You might be tempted to think that the ACT test is just another standardized test like the ones you’ve been taking for years, so there’s no need to take an ACT practice test. However, while the ACT test does share some similarities with other standardized tests, it also has some major differences. For that reason alone, it’s a good idea to take an ACT practice test at least once – if not three or four times – before you go in for the real ACT test.
There are many different advantages to taking an ACT practice test. The first is that it lets you know exactly what to expect when you walk into the real thing. Not knowing what the ACT exam looks like or how it’s set up can add to your stress, but if you taking just one ACT practice test will show you how the sections and questions are set up throughout the test. Just knowing what to expect can help relieve some of your stress.
Learning the Structure of the ACT Test
An ACT practice test will also show you exactly how much time you’ll get on each section of the exam. If you time your practice test, you’ll get a good idea of how much you can finish within the time limit. For example, if you take three or four practice tests and only get through half the reading section on each one, you'll know what you need to practice at home in order to better on the actual exam.
Taking ACT practice exams will also give you an idea of what types of questions you can expect to find on the test. Many of the questions used in the practice tests were used in previous versions of the ACT test, so knowing what vocabulary words or math problems you'll encounter is very helpful. Even knowing how the exam questions are worded can help make you more comfortable during the actual test.
Identifying Your ACT Exam Weaknesses
Waiting to receive your ACT score is stressful, but taking ACT practice tests before the real thing should give you a fairly good idea of what your score will be. However, don’t be discouraged if your score is very low after taking one practice test. Look over the answers and see where your weaknesses lie and focus on studying these areas. After this, take a few more ACT practice tests and then average the scores to get an idea of what your final score will be.
There are several different versions of the ACT test in use at any given time – in fact, the ACT you take will probably have different questions than the test the person next to you is taking. Practice tests mirror this. A low score on one practice test may just mean that version of the test you've taken may have focused on concepts that you have trouble with – for example, the math section may have had more geometry problems than algebra problems. Practicing your trouble areas can be very helpful if you happen to end up with a real ACT exam that focuses more on these areas.
Taking even one ACT practice test can be very helpful, but to get the real benefit out of an ACT practice, you need take at least three or four before taking the actual exam. When it comes to the ACT test, the saying “Practice makes perfect” definitely applies!
