Strategies to Elevate Your ACT Score
The ACT is a crucial standardized test for college admissions in the United States. For many high school students, improving their ACT score is a key objective. This article explores various strategies, from school-led initiatives to individual approaches, to help students achieve their target scores.
School-Based Programs for ACT Improvement
High schools are increasingly focused on improving their students' ACT scores, recognizing the importance of these scores for college admissions and accountability. A study by the University of Northern Colorado research team investigated actions taken by principals to raise composite ACT scores. The study involved sending a questionnaire to seven high school principals in a suburban school district in Colorado, with six principals responding. The district was selected due to the diverse demographics of its high schools. Researchers identified three specific themes from the principals’ responses regarding their efforts to improve composite ACT high school scores: training programs, staff professional development, and communication.
Student Training Programs: Practice Makes Perfect
A common strategy employed by all six schools was the implementation of student training programs that allowed time for practice. Building-level leaders reported using ACT practice as one way to improve composite ACT school scores. The amount of time and frequency the practice was conducted varied by school, but a common theme was the use of ACT practice exams.
For example, the principal from high school A reported an emphasis had been made to “infuse ACT practice questions into our daily warm-ups for students in eleventh-grade English and math courses.” Additionally, the school gave students in ninth, tenth, and eleventh grades ACT practice tests in order to prepare students for the real test. The principal from high school D also said his school prepared students early for the ACT through the use of practice assessments for ninth, tenth, and eleventh grades. “Beginning in 2005 when I started as principal, we started giving the PLAN [a test written by the ACT] to all sophomore students in the fall. In 2007, we added the EXPLORE [test] and gave this exam to our freshmen.” The use of ACT practice tests was common in all schools, but only schools A and D reported using ACT practice tests in multiple grade levels.
Five of the six principals reported providing ACT review sessions at their school. The principal from high school C conveyed, “The learning center then provided a series of ACT preparation classes that students could pay for and take.” The number of review sessions provided varied by school. School B’s principal reported providing two sessions each consisting of two hours in length, plus the school offers a schoolwide ACT prep class for all juniors. School E’s principal reported offering “a four-day test prep during the state testing window for all juniors, focusing on ACT skills in reading, math, science, and English.” High school E also offered a 12-week test prep leading up to the ACT; 70 students participated by spending two-and-a-half hours a week. This was the most time any principal reported spending on ACT review sessions.
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Staff Professional Development: Building Confidence and Expertise
The principals at schools B and D reported providing staff professional development for ACT preparation. The principal at school B led staff through data analysis of ACT scores. “We compared our scores with scores from other high schools with similar SES [socioeconomic status]” as part of a staffwide effort to analyze performance for their school. “I attended the ACT conference every year and picked up different strategies to share with staff through [professional development],” stated the principal at school D.
Communication: Engaging Stakeholders
Effective communication among students, teachers, parents, and administrators is crucial for fostering a supportive environment for ACT preparation. The principal from school A said that communication occurred by “meetings set up with stakeholders to get around the table and explore strategies related to improving ACT test scores.” The principal from school B emphasized a similar approach: “We have increased communication and discussion among our students, teachers, and parents. I believe this has heightened awareness and has contributed to better buy-in and more seriousness about preparing for the ACT. The principal of high school D said s/he believed an emphasis on improving instructional strategies and building relationships with students was an important action. Building-level leadership at high school B identified students with a high GPA but low test score on the practice ACT. “Each of our administrators has taken on six students for check-in and tutoring on the ACT. The principal at school E said hiring appropriate personnel was important. “I’ve had a huge impact in hiring a teacher with previous experience with Huntington Learning Centers, who provides our ACT tutorial.
Individual Strategies for ACT Success
While school-based programs provide a valuable foundation, individual strategies are equally important for maximizing ACT scores. The ACT is different from the tests you take in school, so you need to approach it differently too. These simple strategies are tailor-made for the ACT and come from our proven test-cracking methods. Following these tips are some of the best ways to improve your ACT Score.
Time Management and Question Selection
Effective time management is critical on the ACT. One strategy is to work questions out of order. Spending too much time on the hardest problems means you may rush through the easiest. Instead of working questions in order, ask yourself whether a question is a Do Now, Later, or Never.
- NOW: Does a question look okay? Do you know how to do it?
- LATER: Will this question take a long time to work? Leave it and come back to it later.
- NEVER: Know the topics that are your worst, and learn the signs that flash danger. Don’t waste time on questions you should never do.
Guessing Strategy
There is no penalty for wrong answers on the ACT, so you should never leave any blanks on your answer sheet. When you guess on Never questions, pick your favorite two-letter combo of answers and stick with it. For example, always choose A/F or C/H. If you’re consistent, you’re more likely to pick up points.
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Process of Elimination
Multiple-choice tests offer one great advantage: They provide the correct answer right there on the page. Forget the right answer-find the wrong ones.
Efficient Bubbling
Know the best way to bubble in. Work a page at a time on English and Math and a passage at a time on Reading and Science. Circle your answers right on the booklet. Then, transfer a page’s worth of answers to the answer sheet at one time.
Tailored Section Strategies
Tailor your strategy to each section of the ACT. Each section requires a different approach, so understanding the nuances of each is key.
Aiming for a Top Score
Only 1-2% of all 2 million ACT test takers can get to a score of 33 or higher. For some, it's intuitive because they are geniuses but for most others, it takes multiple tries. For some getting a 33 will be the theoretical max for them and for others, they will be able to move up from a 33 to a 34 or to 35 or 36 with enough deliberate preparation.
It's important to acknowledge that achieving a very high score may not be possible for everyone. However, if you aspire to reach the 98th-99th percentile, you need to prepare differently.
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Resources for High Achievers
Prep Courses: Consider investing in a college prep course like Kaplan, Princeton Review, or SuperTutorTV (Best ACT course).
Specialized Books:
- For the Love of ACT Science - Michael Cerro
- The College Panda's ACT Writing
- The College Panda's ACT English
- The College Panda's ACT Math
- The College Panda's ACT Math Workbook
Practice Tests: Download as many ACT practice tests as you can find or buy previous years' copies of the Official ACT Prep Guide from 2019-20, 2020-21, etc.
General Tips for Improvement
- Consistent Practice: Practice with daily questions, sample quizzes, and full-length tests in all subjects.
- Targeted Practice: Practice ACT questions in math, English, reading, and science with QuizMe. Get a new ACT question daily to challenge your knowledge.
- Last-Minute Prep: If you’re down to the wire getting ready for the upcoming ACT exam, Kaplan has you covered with time-saving prep.
- Expert Guidance: Get expert guidance tailored to you! Strengthen your skills, boost confidence, and master test strategies.
- Reviewing Your Answers: On select ACT test dates, you can get a copy of your question and answers. It's a smart way to see where you can improve and boost your score next time.
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