Complete advanced courses offered at your school. Honors and advanced placement (AP) courses will help to prepare you for the ACT test and college. For example, advanced science classes such as AP chemistry can greatly improve your knowledge about scientific concepts the ACT covers.
Research the ACT test. Visit the ACT's official website to learn more about test sections, scoring and testing procedures. The website is linked in the Resources section.
Choose a date to take the test that gives you ample time to prepare and also provides enough time for you to retake the test if necessary. You may register to take the test through the ACT website. Many ACT tests are offered at high schools on specific dates.
Complete an ACT practice test through the ACT website or in an ACT preparation book to begin your test preparation with an initial assessment. Grade your test, and determine your weakest subject areas.
Work on your ACT preparation as much as possible, and alternate your preparation among the four multiple choice test subjects. For example, set aside one day per week to work on math problems, focus on memorizing formulas and practice accurate calculations. The math portion of the test covers geometry, algebra, word problems, fractions and arithmetic.
Enroll in an ACT preparation class. Many universities and tutoring centers offer ACT test preparation for a fee. For example, the University of Oklahoma offers a preparation class that covers test-taking strategies, practice tests and lectures from experienced educators.
Complete multiple practice tests on your own. Try to simulate test day by timing yourself and taking only a short break after you finish two subject sections.
Ask for help from your teachers on concepts and subjects with which you have difficulty. Arrange a time to meet with them before or after school for tutoring.
Remain calm on test day, and arrive at the testing location early. Read all test instructions, make educated guesses for questions you are unsure about and use leftover time to check your answers.