Give yourself plenty of time to study and review for the ACT by scheduling in advance. Use a study guide and study by section, focusing more on concepts that you struggle with. Consider studying with a partner to keep on track. Spend as much time as necessary on each subject to ensure memorization. Practice eliminating answers in multiple-choice questions because four sections of the ACT consist of all multiple-choice questions.
Answer the easy questions first and mark any questions you struggle with for later review. Carefully read the instructions on both the booklet and the individual sections. Pace yourself throughout the test and don't spend too much time on any one question. Do not doodle on or smudge the answer sheet because the tests are graded electronically and the machine cannot differentiate between an answer and a smudge. Review all of your work if you have time left when you finish. Guess if you do not know the answer because the ACT does not penalize for wrong answers; you are scored only on the correct answers.
Get plenty of rest the night before the test to make sure you are functioning at your best. Eat breakfast because it will help you concentrate. Bring your own pencils and eraser but leave any prohibited items at home. Bring photo identification such as a state I.D. or a driver's license. Pack your supplies the night before the test and bring a watch and calculator for the allowed portion.