Common Mistakes Students Make on ACT Practice Tests (And How to Avoid Them)

The ACT is a crucial exam for college admissions, and students spend months preparing for it. However, many make avoidable mistakes on ACT practice tests, which can hurt their final scores. By identifying these ACT test-taking mistakes and learning ACT practice test strategies, students can boost their confidence and improve their performance on test day. 

1. Not Timing Yourself Properly

The ACT is a fast-paced test with strict time limits, and many students struggle to complete it within the allotted time. If you don’t practice with a timer, you may find yourself rushing through questions, making careless mistakes, or leaving some unanswered, which can significantly impact your final score.

How to Avoid It:

When taking ACT practice tests, always use a timer and stick to the official time limits for each section. This will help you develop a sense of pacing and manage your time effectively.

2. Ignoring the Instructions

It may seem obvious, but many students lose points simply because they don’t read the instructions carefully. Each section has specific rules, and misunderstanding them can lead to costly mistakes, such as filling in the wrong answer format, missing key details, or misinterpreting what the question is asking.

How to Avoid It:

Take a few seconds to read the instructions for each section before jumping into the questions. This will prevent unnecessary errors and confusion.

3. Relying on Gut Instinct Instead of Strategy

Many students rely on intuition rather than logical reasoning when answering questions, especially in the reading and science sections. This can lead to incorrect answers because intuition is not always reliable, and the ACT often includes tricky answer choices that seem correct but are misleading.

How to Avoid It:

Use ACT practice test strategies, such as eliminating incorrect answer choices, looking for context clues, and identifying patterns in questions. This approach will help you make informed decisions rather than random guesses.

4. Skipping Difficult Questions Without a Plan

While skipping tough questions can be a good strategy, some students leave them blank and forget to return to them. This results in lost points, especially when they could have made an educated guess or attempted to solve the problem with more time left.

How to Avoid It:

Mark the questions you skip and return to them if you have time. Even if you’re unsure, make an educated guess there’s no penalty for incorrect answers on the ACT.

5. Failing to Review Mistakes

Taking ACT practice tests without reviewing mistakes is a wasted opportunity. Many students complete the test and move on without analyzing what went wrong, missing out on valuable learning experiences that could help them avoid similar errors in the future.

How to Avoid It:

After each practice test, go through every incorrect answer. Understand why you got it wrong and learn from your mistakes. Keeping an error log can help track common patterns and areas that need improvement.

6. Neglecting the Science Section

The science section of the ACT does not require advanced scientific knowledge, yet many students struggle with it because they approach it incorrectly. They may focus too much on memorization rather than analyzing graphs, interpreting experiments, and understanding trends within the provided information.

How to Avoid It:

Focus on interpreting graphs, analyzing experiments, and identifying trends. Practicing these skills will help you tackle the section more effectively.

7. Not Practicing Under Real Test Conditions

Taking a practice test in a relaxed environment, with breaks and distractions, won’t prepare you for the real test. Many students underestimate the importance of simulating actual test conditions, leading to a shock on test day when faced with strict time limits and a formal testing environment.

How to Avoid It:

Take at least one full-length ACT practice test under real exam conditions. Sit in a quiet place, follow time limits, and avoid distractions to get a feel for test day.

8. Over-Relying on a Calculator

While calculators are allowed in the ACT math section, relying too much on them can slow you down. Some questions can be solved faster with mental math or estimation, and using a calculator for every problem can waste valuable time.

How to Avoid It:

Practice solving math problems both with and without a calculator. Learn shortcuts and strategies to improve speed and accuracy.

9. Not Getting Enough Rest Before the Test

Many students pull all-nighters before a practice test, thinking they’ll perform better. However, lack of sleep leads to poor focus, slow thinking, and careless mistakes that could have been avoided with proper rest.

How to Avoid It:

Get a full night’s sleep before practice tests and the actual ACT. Being well-rested improves concentration and decision-making skills.

10. Stressing Too Much About the Score

Some students get discouraged if they don’t score well on a practice test, leading to anxiety and loss of motivation. This mindset can negatively impact their performance, making them feel overwhelmed instead of focusing on improvement.

How to Avoid It:

Remember that practice tests are meant for learning, not perfection. Focus on improving your weak areas rather than fixating on the score.

Conclusion

Avoiding these common ACT test-taking mistakes can help you maximize your potential and achieve a higher score. Practicing with the right approach, reviewing your mistakes, and staying confident will set you up for success.

For expert guidance, personalized strategies, and high-quality ACT practice test strategies, consider enrolling in Turito’s ACT prep programs. Their experienced instructors and structured lessons can help you overcome test-taking challenges and boost your score effectively!