ACT Exam Day 13th July – Test-taking strategy

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Preparing for the ACT can be daunting, but having a solid test-taking strategy can make a significant difference. Here are some strategies to help you perform your best on test day:

Before the Test

  1. Get a Good Night’s Sleep: Ensure you get at least 8 hours of sleep before the test day. Being well-rested will help you focus and think more clearly.
  2. Eat a Healthy Breakfast: Eat a balanced breakfast that includes protein, carbohydrates, and healthy fats to keep your energy levels steady.
  3. Arrive Early: Plan to arrive at the test center early to avoid any last-minute stress. Bring your admission ticket, a photo ID, pencils, an eraser, an approved calculator, and a watch.

During the Test

General Tips

  1. Pace Yourself: Keep track of time and pace yourself to ensure you have enough time to answer all questions. Use a watch or the clock in the room.
  2. Read Instructions Carefully: Always read the instructions for each section carefully to avoid simple mistakes.
  3. Answer Every Question: There is no penalty for guessing on the ACT, so make sure to answer every question, even if you have to guess.
  4. Stay Calm and Focused: If you start to feel anxious, take a few deep breaths to calm down and refocus.

English Section

  1. Read the Passage First: Quickly read the passage to get a general understanding before answering questions.
  2. Focus on Grammar and Style: Pay attention to grammar, punctuation, and sentence structure. Look for the most concise and clear answers.
  3. Eliminate Wrong Answers: Narrow down your choices by eliminating obviously incorrect answers.

Math Section

  1. Know the Formulas: Familiarize yourself with commonly used formulas. The ACT does not provide a formula sheet.
  2. Work on Easy Problems First: Quickly answer the questions you find easy, then go back to the more challenging ones.
  3. Use Your Calculator Wisely: Use your calculator for complex calculations, but don’t rely on it for simple arithmetic.

Reading Section

  1. Skim the Passage: Skim the passage to get the main idea and then read the questions. Refer back to the passage for specific details.
  2. Practice Active Reading: Highlight or underline key points and make notes in the margins to help you remember important information.
  3. Manage Your Time: Spend about 8-9 minutes per passage and its questions to ensure you complete the section on time.

Science Section

  1. Interpret Graphs and Tables: Focus on understanding the graphs, tables, and scientific data presented.
  2. Read the Questions First: Read the questions before the passage to know what information to look for.
  3. Ignore Unfamiliar Terms: If you encounter unfamiliar scientific terms, don’t panic. Focus on the data and context to answer the questions.

After the Test

  1. Review Your Performance: After the test, take note of which sections you found challenging. This will help you prepare better if you need to retake the test.
  2. Relax and Reward Yourself: Regardless of how you feel about your performance, take some time to relax and reward yourself for your hard work and effort.

By following these strategies, you can approach the ACT with confidence and perform to the best of your ability. The ACT exam is on 13th July you still have 8 – 10 days for last-minute preparation time. You can practice these strategies by taking the last official ACT practice test, scoring, and getting the diagnostic report. Socrato also provides the diagnostic report of the Official ACT practice test. The Diagnostic report will give you the approximate expected score as well as the subject and topic analysis to create a cheat sheet for formulas as well as keep points.  Whatever your test scores are you should relax and reward yourself for all your hard work.

 Good luck!