The ACT website has a COMPASS section that includes practice tests in reading, writing skills, essay, mathematics and English as a Second Language (ESL). The ESL test is not applicable to American-born students. Students may review these practice tests and calculate their scores using the answer keys provided. If there is any test with a low score, the student can focus his study time in that subject and review the academic content if needed.
If you have friends who did well on these college placement exams, ask them if they studied and if so what techniques or guides they used. If you are hearing that a friend with a similar academic background did not prepare, yet still did well, you may not need to spend much time on your preparation for the COMPASS. After all, if you took the ACT or SAT, you covered similar content, so a quick review of one of those exam's preparation materials may be all that you need.
If taking a practice test helped you to identify an area in which you need further study, a study guide may be helpful for a focused review of that subject. For example, the "COMPASS Exam Secrets" guide is available online. Your public library may also have a study guide to check out. Guides may also help with specific techniques if you need time management tips or answer elimination strategies
If you have a difficult time motivating yourself to study and you know that you need to do an additional review, find study partners to help keep you accountable. You may even want to review the material together. Teaching the material to other people can increase your understanding of it. It may also make study more fun and thus more likely to occur.
You will improve your chances of a high score by getting enough sleep the night before the exam. If possible, eat a healthy meal before the exam and try to relax as much as possible. Keep a positive attitude and try to distract yourself from any anxiety you may feel. Talking to people you love, taking a brisk walk, or petting an animal are all healthy distractions. Taking drugs and alcohol before the exam are not.