Test-Taking Tips for the ACT and SAT That Actually Work

 Posted on November 10,2025 in Uncategorized

A high ACT or SAT score can open doors to more colleges, better scholarships, and even increased financial aid. But the truth is, you don’t need expensive prep courses or a perfect memory to do well. You just need a smart strategy and consistent effort. Here are a few test-taking tips that actually work, along with advice on how to make the most of your prep time.

Have a Strategy for Guessing

The ACT and SAT are designed so that most test-takers will not be able to answer all the questions. Either because you run out of time or because you don’t know the answer, you will almost certainly end up guessing randomly on a few questions. This is normal, not a failure on your part. 

Importantly, neither of these tests will penalize you for wrong answers; you only get rewarded for the questions you get right. This means you should answer every single question, even if you totally guess. 

But there’s more to it – your strategy for guessing matters. First, if you can, eliminate any answers you know are wrong. Then choose the answer that seems best from the options remaining. However, if you’re making a totally random guess among all the possible answers, choose the same answer every time. If you have six questions left in a section and you’re out of time, answer "A" for all of them. Don’t jump around from answer to answer. 

This is because correct answers are distributed more or less evenly across the letter choices in the test (A, B, C, D, etc). You have a significantly greater chance of choosing a few right answers if you choose the same letter every time, as opposed to jumping around from letter to letter with each question. 

Build a Strategy for Each Section

Each test section rewards a different skill, so it helps to have a plan:

• English/Writing: Focus on grammar rules, punctuation, and conciseness. The shortest correct answer is often the best one.

• Math: Memorize key formulas, but also practice identifying what the question is really asking. Most wrong answers come from simple misreads.

• Reading: Read the questions first so you know what to look for. Then skim the passage strategically—don’t get stuck on one confusing paragraph.

• Science (ACT only): You don’t need to know every scientific fact. Most questions are about interpreting data and charts, not remembering biology terms.

Take As Many Timed Practice Tests as You Can 

Test anxiety is real, and it can hurt your score more than a lack of studying. One of the best ways to lower stress is repetition. The more practice tests you take, the more "normal" the testing environment will feel. Try to mimic real test conditions: sit at a desk, set a timer, and put your phone in a different room. Take not only timed segments, but also entire timed tests so you get used to focusing for several hours at a time. 

After each test, go over your mistakes, but not just to mark them wrong. Figure out why you missed the question. Did you misread it? Run out of time? Forget a concept? Knowing your weak spots helps you avoid repeating the same mistakes.

Don’t Cram

You can’t cram for the ACT or SAT the way you can for a history exam. You need to develop these skills over time. Start studying at least six months before the test, doing small, focused study sessions a few times a week. Short bursts of focused study are more effective than long, exhausting cram sessions.

Working backwards from your final practice test, create small, actionable steps to prepare. If you want to take three timed practice tests before the official test, decide which weekends you’re going to do them way in advance. Break studying for the individual sections into smaller weekly portions. Stick to your schedule, even when fun stuff comes up. Test day will come sooner than you think. 

Use Free Resources

There are plenty of free study tools that work just as well as paid programs. Khan Academy offers SAT prep in partnership with the College Board, and ACT.org provides tons of free practice questions, whole past tests, and test-day tips. You can also find downloadable study guides and flashcards online. You don’t need to spend all your money to get ready to take the test. 

Take Care of Your Brain and Body in the Weeks Before the Test 

Your body’s health affects your brain health and vice-versa. Your sleep, hydration, and nutrition will all impact how well you do in any area of life, including test-taking. Build good sleep habits in the weeks leading up to the test. Aim for eight hours of sleep the night before. Come up with a plan for if you have test anxiety and can’t sleep. Plan out what you’re going to eat the morning of the test and pack snacks for the break between sections. This stuff is basic self-care: Prepare yourself ahead of time and it will be easy to follow through on the day of the test. 

Break a Leg

We won’t sugarcoat it: These tests matter. You know it, we know it, there’s no denying it. But if you get a lower score than you anticipate, it isn’t the end of the world. First, because you can take the test again. Second, because most people do score higher the second and even third time they test. Third, schools look at more than your test score when they’re making admission decisions. 

Finally, and most importantly, the bottom line is that you may not get the score you want. You may not get into your number one school. None of that will keep you from having a great college experience and from getting the education you’ve always wanted. So – do what you can to prepare, and then relax. You got this. 

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