Introduction
ACT - Preparation Tips to Ace the ACT Test
- American College Testing (commonly referred to as ACT) is a standardized test conducted by ACT, a non-profit organization.
- The primary purpose of conducting the ACT exam is to know the academic potential of high school candidates.
- Further, the scores from the exam are used to provide candidates college admissions all over the United States of America.
- Moreover, it is also accepted by Universities and colleges in Canada.
- It becomes essential for candidates to prepare well for the exam and know ACT Preparation tips and tricks to crack good scores in the exam.
Tips
ACT Preparation Tips and Tricks
The ACT is a competitive exam and is different from what candidates witness in the school. Here are some ACT preparation tips and tricks that can help candidates maximize their scores:
- Attempt questions out of order: Candidates need to spend more time on hard questions. Time management is important. The tips are that the candidates need to quickly access if they shall attempt the question now, later, or never. There is no need to attempt the questions in order.
- Forgetting the right answer: ACT is a multiple-choice test, and the most significant advantage that candidates obtain here is that the right answer is there in the choices with the question. The tip here is that candidates can cross off one or two wrong answers and they shall find the correct answer.
- Letter if the Day: There is no negative marking in the exam and therefore candidates are advised not to leave any answer blank. If a candidate does not know how to work questions, still it is important to answer it. The tip is to pick a favorite two-letter combo of answers and stick with it for answers that candidates never want to give or can’t work out. Candidates are expected to choose a combo which is being used consistently in the exam.
- Use tailor-made strategies: ACT exam consists of four sections; English, Mathematics, Reading, and Science and an optional Essay section. The tip is to check out for test taking tips for each of these sections through preparation books and online resource materials.
- Use the best way to bubble the answers: Candidates are often worried that they may accidentally fill in the wrong bubble on the answer sheet. The tip is that candidates must work on only one page at a time. They can circle answers on the booklet and later transfer answers to the answer sheet. In this way, candidates remain focused on working questions and will not disrupt to find where they had left.
Books
ACT Preparation Tips - Recommended Books
Despite all these ACT preparation tips and tricks, preparing well shall remain the key to getting a high score in the exam. Candidates must use high-quality materials.
Since all the resource materials have different strengths and weaknesses, it is advised to use a combination of several of them.
Here is a list of few books that are recommended for the preparation of the ACT exam:
| Name of the Book | Key Features | Price (in US $) |
|---|---|---|
| The Official ACT Prep Guide (commonly known as the Red Book) | It is a critical book which is made by the test takers. This means the practice questions are the closest representation of what candidates shall see on the test. | It is available on Amazon at $28. |
| Barron’s ACT | The book is best used by candidates for overall study of all the exam sections including the optional essay. It can be used alongside the Red Book. Besides discussing the main concepts of each section, the book provides information about the test-taking tactics, skills, types of questions, diagnostic and practice tests. | It is available on Amazon at $14. |
| Princeton Review’s Cracking the ACT | It is a comprehensive book that provides a full review of all the sections. However, it is less comprehensive for the English and Reading sections. | |
| ACT Black Book | The book teaches candidates about how the test shall work. The book seems to be less concerned on concepts of mathematics and English skills. | It is available on Amazon at $20. |
| Up Your Score: ACT, the Underground Guide | The book carries a fun approach to the preparation of the exam. The format of the exam and concepts of each section are broken humorously. It also deals with the issues related to stress and pressures that candidates face as the test is approaching. | It is available on Amazon at $5. |
Resources
ACT Preparation Tips - Online Resource Materials
- Besides the books, online resource materials also teach candidates unique learning methods and equip candidates with different abilities and skill sets.
- There are a lot of online resource materials that are being offered. These preparation courses are different and can be customized as per the needs and ability of the candidates.
- A weekly study plan can also be customized for candidates. These online preparatory tools figure out the exact level of candidates through a diagnostic test and then provide the content that is the right level of challenging for the candidates.