Overview
This lecture covers practical strategies and test-taking techniques to improve your ACT score, emphasizing preparation, efficiency, and common-sense approaches over expensive tutoring.
ACT Test-Taking Techniques
- Focus on technique and practice, not expensive tutoring or coaching, to improve ACT scores.
- Bubble in your answers at the end of each section to save time and reduce task-switching.
- Use a timer or watch to allocate time for answering, reviewing, and bubbling.
- When guessing, consistently pick the last answer choice (usually E or K) for better odds.
- Work on easier sections or passages first to build confidence and momentum.
- Warm up your brain on test day by reading aloud and doing a few practice questions before the exam.
- Taking a cold shower on test morning can improve alertness.
- If you run out of time, guess the same letter in a straight line for unanswered questions.
- Don’t let a tough section affect your performance on the rest of the test; keep moving forward.
- For ACT Science, focus on interpreting graphs and data, not memorizing science terminology.
- On the ACT Math section, move quickly through the early questions and save review for the end.
- Learn calculator shortcuts and tricks allowed on the test (e.g., converting decimals to fractions on the TI-84).
- Use test-approved calculators like the TI-84 or NumWorks for efficiency.
Study & Practice Strategies
- Take as many full-length practice tests as possible to build stamina and identify weaknesses.
- Track mistakes by question type and review errors to guide future practice.
- Use cheat sheets and targeted guides instead of textbooks for ACT preparation.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Bubble Sheet — The answer sheet where you fill circles to record test answers.
- Straight Line Guessing — Guessing the same answer choice for a series of unanswered questions.
- Cheat Sheet — A concise summary of key information and strategies for the test.
- Test-Approved Calculator — A calculator permitted for use on the ACT (e.g., TI-84, NumWorks).
Action Items / Next Steps
- Practice bubbling at the end on practice tests.
- Learn and practice using your calculator’s shortcuts.
- Complete several full-length practice ACTs and review mistakes.
- Prepare a cheat sheet with key strategies and question types.
- Bring a timer or watch to the test.