ACT 2026 Preparation Tips: Top Tips to Take the ACT Test

Yes, a two-month preparation period for the ACT may be sufficient. You need to:

• Possess a strong understanding of the subjects being tested (English, Math, Reading, Science).
• Are prepared to commit considerable time and effort to consistent study.
• Employ effective study techniques and utilize high-quality resources.
• Concentrate on your areas of weakness and engage in regular practice with official materials.
• Complete several practice tests under timed conditions to enhance stamina and become accustomed to the test format.

Yes, ACT exam is generally considered difficult. Here are the reasons for the same:

• ACT tests American English usage and conventions differ from the British English commonly taught in India. Hence, it becomes really difficult for students to follow the same pronunciation and colloquial terms as in the USA. 
• The passages in the Reading section of the ACT test contain references to the US culture, which might not be familiar to Indian students.
• The Science section in the ACT test focuses on data interpretation and graph analysis, rather than pure scientific concepts. This contradicts with the Indian system in where the stress is more on learning scientific concepts rather than data interpretation and graph analysis.
• ACT test offers very little time to perform on each section, which can be challenging for Indian students, especially if English isn't their first language. 

If the applicant has chosen to appear for ACT exam, then he/she needs to first devise their strategy of preparation. ACT preparation may seem difficult for some while the others may be easy for others. Applicants need to first check how much are they prepared to give the exam. In case the applicants have some confidence in any one or maybe two sections of the ACT, they can easily prepare for the third section of ACT and prepare easily in a month's time. 

This should be the ideal strategy of ACT exam preparation if aiming for a month:

• Attempt mocks and check how much preparation you need and then identify the green and red areas. 
• Identify the topics or areas which need maximum help in terms of prep.
• After the applicants have identified the areas that need maximum preparation, they should devote time to it and work on it. 
• Keep revising the strong sections or topics at regular time period or on alternate days so that they keep in touch.
• Finally, attempt mocks so that they help the applicant in understanding their progress overall, plus they are able to target those areas of lapse also.

Following these tips, applicants can prepare for ACT exam in a month's time. 

The best way to prepare for the English section of ACT exam focus on grammar, practice with official ACT study materials, writing rules and answer in time limit. If you do this the battle is half won.

Honestly, best way is simple: Read a lot! A solid, regular reading habit is most effective tool for doing well in ACT reading and writing sections. You can pick up some literary novels or read a newspaper regularly.

There are just a couple of tips that one must keep in mind before preparing for ACT exam:

• Check the ACT exam syllabus first, mark the topics where the students are confident enough and mark those where they lack confidence.
• See how much time will you take to prepare for ACT and then begin preparing for the exam based on the timeline keeping the above point in mind.
• Setting up a schedule and making a timetable and following it is must to crack plus prepare for ACT.
• A separate time must be kept for attempting mock exams.
• Those who still need mocks should keep a week or two for extra preparation. 

The difficulty of the Maths section of the ACT exam can be perceived differently by students as it is subject and is based on the personal strengths and weaknesses of students in particular sections and topics. The most difficult questions of the Maths section of the ACT test are found towards the end of the section. Hence, it can be said that the difficulty and level of questions asked on the ACT exam increase gradually as the test progresses. 

It covers high school math. You will see Algebra and a lot of Geometry. Questions about shapes and coordinates are common. There is also some basic Trigonometry. You do not need Calculus. You need to memorize the formulas because they don't give them to you. Speed is key here.

The ACT exam comprises of Maths problems learned up till and from the level of class 11th Maths. The topics included on the Maths section of the ACT exam thus are: pre, elementary and intermediate algebra, coordinate and plane geometry, trigonometry, complex equations, etc. 

It is fast but not "hard" like a puzzle. The biggest challenge is time pressure. You must answer 40 questions in just 35 minutes. The questions are usually straightforward but you don't have time to read slowly. You must skim to finish on time.

Guessing the answers on the ACT exam is not encouraged or recommended by the testing authorities as this is not an effective approach. However, you can make educated guesses if required; here's how:

1. Read your question thoroughly and skim through the passage.
2. Eliminate the wrong answer choices first based on your quick analysis of the paragraph and question. 
3. Prioritise answering the line-based questions first as they provide opportunities to be direct on your answering approach without taking much of your time.
4. Choose the answer that is most supported by the passage. 

The best way to prepare for the ACT exam is to start by taking a diagnostic test to identify your strengths and weaknesses. Then, focus your study on the areas where you need the most improvement, utilising official ACT practice materials and guides. Regular practice with timed practice tests will help you build strategy and improve your pacing for exam day.

An ACT score of 17.5 is an average score and may not be accepted everywhere. This may not be accepted for admission at top universities. Aiming for ACT score above 20 would improve your admission selection. So try and score around 20 or above.

Two months can be enough for ACT preparation if you study every day little bit. But some students take longer if their basics are weak. This will vary on the individual skills also.

To prepare for ACT essay you should read everyday. On the test day read the question properly and then write. Give a proper logic and back it with examples. You must practice writing in different ways.

To achieve a top score on the ACT essay, you must:

1. carefully analyse the prompt to understand the different perspectives and formulate your own nuanced argument.
2. develop your position with strong reasoning and specific examples, clearly articulating your analysis of the given perspectives.
3. organise your essay logically with a clear introduction, body paragraphs that develop your points, and a concluding summary, all while demonstrating proficient language use.

To improve your ACT test scores by 10 points, you need to identify the areas of your weakness and strengths abnd then work accordingly on your weaker areas. Using the official ACT study materials and strategies, consistent practising with timed sections, and reviewing incorrect answers can help you a lot in getting good marks on the ACT.

You begin ACT preparation by checking the syllabus, solving practice tests, and learning timing tricks. Start slow and then do more tests later. Following this can help one in getting a desired score.

No. Some resource is available which is useful for ACT preparation:

• There are official ACT Prep Guides avaialble online which can be used for preparation.
• ACT Test Guides
• Kaplan's online self-paced course for ACT prep.
• Online test prep for applicants abroad. 

Many students use online practice tests because they are free. Websites like Shiksha Study Abroad are helpful. Just make sure the content is updated for this year. Old questions might be wrong format. You can watch videos to understand concepts. Books are heavy, online is easier. Just be careful of fake sites.

Prep material for ACT exam is to aid students in their preparation for the exam. Thus, applicants should not keep any expectations like - if the questions they come across in ACT prep material will come as it is in the ACT exam or if the questions are the same as that of ACT prep material, maybe the options maybe shuffled in the main paper. The material will only help students in gaining momentum for their exam preparation and based on their preparation, they will be able to appear for the main exam confidently.

In order to prepare for ACT optional writing section, applicants will have to prepare on various topics to test how they write and get them evaluated from their school teachers for a genuine and productive feedback. Check out if your writing practice is up to the mark by attempting these topics:

• Human Intelligence vs Artificial Intelligence
• Inflation and its Repurcussions
• Benefits of Reading Literature
• Technological Advancements: A Boon or Bane for Modern Society

ACT preparation may be difficult for a few students, while it may not be for some other. There are four sections on ACT and its not mandatory that all students are pro in all sections. Some applicants may have a strong point in Math and Science while others may find Reading and Writing easier. Thus, it completely depends upon the candidate where he/she is comfortable, hence the ACT prep will be easier for stronger sections and difficult for not so confident areas.

If the syllabus of ACT is similar to the topics available in the NCERT, Indian applicants can readily prepare for ACT from there. This can prove to be another resource material for the applicants if preparing for ACT from NCERTs and there may be more questions available for practice as well. 

Honestly, best way is simple: Read a lot! A solid, regular reading habit is most effective tool for doing well in ACT reading and writing sections. You can pick up some literary novels or read a newspaper regularly.

Maths is all about practice and ACT Math syllabus tests all major topics tested in high school. Thus, there is only one solution, begin preparing for ACT Maths section well before time, as soon as you leave school and look for some good resources to brush up your basics. Once your basics are clear you will not face issues in cracking the ACT Math section questions. Maths for weaker students may be laborious but preparing for it before hand with ample practice can prove beneficial. One should begin Maths section preparation atleast three months prior to ACT exam date. 

Applicants should begin preparing for ACT exam a month or two prior to the ACT exam date preferably. However, those applicants who are weaker in any of the four sections of either Reading, Writing, Maths or Science can begin preparing for ACT slightly earlier based on their previous knowledge or preparation. Max to max one should keep atleast two months in hand in this scenario. Plus more time would be needed to attempt mocks as well.

There are just a couple of tips that one must keep in mind before preparing for ACT exam:

• Check the ACT exam syllabus first, mark the topics where the students are confident enough and mark those where they lack confidence.
• See how much time will you take to prepare for ACT and then begin preparing for the exam based on the timeline keeping the above point in mind.
• Setting up a schedule and making a timetable and following it is must to crack plus prepare for ACT.
• A separate time must be kept for attempting mock exams.
• Those who still need mocks should keep a week or two for extra preparation. 

The pattern for both ACT and SAT  examination similar and both the examination hold equal value. 

There is no comparison of which one is easy, it totally depends upon the strength of the candidates. 

ACT has a Science section that need a well understanding and quick pace however SAT is more of a math based examination. 

The duration of SAT is three hours while that of ACT is two hours and forty five minutes. 

SAT question paper is divided into sections - Reading, Writing and Language, Calculative and non calculative math. 

ACT question paper is divided into sections - English, Math, Reading and Science.

Students can choose from their strengths and weaknesses that which of the two is their cup of tea . 

To know more about the examination, refer to the official website.

Learn the grammar rules really well. The commas and periods need to be focused on especially. It is not just about reading; you need to spot the sentence structure errors. Speed is important. Practice reading fast. Always look at the context of the whole paragraph before choosing.

Honestly, no. The test is very fast. Time management is the hardest part. Without practice it can be difficult to crack ACT exam too. ACT exam preparation is a long term practice and it takes time to hone skills in order to crack the ACT exam. So make sure that you begin preparation for ACT exam and not just rely on over confidence to crack the exam.

To get high score on ACT Reading section, you must begin practice with passages, sourced from official practice tests. Identify the main ideaa and structure of each passage provided to you. Then attempt questions for answering.

Since questions on the Reading section of the ACT exam are based on reading and comprehension, you must majorly focus on actively reading multiple passages, access the official PTE study materials and practice tests and understanding the type of questions asked from the given passages, enhance your vocabulary and practice time management.