Buy or rent an approved ACT test preparation book from your local bookstore or library. The book has practice exams to show the type of questions asked on the test, how to approach them and how to answer them correctly. Observe how well you do with an unlimited time limit during the first practice exam, then adhere to the time for the rest.
Learn the difference between verbs such as "lay" and "lie" and between commonly misused words and phrases, such as "a little" and "a few." The English section of the ACT test consists of 75 multiple-choice questions, with 45 minutes to complete it.
Read the passages presented and avoid spending more than 10 minutes on each. Scan for clues to the topic or main idea. The reading section of the test includes 40 multiple-choice questions, with 35 minutes to finish it.
Study intermediate algebra and intermediate geometry. The math section of the ACT test starts off easy, then turns more challenging. It consists of 60 multiple-choice questions, with 60 minutes to complete it.
Study the use of tables, graphs, charts and science vocabulary. Many chemical names such as phosphate and phosphite are similar, and the ACT will try to trick you into switching the two. The science section includes 40 multiple-choice questions, with 35 minutes to finish it.