6 Crucial Tips for Studying for the ACT

The ACT is a standardized test that colleges rely on when admitting students to their university. It’s also a marathon of a test that requires several hours to complete. And since it’s a different sort of test, students need to have a plan to do their best. Here are tips on how you can excel in preparing for the ACT.

Having a realistic study plan is essential in making sure you are fully prepared for any sort of test. They key to ACT prep is to begin your studies well in advance and to create a set schedule for studying.

The best part of a study plan is that it gives you something daily to accomplish. That feeling of accomplishment and confidence is important for something like the ACT; feeling nervous, after all, can negatively impact your final score.

Studying far in advance also allows you to allocate more time to the subjects that cause you problems. In general, shoring up your weakest subjects is one of the best ways to spend time preparing for ACT. It’s the most effective way to quickly improve your score.

Studying is all about choosing a place that allows you to maximize your concentration. And unfortunately, there are plenty of ways that people - or technology - can impede your ability to study.

One example is studying in a room where people come and go frequently; it makes it difficult to truly concentrate when you’re turning your head every few minutes.

Studying in your room can also be difficult. After all, it’s generally where people relax, and there's most likely electronics, books, and other distractions. The best thing to do is to set up a designated area for studying inside your home. That way, you’re less likely to be looking for your phone or talking with people as they enter or exit the room.

This is one of the most important but ignored tips to ensure you get the best out of your potential. Your brain performs at its optimum level when you get the required amount of rest. When your brain is tired or overworked, it will be difficult to recall important information to get the targeted grades.

The ACT is generally conducted early in the morning, and that means it’s important to go to bed at a reasonable time. In fact, if you can make it a habit to wake up at the time you’re going to wake up for the test a week or so beforehand, you reduce any chance of drowsiness.

Many students go wrong by studying the whole night before the exam in hopes that it will improve their score. The truth is that those last-minute sessions aren’t doing much.

Some people prefer studying in a group. Though you may not get to study with them all the time, group studies has a lot of pros than cons. The group will help you solve difficult questions and vice versa.

Additionally, when answering their questions, you get to expand your knowledge on the topic. Another advantage is that you’ll be less distracted in a group by being busy for a substantial amount of time. Study groups not only boost your understanding but also gives you important information from different perspectives.

Your brain needs to relax and recharge after studying for some hours. Continuous studying for long hours affects this recovery process. You will be surprised by how fast and effectively your brain regains its focus when you engage in your favorite activity. Developing a relaxation routine that fits your study style is very important.

With shorter breaks between your study periods, take larger breaks depending on your favorable study time. Some people study better in the morning and others at night. You should avoid feeling guilty when others study during your break. Everyone has their schedule.

Procrastination is a habit that we all fall into occasionally. And unfortunately, it’s a really difficult habit to break.

Procrastination generally starts when someone tries to force themselves to do something they’re not ready to do. For example, if you try to force yourself to study when you’re not mentally ready, it can lead to procrastinating behaviors.

The biggest reason that this matters in terms of ACT prep is because cramming is largely ineffective; scoring well on the ACT requires a long-term plan. Stick with your study schedule and don’t be too hard on yourself; stressing over the test makes it much harder to prepare.