Step One: Familiarize yourself with the content and timing of the section.

How do I do this?
Take a timed practice test or practice section. You can take a proctored ACT with ArborBridge or purchase a book of practice tests directly from the ACT or another test prep company.

Step Two: Grade your exam and identify your weaknesses.

How do I do this?
Carefully consider the types of questions you got wrong. On the English section, categorize your mistakes into these three categories to the right:

Grammar
Did you struggle with punctuation questions? Verb forms and tenses? Pronouns? These grammar questions form the heart of the ACT English section.
Rhetoric
Were you unsure how to organize paragraphs? Did you struggle with questions asking about the content of the passages? Rhetoric questions don’t relate to specific rules but are an important part of the ACT English section.
Word choice
Were you unsure of vocabulary, or which kinds of words established a particular tone? Word choice questions can be tricky, particularly if English is not your first language.

Step Three: Establish a plan for preparation.

How do I do this?
If you took a practice test with ArborBridge, we will provide you with a detailed score report that includes a prioritized list of topics that you need work on. If you used The Official ACT Prep Guide, there are detailed explanations for each question. Read the explanations for all of your incorrect answers and look for patterns.

Then, develop a list of topics that you want to review. For example, your list might look like this:

My list of topics to review:
  • Commas and semi-colons

    I need to understand when to use these pieces of punctuation and how.

  • Subject-verb agreement

    How do I identify the verb in a sentence? Once I’ve done that, I need to know how to find the subject of the verb and identify the proper tense.

  • Content questions

    I’m confused by questions that ask me about whether or not a passage accomplished a particular goal. I need to work on identifying the author’s primary purpose.

  • Transition words

    How do I choose between “However,” “Therefore,” “Consequently,” etc.?

Step Four: Identify resources and practice!

How do I do this?
Ask your friends and teachers or go online to find whatever resources you think are relevant and helpful.

Recommendations for Resources:

  1. Use amazon.com’s “Look Inside” feature to preview a few commercially-available test prep books from major tutoring companies. Choose the one that you think best addresses the plan you created in Step 3.
  2. The Official ACT Prep Guide is another great resource. In addition to providing practice tests and clear explanations, this guide includes instruction on a variety of English topics.
  3. The Elements of Style (Strunk and White) is a classic book on grammar and style. While not specific to the ACT, it will help you across all three categories of ACT questions.
  4. Check out Khan Academy’s grammar resource page. It has many useful modules that align nicely with ACT grammar. Click here to check it out.

Step Five: Track your progress.

How do I do this?
When you feel ready, take another timed practice section. Grade your exam, see where you’ve improved, and repeat Steps 2–5 if necessary.

PLUS, even more tips from our test prep experts...
Keep it simple.

The ACT likes conciseness, so try to eliminate unnecessary words and pieces of punctuation.

Talk to yourself!

Don’t be afraid to read sentences out loud. It’s a perfectly natural and effective way to better interpret information.

Take a free practice ACT with ArborBridge!

Students who take practice tests with ArborBridge receive a complimentary score report, fully customized for each individual student. We break down each of your answers to each question on the test and pinpoint your main weaknesses, ultimately leading to more efficient test prep.