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Writing Sample Essays

Write a unified, coherent essay about the increasing presence of intelligent machines. In your essay, be sure to: 

• clearly state your own perspective on the issue and analyze the relationship between your perspective and at least one other perspective
• develop and support your ideas with reasoning and examples
• organize your ideas clearly and logically
• communicate your ideas effectively in standard written English

Your essay perspective may be in full agreement with any of those given, in partial agreement, or completely different.

Get more information about preparing for the writing test .

Sample Test Questions

Section 1 - 5 of 30

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By submitting my email address. i certify that i am 13 years of age or older, agree to recieve marketing email messages from the princeton review, and agree to terms of use., act writing score secrets.

You get 40 minutes to write, but ACT graders have to grade each essay in less than five.

The way to get a great ACT writing score is to make the graders’ jobs easy. So, don’t sweat the small stuff. Focus on the big picture: a clear position, logical organization, and strong examples.

ACT Writing Rubric

The ACT essay is scored by two graders who will each assign a score of 1–6 for a total score of 2–12.

View a sample ACT essay prompt . Your ACT writing score will be based on how well you can do the following:

What's a Good ACT Writing Score?

The ACT Writing Test is scored on a scale of 2 (lowest score) to 12 (highest score). The average ACT Writing score is between a 6 and 7. Here's a look at national ACT writing score percentiles, according to the latest data released by ACT, Inc.

SOURCE:  ACT, Inc.

More ACT Writing Tips

Your argument, organization, and supporting examples are the most crucial pieces of your essay, but these four writing tips can help boost your score.

Yes, ACT graders really do tend to reward longer essays. Try to write at least four paragraphs spanning two to three pages. If your handwriting is large, make sure you write an extra page to compensate!

Read More: What's A Good ACT Score?

2. Keep It Interesting

Vary your sentence structure to improve the rhythm of your essay. If you write a really long sentence with lots of modifiers and dependent clauses, it sometimes helps to follow it with a shorter, more direct sentence. It really works.

3. Watch Your Word Choice

Sprinkle some nice vocabulary words throughout your essay (make sure to spell them correctly!). If you’re uncertain about the meaning or spelling of a word, it’s best just to pick a different word. Using a big word incorrectly makes a worse impression than using a smaller word correctly.

4. Practice Your Best Handwriting

Though graders shouldn’t take neatness into consideration when determining your ACT writing score, the bottom line is that a neat, legible essay is easier to read. And a happy grader is a good thing! For an essay that's truly easy on the eyes, make sure you indent each paragraph and avoid messy cross-outs.

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New Act Essay Writing Section

The new act essay, your full guide to act writing section.

Since September of 2015, the ACT essay / writing section has gone through a radical change. And that’s amazing news for you.

The ACT essay was always easy to master with a bit of practice and the right techniques. However, the new ACT essay is even easier to perfect than the old one ever could have been . This short guide will teach you exactly what’s changing, how to prepare for the new essay, and how to take full advantage of this new format.

Quick side note: If you’re looking for a proven ACT prep system to help you write a flawless essay check out my ACT prep program . It is built on my proven tactics and methodologies and has an average user score improvement of over +4.66 points.

Why did ACT test change?

The new “CORE-friendly” ACT essay / writing portion just makes this test more beatable than it already was. I’ll leave the rest to the ACT’s PR team. For now, let’s get into what you should do about it.

What is Different?

The old ACT writing / essay section gave you a simple prompt, then asked you to take a side on that prompt and argue your point. The basic format looked something like this:

“Watching TV can be bad for your brain. However, sometimes it’s educational, so some people think it’s good for your brain. So in your opinion, do you think that TV is good or bad?

In your essay, take a position on this question. You may write about either one of the two points of view given, or you may present a different point of view on this question. Use specific reasons and examples to support your position.”

The old format couldn’t have been any simpler. “Here are two opinions on a topic. Pick one and then write about it for a few paragraphs.”

The new ACT writing / essay format is much more complicated. But here’s the funny thing: while the new ACT writing / essay FORMAT is much more complex, the process of WRITING these essays has become VASTLY SIMPLER .

Here’s what it looks like now: https://www.act.org/actnext/pdf/SampleWritingPrompt.pdf

Take the time to read through all of this and really get a feel for what the new ACT writing / essay section looks like. Once you do, we shall move on:

How Do You Write This Thing (and why is it so much easier)?

In the old ACT essay, you only had to do one thing – pick a side and argue it. Now, you have to do so much! You need to evaluate three different arguments, you need to come up with your own argument, and then you have to relate your argument to the three arguments given. Oh, the humanity!

But here’s the thing: in the old version of the ACT essay, you had to both come up with an argument and come up with the reasons why you support it. In the new ACT essay, all of the arguments and reasoning behind them is provided for you!

It’s the difference between being asked to “make lasagna or pizza for dinner tonight” and “grabbing something off the McDonald’s dollar menu.” Sure, there are more options on the McDonald’s menu – but they’re already cooked for you!

At first, it seems like there’s a ton more to do. In reality, the ACT is doing all of the hard work for you! All you need to do is read carefully, pick what you like, and then follow a simple process to “plug in your opinion.”

A reminder: If you’re eager to succeed with a proven ACT prep system to help you write a flawless essay check out my ACT prep program . It is built on my proven tactics and methodologies and has an average user score improvement of over +4.66 points .

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ACT Essay Template and Sample

Act essay template.

¶1: Introductory Paragraph

• Introductory statement

¶2: First Body Paragraph

• Describe your thesis
• Provide 1st example/reasoning: include specific, relevant information

¶3: Second Body Paragraph

• Continue supporting your thesis
• Provide 2nd example/reasoning: include specific, relevant information

If you are running out of time, don’t write a 2nd body paragraph. Instead, take the time to write a thorough 3rd body paragraph and a clear conclusion  paragraph.

¶4: Third Body Paragraph

• Explain how your thesis compares and contrasts with Perspectives One, Two, and/or Three
• Strengths/Weaknesses of the perspective(s)
• Insights offered / Insights not considered
• Persuasive / Not persuasive
• Example or reasoning: provide specific, relevant information

¶5: Conclusion Paragraph

• Recap your thesis
• Recap how your thesis compares and contrasts with Perspectives One, Two, and/or Three

Sample Prompt

Bilingual Accreditation

While the most common language in the United States is English, it’s certainly not the only language in which Americans communicate. In fact, bilingual fluency is highly desirable in many professions, including business, education, and medicine. In an effort to ready students for success in their future careers, some high schools may consider instituting programs that would offer bilingual accreditation to students who successfully complete a significant portion of their schooling in a language other than English. Because bilingual certification is not a necessary component of traditional education, should schools be  expected to explore this option for interested students? As American high schools aim to remain competitive as measured by increasingly rigorous international education standards, innovative programs such as bilingual certification may prove to be essential.

Read and carefully consider these perspectives. Each discusses relevant aspects of offering bilingual accreditation.

  Perspective One: Schools should encourage bilingual fluency but should not be expected to offer special classes  or programs. School administrators need to work on strengthening the existing curriculum rather than overcomplicating instruction by attempting to incorporate additional programs that do not reinforce traditional education.

Perspective Two:  Offering bilingual accreditation weakens the core of high school curriculum. A large enough portion of the student population already struggles to maintain passing grades when taught in English, and adding other languages would likely add to that number.

Perspective Three:  Bilingual accreditation should be offered, but it needs to be thoughtfully implemented. Courses taught in languages other than English need to be carefully selected to ensure that this program does not affect the integrity of the high school diploma.

Sample Essay Using the Prompt

Essay outline.

• Thesis:  Schools should offer bilingual accreditation as long as courses offered in languages other than English are carefully selected.

¶2: First body paragraph

• Describe your thesis:   All classes need to be carefully selected so scheduling bilingual offerings is not an additional burden for school administrators.
• Provide first example/reasoning: include specific, relevant information— Even if core classes are given in two languages, all students still study the core curriculum and preserve the integrity of the diploma.

¶3: Second Body Paragraph

• Continue supporting your thesis:   Offering bilingual accreditation provides an opportunity for schools to offer non-traditional classes for all students .
• Provide second example/reasoning: include specific, relevant information— Every dollar spent to accommodate bilingual education should be matched with equal funding for other types of educational enrichment such as STEM training and career-oriented electives.

¶4: Third Body Paragraph

• Explain how your thesis compares and contrasts with Perspectives One, Two, and/or Three:   The first perspective argues that schools should encourage bilingual fluency but not add any bilingual classes, which is in direct contrast to Perspective Three.
• Strengths/Weaknesses of the perspective(s):   Perspective One doesn’t take into account that making the existing curriculum better often means adding additional classes, which bilingual accreditation would accomplish.
• Persuasive / Not persuasive:   The argument simply says that these classes would only be for interested students, so it doesn’t affect everyone.
• Example or Reasoning: provide specific, relevant information— Most of the world uses English as a second language, and many people speak at least two languages, so to stay competitive, U.S. students should also be fluent in two languages.
• Recap your thesis:   I fully support perspective three because it opens up possibilities for all students without denying anyone a full high school curriculum leading to a meaningful diploma.
• Recap how your thesis compares and contrasts with Perspectives One, Two, and/or Three:   Recognizing the benefits of being bilingual, and making bilingual courses available but optional, is the best of both worlds.

Final Essay

               In today’s world where international education standards are very high and the U.S.  needs to remain competitive, educators are looking for ways to enhance high school curriculum.  One way is offering classes in languages other than English. Some people think that  schools should provide enough education in a different language for students to be certified  as bilingual. Others think this will weaken the curriculum. Still others think the accreditation  should be offered but carefully administered so that graduation from that school would  indicate the completed high school curriculum, and this is the option I agree with. I would  further argue that schools should not only carefully implement bilingual programs to suit  students who want to become fluent in two languages, but also provide supplemental non- traditional courses for students pursuing their entire education in English.

              The third perspective posits that while students should be given the opportunity to  learn in other languages and be accredited as bilingual, the courses given need to be carefully  selected. In reality, all classes need to be carefully selected so this is not a problem  for bilingual classes. And if the classes selected were all optional, not required, it would not  affect students who still want to learn everything in English. Since core classes might be  given in two languages, and students select which one they want, all students still study the core curriculum and preserve the integrity of the diploma. Schools have always taught  languages in high school so a French or Spanish course taught as a bilingual class makes  perfect sense. Bilingual classes are also advantageous for students who do well and want  to challenge themselves. So a French literature class can be taught in French while students  read in French also.

             As schools work to accommodate students who wish to pursue a bilingual education,  administrators must keep in mind that students who do not want an additional bilingual  accreditation should still have every opportunity to excel as they work toward their high  school diplomas. Every dollar spent to accommodate bilingual education should be matched  with equal funding for other types of educational enrichment such as STEM training and  career-oriented electives. That way, every student can benefit from classes that go beyond  traditional education, whether the classes concentrate on language, science, technology,  engineering, mathematics, or future careers. Given the rigorous demands of the current job  climate, students will greatly benefit from any additional marketable skills that they can  acquire during their high school careers.

              The first perspective argues that schools should encourage bilingual fluency but not  add any bilingual classes, which is in direct contrast to my position. Instead, the school  administrators should make the existing curriculum better so that traditional education is  really good. Certainly a high school curriculum should be as good as it can be and we should  always be looking for ways to make it better. That often means adding new courses. For instance, computer courses didn’t exist a few years ago, but they are in schools now because  it’s important for people to be able to use computers. It’s the same thing with bilingual  courses. Most of the world uses English as a second language, and many people speak at  least two languages. So it’s only right that to stay competitive, U.S. students should also  be fluent in two languages; this is particularly important in careers that require international  work. Also, the argument simply says that these classes would only be for interested  students, so it doesn’t affect everyone. And finally, how can the schools encourage bilingual  fluency if they don’t provide a place for students to practice another language?

              Being bilingual in a world with international interaction can’t help but be useful. I fully  support perspective three because it opens up possibilities for all students without denying  anyone a full high school curriculum leading to a meaningful diploma. Recognizing the  benefits of being bilingual, and making bilingual courses available but optional, is the best  of both worlds. Expanding courses offered in a curriculum is always better than restricting  them, especially when they serve such an important need as the ability to communicate  with others in their own language.

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3 ACT Writing Prompts to Improve Your Score

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What’s Covered:

Overview of the act writing test, act practice writing prompts, tips for writing a strong act essay, how does the act impact your college chances.

Preparing for the ACT is a task that many high school students dread, as it requires hours of study and lots of practice before entering that testing room. One of the parts of the ACT that students have to practice for is the writing portion. Keep in mind, the ACT writing portion is actually optional, so you may only have to take it if your intended university requires it. Make sure to verify with your school. 

Learn more about this portion of the ACT, how it can affect your score, and what elements you should include in your writing to achieve the best score you possibly can.

When you sit down to take the ACT writing test, know that it will be important to use your time wisely. You have 40 minutes to read through a prompt and three different perspectives of an issue. Typically, the three perspectives have a conservative view, a moderate view, and a progressive view. Note that this doesn’t mean they’re necessarily political in nature, but more of a view of how change may be positive or negative.

You’ll then assess the prompt, present your own perspective of the issue, and address at least one of the perspectives given to you in the essay. You must write your essay with a No. 2 pencil, so make sure you’re prepared. 

The writing test is combined with your reading and English tests, and you must take the multiple choice portions before proceeding to the writing part of the exam. The test is graded on a score from 1-6, six being the best and one needing the most improvement. Your essay is graded by two separate people and they will combine those scores. So, you can reach a maximum score of 12.

When you get your prompt, it will be centered around an important societal issue. A great way to prepare for these types of prompts is to stay informed. That may mean watching the news, following news updates on social media, or even debating your viewpoints with others to practice. 

Intelligent Machines  

Prompt: Many of the goods and services we depend on daily are now supplied by intelligent, automated machines rather than human beings. Robots build cars and other goods on assembly lines, where once there were human workers. Many of our phone conversations are now conducted not with people but with sophisticated technologies. We can now buy goods at a variety of stores without the help of a human cashier. Automation is generally seen as a sign of progress, but what is lost when we replace humans with machines? Given the accelerating variety and prevalence of intelligent machines, it is worth examining the implications and meaning of their presence in our lives.

Perspective 1: What we lose with the replacement of people by machines is some part of our own humanity. Even our mundane daily encounters no longer require from us basic courtesy, respect, and tolerance for other people. 

Perspective 2: Machines are good at low-skill, repetitive jobs, and at high-speed, extremely precise jobs. In both cases they work better than humans. This efficiency leads to a more prosperous and progressive world for everyone.

Perspective 3: Intelligent machines challenge our long-standing ideas about what humans are or can be. This is good because it pushes both humans and machines toward new, unimagined possibilities.

How to Approach this Prompt

First, read through the prompt carefully to ensure you understand all aspects of the issue. After that, you need to read all three perspectives. Each will offer a different viewpoint of the situation or issue. Think about each one, decide your own perspective, and then determine which perspective or perspectives from the prompt that you’ll address in your writing. 

After that, try to create a basic outline. Remember, you only have 40 minutes, so make sure to maximize your time. Your outline should have a thesis statement as well as some evidence to back up your viewpoint. 

An essay with the top score of 6 would have insight, cautioning people to move slowly with adopting this kind of technology and addressing the potential economic and cultural implications. It would flow well, use advanced vocabulary, and display knowledge of proper grammar and spelling. 

Public Health and Individual Freedom  

Most people want to be healthy, and most people want as much freedom as possible to do the things they want. Unfortunately, these two desires sometimes conflict. For example, smoking is prohibited from most public places, which restricts the freedom of some individuals for the sake of the health of others. Likewise, car emissions are regulated in many areas in order to reduce pollution and its health risks to others, which in turn restricts some people’s freedom to drive the vehicles they want. In a society that values both health and freedom, how do we best balance the two? How should we think about conflicts between public health and individual freedom?

Perspective One : Our society should strive to achieve the greatest good for the greatest number of people. When the freedom of the individual interferes with that principle, freedom must be restricted.

Perspective Two : Nothing in society is more valuable than freedom. Perhaps physical health is sometimes improved by restricting freedom, but the cost to the health of our free society is far too great to justify it.

Perspective Three : The right to avoid health risks is a freedom, too. When we allow individual behavior to endanger others, we’ve damaged both freedom and health.

How to Approach This Prompt

Remember, any essay you write needs to present your individual viewpoint and address at least one of the perspectives. Likely, this prompt was written before the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, but if you were to get this prompt, you could address that in the essay and talk about how that has affected the concept of public health vs. freedom. This is a good example of why you need to stay informed in order to give the best argument possible in your essay, as you won’t know the prompt until you get there. That background knowledge could help you get a higher score.

Toys are for children, right? Not anymore. In recent years, things that used to be considered “kids stuff” have grown into popularity among grownups. Nowadays, adults regularly play video games, watch animated movies and television shows, purchase dolls and other collectible figures, and read comic books for their own enjoyment. Is adult enjoyment of children’s entertainment merely a sign of immaturity? In what ways can playing with kid stuff change the way adults understand today’s youth? Given that toys, games, and publications that used to be exclusively for children are growing in popularity among adults, it is worth considering the effects and implications of this trend. 

Perspective one: It’s good for adults to be familiar with kid stuff. They’ll understand the lives of children better and be more responsive to their needs, interests, and problems.

Perspective two: Adults need to be models of maturity and responsibility. When they act and think like children, kids have no one to look to for guidance.

Perspective three: Children need their own cultural space—their own books, their own toys, their own movies—in which to explore their ideas. When adults start to take over that space, kids lose out. 

This prompt asks you to contemplate whether adults should engage with kid’s toys and if the effects of engagement are positive or negative. Since there isn’t much robust data out there (that the wide public is aware of) the “data” you use to back up your opinion can come from your own experience as a kid, or as an adult playing with “kid’s toys.” To write a strong essay, remember to consider all three perspectives and anticipate arguments in favor of all three so you can pick the strongest one. If you are able to refute or acknowledge opposing or differing viewpoints, your essays will likely receive a higher score. Remember to organize your thoughts clearly, in paragraphs that flow from one to the next. 

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While it is impossible to prepare for the exact prompt you’ll get once you’re seated in the testing room, it is possible to prepare yourself for writing an essay in a pretty short amount of time. The most important thing is to practice.

1. Practice, practice, practice.

Use the sample prompts above to draft essays and time yourself to see how long it takes. You’ll need to manage your time wisely, so practice is key to knowing how long you need on each step. Allot yourself some time to create a basic outline before you start. You want to ensure that your essay is as cohesive as possible. 

2. Get organized now.

While you practice your essay, you may find that you tend to align with one perspective over the others. Use that to your advantage on testing day. The one you agree with will be the easiest to write about, and then you can combine the other two into one paragraph where you address why you don’t agree with them. If you head in with a strategy in place, it will make it a lot less difficult to construct your essay in the allotted 40 minutes.

3. Don’t spend too much time on grammar.

Yes, grammar is important. But, it’s not the end-all-be-all of your ACT writing test grade. Your time is precious, and you need to focus on getting your writing done in time. Instead, make sure you address all the key points and present a cohesive, strong essay with critical thinking demonstrated throughout. The same goes for vocabulary. Don’t spend time trying to think of a fancy word for “big.” Only focus on elevating your vocabulary after you have finished writing a cohesive essay. 

4. Stay informed.

Stay up to date on current news events—and don’t just get your information from social media. According to Pew Research , people who get their news from social media are not as engaged and not as knowledgeable. You need to try and follow current events so that you can form an educated opinion for your essay. Those types of opinions, especially if you can back them up with facts, are the ones that are more likely to get you the top score of 5 or 6. 

Along with that, you need to know basic history, too. The prompt may address how the world has changed or is changing in some way. You may need to mention events that have happened in the past, such as World War I, the Civil War, the industrial revolution, the civil rights movement, and others. 

You may also need to use an example from your own life if your background knowledge ends up not applying to the prompt that you get. For example, think about what’s happened in your lifetime—when you were born, likely only a few people had smartphones. Today, almost everyone has one in their pocket with access to all of the information on the internet just a touch away. Sweeping changes that have occurred in your life could help you answer the prompt with substance and background. 

Just like the SAT, your ACT score is influential in your college application. However, remember that not all universities require the ACT writing portion . If you’d like to find out your chances of getting into your dream school, CollegeVine offers a free chancing engine where you can input all of your information like GPA, AP classes, SAT/ACT scores, extracurriculars and more, to get an estimation of your chances. We even share tips on how to improve your odds. 

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Fiveable's ACT Essay Guide

11 min read • june 18, 2024

Akhilesh Shivaramakrishnan

Samhitha Palla

Welcome to the ACT essay guide! We'll break down the prompt and the rubric while we give you strategies to make sure you get an awesome score on the essay! 🎉

ACT: Essay Section

When you sit down to take the ACT exam, you will have 4-5 sections on the test. If you choose to take the essay, it's 5! Your essay will be the last section of the exam. Here's the order:

• Writing/Essay📝 The Writing/Essay portion is an  optional  essay. In this section, you have about  40 minutes   🕖 to write a well-developed essay. Make sure you use each minute of this time to create the best possible essay! Remember, your score on the writing section will  not affect the multiple choice or composite score.

💬 Mastering the Prompt  

Let's look 👀 at a prompt released by ACT to dissect the key elements of the essay. 

Sample prompt, taken from  ACT Essay Samples on Official Website .

When you turn the page on your ACT exam and get to the essay section, you'll be presented with:

• a debated or controversial topic/issue 🗨
• background information about the topic/issue 📃
• 3 perspectives that take different stances on the topic/issue presented. You may agree, refute, or create your own argument to the perspectives. ☑
• a set of fun instructions! 🙃 These instructions connect directly with the rubric for the ACT essay, so let's break down the rubric next. 📄

📄 Mastering the Rubric  

There are  4 categories on which your essay is assessed.  2 graders score your essay on a scale of 1-6 for each of the 4 categories. Their scores are combined for a score out of 12 for each category. ☑

Then, your  total category scores are averaged to determine your final ACT essay score. You can earn a maximum of  12 🎉 and a minimum of  2.

You can review the entire rubric  here , but we'll hit the highlights ✨ on what you need to do to get a high score on each of the four categories.

One thing to note is that the ACT essay is very  rubric-oriented 📃 If you do exactly what the rubric asks you to do, you are guaranteed a high score. It is much more formulaic than writing assignments you've likely done in school 🏫

Ready to conquer the essay? Make sure you follow the rubric! Image from  Wikimedia Commons , labeled for reuse.

💭 Ideas and Analysis  

Here are the rubric descriptors for achieving the highest score of 6 on the ACT essay:

• writer generates an argument that  critically engages with  multiple perspectives on the given issue 🤔
• the argument's thesis reflects  nuance and precision in thought and purpose 😲
• the argument establishes and employs an  insightful context for analysis of the issue and its perspectives ✍
• the analysis examines  implications, complexities and tensions , and/or underlying  values and assumptions 🔀 Let's go through what this actually means in practice:

The first thing you  must do is choose a perspective 💬 on the issue. Since the essay prompt already gives you three issues ✍ to choose from, it's recommended that  you choose one of the three presented to you .

Although you can create 🔎 an entirely new perspective if you'd like (perhaps if you have extensive knowledge on the subject), it is recommended that you stick with one of the 3 given perspectives due to the time ⌚ constraints.

Once you find the perspective that you agree with, you must refine it and add some more detail 🔀 to it. 🤔 Restating the perspective will get you lower scores on the rubric, so you should try to create a more complex argument using the stated perspective as a basis.

Additionally, you should be able to connect 🔀 your chosen perspective/stance to other perspectives. A low scoring essay might simply agree ✔ with one perspective and disagree ❌ with the others without any support, or "nuance" in the words of the rubric. 🤔

On the other hand, a high scoring essay may provide a  reason why the other perspectives are not correct. ✅ There should be a clear link 🔃 between the perspectives and it should be evident that the relationship between the perspectives is explained. This should occur both in the initial argument as well as later in the essay. 💪

Finally, you need to examine the effects of your perspectives. ⏩ There should be clear discussion of the "implications, complexities, tensions, values, or assumptions" that accompany your perspective.

In order to do much of this, you need to be able to provide solid support and evidence—which is our next category! 🤓

🙌 Development and Support

These are the rubric descriptors for this section of the ACT essay:

• development of ideas and support for claims  deepen insight and  broaden context 🔎
• integrated line of  skillful reasoning and illustration  effectively conveys the significance of the argument 📄
• qualifications and complications  enrich and bolster ideas and analysis 💪 This section is SUPER important because you are providing evidence for the claims you made in the "ideas and analysis" section of the rubric. You MUST be able to discuss 💬 your perspective and provide  clear evidence that helps demonstrate the implications, effects, and other factors that surround your perspective. 🙌

These reasons and pieces of evidence must be very detailed in order to score in the highest mark bands of the rubric. Often, this means you must use outside knowledge to aid you—solely using what's provided to you in the background information doesn't lend itself to a higher score.

Your best bet here is to make up examples**.** 😎 Yep, you read that right. The examples you use  do not have to be true and no one will be fact-checking you. If you feel that a statistic would benefit your essay, make one up! 😉

For example, you could say, "A study done by the  New York Times found that 30% of American jobs could be lost to machines over the next 40 years, a concerning statistic that must be acknowledged." 📈

Although this may not be true at all, it could definitely support a claim that you make. The ACT grader will not be Googling this study! As long as you are able to integrate this evidence seamlessly and support your argument well, you will do good in this section! 😉

Organization is super important on the ACT essay! Image courtesy of  Picserver , labeled for reuse.

📑 Organization  

• response exhibits a  skillful organizational strategy 📑
• response is  unified by a controlling idea or purpose 🗨
• logical  progression of ideas increases the effectiveness of the writer's argument 🔃
• transitions between and within paragraphs strengthen the relationships among ideas ⏩ This section is one of the more formulaic parts of the ACT essay 📃 First off, you need to make sure that your ideas flow throughout your essay. An easy way to make sure this happens is to structure your thesis in the same way your overall essay is structured. This will provide an outline for you to lean on as you write.

Additionally, a high scoring essay will reference the  controlling idea or purpose 🗨 in EACH paragraph, whether it is a paragraph that supports your stance or one that acknowledges a counterargument. You should essentially be repeating parts of your thesis in each body paragraph to ensure that your essay is "unified" by this controlling idea. 📑

Make sure your essay is separated into paragraphs! 📝This means that it is not all in one big blob of text! 😉 Between each paragraph, include transition words  even if you think it might be excessive.

As mentioned before, this part is extremely formulaic, and readers are looking to see that you USED the transitions. ⏩ Make sure to include transitions throughout your paragraph as well. Look up some  transition words if you're having trouble with this!

An introduction and conclusion are NOT optional . ‼

These paragraphs help tie your essay together 🔀 and contribute to the "organization" section of the rubric. Make sure you include these parts! 🙂

📝 Language Use  

• use of language enhances the argument 🙌
• word choice is  skillful and precise ✅
• sentence structures are  consistently varied and clear ✍
• stylistic and register choices (voice, tone) are strategic and effective 🗨
• few minor errors in grammar, usage, and mechanics don't impede understanding 🔤 This is the "traditional" section of the ACT essay rubric, where you are evaluated on grammar, conventions, sentence structure, and vocabulary. 🔤

Even though this might seem easy, you want to make sure that you review this section of the rubric. You can take several steps to make sure you earn a 6 on this portion! 🙌

The first part is just general grammar. Much of the practice you're doing for the ACT grammar section will help you here. Make sure you don't have run-on sentences or are using the wrong there/their/they're. Simple fixes like these will take you a long way in this section. 😉

That's why it is super important to  proofread when you are done! This will help you get those last points. 📖

You also want to consciously make sure you are varying your sentence structure. Add in some complex sentences. An easy way to do this is by adding in some transitions where appropriate. 👍

The last part is to use strong 💪 vocabulary. For example, instead of using "it got worse," use a form of "exacerbate." Use "detrimental" instead of "harmful." As you practice your essays, use a thesaurus to help you find replacements 🔀 for commonly used words. This will help you when you get to the exam!

One way to understand how your essay is graded is to grade essays yourself! 😎 Below, we've included one of the sample writing prompts that ACT released. This is the same one that we referenced earlier.

In addition, ACT also released 6 sample essays—each one scoring a different mark on the rubric. We haven't put them in order, so try using  this rubric and see if you can identify which essay scored 6s, 5s, 4s, 3s, 2s, and 1s on each of the 4 categories. We've included the link to the "answers" on the last slide. 🤓

😊 General ACT Essay Tips and Outlining 

Before you start your essay, it is very important that you spend some time outlining your essay! Here are some steps to take as soon as you start this section:

• 📚 Read the background information provided on the topic.
• 📑 Choose the perspective ****(or a combination of perspectives) that you believe you'll be able to provide the most evidence for.
• 💬 Come up with 2-3 examples that support your perspective AND some possible counterarguments.- - 📜 These can be real or made up, as mentioned earlier! You can also use personal anecdotes.

✍ Write a thesis that provides a clear focus for the rest of your essay and helps create a unified theme for your paper! Organize your paper. When you're outlining, this can just be in bullet points. Once you outline, the actual writing process will be easier!

• 🗨  Introduction : thesis that acknowledges your perspective + intro sentences that cast doubt on alternate perspectives
• 🥇  Body Paragraph 1 : a reason why your perspective is valid + evidence (1-2) to back it up
• 🥈  Body Paragraph 2 : a reason why your perspective is valid + evidence (1-2) to back it up
• You should also discuss the  implications of your perspective - either in this paragraph or in body paragraphs 1 & 2.
• Let's look at an example of this! This is my thesis:  Although the replacement of machines may have negative short term effects for the job market, in the long term, machines will be able to accelerate our technological growth and push us to towards new possibilities, while also creating a highly skilled workforce .
• To  restate this, I could say: In the short term, replacing machines may not have completely positive effects. However, in the future, machines will not only provide us new opportunities, they will also help us become more industrialized and create a skilled and even more capable workforce.

Note that this is only one way to structure the paper! ✍

Instead of devoting a whole paragraph to just the counterargument, you could instead have 3 body paragraphs 📃 that support your thesis, and provide a short counterargument at the end of each paragraph.

It's up to you! Just make sure it's well organized! 😍

• 🕑You should try to start actually writing your essay within 10 minutes of the session starting This gives you about 30 minutes to put this all together.
• ↪  Make sure you've included transitions throughout your paper . Key places where you should add them include the beginning of paragraphs, the end of paragraphs, and when making your rebuttal.
• 🔠  Check for spelling and grammar. This might seem minor, but it does have its own section in the rubric! Read your paper and make sure you don't have any major errors.

Good luck on the ACT essay! You'll do awesome! Image courtesy of  Wikimedia Commons , labeled for reuse.

You're Ready! 🥇

One thing you want to keep in mind is that many colleges now do not require the ACT essay! 😍Check out the admissions page of the colleges to which you're applying to see if they require the essay for admission. A "good" score on the ACT essay isn't necessarily a 12.

Often, students fret because they receive an 8 or a 10. Because the ACT and SAT writing scores are not prioritized as much in admissions any more, your score on the essay is not a "make or break" when you apply to college 🙂 It just gives colleges another lens through which they can evaluate you. 👀

That's it! You're ready for the ACT essay! 🎉 

Good luck! We have tons of resources for you—both for the ACT and ALL AP classes! Remember, your scores don't define who you are!🎉 

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ACT Writing Tips

The ACT Writing test is a 40-minute essay that you will have to write with pen-and-paper. Although not all schools require the ACT Writing Test, you have to take all four previous tests in order to take the Writing Test. It cannot be done separately from the other sections.

The prompt will describe an issue in a short paragraph, then give you three different perspectives on that issue. Each perspective will be in its own separate box, and they will be labeled “Perspective One,” “Perspective Two,” and “Perspective Three.” Below the perspectives boxes will be the Essay Task, which will look like this:

Notice you must accomplish all three of the bulleted tasks. No matter what perspective you take, your score will NOT be affected if the reader does not share the same opinion. You are only scored on your ability. Here’s how to structure your 40-minutes:

• Step 1 – 5 minutes to Plan
• Step 2 – 30 minutes to Produce
• Step 3 – 5 minutes to Proofread

Thirty minutes may not sound like a lot of writing time, but if we break it down that’s 5 minutes for each paragraph! Aim for 5 paragraphs total, and you’ll be able to finish in the allotted time with a bit of practice, especially if you take enough time to plan out your essay.

How do I Plan? Start by reading the prompt paragraph, and the three perspectives. Part of what you will have to do is choose your OWN position on the topic, and rather than come up with a completely new perspective, choose ONE of the three perspectives that is closest to your own opinion. That perspective will be your thesis, which will be the last sentence of your introductory paragraph. Next, plan out your essay using this template!

ACT Essay Template

This is a sample outline for the ACT essay. Aim for 5 paragraphs. If you have trouble completing 5 paragraphs, see if you can streamline your body paragraphs. They can often be bloated with unnecessary wordiness. Keep the introduction and the conclusion short and sweet.

Paragraph 1 – Introduction (3 sentences)

Begin your essay with two sentences summarizing the other two perspectives (the ones you do not agree with).  Your last sentence will be your thesis, and it will be a powerful and confident statement that encapsulates the ideas of the third perspective (the one you do agree with). For example, it could be structured like this:

Regarding the issue of _________, some people mistakenly believe that _________. Others think _____________. However ____________; in fact, ____________.

Let’s say the essay was about saving the environment. You introduction could be structured thusly:

Regarding the issue of protecting the environment, some people mistakenly believe that recycling and more awareness would be enough to solve the world’s pollution and waste management problems. Others think our world economy’s dependence on oil and fossil fuels is the main source of the problem. However, both these perspectives are too limited; in fact, to truly guarantee our environment’s long-term stability, it is vital that we invest our money and resources in developing alternate technologies.

From this introduction, we have clarified our position: alternative technology is the way to go! We also have clarified the two positions we will attack: recycling/awareness and oil/fossil fuel criticism.

Be sure to reuse key words from each perspective so it is extremely clear which perspectives you are criticizing, and which of the three you are strongly supporting. Do not mention the individual perspectives by number. It is more subtle if you can write your essay as if it is not based on a prompt at all!

Paragraph 2 – Criticism of One Perspective (4-6 sentences)

In this paragraph, you should explain how recycling and awareness doesn’t work. You have three tasks in your body paragraphs:

• Introduce the perspective you will attack.
• Demonstrate you understand it.
• Explain why it is incorrect or ineffective. You should be spending the majority of your body paragraph doing the third step: explaining why it is incorrect or ineffective . You must convince the reader through very concrete detail how your position on the issue is correct. If you can incorrect a SPECIFIC real-world example, that will make your essay even stronger! Check out our “example list” below for an idea on how you can brainstorm possible examples, even before Test Day!

Paragraph 3 – Criticism of Second Perspective (4-6 sentences)

In this paragraph, you should explain how dependence on oil and fossil fuels doesn’t work. Just like you did in the first body paragraph, you will:

• Explain why it is incorrect or ineffective.

Paragraph 4 – Prove Why Your Perspective is Best (4-6 sentences)

Use a transition phrase, and reiterate your thesis in the first sentence. In the rest of the paragraph, elaborate why it is correct. Again, if you can use a specific example, that would be ideal.

Paragraph 5 – Conclusion (2 sentences)

In your conclusion, warn about the future consequences if your perspective were not considered. Then reinforce the correctness of your own thesis. This takes care of having to come up with a conclusion- you’ll already know what to do! Here’s how it might look:

Although some people insist _________ or __________, these perspectives are shortsighted. In order to ________________, the only viable solution is __________.

How to Get Specific Examples

You may not know the prompt topic, but you CAN make a list of extremely specific people, places, current events, etc. from which you could draw on Test Day!

You’ll see a list of examples below – come up with your own list BEFORE Test Day that you can “pull from.”

Example List (sample)

• Oprah Winfrey
• Martha Stewart
• 9/11 (e.g. NYPD/NYFD, post-9/11, etc.)
• Global Warming
• Vietnam / Gulf / Iraq War
• A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man (book)
• Citizen Kane (movie)
• A Tale of Two Cities (book)
• The Scarlet Letter (book)
• Othello (play)
• Britney Spears
• Lena Dunham and “Girls”
• The Olympics
• 12 Years a Slave (book or movie)
• Marie Curie
• Sigmund Freud
• Adolf Hitler
• World War I
• Ancient Egypt

Notice that your examples can be from literature, politics, current events, history! Think about 4-5 topics you covered in each of your classes in the past year. You already know about these, so there might be a way to incorporate them into your essay!

For example, in our sample above, if we were discussing why recycling and awareness doesn’t work, you could say that people don’t just change their behaviors because they are more aware of negative things, and use “12 Years a Slave” as an example. Even though the book was written in 1853, many people did not change their minds about the evils of slavery until years later. Don’t feel like you need to shoehorn examples if they really don’t fit, but you might surprise yourself with how creative you can be!  One specific example per body paragraph is enough. Try to make them different. For instance, if you’re going to use “12 Years a Slave” for one paragraph, don’t use books for the other two paragraphs. Perhaps choose a current event, or an item from history to prove your other points.

ACT Essay Scoring

Like the other sections of the ACT, your Writing score will be out of 36. You will also receive sub-scores (between 1-12) in four individual categories:

• Ideas and Analysis
• Development and Support
• Organization
• Language Use and Conventions

These scores do not add up to the final score, but they break down your writing abilities to give colleges more clarity on your strengths. Your score is given by two independent readers, who will assign a score between 1-6 in each of these four areas. These sub-scores are added together to get a raw score, and that raw score is then converted into the final scaled score. Make sure you familiarize yourself with what a reader is looking for in a “perfect” essay:

As long as you follow the template here, choose a clear perspective on the prompt, and thoroughly criticize the other perspectives, and support your ideas with clear, specific examples, it isn’t too challenging to get a perfect score!  Ready to practice? Try out some of our sample ACT Writing prompts .

Essay Papers Writing Online

Mastering the art of crafting an impressive act essay.

When it comes to taking the ACT, the essay section can be a daunting task for many students. Crafting a stellar ACT essay requires a combination of critical thinking, writing skills, and knowledge of what the examiners are looking for. In this article, we will provide you with valuable tips and strategies to help you ace the ACT essay section.

Understanding the Prompt: The first step in writing a top-notch ACT essay is to carefully read and understand the prompt. Take the time to analyze the prompt, identify the key points, and determine the perspective you want to take. Make sure to address all parts of the prompt in your essay to demonstrate your understanding of the topic.

Crafting a Strong Thesis: A well-crafted thesis statement is essential for a successful ACT essay. Your thesis should clearly state your perspective on the topic and provide a roadmap for the rest of your essay. Make sure your thesis is specific, concise, and supported by evidence from the reading passages provided.

Mastering the ACT Essay Format

When crafting your ACT essay, it is crucial to pay attention to the format in order to present your ideas clearly and effectively. Here are some tips to help you master the ACT essay format:

• Introduction: Start your essay with a clear introduction that introduces the topic and presents your thesis statement. The introduction should also provide some context for the issue being discussed.
• Body Paragraphs: The body of your essay should consist of three paragraphs, each presenting a separate argument or point of view. Make sure to support each argument with specific examples and evidence.
• Transition: Use transitional phrases to smoothly move from one paragraph to the next. This will help to maintain the flow of your essay and make it easier to follow.
• Conclusion: End your essay with a strong conclusion that restates your thesis and summarizes the main points of your argument. Avoid introducing new information in the conclusion.

By following these guidelines, you can ensure that your ACT essay is well-organized and effectively communicates your ideas to the reader. Practice writing essays in this format to improve your writing skills and boost your ACT essay score.

Understanding the Prompt

Before you start crafting your ACT essay, it’s essential to have a clear understanding of the prompt. Take the time to carefully read and analyze the prompt provided. Understand the main topic or issue being discussed, the specific question or directive you need to address, and any relevant context or background information provided.

Highlight key words or phrases in the prompt that can guide your essay writing. Pay close attention to any specific requirements or instructions included in the prompt, such as the need to take a specific stance, provide examples, or address multiple perspectives.

By thoroughly understanding the prompt, you’ll be better equipped to craft a focused and coherent response that directly addresses the question at hand. This will help ensure that your essay is well-structured, relevant, and meets the expectations of the ACT examiners.

Developing a Strong Thesis

One of the most important elements of a stellar ACT essay is a strong thesis statement. Your thesis is the central claim that you will be arguing for throughout your essay. It should be clear, specific, and concise, outlining the main point you will be making in your essay.

When developing your thesis, make sure to consider the prompt and the specific issue or topic at hand. Your thesis should directly address the question or problem presented in the prompt, and provide a clear stance on the issue. Avoid vague or generalized statements, and instead strive for a thesis that is focused and impactful.

Remember that your thesis sets the tone for the rest of your essay, so take the time to craft a strong and compelling statement that will guide your writing and help you stay on track as you develop your argument.

Structuring Your Essay

When crafting your ACT essay, it’s essential to have a clear and organized structure. A well-structured essay will not only help you express your ideas effectively but also make it easier for the reader to follow your arguments.

Start with a strong introduction that clearly states your thesis and provides a brief overview of the points you will discuss. This sets the tone for the rest of the essay and gives the reader a roadmap of what to expect.

Next, develop your body paragraphs, each focusing on a specific supporting point that relates back to your thesis. Make sure to provide evidence and examples to back up your claims and demonstrate critical thinking skills.

Conclude your essay with a strong conclusion that summarizes your main points and reinforces your thesis. This is your last chance to leave a lasting impression on the reader, so make it count!

Remember, a well-structured essay is not only about what you say but also how you say it. Pay attention to transitions between paragraphs, logical organization of ideas, and a cohesive flow throughout the essay. This will ensure that your ACT essay is not only well-written but also well-received by the readers.

Using Examples to Support Your Ideas

When crafting your ACT essay, it’s crucial to support your ideas with relevant examples. Providing examples not only strengthens your argument but also helps to illustrate your points clearly to the reader.

Choose Examples Wisely: Select examples that are specific, detailed, and directly relate to the topic at hand. Generic examples may weaken your argument, so be sure to choose examples that are compelling and relevant.

For instance, if you’re discussing the impact of technology on communication, providing a specific example of how social media has changed how people interact can strengthen your argument.

Provide Evidence: Back up your examples with solid evidence to lend credibility to your essay. Statistics, studies, and expert opinions can all serve as valuable evidence to support your claims.

Quoting a study that shows a correlation between excessive screen time and decreased face-to-face communication can add weight to your argument about the negative effects of technology.

Explain the Significance: After presenting your examples, be sure to explain their relevance to your thesis statement. Clearly connect the examples back to your main argument to show how they support your overall point.

By tying your examples back to your thesis, you ensure that your essay stays focused and cohesive, making a stronger case for your position.

Editing and Proofreading Your Essay

Once you’ve finished writing your ACT essay, it’s crucial to spend some time editing and proofreading it. This step is essential to ensure that your essay is clear, coherent, and error-free.

Start by reviewing your essay for overall structure and organization. Make sure your introduction and conclusion are strong and that your body paragraphs flow logically. Check for any gaps in your argument and make sure each paragraph contributes to your overall thesis.

Next, focus on sentence-level editing. Look for awkward phrasing, unclear sentences, and grammatical errors. Consider reading your essay out loud to catch any awkward or confusing passages.

Finally, proofread your essay for spelling and punctuation errors. Pay attention to commonly misused words, such as “there,” “their,” and “they’re.” Make sure your punctuation is consistent and appropriate.

Editing and proofreading may seem tedious, but they are essential steps in crafting a stellar ACT essay. Taking the time to polish your writing can make a significant difference in the clarity and effectiveness of your essay.

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Your chance of acceptance, your chancing factors, extracurriculars, act essay writing tips.

Hey guys, does anyone have any killer tips for writing a top-notch ACT essay? I'm kinda stressed about this part, and I want to make sure I'm well-prepared.

Hey there! No need to stress, I've got you covered with some helpful tips for writing a great ACT essay. Just remember to practice and keep these tips in mind while you prepare:

1. Understand the prompt: Make sure you thoroughly read and comprehend the prompt. It will present a complex issue with three different perspectives. Your task is to analyze and develop your position on the issue while considering other perspectives as well.

2. Plan your essay: Take a couple of minutes to plan your essay before diving into writing. This will help you to organize your thoughts and create a smooth, logical flow. Outline your main points, introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion.

3. Write a clear thesis statement: Develop a concise thesis statement that presents your position on the issue. It should be included in the introduction and guide the rest of your essay.

4. Address the three perspectives: While writing your essay, make sure to discuss each of the three perspectives provided. Analyze the pros and cons, and explain how they relate to your thesis. By doing this, you'll demonstrate critical thinking and analytical skills.

5. Use specific examples: To support your arguments, provide specific examples and evidence. These can be drawn from your own experiences, readings, or current events. Make sure to connect these examples to your thesis in a clear and concise manner.

6. Stay organized: Structure your essay into an introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion. Each body paragraph should focus on a different point or argument. A well-organized essay will be easier for the reader to follow, leading to a higher score.

7. Remain focused and concise: Stay on topic throughout your essay, and don't use unnecessary words. Make sure each sentence contributes to your overall argument.

8. Proofread your essay: After writing your essay, take a few minutes to proofread it. Check for grammar, punctuation, and spelling errors, as well as any awkward phrasing or logical inconsistencies.

9. Practice, practice, practice: To get comfortable with the ACT essay format, practice with sample prompts, and get feedback from others. The more you practice, the more confident and prepared you'll feel on test day.

Lastly, stay positive, and don't forget to breathe! Keep these tips in mind, and you'll be on your way to writing a strong ACT essay. Good luck!

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Choose Your Test

Sat / act prep online guides and tips, the 21 act tips you should be using today.

The ACT has a straightforward test format, but that doesn’t mean it’s an easy test. You’re going to need to know how it’s structured and what kinds of questions to expect on each section in order to do well. In this article, I’ve listed 20 essential ACT tips, broken down by section, that will help you conquer the most difficult aspects of the test.

ACT English Tips 

Tip #1: know your grammar rules.

The safest way to make sure you feel confident on the ACT English section is to memorize the grammar rules that will be on the test.  On the ACT, it’s not enough to rely on whether something "sounds correct" to you. Since the test is standardized, you need to be prepared for the specific types of rules it will test and what it considers to be correct grammar. These won’t necessarily be rules you consistently use or are aware of in your everyday speech and writing.

The  passage-based format of ACT English can also present unique challenges. You need to make sure you’re reading the WHOLE sentence that you're being asked to edit.  Sometimes the phrasing of an earlier part of a sentence will determine the correct answer for a change to the grammar of a later part.

Tip #2: Watch Out for No Change Answers

Many questions on ACT English that ask you about improving the grammar of sentences will also include a “no change” answer option. This option is risky because if you don’t know the grammar rule being broken, it’s easy to pick “no change” by accident.  That’s why it’s important to be aware of how often you’re choosing “no change”.

If it seems like you're choosing it more often than once every 4 or so questions, there might be something you’re missing. On any question where you’re tempted to pick “no change”, look at the sentence extra carefully and make sure there isn't another possibility.  Read the sentence through again using all of the other options presented. If all of them still seem wrong, then “no change” is probably correct.

ACT Writing Tips 

Tip #3: plan essay examples beforehand.

A great way to reduce stress on the ACT essay is to plan out the examples that you’ll use before the test.  The essay prompts on the ACT are all relatively similar, so it’s not too difficult to come up with universal examples that could work for any of them. If you already have examples prepared, the hard work will be done for you. The only thing you’ll have to do during the test is relate them to the specific details of the prompt and to your opinions.

You should also know that you don’t have to be factually accurate in your essay;  if you have to twist the facts in your examples a bit to fit the needs of the prompt, that’s OK! The graders won't take points off because the essay is about your ability to structure your thoughts and answer the prompt logically, not about your level of outside knowledge.

Tip #4: Cater to the Essay Graders

Just like all other parts of the ACT, the essay has to be as standardized as possible. This means there are a couple of things you can do to raise your score reliably:

Make it at least two pages

The grade of an essay isn’t technically supposed to be related to its length, but there is a positive correlation between essay length and essay score on the ACT.  This does make some degree of sense: longer essays are going to provide more examples and support for the points they’re making. A good rule of thumb is to try and make your essay at least two pages long.

Be sure to write an introduction and conclusion

The quality of the introduction and conclusion of your essay will disproportionately affect your score, so you should ALWAYS include both of them.  The essay graders are looking for a clear thesis that answers the question posed by the prompt and lists relevant examples.  If you make it easy for the graders to figure out the point you’re trying to make, your score will come out better.

Use varied word choice and writing style

High scoring essays are the ones that flow well and are not repetitive.  Try not to use the same phrases over and over or structure every topic sentence and transition the same way.  Switch around your wording as much as possible while preserving the integrity of your original points.

ACT Math Tips 

Tip #5: know the formulas.

It’s very important to know math formulas for the ACT because you aren’t provided with any of them on the test (except sometimes for individual questions that require the use of a weird formula). You’re going to waste a lot of unnecessary time on easy questions if you don’t memorize formulas, so you should get this out of the way first if you’re just starting to study for the ACT.  Read our article on the formulas you need to know so you’ll be prepared!

Tip #6: Fill in Content Gaps

Sometimes knowing formulas isn’t enough if you haven’t encountered a certain type of question or content area in your classes before. When you do practice tests, make note of the questions you miss and see if there are any patterns in terms of question type.  This could indicate weakness in a specific content area.

Before you go any further with your math studying, you should focus on filling in the content gaps you find ; this will improve your scores dramatically. Find study resources that deal directly with the problems you’re having, whether it’s geometry, algebra, trigonometry, or something else.   

Tip #7: Solve It on Your Own

In order to fully understand your mistakes on ACT Math, it’s a good idea to force yourself to solve for the correct answer before reading answer explanations.  When you get a question wrong, make note of the answer you should have gotten and see if you can arrive there without reading the explanation. You will have a much more solid grasp of the solution process if you go through it yourself rather than just reading about it. This exercise will give you a better chance of answering correctly if you come across a similar question in the future.

ACT Reading Tips 

Tip #8: read to your strengths.

The ACT is a very predictable test, and this is especially true on the reading section.  There will always be four topic areas on ACT Reading in the following order:

1. Prose Fiction/Literary Narrative 2. Social Science 3. Humanities 4. Natural Science

Since you know what’s coming, you can make an informed decision about the order in which you’ll read the passages.  If, for example, you’re more of a science person , you might decide to read the Natural Science passage or pair of passages first because it’s going to be the most interesting to you and the easiest to get through. 

This will give you an advantage because you’ll have enough time to answer questions that are easy for you and will earn you the most points. If you were to go through the reading section in order, you might end up rushing on the Natural Sciences passage(s) and not reaching your full score potential!

Tip #9: Find a Good Passage Reading Method

It’s extremely important to make sure you’re reading ACT passages in the most efficient way for your learning style. You don’t get much time per question on the reading section, so you have to use every minute wisely. Here are three potential reading strategies you might use:

1. Skim the passage first

In my view, this is the best way to read ACT passages. By skimming first, you get a good sense of the main ideas of the passage and also might catch a lot of the details that the questions ask about. The best way to skim is to r ead the introduction and conclusion paragraphs, then the first and last sentences of every body paragraph.  After skimming, you should try and answer any big picture questions  about the passage first while the main ideas are fresh in your mind.

2. Do the questions first

This is another viable option, even though it might seem risky. If you skip straight to the questions, you can start with detail questions and work your way up to big picture questions. In the process of finding the details, you will accumulate knowledge about the main ideas of the passage and eventually be able to answer the questions that are wider in scope. If you don't get all the information you need for big picture questions this way, you can always go back and skim, paying close attention to the introduction and conclusion paragraphs.

3. Read thoroughly

This is the method that most people use instinctively because it’s what they’ve been told to do in school. Reading thoroughly can be fine if you’re a fast reader and have strong reading comprehension skills even under pressure.  BUT if you experiment with the other methods and find that you can save yourself some time and not sacrifice any points, you’re probably better off using one of them instead.

Whichever strategy you use, make sure you read the introductory blurb that’s included with each passage before you do anything else! This will give you helpful context for what to expect in the passage in terms of setting, content, and writing style.

Tip #10: Predict the Answer

Before you look at the answer choices for a reading question, you should try and think for yourself about what the answer might be.  Doing this exercise can help to eliminate some of the confusion that might occur if you just looked at the answer choices right away. If you already have an answer in mind, you will be less compelled to pick answers that are plausible but not objectively correct.

Sometimes it’s also helpful to rephrase the question in your own words if you find it to be confusing. This will likewise allow you to maintain your focus and avoid choosing answers that are not quite the right fit for the question based on the passage.

Tip #11: Rely on Direct Evidence

Remember that every question in the reading section has an answer that is supported by direct evidence in the passage!  You shouldn’t have to make unsupported assumptions in order to answer any of the questions. There will always be SOMETHING that you can cite to give credence to your choice.

If you can’t find evidence for an answer, you have to eliminate it even if it sounds plausible.  There’s a big difference between plausible and correct on the ACT. Even with inference questions, which ask you to look beyond literal facts in the passages, you should still be able to find evidence for your answers. This is when you might have to look for context clues or connotation in words around the section of the passage you’re referencing in order to point you in the right direction.

Tip #12: Get Intellectually Curious

It might seem silly, but try and be interested in the material you’re reading.  This will not only help you to absorb information better, but will also allow you to get something productive out of the test besides your score. You’ll have a much better time if you treat ACT reading as a pleasant learning experience and not a chore!

ACT Science Tips 

Tip #13: do the conflicting viewpoints section last.

The conflicting viewpoints passage on ACT Science is usually the most time-consuming part of the section and often the most difficult. It’s different from the rest of ACT Science because it doesn’t present any actual data. It just gives you a couple of passages that express different scientific opinions and asks you to answer questions about them.

This requires a strong combination of reading comprehension and scientific reasoning skills. It’s a good idea to save conflicting viewpoints for last because you will eliminate the risk of getting stick on it and not having time to answer easier questions later on in the science section.

Tip #14: Focus on the Visuals

It’s best to ignore the introductions laden with technical terms that are provided to you on the science section and skip right to the graphs.  When it comes down to it, almost all the questions you’ll see on ACT science can be answered just by looking at the data presented in the visuals.  All of the other information is just there to distract and confuse you - don’t let it!

Tip #15: Don’t Be Intimidated

The main obstacle to succeeding on ACT science is just the fact that it LOOKS scary. Well, I’m here to tell you that it’s really not that hard - you don’t even have to know much science beyond what you learned back in elementary school.

You may run into terms that you don’t know, but you most likely won’t have to understand them in order to answer questions correctly. They’re only in there to make this section seem more difficult than it actually is. This fools a lot of people, but if you stay calm and remember that you’ll never have to know any high-level science to do well , you should be fine. Focus solely on what the questions are asking and read the graphs logically, and you’ll do well!

Overall ACT Test Taking Tips

Tip #16: use process of elimination.

As I’ve written in another article, the fundamental rule of ACT Reading is that there is only one absolutely correct answer for each question, and you need to learn to eliminate the other three choices.  This elimination rule applies to the other sections of the ACT as well. It’s far easier to work on eliminating incorrect answers than to try and pick out the correct answer right away.

For each choice, ask yourself - where is the evidence? Does this answer the question? If anything in the choice doesn’t match up with what you read in the passage or the data you’re referencing, eliminate it.  If an answer is only halfway right, it’s wrong!

Tip #17: Skip Difficult Questions

For students who struggle with running out of time on the ACT, lingering too much on hard questions is a major pitfall. If you find yourself floundering on a question, it’s a good idea to skip it on your first pass through the section.  Just circle it so that it will be easier to spot when you go back through the questions.

If you’re spending more than:

30 seconds on an English question 60 seconds on a Math question 45 seconds on a Reading or Science question

Take timed practice tests to experiment with how it feels to spend this much time on a question so that during the real ACT you’ll have a good sense of when you need to move on.

Tip #18: Double Check Your Answers

At the end of each section, if you have a few minutes left, you should go back through and check your answers to be sure you didn’t make any careless mistakes. As you’re answering questions, you can put a little star next to the ones you’re unsure about so you will know to focus on them if you have time at the end.

Things to look for when double checking:

1. “LEAST” or “EXCEPT” questions - these are breeding grounds for careless mistakes.

2. Questions where you went back and forth between two answers - if you were unsure about a question, it's a good idea to go back and check it again.

3. Whichever types of questions you know you tend to have trouble with - for example, you might be extra careful with double checking the conflicting viewpoints passage questions for science.

Tip #19: Do Your Bubbling Last

You can actually save yourself a few minutes of time if you don’t bubble in your answers until the end of the section.  As you go along, circle your choices in the test booklet so it will be easy for you to go through and fill in all the correct bubbles on your answer sheet later. This tip helps you to avoid the annoying process of switching between the test booklet and the answer sheet that will cost you a few seconds on every question.

Before you decide to use this tip, make sure you’re capable of finishing the section with at least 3-5 minutes to spare.  You don’t want to get stuck in a situation where you answered all the questions but didn’t have time to fill in all the bubbles.

Another important thing to remember on the ACT is that you should always bubble in an answer for every question.  There is no guessing penalty , so it’s to your advantage to fill in a bubble for every question even if you don’t have a clue what the answer is. You could get lucky, and if you don’t it won’t impact your score!

Tip #20: Get All Your Stuff Together the Night Before

The day of the test, your palms will be sweaty, knees weak, arms heavy . The last thing you want to do is forget your ACT test ticket or pencils.

So the day before the test, make sure you have all your stuff in one place, ideally in a backpack. The most important things:

• ACT admission ticket
• Acceptable photo ID
• #2 pencils and erasers
• ACT-Approved Calculator

There are other optional things like snacks and water bottle we highly recommend . Don't even question it - just pack it in the day before so on the morning of the test, you'll be ready.

Tip #21: Remain Calm

When all is said and done, the best tip that anyone can give you is to stop psyching yourself out. Since your score for any given section on the ACT is riding on the single block of time that you have to answer the questions, freaking out about one hard question could really hurt you.

If you run into a question you don’t know, just skip it!  It might seem easier when you come back to it later with less time pressure.

Keep in mind that it’s not the end of the world if you don’t get your highest scores on this test.  You’ll have opportunities to take it again, and you can always improve!

We've gone through 20 of the most important tips you should be using to do well on the ACT. Here's a complete list:

1. Know your grammar rules 2. Watch out for "no change" answers

3. Plan essay examples beforehand 4. Cater to the essay graders

5. Know the formulas 6. Fill in content gaps 7. Solve questions on your own first

8. Read your strongest topic area first 9. Find the right passage reading strategy 10. Predict the answer before looking at the choices 11. Rely only on direct evidence 12. Get intellectually curious

13. Do the conflicting viewpoints section last 14. Rely on the visuals 15. Don't be intimidated

Overall Test Taking Tips

16. Use process of elimination 17. Skip tough questions 18. Double check your answers 19. Bubble at the end, and fill in all the bubbles 20. Pack all your stuff the day before the test. 21. Stay calm

If you follow this advice in your studying and during the test, you'll end up dramatically improving your scores! Remember to use more in-depth strategies to study for each section and improve your content knowledge before implementing tips. Check out our articles on how to get perfect scores on every section of the ACT for more strategies.

What's Next?

Take a look at our complete plan  and this six step guide to figure out when you should start studying for the ACT!

Need more resources to supplement your studying? Read this article on the ten best books for ACT prep.

Are you trying to figure out when you should take the ACT? Here's our guide to figuring out your ideal test dates!

Samantha is a blog content writer for PrepScholar. Her goal is to help students adopt a less stressful view of standardized testing and other academic challenges through her articles. Samantha is also passionate about art and graduated with honors from Dartmouth College as a Studio Art major in 2014. In high school, she earned a 2400 on the SAT, 5's on all seven of her AP tests, and was named a National Merit Scholar.

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