Your ACT test date is a week away and you haven’t prepared—now what? Maybe your test date snuck up on you or other obligations kept your studying energies elsewhere. Or maybe you just realized you need to take the ACT and the only time available was in a few days. Either way, the pressure to do well on a college readiness test might make you feel paralyzed with indecision about what to study first. Instead of looking at ACT prep as one large task, divide it into smaller ones that are easier to tackle with these last-minute ACT tips.

An ACT tutor is worth it even when you start studying months in advance, but their usefulness multiplies when time is limited. Don’t hesitate to ask for help. A good tutor won’t critique you for the time crunch, but will applaud you for doing your best with the time you have. 

The ACT science test is newly optional, so check now to see if you’re registered to take it. If not, you don’t need to prepare for it this time! If you only take the ACT test sections that are still required (English, math, and reading), you’ll only need to prepare for three types of questions and just over two hours of testing.

Get a baseline score by taking a practice test

Whether your test is in three months or three days, start your last-minute ACT prep by taking an up-to-date practice test. This accomplishes three main things:

• Gives you a baseline score to understand what kind of ACT test scores you can expect
• Reveals which sections you’re likely to do well on and which ones could use some work
• Informs your study plan until your test date

Make a personalized study plan with a tutor 

Once you’ve taken your practice test and scored it, schedule a lesson with an ACT tutor as soon as possible. Expert tutors will have experience with students preparing for standardized tests in a short time frame, so there’s no need to be shy. Tell them exactly what situation you’re in, what you want to achieve, and the kind of last-minute ACT tips you need.

Make a personalized study plan with a tutor 

Once you’ve taken your practice test and scored it, schedule a lesson with an ACT tutor as soon as possible. Expert tutors will have experience with students preparing for standardized tests in a short time frame, so there’s no need to be shy. Tell them exactly what situation you’re in, what you want to achieve, and the kind of last-minute ACT tips you need.

Make a personalized study plan with a tutor 

Once you’ve taken your practice test and scored it, schedule a lesson with an ACT tutor as soon as possible. Expert tutors will have experience with students preparing for standardized tests in a short time frame, so there’s no need to be shy. Tell them exactly what situation you’re in, what you want to achieve, and the kind of last-minute ACT tips you need.