Some of the best colleges in America, including Georgetown, Syracuse, Yale, require prospective students to take the ACT as part of their rigorous admissions process.
While some institutions of higher learning suspended the requirement of submitting a standardized test score, many have decided that the ACT test is still valuable in judging college readiness and scholarship worthiness.
So with that in mind, these standardized tests are still a great way to boost your college application. Furthermore, you can take the ACT fully online in many cases, which increases access and availability.
So what can you do to get ready for the ACT?
In the following article, we’ll discuss some study tips for taking the ACT exam.
What Is the ACT Test?
The ACT, or American College Testing exam, was first offered in 1959 as an alternative to the SAT, or Scholastic Aptitude Test. You can take the standardized test six times a year and online. It consists of four parts: English, reading, mathematics, and science.
Each section is worth a maxim of 36 points, with a composite score issued for the entire exam.
There are many ways to prepare for the exam, but one of the best is to purchase a preparatory course or guide like the one offered by Tungsten Prep.
English Section Tips
Forty-five minutes of the ACT is dedicated to the English section, which is comprised of 75 questions. For most of these, you are selecting the correct answer based on its proper grammatical structure.
With any type of multiple-choice question, first, eliminate the answers you know are incorrect. Then, do everything you can not to guess.
Read the questions out loud and avoid answers that sound too conversational or colloquial. Don’t spend too much time on any one question; if you are stumped, come back to the question after finishing the rest of the questions.
Math Section Tips
For the math section, you should become familiar with your calculator to use it quickly and efficiently. But, again, don’t spend too much time on any one question.
Also, try not to guess. Eliminate the answers you know are incorrect and then concentrate on delineating the remaining answers.
Finally, if you take an ACT practice test, remember to focus on those sections where your knowledge needs improvement. Try to isolate and evaluate these skills early in the preparatory process to maximize your study time.
Reading Section Tips
The reading section consists of multiple-choice questions based o four non-fiction passages and one fiction readings. In this section, remember that you are looking for a complete answer, not just correct answers. Answers that seem too controversial or irrelevant are most likely incorrect.
Furthermore, read the passages, questions, and answers carefully so that your understanding of the passage and its message is complete.
Writing Section Tips
The writing section is optional, although some colleges and universities do require it. You have 40 minutes during this part of the exam to write a cohesive and persuasive essay based on a writing prompt.
When writing your essay, avoid statements that seem too extreme or are designed to shock. Also, make a rough draft (or at least an outline) of your essay on a piece of scrap paper.
Lastly, pay close attention to your sentence structure and grammatical constructions.
More Preparation
While the tips stated above will help improve your chances of ACT test success, the best way to prep is to purchase a tutoring program from a reputable vendor. However, be careful and read reviews of the test prep curriculum. Not all the programs are updated every year or are the proper resource for some learners.
Keep browsing this section for more education tips.