Top 5 Tips for Studying the ACT According to the 3 Guiding Principles of Test Preparation

One of your most crucial tasks as a high school student is taking the ACT test. It can be rigorous, especially if you are not prepared. To get a high score on the ACT, you must adhere to an effective test preparation program for at least 3 months. There are several options for ACT test prep that really work. So how do you choose the best path that can give you smart and effective ACT study tips?

3 Main Guiding Principles of Exam Preparation

Studying effectively for the ACT requires you to adhere to 3 guiding principles, and they are as follows:

• Individualize and personalize your study plan. No two test takers are exactly alike, which means there is no single plan of study for all students. Choose a study plan or a combination of them that meets your needs as an individual. You know yourself better than anyone, so come up with a study program that works best for you. For example, you can stick to 2-hour study sessions if you have the stamina, or you can feel comfortable studying in 30-minute increments. Make sure your ACT syllabus is flexible.
• Start your ACT test preparation program early. You should have enough time to study for your exam. The 3 month allowance for your review may be enough, but if you want to get a higher score, you may need to increase it to 6 months. Early on, you need to learn how to pay attention to your ACT test preparation plan and the time it takes for you to be successful.
• Optimize your study plan. That means you have to do something regardless of the time you have available to allocate to your ACT test prep. It’s your best option, and it’s much better than doing nothing. What if you don’t have 6 or 3 months to prepare for the ACT? Do not lose hope or panic, but optimize the time you have available. If you have several hours left, you can spend four of them taking practice tests. Even if you only have 15 minutes a day to study, go for it! You are bound to learn something in any case. Remember that a little preparation is better than no preparation.

5 Valuable ACT Test Prep Tips

• Read as much information as you can about the ACT. Learn about the format and structure of the test and what its implications are for your college goals. Familiarize yourself with it, which in turn will make you feel more comfortable with your next venture. It will make you feel more relaxed and confident about taking the ACT.
• Take a large number of ACT practice tests. Do your best by taking your first practice test so that you get a reliable understanding of your score and ability. Be sure to take an official ACT practice test for a more realistic experience and result. Follow the instructions carefully and respect the time limit designated for each section.
• Get your score from your practice tests. Analyze your wrong answers and figure out why you missed them. This should help you discover your weak areas. Check out the answer explanations that accompany your practice tests and learn from them. If you’re having trouble with this particular task, ask a teacher, tutor, mentor, or test preparation buddy for help.
• Work on a reasonable goal. Now you know your knowledge and skill levels related to the ACT test. At this point, he should measure the amount of improvement he is willing to work for. You may have to stretch your efforts a bit, but make sure you set a workable goal. If you scored lower than 20 on your practice test, it may be too much to expect a number of 30. Otherwise, if you scored between 20 and 20, it’s possible to aim for a score of 30-something. The improvements you want to achieve depend on how committed you are to your preparation for the ACT test.
• Decide what tools you are going to use for your exam preparation. The resources you should use must be of good quality and are official ACT test preparation materials. If you want to study on your own, look for credible and up-to-date websites, apps or books. You may also want to enroll in an online ACT test preparation program that is known to be a happy medium. In addition to working on your own, you can receive external guidance at the same time. Consider if you are interested in joining a group course where you can brainstorm with your peers and the instructor. Or if you think individual tutoring will work well for you, go for it.

Here are 5 of the most effective ACT study tips that can help you in your test preparation so you can pass with flying colors and achieve your post-secondary education and career goals.