What is an ACT Practice Test? A College Counselor’s Guide to Acing It
As your junior year of high school begins, you are looking ahead to something major: the ACT test. This test is a big deal, measuring what you’ve learned in your education up until now and assessing your readiness for college.
If you’re feeling intimidated, you’re not alone. The good news is that there are numerous resources available for ACT preparation, including counseling, study materials, and practice tests. In this prep guide, we’ll review everything you need to succeed on test day -- even if it's just for practice.
What is The ACT Prep Test?
The idea behind the practice ACT is pretty straightforward: students complete a practice version of the ACT, with the real time constraints and other expectations that they’ll be required to fulfill during the real test. This gives them the chance to hone their skills, especially in weaker areas of knowledge, and prepare for the conditions on test day.
Just like the real ACT, the prep test consists of four timed sections as well as an optional writing assignment:
Section 1: English (75 questions, 45 minutes)
Section 2: Math (60 questions, 60 minutes)
Section 3: Reading (40 questions, 35 minutes)
Section 4: Science (40 questions, 35 minutes)
Option Section 5: one essay (40 minutes)
You can take the prep test once or many times — as many times as it takes you to feel prepared. Most students take practice tests two or three times before they feel like they have enough of a grasp for the real thing.
Why is it Important to Prepare For The Official ACT?
The ACT is a big deal, measuring what you have learned up until high school and assessing your readiness for college. Just because you have already learned the material — or most of it — doesn’t mean you should go in blind. Here are a few reasons why you should consider taking the ACT practice test.
1. It Offers The Chance to Get Familiar With The Test Environment
Taking a big test is scarier, but it is only scarier if you are walking in with no preparation. Getting familiar with the testing environment, the time limits for each section, and even how the questions are organized all help you feel more comfortable and know what to expect on test day.
2. It Pinpoints Areas That Need More Study
Don't feel disheartened if your initial test scores don't meet your goal. This offers the chance to pinpoint the parts of the test that need more attention in your studies.
3. It Gives You a Chance to Take a Full-Length Practice Test
Believe it or not, a three-hour test can be exhausting. Practice tests help you develop more stamina and offer insights into what you can do to pace yourself and be more comfortable.
4. It Helps You Develop Test-Taking Strategies
There is more than one way to take a test -- in fact, most people have their strategy that they develop over time. Taking practice tests gives you the chance to develop and practice those strategies in real time.
5. It Has Proven Results
Research shows that retesting helps improve scores by helping students feel more comfortable and conduct a targeted study beforehand.
When Can You Take The Official ACT Prep Test?
You can take the prep test whenever it is offered near you, starting as early as 10th grade and into your senior year. You can, of course, take the actual ACT test up to 12 times, although this isn’t a practical option for most people.
You will probably find prep tests offered in your area on test dates every few months, so you can find one that fits your schedule and test readiness. Make sure to sign up well in advance, as spots usually fill up quickly.
Can You Take The ACT Online?
You can also take a free ACT practice test online whenever you like. The online test lets you do practice questions under a time limit or at your own pace. This can be a huge bonus for people who prefer to study at home or who want to save some money.
Just like with the in-person practice ACT, the online practice test offers sample questions like the ones you'll see on test day. This gives you the chance to familiarize yourself both with the material and with the kind of questions you'll be dealing with.
The Best Way to Test Prep For Your ACT Practice Test
With all this in mind, how do you sit down and study effectively as you get ready for your practice ACT? Here are a few rock-solid tips to get you started.
Get Familiar With The Structure of The Test
The ACT is probably structured differently from any test you have taken before. Getting familiar with the way it is set up, including how questions are phrased, can help you feel more comfortable on test day. It will also keep you attuned to small details that might have tripped you up without preparation.
Pinpoint Weak Areas
Everyone has educational strengths and weaknesses. Be honest with yourself and reflect on the areas where you struggle academically. The perfect way to do this is to look at past practice scores and see where you scored poorly -- then reformulate your study plan to focus on those areas.
Develop Consistent Habits
Except the essay portion, the ACT is entirely multiple choice. As you prepare, practice consistent habits that work for you. Some people go in order and use a process of elimination to find the right answer. Others prefer to answer the easy questions first and return to the harder ones later. Whatever your method is, practice it until it is second nature!
Find The Right Study Strategy and Make a Study Guide
Everyone learns differently, so if a study strategy doesn't work for you, find a new one. Some people use flashcards, while others don't find them helpful. Doing practice tests, reading specialized prep books, using memorization strategies -- these are just a few of the countless ways to study.
What Other Preparation Materials Are Available?
You will likely spend a year or more preparing to take the actual ACT test. But that doesn’t mean you have to rely on only the practice tests to prepare. There are many other materials available to help you prepare for the types of questions you will be asked, as well as the material itself. These range from online courses to study aids, tutoring, and much more.
How Growing Minds Can Help
Preparing for the ACT exam can feel overwhelming. Growing Minds offers curated tutoring and preparation services for students preparing to take their exams and planning for college. Our website is widely known as a trusted authority in college readiness and standardized testing planning, having helped thousands of students succeed in school and beyond. Contact us today to learn more!
