If you’re taking the ACT in February and haven’t been able to prepare as thoroughly as you’d hoped up to this point—hey, we understand, winter vacation, start of new semester, yada yada yada—do not despair. The ACT is, in fact, a highly beatable exam, and cramming does bear college admissions fruit.
Even though there are FOUR (4) separate tests—English, Math, Reading, & Science—are only TWO (2) bodies of material you need to know: Math (key topics in Arithmetic, Algebra 1, Geometry, Algebra 2, and ~15% of Precalc/Trig) and 10 Key Grammar Rules. Email Dr. Yo or send a text at (413) 329-7540: All you have to do is ask nicely we’ll send you links to our Math Review Packet© and 10 Essential Grammar Rules© & 7 Key Reading & Writing Questions :-).
More important than the actual material covered on the ACT is becoming skilled at time-management in each section. Since there is NO GUESSING PENALTY, one of the main strategies to get high scores is to answer all the questions. In every section, there are always questions that take more time than easier ones, and they’re just not worth the extra time they require. For example, on the English test, some questions require a lot more reading than the quick-and-easy ones; take a hunch guess on those, circle them, and come back if time permits. Note I didn’t say those longer items items are necessarily HARDER, they’re just more time-consuming, and on the ACT, time is your most valuable asset. Same with the Math test: there are (0 questions in 60 minutes, so the average time per question is ONE minute. Questions that will take longer than ONE minute should be hunch-guessed on your first pass so that you can do as many problems that take a minute or less as you can. The Reading test has four 9-min passages, 10-questions each, and you can do them in any order. Save the most boring or most dense of the four passages for last, and if you have less than nine minutes by the time you get to it, start by answering the questions that point you to specific lines rather than those that ask about the passage as a whole. On the Science test, go right to the questions and only read the passage on a “need-to-read” basis and, again, hunch-guess the ones that will take longer than those that simply ask you to find the answers from the data presented on tables and graphs.
So with just a few weeks—or less!—to go, can you really raise your score substantially? Hell yeah! Here’s how (and please watch your language ;-)):
- Email Dr. Yo or text at (413) 329-7540: All you have to do is ask nicely we’ll send you links to our Math Review Packet© and 10 Essential Grammar Rules© & 7 Key Reading & Writing Questions :-).
- Take one complete practice ACT test each week until your exam and one of them in a single sitting to build endurance—practicing time-management and getting used to the way the ACT writers phrases questions will help raise your scores significantly. The best practice book is the one published by the makers of the test, The Official ACT Prep Guide 2025-2026, also available in all major book stores.
- Listen to our three 30-min “Prep Talks” with College Prep Express, either on our site or on iTunes, to hear advice from your high-scoring peers and tips from Dr. Yo: Beating the ACT, All About the ACT, and Prepping and Cramming for the ACT
- Read our other CPE Blog posts about the ACT: There are many; to find them, type ACT in the search box.
- If you need more help, more structure, or more improvement consider registering for our super-flexible and cost-efficient Design Your Own ACT Prep Class.
It’s a tall order, no kidding. But if you want to beat this test, you really CAN do it—and fast!— if you’re willing to invest the time. GOOD LUCK! And remember, CollegePrepExpress is here to help :-). Call or text (413) 329-7540.
