ACT is one of the most popular standardized tests that measure a student’s preparedness for college-level course work. In broad terms, the ACT tests students’ skills in Math, English, Reading, and Science. Before thinking about applying to so many different colleges and universities, it is essential to focus on earning the highest total score on the exam. However, if you’ve started preparing for the test, you know there’s a lot more to it than that. Certain concepts and question types come up time and again, and preparing for precisely what’s on the exam is the key if you’re looking to give your best. Also, take our Free SAT/ACT Diagnostic test in order to check where you’re standing, and how much you need to prepare.
Mastering these important skills before taking the ACT will ensure that you’re all set to get success during and after your test!
Reviewing The Format
Reviewing academic concepts in Maths, English, Reading, and Science is really important. But students need to be more familiar with the test structure. Before taking the test, understand and familiarize yourself with the exam structure of ACT. This will help you have a smooth transition between sections and prepare for the ones to come during the actual test. It is also worth considering that the ACT doesn’t cut points off for wrong answers, so don’t leave anything empty! Even if you’re not 100% sure, it’s always in your best interest to answer as best as you can.
English
One of the most frequent concepts you’ll encounter on the ACT is knowing which punctuation marks to use between clauses. After identifying the dependent and independent clauses within a sentence, make sure you know the rules for using periods, colons, semicolons, commas, and dashes between clauses.
Read the entire sentence, both before and after the underlined portion. Ask yourself how the ideas relate(vary, hold up, effect, and cause). Choose the most succinct answer choice that connects the ideas.
Maths
Linear equations come frequently on the ACT. Learn how to use the substitution technique or the elimination method—whichever seems easier—to find the solution to a system of linear equations.
While most students generally think that they have a great feel for percentage questions, the ACT has a few twisted and tricky ways of testing percentages. Make sure to carefully translate the prompted question before setting up an equation and solving for a percentage.
Reading
Pay attention to the tone and theme of the passage. Do ask yourself two questions: First, What is the author trying to accomplish in this passage? Second, What would the passage lose if this word, line, or paragraph were omitted?
Science
This is the only part of the ACT Science section where it’s necessary to read and understand the whole paragraph. Don’t skip the introduction, and make sure to mark important information as you read each hypothesis.
Time Management
One of the major differences between the ACT and the SAT is that the ACT offers less time per question. The ACT offers an average of 49 seconds per question including all the sections. This means that you need to know how to manage your time successfully and efficiently while taking the test. Giving mock exams will help you practice time management skills and give insight into how you should manage everything accordingly. Having hands-on skills will make a big difference in your confidence when it comes time to take the actual test.
Stay Calm
Since taking exams is a skill in itself, staying calm is a key factor that will help you do well throughout your test. Mastering how to stay calm is elemental and will help you stay focused on the problems and tasks at hand. It is quite normal for students to get worked up and stressed, especially while taking a test that is known to become progressively harder. This skill will ensure that your comprehension skills stay effective as you move from one section to another of the test.
Don’t Overlook The Little Things
Many students often overlook these important skills when preparing for the ACT. As a student, if you’re planning to take this ACT exam, it is really important to build a foundation based on these skills, which will definitely help you in the long run. Being familiar with the exam structure will help you understand what you need to prepare for so that when test day rolls around, you’re confident enough and ready. Practicing your time management skills will surely make a significant difference in deciding which questions are worth spending more time on and lower your exam-taking anxiety so that you can get noteworthy scores. Staying level-headed during one of the most important tests will set you up for success as this is a skill that can be transferred and carried into college entrance and course exams. Properly mastering these skills is a factor that will make a difference in how you handle and look at your ACT test while also providing a structured base to earn the highest possible score!
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