{"id":9430,"date":"2024-12-19T09:15:12","date_gmt":"2024-12-19T17:15:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/act\/?p=9430"},"modified":"2019-01-23T13:37:49","modified_gmt":"2019-01-23T21:37:49","slug":"act-study-guide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/act\/act-study-guide\/","title":{"rendered":"ACT Study Guide"},"content":{"rendered":"<hr>\n<p style=\"color: #4D2079\">This post has been updated for the new format of the ACT starting April 2025. For details on how the new ACT differs from the old one, see <a href=\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/act\/how-to-prepare-for-the-act\/#changes\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">How to Prepare for the ACT<\/a>.<\/p>\n<hr>\n<p>Studying for a standardized test can be like navigating the Amazon River by yourself. It\u2019s possible to do it on your own&mdash;but at some point, you\u2019re probably really going to wish that you had a guide. Lucky for you, finding an ACT study guide online is (slightly) easier than going down the Amazon! While finding the right ACT test study guide may seem overwhelming, given all the material that\u2019s out there, <strong>we have the perfect resources to help you navigate those muddy waters of ACT prep!<\/strong> So let\u2019s start our journey by taking a look at Magoosh\u2019s ACT prep study guide and what you can expect to find in it. <\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/act\/files\/2017\/03\/ACT-Study-Guide-600x300.png\" alt=\"act study guide\" width=\"600\" height=\"300\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-9467\" \/><\/p>\n<h2>Table of Contents<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"#magoosh\">The Magoosh ACT Study Guide eBook<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#schedules\">ACT Test Study Guide (One Month Schedule)<\/a><\/li>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"#calendar\">Study Calendar<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#checkpoints\">Weekly Checkpoints<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<li><a href=\"#english\">ACT English Study Guide<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#math\">ACT Math Study Guide<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#reading\">ACT Reading Study Guide<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#science\">ACT Science Study Guide<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#writing\">ACT Writing (Essay) Study Guide<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#resources\">ACT Prep Study Guide Resources<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#final\">A Final Word<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><a name=\"magoosh\"><\/a><\/p>\n<h2>The Magoosh ACT Study Guide eBook<\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/act.magoosh.com\/act-ebook-pdf?utm_source=actblog&#038;utm_medium=blog&#038;utm_campaign=act-ebook&#038;utm_term=inline&#038;utm_content=act-study-guide\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/act\/files\/2017\/03\/ACT-study-guide-eBook-600x300.png\" alt=\"act study guide book ebook\" width=\"600\" height=\"300\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-9469\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Our <a href=\"https:\/\/act.magoosh.com\/act-ebook-pdf\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">downloadable ACT study guide<\/a> will: <\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Provide you with a clear overview of the exam, explaining what you\u2019ll encounter on test day;<\/li>\n<li>Explain how to use the test\u2019s logistics (scheduling, timing, format) to your advantage;<\/li>\n<li>Introduce you to the material (content) the ACT tests, before giving you an in-depth look at the different sub-content areas the exam may ask about;<\/li>\n<li>Teach you strategies you can use, both in each section and on the test as a whole, to get your highest possible score.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>And best of all? <strong>It\u2019s free!<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Also <strong>make sure you check out our post on <a href=\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/act\/how-to-prepare-for-the-act\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">How to Prepare for the ACT<\/a> for an overview of the more recent changes to the ACT.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><a name=\"schedules\"><\/a><\/p>\n<h2>ACT Test Study Guide Schedules<\/h2>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/act\/files\/2017\/03\/Copy-of-ACT-study-guide-study-schedules-600x300.png\" alt=\"ACT test study guide schedules one month study guide\" width=\"600\" height=\"300\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-9470\" \/><\/p>\n<p>So, what next?<\/p>\n<p>Go ahead and skim through the eBook if you haven\u2019t already. Spend a minute or two orienting yourself with the Table of Contents and take note of the format, resources, and key concepts we\u2019ve included. <\/p>\n<p><a name=\"calendar\"><\/a><\/p>\n<h3>Using the Magoosh ACT Study Guide<\/h3>\n<p>It can be tempting to try to get through it all in one go. If your test is tomorrow, go for it&mdash;you have nothing to lose! But if you have a little more time for your ACT prep, know that smarts and strategy will win this race. Even with the best study guide, it still can be hard to know the best way to approach your prep.<\/p>\n<p>With that in mind, we\u2019ve created a <strong>One Month Calendar<\/strong> to show you how to get the most out of your ACT exam study guide! <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/act.magoosh.com\/1-month-study-calendar\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/act\/files\/2017\/03\/1-month-act-study-guide-calendar-600x300.png\" alt=\"one month act study calendar\" width=\"600\" height=\"300\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-9551\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<div id=\"tablepress-102-scroll-wrapper\" class=\"tablepress-scroll-wrapper\">\n<span id=\"tablepress-102-description\" class=\"tablepress-table-description tablepress-table-description-id-102\"><strong>For full instructions on materials and each day&#8217;s activities, visit Magoosh&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/act\/one-month-act-study-schedule\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">One-Month Study Schedule!<\/a><\/strong><\/strong><br \/>\n&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<table id=\"tablepress-102\" class=\"tablepress tablepress-id-102 tablepress-responsive\" aria-describedby=\"tablepress-102-description\">\n<thead>\n<tr class=\"row-1 odd\">\n<th class=\"column-1\">Week<\/th>\n<th class=\"column-2\">Sunday<\/th>\n<th class=\"column-3\">Monday<\/th>\n<th class=\"column-4\">Tuesday<\/th>\n<th class=\"column-5\">Wednesday<\/th>\n<th class=\"column-6\">Thursday<\/th>\n<th class=\"column-7\">Friday<\/th>\n<th class=\"column-8\">Saturday<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody class=\"row-hover\">\n<tr class=\"row-2 even\">\n<td class=\"column-1\">1<\/td>\n<td class=\"column-2\"><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-3\"><strong>Study Day 1: Intro &amp; Math<\/strong><br \/>\n(1 hr) ACT structure, timing &amp; strategies<br \/>\n(1 hr) Review ACT Math test concepts<br \/>\n(15 mins) Review math formulas list<br \/>\n= <strong>Total: 2 hrs 15 mins<\/strong><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-4\"><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-5\"><em>Note: Science is an OPTIONAL section of the ACT<\/em><br \/>\n<strong>Study Day 2: English and Science<\/strong><br \/>\n(1 hr) English video lessons<br \/>\n(20 mins) English practice questions<br \/>\n(15-30 mins) Start error log<br \/>\n(35 mins) Science video lessons<br \/>\n(35 mins) 40 Science questions<br \/>\n(15-30 mins) Update error log <br \/>\n= <strong>Total: 3 hrs &#8211; 3 hrs 30 mins<\/strong><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-6\"><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-7\"><strong>Study Day 3: Reading, Science, and Essay<\/strong><br \/>\n(30 mins) Video Reading lessons<br \/>\n(35 mins) 40 Reading questions<br \/>\n(15-30 mins) Update error log<br \/>\n(35 mins) Science practice questions<br \/>\n(15-30 mins) Update error log<br \/>\n(1 hr) Writing lesson videos and practice<br \/>\n= <strong>Total: 3 hrs 10 mins &#8211; 3 hrs 40 mins<\/strong> <\/td>\n<td class=\"column-8\">Practice Test<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-3 odd\">\n<td class=\"column-1\">2<\/td>\n<td class=\"column-2\">Review Practice Test<\/td>\n<td class=\"column-3\"><strong>Study Day 1: Math<\/strong><br \/>\n(30-60 mins) Math video lessons<br \/>\n(25 mins) 25 Math questions<br \/>\n(15-30 mins) Update error log<br \/>\n(40 mins) Math practice questions<br \/>\n(15-30 mins) Update error log<br \/>\n= <strong>Total:  2 hrs 5 mins &#8211; 3 hrs 5 mins<\/strong><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-4\"><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-5\"><strong>Study Day 2: Science and English<\/strong><br \/>\n(30 mins) Review Science topics<br \/>\n(25 mins) Science video lessons<br \/>\n(30 mins) Science practice questions<br \/>\n(15-30 mins) Update error log<br \/>\n(35 mins) English video lessons<br \/>\n(30 mins) 45 English questions<br \/>\n(15-30 mins) Update error log<br \/>\n= <strong>Total: 3 hrs &#8211; 3 hrs 30 mins<\/strong><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-6\"><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-7\"><strong>Study Day 3: Reading and Essay<\/strong><br \/>\n(35 mins) Reading lesson videos <br \/>\n(30 mins) Reading practice questions<br \/>\n(15 &#8211; 30 mins) Update error log<br \/>\n<em>Optional: (45 mins) Reading questions<\/em><br \/>\n(30 mins) Writing lesson videos<br \/>\n(40 mins) Practice essay<br \/>\n=<strong> Total:  2 hrs 30 mins &#8211; 3 hrs 30 mins<\/td>\n<td class=\"column-8\">Practice Test<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-4 even\">\n<td class=\"column-1\">3<\/td>\n<td class=\"column-2\">Review Practice Test<\/td>\n<td class=\"column-3\"><strong>Study Day 1: Science<\/strong><br \/>\n(25 mins) Science lesson videos<br \/>\n(35 mins) Science test<br \/>\n(15-30 mins) Update error log<br \/>\n(35 mins) Science test<br \/>\n(15-30 mins) Update error log<br \/>\n= <strong>Total: 2 hrs 5 mins &#8211; 2 hrs 35 mins<\/strong><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-4\"><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-5\"><strong>Study Day 2: Math<\/strong><br \/>\n(30-60 mins) Math lesson videos<br \/>\n(60 mins) Math practice test<br \/>\n(15-30 mins) Update error log<br \/>\n(60 mins) Math test<br \/>\n(15-30 mins) Update error log<br \/>\n= <strong>Total: 3 hrs &#8211; 4 hrs<\/strong><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-6\"><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-7\"><strong>Study Day 3: Reading<\/strong><br \/>\n(25 mins) Reading video lessons<br \/>\n(35 mins) Reading test<br \/>\n(15-30 mins) Update error log<br \/>\n(35 mins) Reading test<br \/>\n(15-30 mins) Update error log<br \/>\n= <strong>Total: 2 hrs 5 mins &#8211; 2 hrs 35 mins<\/strong><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-8\">Practice Test<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-5 odd\">\n<td class=\"column-1\">4<\/td>\n<td class=\"column-2\">Review Practice Test<\/td>\n<td class=\"column-3\"><strong>Study Day 1: English<\/strong><br \/>\n(60 mins) English lesson videos<br \/>\n(30 mins) 40-50 English questions<br \/>\n(15-30 mins) Update error log<br \/>\n<em>Optional: (45 mins) English test<br \/>\n(15-30 mins) Update error log<\/em><br \/>\n= <strong>Total: 1 hr 45 mins &#8211; 3hrs 15 mins<\/strong><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-4\"><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-5\"><strong>Study Day 2: Science and Math<\/strong><br \/>\n(25 mins) Science lesson videos<br \/>\n(35 mins) 30-40 Science questions<br \/>\n(15-30 mins) Update error log<br \/>\n(35 mins) 40 Science questions<br \/>\n(15-30 mins) Update error log<br \/>\n(35 mins) 40 Math questions<br \/>\n(15-30 mins) Update error log<br \/>\n= <strong>Total: 3 hrs 20 mins &#8211; 3 hrs 35 mins<\/strong><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-6\"><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-7\"><strong>Study Day 3: Final Review<\/strong><br \/>\n(1 hr) Review error log and make &#8220;cheat sheet&#8221;<br \/>\n(30 mins) Review ACT Tips for Test Day and pack your bag<br \/>\nRelax and go to bed early!<br \/>\n= <strong>Total: 1 hr 30 mins<\/strong><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-8\">ACT Test Date!<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<p><!-- #tablepress-102 from cache --><\/p>\n<p><strong><em>If you want a printable copy of this calendar, <a href=\"https:\/\/act.magoosh.com\/1-month-study-calendar\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">download the One Month Study Calendar PDF<\/a>.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><a name=\"checkpoints\"><\/a><\/p>\n<h3>Making Progress with the ACT Exam Study Guide<\/h3>\n<p>As you study for the ACT exam, and work through all those ACT prep questions, you may find that you\u2019re struggling to measure your progress. Should you amp up your practice before the big exam, or are you on track to get your dream score? <\/p>\n<p>Take a look at our <strong>Weekly Checkpoints<\/strong> for the One Month Study Schedule to follow your progress and ensure that you\u2019re on the right track. <\/p>\n<p>To use the checkpoints, simply copy the following information into a notebook at the end of each week, after you&#8217;ve taken an ACT <A href=\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/act\/act-practice-test\/\">practice test<\/a>. Or, if you prefer, you can print the PDF version of the checkpoints and track your progress directly on that paper. If you&#8217;re going the printer route, make sure to print four copies so you have one for each week of the ACT Study Guide!<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/act.magoosh.com\/1-month-study-checkpoints\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/act\/files\/2017\/03\/Study-guide-checkpoints-1-600x300.png\" alt=\"weekly checkpoints act prep progress\" width=\"600\" height=\"300\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-9553\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div id=\"tablepress-103-scroll-wrapper\" class=\"tablepress-scroll-wrapper\">\n<span id=\"tablepress-103-description\" class=\"tablepress-table-description tablepress-table-description-id-103\"><strong>My test score for this week was______. This was + \/ &#8211; ____ points from my last practice test.<\/strong><br \/>\n&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<table id=\"tablepress-103\" class=\"tablepress tablepress-id-103 tablepress-responsive\" aria-describedby=\"tablepress-103-description\">\n<thead>\n<tr class=\"row-1 odd\">\n<th class=\"column-1\"><strong>Question Type<\/strong><\/th>\n<th class=\"column-2\"><\/th>\n<th class=\"column-3\"><\/th>\n<th class=\"column-4\"><strong>Correct Answers<\/strong><\/th>\n<th class=\"column-5\"><strong>Incorrect Answers<\/strong><\/th>\n<th class=\"column-6\"><strong>Total Questions<\/strong><\/th>\n<th class=\"column-7\"><strong>Accuracy (Correct\/Total<\/strong>)<\/th>\n<th class=\"column-8\"><strong>This week, I&#8217;ll work on&#8230;<\/strong><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody class=\"row-hover\">\n<tr class=\"row-2 even\">\n<td class=\"column-1\">English (overall)<\/td>\n<td class=\"column-2\"><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-3\"><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-4\"><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-5\"><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-6\"><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-7\"><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-8\"><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-3 odd\">\n<td class=\"column-1\"><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-2\">English: Usage and Mechanics (overall)<\/td>\n<td class=\"column-3\"><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-4\"><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-5\"><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-6\"><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-7\"><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-8\"><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-4 even\">\n<td class=\"column-1\"><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-2\"><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-3\">English: Usage and Mechanics: Grammar and Usage<\/td>\n<td class=\"column-4\"><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-5\"><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-6\"><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-7\"><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-8\"><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-5 odd\">\n<td class=\"column-1\"><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-2\"><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-3\">English: Usage and Mechanics: Punctuation<\/td>\n<td class=\"column-4\"><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-5\"><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-6\"><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-7\"><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-8\"><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-6 even\">\n<td class=\"column-1\"><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-2\"><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-3\">English: Usage and Mechanics: Sentence Structure<\/td>\n<td class=\"column-4\"><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-5\"><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-6\"><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-7\"><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-8\"><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-7 odd\">\n<td class=\"column-1\"><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-2\">English: Rhetorical Skills (overall)<\/td>\n<td class=\"column-3\"><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-4\"><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-5\"><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-6\"><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-7\"><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-8\"><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-8 even\">\n<td class=\"column-1\"><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-2\"><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-3\">English: Rhetorical Skills: Strategy<\/td>\n<td class=\"column-4\"><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-5\"><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-6\"><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-7\"><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-8\"><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-9 odd\">\n<td class=\"column-1\"><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-2\"><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-3\">English: Rhetorical Skills: Organization<\/td>\n<td class=\"column-4\"><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-5\"><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-6\"><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-7\"><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-8\"><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-10 even\">\n<td class=\"column-1\"><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-2\"><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-3\">English: Rhetorical Skills: Style<\/td>\n<td class=\"column-4\"><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-5\"><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-6\"><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-7\"><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-8\"><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-11 odd\">\n<td class=\"column-1\">Math (overall)<\/td>\n<td class=\"column-2\"><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-3\"><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-4\"><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-5\"><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-6\"><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-7\"><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-8\"><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-12 even\">\n<td class=\"column-1\"><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-2\">Math: Pre-Algebra<\/td>\n<td class=\"column-3\"><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-4\"><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-5\"><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-6\"><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-7\"><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-8\"><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-13 odd\">\n<td class=\"column-1\"><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-2\">Math: Elementary Algebra<\/td>\n<td class=\"column-3\"><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-4\"><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-5\"><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-6\"><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-7\"><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-8\"><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-14 even\">\n<td class=\"column-1\"><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-2\">Math: Intermediate Algebra<\/td>\n<td class=\"column-3\"><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-4\"><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-5\"><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-6\"><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-7\"><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-8\"><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-15 odd\">\n<td class=\"column-1\"><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-2\">Math: Coordinate Geometry<\/td>\n<td class=\"column-3\"><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-4\"><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-5\"><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-6\"><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-7\"><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-8\"><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-16 even\">\n<td class=\"column-1\"><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-2\">Math: Plane Geometry<\/td>\n<td class=\"column-3\"><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-4\"><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-5\"><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-6\"><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-7\"><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-8\"><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-17 odd\">\n<td class=\"column-1\"><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-2\">Math: Basic Trigonometry<\/td>\n<td class=\"column-3\"><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-4\"><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-5\"><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-6\"><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-7\"><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-8\"><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-18 even\">\n<td class=\"column-1\">Reading (overall)<\/td>\n<td class=\"column-2\"><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-3\"><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-4\"><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-5\"><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-6\"><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-7\"><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-8\"><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-19 odd\">\n<td class=\"column-1\"><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-2\">Reading: Detail<\/td>\n<td class=\"column-3\"><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-4\"><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-5\"><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-6\"><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-7\"><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-8\"><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-20 even\">\n<td class=\"column-1\"><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-2\">Reading: Main Idea<\/td>\n<td class=\"column-3\"><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-4\"><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-5\"><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-6\"><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-7\"><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-8\"><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-21 odd\">\n<td class=\"column-1\"><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-2\">Reading: Comparative Relationships<\/td>\n<td class=\"column-3\"><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-4\"><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-5\"><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-6\"><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-7\"><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-8\"><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-22 even\">\n<td class=\"column-1\"><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-2\">Reading: Cause-Effect Relationships and Sequence of Events<\/td>\n<td class=\"column-3\"><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-4\"><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-5\"><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-6\"><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-7\"><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-8\"><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-23 odd\">\n<td class=\"column-1\"><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-2\">Reading: Inferences\/Generalizations<\/td>\n<td class=\"column-3\"><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-4\"><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-5\"><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-6\"><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-7\"><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-8\"><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-24 even\">\n<td class=\"column-1\"><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-2\">Reading: Meanings of Words<\/td>\n<td class=\"column-3\"><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-4\"><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-5\"><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-6\"><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-7\"><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-8\"><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-25 odd\">\n<td class=\"column-1\"><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-2\">Reading: Author&#8217;s Voice, Method, or Purpose<\/td>\n<td class=\"column-3\"><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-4\"><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-5\"><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-6\"><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-7\"><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-8\"><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-26 even\">\n<td class=\"column-1\">Science (overall)<\/td>\n<td class=\"column-2\"><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-3\"><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-4\"><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-5\"><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-6\"><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-7\"><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-8\"><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-27 odd\">\n<td class=\"column-1\"><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-2\">Science: Detail<\/td>\n<td class=\"column-3\"><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-4\"><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-5\"><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-6\"><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-7\"><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-8\"><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-28 even\">\n<td class=\"column-1\"><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-2\">Science: Pattern<\/td>\n<td class=\"column-3\"><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-4\"><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-5\"><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-6\"><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-7\"><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-8\"><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-29 odd\">\n<td class=\"column-1\"><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-2\">Science: Inference<\/td>\n<td class=\"column-3\"><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-4\"><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-5\"><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-6\"><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-7\"><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-8\"><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-30 even\">\n<td class=\"column-1\"><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-2\">Science: Scientific Method<\/td>\n<td class=\"column-3\"><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-4\"><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-5\"><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-6\"><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-7\"><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-8\"><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-31 odd\">\n<td class=\"column-1\"><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-2\">Science: Compare and Contrast<\/td>\n<td class=\"column-3\"><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-4\"><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-5\"><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-6\"><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-7\"><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-8\"><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<p><!-- #tablepress-103 from cache --><\/p>\n<p><em><strong>If you want a printable copy of these checkpoints, <a href=\"https:\/\/act.magoosh.com\/1-month-study-checkpoints\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">download the Weekly Checkpoints PDF<\/a>.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<h3>Adapting the Study Guide for the ACT to Your Schedule<\/h3>\n<p>It\u2019s important to note that you don\u2019t have to use the Magoosh Study Guide for ACT in just one month. Some students find that they want to devote more time to their ACT studies. That\u2019s great! What counts as efficient ACT prep can vary from person to person. <\/p>\n<p>Keep in mind that, combined with the resources we mention in the ACT Study Guide, you can adapt the above calendar to suit your own schedule. You can also find advice for <a href=\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/act\/one-week-act-study-schedule\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">One Week<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/act\/two-month-act-study-schedule\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Two Month<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/act\/three-month-act-study-schedule\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Three Month<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/act\/act-study-plan\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">ACT Study Schedules<\/a> right here on the Magoosh High School Blog!<\/p>\n<p>Next up, let&#8217;s look at study guides for each ACT test.<\/p>\n<p><a name=\"english\"><\/a><\/p>\n<h2>ACT English Study Guide<\/h2>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/act\/files\/2017\/03\/ACT-English-Study-Guide-1-600x300.png\" alt=\"ACT English Study Guide\" width=\"600\" height=\"300\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-9555\" \/><\/p>\n<p>What\u2019s the first thing you\u2019re going to see when you open that test booklet on the official exam? Well, after all the administrative stuff, you\u2019ll see the <a href=\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/act\/perfect-36-act-english-test\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">ACT English test<\/a>. Here\u2019s what it will look like and how to get the most out of the ACT English Study Guide!<\/p>\n<h3>The Format of the ACT English Test<\/h3>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/act\/act-english\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">ACT English test<\/a> is 35 minutes long and, as we\u2019ve seen, the first section of the ACT. Within that time frame, you\u2019ll answer 50 multiple-choice questions&mdash;that\u2019s more than one a minute!<\/p>\n<p>With that kind of time pressure, you\u2019re not going to want to waste precious seconds figuring out what a question\u2019s testing you on. With that in mind, let\u2019s take a look at&#8230;<\/p>\n<h3>What to Study for ACT English<\/h3>\n<p>As you work through the ACT Study Guide, you\u2019ll see that the 50 English questions fall into only a few categories. To make your ACT English practice easier, let&#8217;s divide them into two categories and six subcategories:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Usage\/Mechanics\n<ul>\n<li>Grammar and Usage<\/li>\n<li>Punctuation<\/li>\n<li>Sentence Structure<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li>Rhetorical Skills\n<ul>\n<li>Strategy<\/li>\n<li>Organization<\/li>\n<li>Style<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Suggested Resources for ACT English Practice<\/h3>\n<p>Within the Magoosh ACT Study Guide, you\u2019ll find the English section covered from pages 57-103. If you\u2019re still craving ACT English practice, check out more resources on the <a href=\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/act\/act-english\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Magoosh ACT English page<\/a>! <\/p>\n<p>It&#8217;s also important to note that ACT testmakers publish free <a href=\"http:\/\/www.act.org\/content\/act\/en\/products-and-services\/the-act\/test-preparation.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">practice resources and tests<\/a> on their website. <\/p>\n<p><a name=\"math\"><\/a><\/p>\n<h2>ACT Math Study Guide<\/h2>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/act\/files\/2017\/03\/ACT-Mathematics-Study-Guide-600x300.png\" alt=\"ACT Test Study Guide Math\" width=\"600\" height=\"300\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-9556\" \/><\/p>\n<p>After the ACT English test, you\u2019re going to have to switch gears pretty quickly, because here comes <a href=\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/act\/perfect-36-act-math-test\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">ACT Math<\/a>! While the math test covers a variety of topics, don\u2019t let it make you nervous. With the right preparation, you can get enough ACT math practice under your belt to feel nothing but confidence on test day. <\/p>\n<h3>The Format of the ACT Math Test<\/h3>\n<p>The second test (section) of the ACT, the ACT Math test throws 45 questions at you and gives you 50 minutes to answer them. While that\u2019s more time per question than the ACT English test gave you, most students will still feel the time crunch. You can use a calculator on the exam, but make sure it\u2019s an approved one!<\/p>\n<p>And what will you be looking at during that hour?<\/p>\n<h3>What to Study for ACT Math<\/h3>\n<p>On the surface, ACT Math only covers six concept areas. However, each of those areas (Pre-Algebra, Elementary Algebra, Intermediate Algebra, Coordinate Geometry, Plane Geometry, and Basic Trigonometry) could take an entire semester to master. <\/p>\n<p>So, more specifically, what will you see on the ACT Math test?<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Pre-Algebra<\/strong>: decimals, fractions, integers, positive and negative numbers, square roots, scientific notation, factors, ratios, proportions, percents, charts and graphs of statistics<\/li>\n<li><strong>Elementary Algebra<\/strong>: exponents, evaluating algebraic expressions through substitution, using variables to express relationships, algebraic operations, and factoring quadratic equations<\/li>\n<li><strong>Intermediate Algebra<\/strong>: quadratic formula, rational and radical expressions, absolute value equations and inequalities, sequences and series, systems of equations, quadratic inequalities, functions, matrices, roots of polynomials, probability, and complex numbers<\/li>\n<li><strong>Coordinate Geometry<\/strong>: evaluating points and lines on a graph, polynomials, circles and other curves, graphing inequalities, slope, parallel and perpendicular lines, distance, midpoints, and conics<\/li>\n<li><strong>Plane Geometry<\/strong>: angles and relationships among perpendicular and parallel lines, properties of circles, ellipses, rectangles, triangles, parallelograms, trapezoids, transformations, area, volume, three-dimensional geometry<\/li>\n<li><strong>Basic Trigonometry<\/strong>: trigonometric relations in right angles, values and properties of trig functions, graphing trig functions, using trig identities, solving trig equations<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Whew! <\/p>\n<h3>Suggested Resources for ACT Math Practice<\/h3>\n<p>First of all, you\u2019ll find ACT Math in the Magoosh ACT Study Guide on pages 104-202. (I know it looks like a lot, but trust me&mdash;it\u2019s fun, and it\u2019s a great way to cover alllll those topics we just looked at.) For more practice and tips for the math test, you can also check out <a href=\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/act\/act-math\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Magoosh\u2019s ACT Math page<\/a>. <\/p>\n<p>Finally, it\u2019s really important to keep in mind that, unlike the SAT exam, <strong>the ACT does not provide students with any math formulas<\/strong>. With that in mind, we created this <a href=\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/act\/math-formulas-on-the-act\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Math Formulas on the ACT PDF<\/a> for you to use as a handy-dandy study guide (just be sure to wean yourself off of it well before the test)!<\/p>\n<p><a name=\"reading\"><\/a><\/p>\n<h2>ACT Reading Study Guide<\/h2>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/act\/files\/2017\/03\/ACT-Reading-Study-Guide-1-600x300.png\" alt=\"ACT Test Study Guide Reading\" width=\"600\" height=\"300\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-9559\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Hold onto your hats, because we\u2019re rapidly switching gears again: this time, from Math to Reading. I know, it would be awesome if all the English, Reading, and Writing were together and the Math and Science were back-to-back&#8230;sigh. That\u2019s not the case. Enough dreaming! Let\u2019s look at the reality.<\/p>\n<h3>The Format of the ACT Reading Test<\/h3>\n<p>The time pressure here seems to be a little lighter than on English test&mdash;at first. Yes, there are only 36 questions to answer in 40 minutes, but keep in mind that those 36 questions are about 4 passages, which can be lengthy and take some time to read. <\/p>\n<h3>What to Study for ACT Reading<\/h3>\n<p>As you start your <a href=\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/act\/perfect-36-act-reading-test\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">ACT Reading<\/a> practice, you\u2019ll soon realize that the genres of the passages that you\u2019ll see (fiction, social science, humanities, and natural science) are less important than the types of <em>questions<\/em> that accompany those passages. So what are those question types?<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Detail<\/strong>: questions that ask you to find a detail in the text.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Main Idea<\/strong>: questions that ask you to determine the primary message of a paragraph, section or entire passage.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Comparative Relationships<\/strong>: questions that ask you to compare two or more people, viewpoints, events or theories.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Cause-Effect Relationships and Sequence of Events<\/strong>: questions that ask you to determine what caused something else or what is the effect of something in the passage.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Inferences\/Generalizations<\/strong>: questions that require you to synthesize information and boil it down to a more concise form.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Meanings of Words<\/strong>: questions that ask you to determine the meaning of a word in context.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Author\u2019s Voice, Method, or Purpose<\/strong>: questions that ask you to draw conclusions about the author\u2019s point of view and method; basically how a passage is developed or its purpose.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>While that might not seem like a lot, it can take a lot of Reading practice to determine exactly how to identify which types of question you\u2019re working on and how to answer it. But don\u2019t worry! Because we can offer&#8230;<\/p>\n<h3>Suggested Resources for ACT Reading Practice<\/h3>\n<p>To learn more about Magoosh ACT Study Guide for Reading, scroll on over to pages 204-220 of the eBook Study Guide. You can find more practice in the <a href=\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/act\/act-reading\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Magoosh ACT Reading blog posts<\/a>, as well as in the \u201cRed Book\u201d and on the ACT website. <\/p>\n<p>What is the best thing you can do, outside of practicing and practice testing? Read on your own time! Read for fun, read for information, read for a higher test score&mdash;as long as you\u2019re reading, you\u2019re helping your ACT Reading score. <\/p>\n<p><a name=\"science\"><\/a><\/p>\n<h2>ACT Science Study Guide<\/h2>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/act\/files\/2017\/03\/ACT-Science-Study-Guide-600x300.png\" alt=\"ACT Test Study Guide Science\" width=\"600\" height=\"300\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-9558\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Our fourth and last test on the ACT is ACT Science, <strong>but it is OPTIONAL<\/strong>. As you practice and work your way through the Magoosh ACT Study Guide for Science, remember that the Science test is all about reasoning. While familiarity with basic science terms is necessary, you don\u2019t need to have a Nobel Prize (or AP test) under your belt to ace this section!<\/p>\n<h3>The Format of the ACT Science Test<\/h3>\n<p>The ACT Science test will give you 40 questions to answer in 40 minutes. Unlike ACT Reading, you&#8217;re going to get a lot of different passages: expect to find 6 to 7 in ACT Science. <\/p>\n<p>The good news is that these passages are shorter and more visual than Reading passages (think lots of charts and graphs). So, there\u2019s definitely a big distinction between the science-based ACT Reading passage and the reading passages in the ACT Science test. <\/p>\n<h3>What to Study for ACT Science<\/h3>\n<p>Don\u2019t spend your time boning up on tiny details from advanced physics courses (at least, not for the purposes of the ACT). Instead, work on interpreting charts and graphs, reading science articles for non-specialists, and practicing ACT-specific materials. That way, you\u2019ll be able to recognize and master the following question types:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Detail<\/strong>: questions that ask you to find a specific data point on a graph, table, diagram, etc. and report the answer.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Pattern<\/strong>: questions that ask you to predict a trend or relationship among the given data, generally by finding a point between existing data points or continuing to follow a trend beyond existing data.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Inference<\/strong>: questions that ask you to draw conclusions from the data, sometimes combining information from multiple figures or experiments, and sometimes evaluating how new information would affect the experiment.\n<li><strong>Scientific Method<\/strong>: questions that ask about how experiments are designed, or how experimenters test and interpret data.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Compare and Contrast<\/strong>: questions that only appear on the \u201cConflicting Viewpoints\u201d passage and ask you to compare various aspects of opposing hypotheses on a scientific phenomenon, or explain how additional information might affect the various arguments presented.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Suggested Resources for ACT Science Practice<\/h3>\n<p>To put those question types in context, take a look at some ACT Science practice passages! To find Magoosh&#8217;s Science Study Guide, turn on over to pages 221-244. The Magoosh blog is also a great place to find <a href=\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/act\/9-act-science-practice-questions-with-explanations\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">tips and tricks for the ACT Science test<\/a>. The \u201cRed Book\u201d is also strong in this area.<\/p>\n<p><a name=\"writing\"><\/a><\/p>\n<h2>ACT Writing Study Guide (Essay)<\/h2>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/act\/files\/2017\/03\/ACT-Writing-Study-Guide-ACT-Essay-Study-Guide-600x300.png\" alt=\"ACT Test Study Guide Writing ACT Essay Study Guide\" width=\"600\" height=\"300\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-9560\" \/><\/p>\n<p><em>A quick note: The ACT essay is optional, but a few colleges require it for admission or for scholarships. So check the admissions requirements of the schools you\u2019re applying to.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>A lot of students balk at preparing for the <a href=\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/act\/scoring-perfect-12-act-essay\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">ACT Writing test<\/a> (otherwise known as &#8220;the essay&#8221;). These students often get stellar grades in their English classes, so you\u2019d think they\u2019d embrace this section. Instead, they think that their great English class essays will translate to a great ACT essay score. <\/p>\n<p><strong>This is not necessarily true!<\/strong> It\u2019s really important to remember that the ACT Essay is unique. What gets you high grades on your essays for school may not get earn high scores on the ACT. <\/p>\n<p>So what will? Let\u2019s take a look at the format of the test first, then see how you can use that format to get your best score on the ACT Writing test.<\/p>\n<h3>The Format of the ACT Essay<\/h3>\n<p>The ACT Writing test provides you with a prompt and gives you 40 minutes to write an essay response. The prompt consists of a debatable topic and three different perspectives on that topic. ACT asks you to evaluate those perspectives, provide your own, and explain the relationship between your opinion and those provided.<\/p>\n<h3>What to Study for ACT Writing<\/h3>\n<p>If writing English class essays doesn\u2019t prepare you for the ACT Writing test, then what does? <\/p>\n<p>Though your prep for this section will necessarily be different than your preparation for the others, there are a few specific skills that can help you score well:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>5-Paragraph Essays<\/strong>, particularly how to structure them;<\/li>\n<li><strong>Choosing Examples<\/strong>&mdash;and then using them well;<\/li>\n<li><strong>Brainstorming<\/strong> and related note-taking;<\/li>\n<li><strong>Proofreading<\/strong>, particularly proofreading your own work.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Suggested Resources for ACT Writing Practice<\/h3>\n<p>These might seem like difficult concepts to practice, and they can certainly be tricky to grasp at first if you\u2019re working on your own. Lucky for you, we\u2019re here to help! For more info on ACT Writing, check out pages 244 to 257 of the eBook and <a href=\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/act\/act-writing\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Magoosh&#8217;s ACT Writing posts<\/a>. <\/p>\n<p><a name=\"resources\"><\/a><\/p>\n<h2>ACT Prep Study Guide Resources<\/h2>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/act\/files\/2017\/03\/ACT-Study-Guide-Resources-600x300.png\" alt=\"ACT resources\" width=\"600\" height=\"300\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-9561\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Want more ACT prep resources to add to the hundreds of pages of strategies and practice in the Magoosh ACT eBook, and the thousands of posts from our experts on the High School Blog?<\/p>\n<p>If you&#8217;re looking to flesh out different aspects of your own personal ACT Test Study Guide, then you probably do. We&#8217;ve got you covered:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/act\/act-practice-test\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Free ACT Practice Test with Answers and Explanations (PDF Download)<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<ul>\n<li>This full-length ACT practice test contains over 200 of Magoosh ACT&#8217;s best practice questions. Use it as your practice test during any week of the Magoosh One Month Study Guide, then watch the free <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/act.magoosh.com\/practice-test-pdf-explanations\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Explanation Videos<\/a><\/strong> for all the questions you missed. It&#8217;s the perfect way to learn from your mistakes and increase your score!<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/act\/act-practice-test\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">How to Take &#038; Review Your ACT Practice Test<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<ul>\n<li>Before anything else, I highly suggest you learn how to use full-length ACT practice tests to your advantage while prepping for the ACT.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/act.magoosh.com\/act-apps\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Magoosh ACT Mobile Apps<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<ul>\n<li>I can\u2019t recommend our free ACT apps highly enough! Both the <strong>Magoosh ACT Flashcard App<\/strong> and <strong>Magoosh ACT Lessons App<\/strong> are available for Android and iPhone. They&#8217;re perfect for studying on the go.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><Strong><a href=\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/act\/act-score-calculator\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">ACT Score Calculator<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<ul>\n<li>Finally, if you\u2019re taking <a href=\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/act\/act-practice-test\/\">a practice tests<\/a> as part of your ACT Study Guide (and you definitely, definitely should!) you\u2019ll need our ACT Score Calculator, as well as the <strong><A href=\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/act\/act-scores\/\">Ultimate Guide to ACT Scoring<\/a><\/strong> to help you put them in context.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>And don&#8217;t forget about <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/act.magoosh.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Magoosh ACT Prep<\/a><\/strong>! See if it&#8217;s right for you by signing up for our seven-day free trial (no credit card info needed). <\/p>\n<p><a name=\"final\"><\/a><\/p>\n<h2>A Final Word<\/h2>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/act\/files\/2017\/03\/ACT-prep-final-word-600x300.png\" alt=\"ACT Study Guide\" width=\"600\" height=\"300\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-9562\" \/><\/p>\n<p>In the end, learning how to study for ACT comes down to learning the test format, the scoring system, and how to practice&mdash;and then practicing, practicing, practicing! <\/p>\n<p>Do your best to regularly evaluate your work, make sure your practice is consistent, and stay strong. The fact that you\u2019re this invested in your ACT success is a great sign that you&#8217;ll do well. <\/p>\n<p>Good luck, ACT test-takers!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>While finding the right ACT test study guide for you may seem overwhelming, given all the material that\u2019s out there, we have the perfect resources to help you navigate those muddy waters of ACT prep! So let\u2019s start our journey by taking a look at Magoosh\u2019s ACT prep study guide and what you can expect to find in it. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":228,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[90],"tags":[],"ppma_author":[24872],"class_list":["post-9430","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-all"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v21.7 (Yoast SEO v21.7) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>ACT Study Guide - Magoosh Blog | ACT<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"If you&#039;re looking for an ACT test study guide, check out this post for a free Magoosh ACT study guide and info about how to make the most of it.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/act\/act-study-guide\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"ACT Study Guide\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"If you&#039;re looking for an ACT test study guide, check out this post for a free Magoosh ACT study guide and info about how to make the most of it.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/act\/act-study-guide\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Magoosh Blog | ACT\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/MagooshSat\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2024-12-19T17:15:12+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2019-01-23T21:37:49+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/act\/files\/2017\/03\/ACT-Study-Guide-600x300.png\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Rachel Kapelke-Dale\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@MagooshSAT_ACT\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@MagooshSAT_ACT\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Rachel Kapelke-Dale\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"16 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/act\/act-study-guide\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/act\/act-study-guide\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Rachel Kapelke-Dale\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/act\/#\/schema\/person\/e8bb674fd0d6a6accfb4fb3d336f366a\"},\"headline\":\"ACT Study Guide\",\"datePublished\":\"2024-12-19T17:15:12+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/act\/act-study-guide\/\"},\"wordCount\":3047,\"commentCount\":0,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/act\/#organization\"},\"articleSection\":[\"ACT\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/act\/act-study-guide\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/act\/act-study-guide\/\",\"name\":\"ACT Study Guide - 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She writes and updates content on our <a href=\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/act\/\">High School <\/a>and <a href=\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/gre\/\">GRE Blogs<\/a> to ensure students are equipped with the best information during their test prep journey. As a test-prep instructor for more than five years in there different countries, Rachel has helped students around the world prepare for various standardized tests, including the SAT, ACT, TOEFL, GRE, and GMAT, and she is one of the authors of our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/ACT-Prep-Magoosh-Schedules-Strategies\/dp\/1610660692\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Magoosh ACT Prep Book<\/a>. Rachel has a Bachelor of Arts in Comparative Literature from Brown University, an MA in Cinematography from the Universit\u00e9 de Paris VII, and a Ph.D. in Film Studies from University College London. For over a decade, Rachel has honed her craft as a fiction and memoir writer and public speaker. Her novel,<a href=\"https:\/\/read.macmillan.com\/lp\/the-ballerinas\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"> THE BALLERINAS<\/a>, is forthcoming in December 2021 from<a href=\"https:\/\/us.macmillan.com\/author\/rachelkapelkedale\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"> St. Martin's Press<\/a>, while her memoir,<a href=\"https:\/\/www.penguinrandomhouse.com\/books\/315080\/graduates-in-wonderland-by-jessica-pan\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"> GRADUATES IN WONDERLAND<\/a>, co-written with Jessica Pan, was published in 2014 by Penguin Random House. Her <a href=\"http:\/\/rachelkapelkedale.com\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">work<\/a> has appeared in over a dozen online and print publications, including Vanity Fair Hollywood. When she isn't strategically stringing words together at Magoosh, you can find Rachel riding horses or with her nose in a book. 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