparation of the ACT writing section:
- Write a unified, coherent essay about the increasing presence of intelligent machines.
- Clearly express your own viewpoint on the issue and analyse the connection between your point of view and at least one other point of view.
- Give reasoning and examples to develop and support your thoughts.
- Your ideas should be clear and logical.
- Communicate your ideas in an effective standard written English
Your viewpoint might be the same as the given or it may match partially or it can be completely different.
About the ACT Writing Test
The ACT writing test is a 40-minute essay test designed to measure the writing skills of the applicant. This is a paper-and-pencil test. This test comprises one writing prompt that will describe a complex issue and present three different perspectives on that issue. Candidates have to write an essay with a pencil on the lined pages of an answer folder that is provided to them.
The ACT writing test is meant to complement the English and reading tests. The results derived from these tests help undergraduate colleges with students’ understanding of the conventions of standard written English and their skills to produce a direct sample of writing. Further, the writing test can only be taken after taking all four multiple-choice tests in the same session.
Candidates are asked to read the prompt given and write an essay in which they can develop their own perspectives on the issue. The essay written by you should analyse the relationship between your perspective as well as one or more other perspectives. Candidates are allowed to adopt a perspective from the prompt, partially or fully. Apart from this, candidates are also allowed to generate their own perspectives. Your ACT score will not be affected by the point of view you select on the issue.
Few colleges ask for the ACT writing test score. So, candidates should decide whether they have to take the test or not based on the requirements of the colleges they are applying to.
Why is the ACT Writing Test Optional?
As undergraduate institutions have different requirements, we offer the ACT writing test as an option.
- Undergraduate institutions decide whether they require ACT writing test scores for admissions or for course placement purposes.
- Aspirants themselves decide whether they have to take the writing test or not based on the requirements of the colleges they are trying to take admission to.
Aspirants need not take the test they do not want to take and incur unnecessary expenses, and colleges also have the freedom to ask for tests that meet their information needs.
Download this guide to read it offline
ACT Prep Tips 2024 FAQs
Q. Is it ok to rely on online material for ACT prep?
A. Yes, it is ok to rely on online test prep material for ACT exam preparation. But the only condition is to check out only those resources that are either available on the official website of ACT or if they are available elsewhere but have a recognition of their courses offered. Applicants must beware of scams and avoid falling into their trap and losing out on money. Check ACT website regularly for updates and also for official ACT prep material available.
Q. Does ACT prep material help cracking ACT exam?
A. Prep material for ACT exam is to aid students in their preparation for the exam. Thus, applicants should not keep any expectations like - if the questions they come across in ACT prep material will come as it is in the ACT exam or if the questions are the same as that of ACT prep material, maybe the options maybe shuffled in the main paper. The material will only help students in gaining momentum for their exam preparation and based on their preparation, they will be able to appear for the main exam confidently.
Q. How can I prepare for the optional writing section on ACT?
A. In order to prepare for ACT optional writing section, applicants will have to prepare on various topics to test how they write and get them evaluated from their school teachers for a genuine and productive feedback. Check out if your writing practice is up to the mark by attempting these topics:
- Human Intelligence vs Artificial Intelligence
- Inflation and its Repurcussions
- Benefits of Reading Literature
- Technological Advancements: A Boon or Bane for Modern Society
Q. Is ACT preparation difficult for high school students?
A. ACT preparation may be difficult for a few students, while it may not be for some other. There are four sections on ACT and its not mandatory that all students are pro in all sections. Some applicants may have a strong point in Math and Science while others may find Reading and Writing easier. Thus, it completely depends upon the candidate where he/she is comfortable, hence the ACT prep will be easier for stronger sections and difficult for not so confident areas.
Q. Can I prepare for ACT from NCERTs?
A. If the syllabus of ACT is similar to the topics available in the NCERT, Indian applicants can readily prepare for ACT from there. This can prove to be another resource material for the applicants if preparing for ACT from NCERTs and there may be more questions available for practice as well.
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