8 Crucial ACT Exam Test-Taking Techniques

You should take these suggestions into account if you're looking for some quick ways to enhance your ACT test-taking techniques before the test.

1. Become more familiar with the test

Experience is the best teacher when it comes to ACT exam preparation. Make sure to allot plenty of time to studying and preparation, along with experience that is appropriate for the actual exam. Our tests and practice questions are a realistic representation of the level of difficulty you will encounter on the real ACT exam.

By getting familiar with the test, you can be sure that you are prepared for any question type. Taking plenty of practice tests will also allow you to pinpoint your weak areas and dedicate time to improving them before sitting for the official test. Be sure that you are confident on the official exam day by getting plenty of experience with the exam.  

2. Find Your Weak Points and Practice Them

As mentioned above, finding your weak points is a valuable tool for improving your ACT score and building your study plan prior to sitting for the official exam. Evaluating this scoring data is a great way to streamline your study plan and prioritize your time in preparation for the exam.  

You can take practice exams through the prep course and find any questions, subsections, and sections you consistently falter with. Before the official ACT exam, it is also important to identify skills you are unfamiliar with. Set time aside to practice these skills until you are confident of them.

Everyone has weak points throughout the test, and there is a chance that you have not been exposed to some of the skills assessed by the ACT. You can carry the knowledge gained by your score report into the official ACT exam. If you come across a question that you know you have faltered with in the past, spend some extra time on it and be sure that you are not making any silly mistakes.

3. Get Comfortable with the Types of Graphs You Will Work with on the ACT Exam

The ACT exam is notorious for having unconventional graphs. Do not walk into the exam blindly. Instead, spend some time evaluating the types of graphs you are likely to find on the exam. If you encounter a graph that is immediately confusing or overwhelming to read, spend time dissecting its details.  

What do the axes say? Is there a legend? What are the units of measurement? Can you decipher any relationships between the graph and a passage that it accompanies? These details can help when deciphering the bigger picture.

4. If You Run Out of Time or Do Not Know the Answer, Make a Guess

An important detail to know about the ACT scoring system is that you are not penalized for guessing. Because of this, you shouldn’t leave any bubbles on your answer sheet blank. If you do not know an answer or if you run out of time at the end of one of the sections, do your best to fill in an answer for each question.

5. Manage Your Time Properly Throughout the Exam

It is important that you pay attention to your timing throughout the ACT exam. While preparing for the exam, be sure that you pay attention to any trends in your ability to finish on time. For example, if you know that you are slower in the Math exam than other sections, you should spend time improving your time management in that section before you sit to take the official ACT exam.

6. Skip the Questions That Require Too Much Time

Pay attention to any questions that are taking up too much of your time on the ACT exam. You must do your best to answer as many questions as possible in the stipulated time. If you spend ten minutes on one problem, you are wasting time you could have spent on ten questions! As soon as you recognize that a problem is going to take up a significant amount of time, mark it and come back to later. You can always work on it at the end with any time leftover.

7. Check Your Work

If you finish one of the test sections before time has run out, you can use this spare time to go over your answers and double-check them for accuracy. As you work, you can also strategize by marking questions you are unsure of or had to guess on. If you have time at the end of the section, you can come back to these questions first. Checking your work can make a big difference in your score!

8. Come Prepared on Exam Day

Be prepared on exam day! You should arrive well-rested and confident that you have worked hard to prepare for the ACT exam. It is also a good idea to eat a healthy breakfast and get to the testing center early to avoid missing the start time. It would be advisable to arrive 20 to 30 minutes prior to sign in and get settled. It is also important that you show up on your official exam day with all of the material you need. This includes a calculator, your photo ID card, a pencil (or two), and your test ticket.

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