SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips

No matter how you prep for the ACT—whether you have a tutor, take a class, or study by yourself—you must get access to official, online and printable ACT tests. The official ACT practice test provided below—released by ACT, Inc.—is the exact format you’ll see on test day.

In this post, I'll tell you where you can find the official, online or printable ACT practice test with the answer key. I'll also give you key strategies and resources to help you make big improvements while you prep for the ACT.

The Best Free, Printable ACT Practice Test

On ACT's website, they have one full-length ACT practice test available for free. This ACT practice test was made by the same people who make the ACT you'll see on exam day. The practice test is also fully updated to the format and content of the current ACT.

Note that this practice test is not a cure-all for your ACT problems. To use it effectively, you'll need to learn what it does and doesn't do. You'll also need to make sure you're using ACT practice tests at an optimal frequency (In other words, don't take it too close to your ACT test date!).

But how else can you utilize official practice tests in your ACT prep?

5 Strategies to Get the Most Out of ACT Practice Tests

When you set aside four hours for an ACT practice test, it's important to try to get the most out of your time and energy. Using our five critical tips below as you take your ACT test can help you prepare more effectively for test day.

#1: Take the Practice Test in the Same Format You’ll Take the Real ACT

One of the first questions you’ll need to answer is: how will you take the ACT, on paper or digitally? 

The test has traditionally been offered on paper, and this is still true for most of the National Testing Center dates. However, the ACT is starting to pilot a digital ACT test in December 2023.

There's not a lot of information available from the ACT yet, but here's what we know:

1. Beginning in December 2023, the ACT will offer an online test option (a digital test using a computer) to 5,000 students at select ACT National Test Centers. If you register for one of the dates and locations offering a digital test, you’ll be prompted at registration to select your preferred method of testing (paper or digital).
2. You may be able to take the test digitally during a school testing day if your school offers the District Testing option. Contact your school or district administrators for more information.

So if you’re one of the few students taking the ACT digitally, you’ll want to take the practice test using this format so you’re familiar with the test software and tools. 

If you're going to take the actual ACT on paper (as opposed to taking it on a computer), it's best to emulate this format by taking your practice test on paper, too. Do your scratch work directly in your "test book" (in other words, not on separate pieces of scratch paper—remember, you won't get any extra paper on test day, though you are allowed to take notes directly on your test!).

If you're taking the Writing (essay) section, be sure to use the lined essay paper (included in the PDF above) to write out your essay by hand.

#2: Print Out the Test and Work Through It on Paper

You're going to take the actual ACT on paper (as opposed to a computer), so it's best to emulate this format by taking your practice test on paper, too. Do your scratch work directly in your "test book" (in other words, not on separate pieces of scratch paper—remember, you won't get any extra paper on test day, though you are allowed to take notes directly on your test!).

If you're taking the Writing (essay) section, be sure to use the lined essay paper (included in the PDF above) to write out your essay by hand.

#3: Keep Strict Timing on Every Section

Many students struggle with time pressure on the ACT. Going over a section's time limit by just two minutes can make a noticeable difference in your score since you're essentially giving yourself the chance to answer two or three more questions.

This is why it's so important to adhere to the official time limits on your practice tests. Not only will this help you get used to the test structure, but it'll also let you learn how to identify your weaknesses.

Here are the official time limits on the ACT as well as approximately how long you should aim to spend per question on each section:

Last but not least, the ACT isn't without breaks, so make sure to rest during your practice test, too!

One important thing to note: students with physical disabilities, learning disabilities, ADHD, autistic spectrum disorders, medical or psychiatric conditions, and visual or hearing impairments may qualify for 50% extended time.

You can read a complete guide to ACT accommodations here. If you’re eligible for ACT extended time, then you’ll have slightly longer to work on each section:

#4: Take the Test in One Sitting, If Possible

The ACT is a marathon: it lasts about four hours, and you’ll likely have to take it on a Saturday morning unless your school offers ACT District Testing (in which case you would take the test on a school day).

Regardless of whether you take the ACT on a weekday or Saturday, though, thousands of students have told me how difficult it is to stay focused during the whole exam and how easy it is to make careless mistakes at the end of the test.

Just like training for a marathon, you need to ensure you've got enough endurance to be able to succeed on the ACT. And the best way to do this is to take a practice test in one sitting—just as you will on test day.

If there's no possible way for you to take an ACT test in one sitting (for example, maybe you're an athlete and have practice every day that completely wears you out), it's OK to split up the test over multiple days—just as long as you're obeying each section's time limit exactly.

In the end, it's better to do some practice than none at all!

#5: Review Your Answers and Mistakes

The main point of taking ACT practice tests isn't just getting to do a lot of questions—it's being able to learn from your mistakes.

For every practice test you take, review all of your mistakes as well as every question you got right. If you don't know why you missed a question, look it up! That way, your wrong answers become teaching opportunities. You can guide yourself through the process from A to B and “show your work”—you’ll probably remember that question even better than if you’d gotten it right the first time.

#6: No Score Improvement? Supplement Your Practice Tests

Some students are great at using practice tests to study by themselves—they'll see a mistake they made, instantly realize why they made it, and then avoid making it in the future.

That said, most students need additional help with pinpointing their weaknesses and getting down key test-taking skills and strategies. Some of the best options for prep help include using an online ACT prep program, hiring a tutor, buying comprehensive ACT prep books, and using other resources available online. 

Our ACT Prep program is great because it provides structure and guidance as you study for the ACT, but it also fits into your busy schedule since it's 100% self-paced. More importantly, PrepScholar's ACT Prep program adapts to your skill level, helping you address your unique strengths and weaknesses. This can help save you a ton of time with your prep! The weekly study plans and progress reports outline your progress and areas of improvement, showing you exactly where you need to focus your time to improve.

In addition to prep courses, one-on-one time with a tutor can really help you master those tricky subjects and work toward your best score. Our expert tutors meet with you for face-to-face video sessions, and our flexible scheduling options make it easy for you to find the best times to study!

What's Next?

Ready to get a perfect ACT score? Read our famous guide on what it takes, written by an expert 36 scorer.

If you're aiming for top scores on all four sections of the ACT, read our in-depth strategy guides on how to get a 36 on ACT English, ACT Math, ACT Reading, and ACT Science.

Once you have all your ACT prep resources together, it's time to build a study plan. Our expert advice will help you build the ACT study plan that's best for you!

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