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Mbbs 21 Aug, 2024
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How to Prepare for the ACT: Comprehensive Guide - Every year, millions of students take the ACT in the hopes of getting into their preferred institutions in the United States and a few other countries. To achieve high scores on the ACT, a precise systematic study strategy, understanding of preparatory resources, and section-specific study recommendations are required.
Success on the ACT entrance exam is determined by how well you prepare for it. High scores on the ACT are critical since they decide whether or not you will be able to attend your preferred institution. As a result, it is critical to evaluate all elements and put up your best efforts to study for the ACT exam in a systematic manner.
The ACT is a test of your information gathered during your school years, so hurrying won't help. You can only ace the exam if you understand the principles and basics. After enrolling and selecting a date for the ACT, allow yourself adequate time to prepare.
The ACT exam consists of two parts: a multiple-choice examination divided into four sections, and an optional writing exam. The multiple choice questions are designed to measure students' knowledge and abilities in four subjects: English, Mathematics, Reading, and Science.
Practising with official ACT practice tests is an excellent approach to learn about the format of questions and passages that may be given on the actual exam. Make sure you practise well before the exam. Taking the free ACT examinations can help you discover your strengths and areas for improvement.
Make sure you pick a reasonable goal depending on the time you have for preparation. To calculate how many hours you should prepare each week, divide the total number of prep hours you believe you need by the number of weeks until the test. Thus, if you need to study 80 hours and there are 12 weeks before the test, you should attempt to study around 6 hours and 40 minutes every week.
The ACT, like the SAT, is a standardised exam that many universities employ as part of their admissions process. Many institutions in the United States accept both the SAT and the ACT, so choosing which exam to take is a highly individualised decision based on a variety of variables.
Some students may feel that the ACT is more suited to their learning styles or academic ideas they are more familiar with. For example, the SAT does not have a Science component, but the ACT does. Students may believe that their talents in science make them ideal candidates for the ACT.
Practising with official ACT practice tests is an excellent approach to learn about the format of questions and passages that may be given on the actual exam. Make sure you practise well before the exam. Taking the free ACT examinations can help you discover your strengths and areas for improvement.
Make sure you pick a reasonable goal depending on the time you have for preparation. To calculate how many hours you should prepare each week, divide the total number of prep hours you believe you need by the number of weeks until the test. Thus, if you need to study 80 hours and there are 12 weeks before the test, you should attempt to study around 6 hours and 40 minutes every week.
Now that we've covered the step-by-step technique of preparing for the ACT, we'll move on to the subject-specific preparation strategy. Each portion of the ACT exam emphasises a collection of subject-specific abilities, therefore the strategy for each subject must be unique.
The English section of the ACT is made up of 75 multiple choice questions. These questions are based on passages, and a candidate must finish them within 45 minutes.
Practise With Official ACT Tests: Acquaint yourself with the kind of questions asked by taking an ACT practice test. This will help you understand the style of the questions better so you aren’t in for any surprises on the exam day.
Learn and grasp all of the essential high school grammar rules, including sentence structure and construction, punctuation, and use. When tackling a question under this area, always follow the guidelines rather than what "sounds right."
Develop the habit of reading 'thoroughly'. Practice reading the passages and sentences thoroughly. The questions in this section are based on the passages, thus it is critical that you develop the habit of reading extensively.
Review and Analyse Your Answers: Practice questions on a regular basis, and thoroughly examine each one. Most sample papers include an answer key alongside the questions. Make sure to examine each erroneous response to determine where you are falling behind.
Time yourself before the exam: Attempting 75 questions in 45 minutes gives you around 30 seconds to answer each question. Make sure you have a stopwatch with you whenever you sit down to practise.
Do not rush through or take this section lightly. The English subject may be one of the top scoring portions for pupils. Therefore, do not rush during its preparation. Revise key topics and practise. Remember that high scores in this area might affect your total average score.
This phase consists of 40 questions, which candidates must answer within 35 minutes. The questions are primarily based on the supplied excerpts.
6 Effective Tips for ACT Reading Section Preparation
Here are some recommendations to assist you improve your efficiency when preparing for this part.
Take an official ACT reading practice exam. This will allow you to become acquainted with the style of questions.
Carefully review and analyse your answers: Consider your response carefully. Pay careful attention to inaccurate or guesswork-based replies.
Instil the habit of reading consciously: When preparing for the section, be sure to read mindfully. Be aware of the links between concepts as you read. You may take notes on crucial topics in the texts.
Watch out for the clock. Attempting 40 questions in 35 minutes might be daunting, especially if the texts are complex. Always keep an eye on your watch while practicing.
Begin by reading the questions first. Try reading the questions first, then the paragraph. This would provide you a clear image of where you should seek for the right solution.
Refer to the passage while selecting the answer: If you are unsure about the possibilities, always refer to the texts. Don't be afraid to revisit the key points.
In this segment, students must answer 40 questions based on scientific passages in 35 minutes. The science questions are based on scientific scenarios presented to students. 6 Effective Tips for ACT Science Section Preparation
These are some of the most significant recommendations that will help you prepare for the Science section:
Understand the Basic Concepts of Science: This part may not assess specific scientific knowledge. However, brushing up on the foundations of biology, chemistry, and physics is very essential.
Learn about scientific studies and data: The passages in this area are presented in the form of research summaries, data representation, and opposing opinions. To become acquainted with the language and facts, consider reading several scientific papers in journals.
Identify Your Weak Areas: By answering many practice questions, you will be able to determine your weak areas. In the days leading up to the exam, work on improving them.
It is really important to read and examine information carefully. Scientific data is provided to you in the form of text, tables, graphs, or figures. Read and evaluate them carefully to understand the relationships between the variables.
Timing Yourself: Because time is limited, it is critical that you practise questions with a timer. This will be really helpful on your final exam.
This is an optional portion of the ACT exam in which students have 40 minutes to compose an essay about a specified prompt. Here are some strategies to help you perform better on the ACT writing exam:
Read and Understand the Perspectives Carefully in Everyday Life: Everyday life offers us with a variety of contentious situations. Read analytical articles, participate in conversations, and watch TV/news debates to help you think critically about various points of view in connection to your own.
Take an ACT Writing Practice Test: This will give you an idea of how and what types of opposing viewpoints you may encounter on the real exam. Reading and contemplating the example prompt material can help you comprehend the problem, the many viewpoints on it, and your essay assignment.
Practice, practice, practice. Practise writing on various topics and for diverse audiences. This will help you improve your expressiveness, linguistic flow, and organisational skills.
Plan your essay well. Structure or outline your essay in accordance with the prompt. This will assist you define the essay's flow. The outline should be focused on making your argument and its essential points obvious.
Focus on Clarity of Thought: To make your essay successful, ensure that your thoughts are well-organised. You do not need to employ fancy words; instead, focus on efficiently delivering the message. You can support the concepts with relevant examples and strong reasoning.
Time yourself: You are given only 40 minutes to write the essay. When practicing at home, make sure you stick to the deadline.
The ACT Math Section consists of 60 questions that must be solved within 60 minutes. These questions are asked in a multiple-choice format, with five possibilities per question. 6 Effective Tips for ACT Math Section Preparation.
The following ACT Math preparation ideas will help you enhance your performance:
Learn the Basic Mathematical formulae: The Math portion cannot be attempted until the key formulae are memorised. Memorise the formulae by heart and constantly refining.
Practice with official ACT tests. The official ACT Math test might help you become acquainted with the types of questions in this area. Once you understand the format of these questions, you may prepare accordingly.
Focus on your weakest areas: Practicing questions will help you discover and improve your weaker areas. Make careful to practise solving as many problems as possible.
Perfect your time management: You will have less than one minute to answer each question. So, schedule yourself accordingly and focus on your speed.
Learn Important Calculation Tricks and Shortcuts. Learning strategies and formulae for addressing certain difficulties will allow you to solve them faster. This frees up time for more sophisticated issues.
Concentrate on solving the problem: Try not to work backwards, examining the solutions first before attempting to solve the problem. This might waste a lot of your time.
Before we conclude our preparation guide, here are a few brief last-minute ACT preparation recommendations. These will be useful a few days or hours before the exam:
Revise key ideas for many parts, particularly those related to maths and English grammar.
Concentrate on improving your weak areas and correcting mistakes.
Take at least one full-length ACT exam the week before the test. This will help you psychologically prepare for the long exam.
Pay attention to timing yourself and getting it perfect.
Do not attempt to study new ideas just before the exam. This may increase your workload, which may have a detrimental influence on your performance.
Get enough rest and eat healthily the night before the exam.
Keep Calm just before taking the exam.
A devoted and focused ACT preparation can help you score well and get into the institution of your choice. As a result, make every effort to thoroughly prepare for the exam. Take it as a learning opportunity and enjoy the process. Contact our PW Study Abroad Counsellors for further information on how to prepare for the ACT exam.
Q.1. Is three months enough to study for the ACT?
A: As a general guideline, start studying at least three months before you expect to take the ACT; if you want to improve by more than ten points, allow at least six months.
Q.2. What is the most difficult subject on the ACT?
A: However, many students believe that the science and maths parts are the most difficult.
Q.3. Is an ACT score of 19 considered good?
A: Each section's test score ranges from 1 to 36: Below-average score range: 1–16. Average score range: 17–24. Above-average score range: 25-36.
Q.4. What is the lowest ACT score possible?
A: The minimum ACT score is 1, while the maximum score is 36.
