At awesomescores.com, we believe that practice and effective strategy is the key for you to ace the ACT exam. However even if you do lots of solid preparation, it is still possible to get a bad ACT score if you do any of the following mistakes on exam day:

Slow Pacing Through the First 1/3 of a Section

Make sure you bring a watch, and always be aware of how long you have left in any given ACT section. Don’t rush through the test, but don’t allow yourself to be surprised when time is called, either.

Shading Multiple Answers for the Same Question

Before the official test begins, the exam facilitator will go through the instructions. Make sure to listen and ask any questions. Fill in your choices fully and darkly, so that there is never any confusion as to which choice is intended. If you need to erase and change an ACT answer, always erase neatly and as completely as possible.

Too Long Breaks

The ACT test maintains a tight schedule, with allotted breaks. The proctor will not wait for you if you are late. Make sure to return quickly, if not, this will affect your allotted time for the next ACT section.

Using a Pen on the Answer Grid

#2 pencils must be used for all sections of the official ACT. The scantron will not be able to read your answers if you bubble them in pen.

Choosing Not to Write the Essay

The essay is optional on the ACT, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take it.  A good ACT Writing score is a great way to augment your college application.

Leave Lots of Questions Blank

Unlike the SAT, there is no wrong answer penalty on the ACT. That means you should make sure to guess on every single ACT test question!

Forget to Bring Extra Batteries and Pencils

It would be terrible if your calculator suddenly stopped working in the middle of ACT test day, or the proctor ran out of sharpened pencils. Be prepared always; bring batteries and pencils, just in case.