Top ACT Test Day Strategies: Essential Tips for Your Best Score

You’re signed up for the ACT. You know what you need to study, made a schedule, and are sticking to it! You’ve devoted a lot of time to the ACT! Amidst all that you're studying to ensure a top ACT score, don’t forget the ACT Test Day strategies and test-taking tips that will help you succeed (get a good ACT score) on the big day.

Overcoming ACT Anxiety; Mental Prep for Peak Performance - You've got this! Between all of the classes, the study schedule, and the practice tests, you are fully prepared for exam day. Don't get caught up in worry. Having some test anxiety is normal and even helpful, as it helps you realize how important the ACT is, but too much can impede your performance. Just be confident in all that you’ve done to prepare. Your abilities will shine!

ACT Test Day Checklist: What to Pack and Eat for Success - The night before your ACT, pack a bag with everything you will need for test day. Bring an acceptable form of ID, your test ticket, an approved calculator, pencils, and snacks. Make sure your snacks are easy to eat and don’t require refrigeration. Apples, pretzels, and granola bars are great options. Take plenty of water, too! Eating a healthy breakfast filled with protein, like eggs or yogurt, before you step out the front door will keep you feeling full until the test’s first break. And leave the house in plenty of time to get to the test center!

ACT Pacing Strategies: Conquering the Clock in Each Section - The test proctor will keep track of the time for each section. Don't worry about doing so yourself. You should keep the clock on the back of your mind through each section, but don’t let it distract you. If you’ve done your prep work, you know how it feels to make it through each section in time. On the reading section, devote only five minutes to each passage, and on the science section, move on to the next passage if one seems too difficult.

Stick to the Plan: Applying Your ACT Prep Strategies on Test Day- You've likely taken several practice tests to become familiar with the test format for each section of the ACT. Remember what you learned. If a specific type of question is difficult for you, take a stab at it, but don't fret over it. If you've developed a method for taking notes on reading or science passages, stick to it! With all the preparation you’ve done, you know what works for you.

Smart Guessing on the ACT: Maximizing Your Score When You Don’t Know - There is no penalty for wrong answers on the ACT. You only get credit for right answers. That means that you should never leave a question blank. Even if you have no idea what the question is asking, fill in an answer bubble. You might end up being right and get credit for that question!

5 ACT Test Strategies

What you do in preparation for the ACT is a great indication of what you will do on your test day. Here are five test-taking strategies you can incorporate into your daily study schedule that will help you as you take the ACT or any future exam:

1. Time Management and Smart Guessing - Listen to your gut; don’t second-guess yourself, particularly if you’re stuck on a problem for more than two minutes. Read the question, use smart-guessing to choose an answer, and move on. You can mark troublesome questions and return to them at the end of the section if you have time.
2. Scratchwork and Test Booklet Use- For the paper-based ACT, you are not permitted to use outside scratch paper; however, the test booklet is your workspace. Write all over it to take notes, cross out answers, and work through math problems. If you are taking the digital ACT, the testing center will provide you with official scratch paper.
3. Focus and Distraction Management - Get in your zone! On Test Day, tune out the external environment. Whether it’s the rustle of papers at a test center or the inevitable sounds of clicking and movement in a computer lab for the digital ACT, focus only on your work. Stick to your own pace, ignore what other students are doing, and commit fully to the question in front of you. Your test is the only thing that matters in this moment.
4. ACT Time Management: Pacing and Review - Effective ACT Pacing is crucial. Understand how much time you have per question and be aware of where you should be when half the time has passed. Always reserve the final few minutes to revisit any challenging, marked questions. If you are taking the digital test, rely on the on-screen timer as your primary time tracker. For the paper test, be sure to wear an approved, silent wristwatch or watch the room clock.
5. Read All Answer Choices: Strategy for Answer Selection - Before you mark an answer on your sheet or click to confirm, read every single choice thoroughly. Even if option A seems like the best fit, always review options B, C, D, and E. This crucial step prevents you from missing key multiple-choice structures, such as "All of the above" or "Choice A and C" answers. By knowing all the choices available, you can confidently select the single best option for every question.

ACT Test Dates and Registration Deadlines (2025-2026)

Planning your preparation is the first step toward ACT success. Use the table below, which lists the official ACT dates and registration deadlines for the 2025–2026 school year, as an essential study-plan tool. Always check the official ACT website to verify dates and monitor any last-minute schedule changes.

Test Date	Regular Registration Deadline	Late Registration Deadline
September 6, 2025	August 1, 2025	August 19, 2025
October 18, 2025	September 12, 2025	September 30, 2025
December 13, 2025	November 7, 2025	November 24, 2025
February 14, 2026	January 9, 2026	January 23, 2026
April 11, 2026	March 6, 2026	March 24, 2026
June 13, 2026	May 8, 2026	May 29, 2026
July 11, 2026*	June 5, 2026	June 24, 2026
*Note: No test centers are scheduled in New York for the July test date.

By the time your ACT day arrives, you know what to do. Trust in the methods you’ve come up with throughout your studying and put them to use! ACT day is your opportunity to show off all of your hard work!