ACT test strategies and tips

ACT test strategies for pacing each section

ACT suggests a simple sum for each section: take the minutes you have, subtract the time you expect to spend reading the passages, and divide what’s left by the number of questions. That’s your target per question. Aim to beat it, so you have time to go back to the hard ones.

ACT says the time limits give nearly everyone enough time to finish. If a question stalls you, guess, flag it and move on. Once time is called on a section, you can’t go back to it.

The last column is our own arithmetic from ACT’s question counts and times, not an ACT figure.

Strategies for the questions

• Read each question carefully. Some take several steps, others are quick.
• Answer the easy questions first, then come back to the hard ones.
• On hard questions, compare the choices and cross out the ones you know are wrong, then make an educated guess.
• Answer every question. Your score counts only right answers.
• If you finish early, check your work in that section.
• On paper, fill in ovals carefully and erase completely. Stray marks can be scored wrong.
• Read the directions for each section before test day, so you don’t spend test time on them.

ACT test tips for the day before and test day

• Pack what ACT requires the night before (our test day page has the list) and plan to be inside by 8:00 a.m.
• Get a good night’s sleep, wear comfortable clothes and eat breakfast.
• Take a few slow breaths before you start, and listen to the directions. Ask if anything is unclear.
• On paper, keep the answer sheet next to the test booklet so you can mark answers quickly.

Are there last-minute ACT test strategies or tricks?

ACT doesn’t publish shortcuts. What it does stress for the last days is above: read the directions ahead of time, pace yourself, and guess instead of leaving blanks. Each section also has its own approach, on our section pages.

There’s no pass mark on the ACT either. Doing well means reaching the score the colleges on your list look for.