How to Take the ACT

The ACT is probably considered the most important test that any high school student wishing to get into college can take, its importance being rivaled only by the SAT.
There are many books, workshops, and even online practice tests that you can take to help raise your score. But, some of these methods cost money, and all of them cost time.
So, how do you do well on the ACT without wasting money and time? It’s all about the mindset.

I’m a fairly average student with a 3.8 GPA. I can be extremely lazy in class, and barely manage to get by with almost all A’s. Why take advice from me.

Because I took the ACT three times, and made a 27, 30, and 30. It honestly isn’t the best score you can get, but if you’re struggling to get a 25, then this advice is for you.

1. Does Being Well Rested Help?

    I honestly don’t think it does. I spent the nights before the 30s out, and only slept for a couple of hours. Maybe a lack of sleep is better for some. If you are out all night, just remember to make it the testing place on time. Actually showing up can definitely raise your chances of a good score.

2. Eating a good breakfast is great for the ACT

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   Have you heard that a lot? I don’t really think it helps since I’ve never eaten breakfast before taking it. If skipping breakfast gives you some more time to nap before you rush off to take the test, than enjoy your satin sheets.

3. Studying Every Night For Days on End

   This is the one everyone says helps. Many friends of mine have done this, and none of them have raised their scores. Even the workshops aren’t very helpful. So, save your money and time and spend on something you actually want to do.

4. Skipping The Ones You Don’t Know

   … and come  back to them if you have time. To me, this is the most important one of them all. I have never skipped a problem, and if I took it again, I never would. If I ever did skip one, I would think about that one problem, and end up not focusing on the rest of the problems until I went back to that one. If you don’t know it, just pick what you think is the best one. The way I look at it, if I don’t know it, the answer isn’t going to magically appear in my thoughts later.

5. Read the Questions Before Reading the Stories

   I would never do that. The reading is usually either really easy for some, or really hard for others. No one has really ever said that it’s ok. It’s the way you look at it. Just relax, and enjoy the mediocre stories. Read through it at your own pace and don’t try and rush. If you rush, you’ll skip over important information a question might ask for. And if you read it all, you’ll usually remember it while reading the questions.

And that’s that! The only advice I can give in a list that’s almost telling you the opposite of what to do. This advice may not be for all. Follow at your own discretion. I just found that this method worked for me, and it may work for others. Happy Testing!

And remember the most important advice of all, if you go in thinking you’ll do good, you will.