The 30-Day ACT Crash Course: Your Intensive Prep Guide

Only got a month until the ACT? No worries! In this guide, we offer you our best tips and advice on how to study for the ACT in a month. First, we’ll discuss the feasibility of a one-month ACT prep plan and the four critical steps you must take to get started. Then, we’ll provide you with our best high-impact tips to help you get the ACT score you need for college.

Can You Study for the ACT in a Month? In short, yes, you can study for the ACT in a month—but how you manage your time will play a big role in how high of a score you ultimately get. Additionally, the feasibility of your plan will depend on how big of a point improvement you want to make, based on your baseline and goal scores (I’ll explain both of these in more detail shortly).

Generally speaking, how long should you study for the ACT? Below are our estimates for total point improvements on the ACT based on the number of study hours you put in:

• 0-1 point improvement: 10 hours
• 1-2 point improvement: 20 hours
• 2-4 point improvement: 40 hours
• 4-6 point improvement: 80 hours
• 6-9 point improvement: 150 hours+

Week 1: Diagnostic and Goal Setting

 Day 1: Take a Diagnostic Test Objective: Establish a baseline to identify your strengths and weaknesses. Action: Take a full-length ACT practice test under timed conditions. Outcome: Analyze your results to pinpoint areas that need the most improvement.

Day 2: Set Clear Goals Objective: Define your target score and create a roadmap. Action: Based on your diagnostic test, set realistic and specific score goals for each section. Outcome: Develop a detailed study schedule that includes daily and weekly goals.

Days 3-7: Build Core Skills in English and Math English:

• Review grammar rules, punctuation, sentence structure, and rhetorical skills.
• Practice with sample questions and passages.

Math:

• Review fundamental concepts in algebra, geometry, and trigonometry.
• Solve practice problems focusing on identified weak areas.

Daily Routine:

• Morning: 1-2 hours of English practice.
• Afternoon: 1-2 hours of Math practice.
• Evening: 1 hour reviewing mistakes and understanding concepts.

Week 2: Deep Dive into Reading and Science

Day 8-11: Reading Strategies Objective: Enhance reading comprehension and speed. Action: Practice active reading techniques: annotating, summarizing, and predicting. Outcome: Improve your ability to identify the main ideas, themes, and author’s purpose.

Day 12-14: Science Reasoning Objective: Develop skills in interpreting data and scientific reasoning. Action: Familiarize yourself with different types of science passages and practice extracting information from graphs, tables, and charts. Outcome: Increase speed and accuracy in answering science questions.

Daily Routine:

• Morning: 1-2 hours of Reading practice.
• Afternoon: 1-2 hours of science practice.
• Evening: 1 hour reviewing mistakes and understanding concepts.

Day 15: Full-Length Practice Test Objective:

 Monitor progress and refine strategies. Action: Take a full-length ACT practice test under timed conditions. Outcome: Analyze performance to identify improvements and areas that still need work.

Week 3: Intensive Practice and Review

 Day 16-18: Math and English Intensive Review Math:

• Focus on more advanced topics and mixed problem sets. English:
• Continue practicing grammar, punctuation, and rhetorical skills with mixed question sets.

Day 19-21: Reading and Science Intensive Review Reading:

• Practice with diverse passages to improve timing and accuracy. Science:
• Work on efficiency in interpreting scientific data under timed conditions.

Daily Routine:

• Morning: 2 hours of mixed subject practice.
• Afternoon: 2 hours focusing on weakest areas identified in practice tests.
• Evening: 1 hour reviewing mistakes and solidifying understanding.

Day 22: Focused Practice Test Objective:

 Apply learned strategies and ensure consistency. Action: Take a practice test focusing on the weakest sections. Outcome: Review answers to refine strategies and correct mistakes.

Week 4: Final Refinement and Simulation

 Day 23-25: Targeted Practice and Review Objective: Strengthen weakest areas. Action: Dedicate extra time to the sections where you scored lowest in practice tests. Outcome: Solidify understanding and improve accuracy and speed.

Day 26: Full-Length Practice Test Objective: Simulate test day conditions. Action: Take your final full-length practice test under realistic conditions. Outcome: Focus on applying all strategies and maintaining endurance.

Day 27-28: Light Review and Mental Preparation Objective: Ensure readiness without cramming. Action: Light review of key concepts and strategies. Outcome: Keep your mind fresh and avoid burnout.

Day 29-30: Rest and Final Preparations Objective: Be physically and mentally prepared for test day. Action: Ensure adequate sleep, nutritious meals, and relaxation. Outcome: Approach test day with a calm and confident mindset.

Here’s the summary of the 30 day ACT study plan day by day.

Week	Day	Focus	Activities
Week1	Day1	Diagnostic Test	– Take a full-length timed ACT practice test- Analyze results to identify strengths and weaknesses
	Day2	Goal Setting	– Set realistic and specific score goals for each ACT section – Develop a detailed 30-day study schedule
	Day 3 – 7	English & Math Fundamentals	– Review grammar, punctuation, sentence structure, rhetorical skills – Practice English questions and passages – Review algebra, geometry, trigonometry concepts – Solve math practice problems in weak areas – Daily routine: 1-2 hrs English, 1-2 hrs Math, 1 hr review
Week2	Day 8 – 11	Reading Strategies	– Practice active reading techniques (annotating, summarizing, predicting) – Improve identifying main ideas, themes, author’s purpose
	Day 12 -14	Science Reasoning	– Familiarize with science passage types – Practice extracting data from graphs, tables, charts – Increase speed and accuracy on science questions – Daily routine: 1-2 hrs Reading, 1-2 hrs Science, 1 hr review 15 Full-Length Practice Test- Take a timed, full-length ACT practice exam – Analyze performance to identify improvements and remaining weaknesses
	Day 15th	Full-Length Practice Test	– Take a timed, full-length ACT practice exam – Analyze performance to identify improvements and remaining weaknesses
Week 3	Day 16 – 18	Intensive Math & English Review	– Focus on advanced math topics and mixed problem sets – Continue practicing grammar, punctuation, rhetorical skills
	Day 19 – 21	Intensive Reading & Science Review	– Practice with diverse reading passages to build timing and accuracy – Work on efficiency in interpreting scientific data under time constraints – Daily routine: 2 hrs mixed practice, 2 hrs on weak areas, 1 hr review
	Day 22	Focused Practice Test	– Take a practice test focused on weakest sections – Review answers to refine strategies and correct mistakes
Week 4	Day 23 – 25	Targeted Practice & Review	– Dedicate extra time to strengthen lowest scoring sections
	26	Full-Length Simulation	– Take a final full-length practice test under realistic conditions – Apply all strategies and maintain endurance
	Day 27 – 28	Light Review & Prep	– Review key concepts and strategies – Avoid burnout through rest and mental preparation
	Day 29 -20	Rest & Final Prep	– Ensure adequate sleep, nutrition, and relaxation – Approach test day with confidence in your preparation

Test Day:

 Preparation: Gather all necessary materials the night before (admission ticket, photo ID, pencils, calculator, snacks, and water). Mindset: Approach the test with confidence, trust in your preparation, and stay calm.

By following this strategic one-month study plan, you can maximize your preparation time and significantly improve your ACT score. If you want the smart strategy to score your target score check the Socrato ebook Strategies-to-prepare-act-in-an-effective-way

If you like to score your ACT practice test and get the detailed diagnostic report you can check the Socrato bubble sheet processing and diagnostic report.