Plan ACT preparation with HND Academics around your starting point, available study time and application deadlines.
Check the requirements of your target schools before choosing a test. Preparation at HND Academics connects subject practice with a review of timing and school commitments.
ACT requirements depend on the institution and application cycle. Use current admissions policies when deciding whether the test belongs in your plan.
Practice work provides a starting point for English, Math and Reading. Select a small set of learning priorities, then revisit them after further practice.
Universities determine admission outcomes. Test preparation offers a process for developing relevant skills, not a promise of admission.
Confirm the accepted test, required sections and score-submission deadline for each target program.
English, Math and Reading form the core test. Consider optional Science and Writing in relation to your plans and institutional requirements.
Time management and solution techniques
Compare work samples and recurring errors across practice sessions rather than relying on one score.
The ACT has moved into the Enhanced ACT structure. The main Composite score is now calculated from English, Math, and Reading. Science is optional; students who take Science receive a separate Science score and STEM score. Writing remains optional.
| Section | Status | Content / Skills | Scoring Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| English | Core section | Grammar, punctuation, sentence structure, rhetoric, and writing style | Included in the Composite score. |
| Math | Core section | Algebra, functions, geometry, trigonometry, and problem solving | Included in the Composite score. |
| Reading | Core section | Reading comprehension, inference, and passage analysis | Included in the Composite score. |
| Science | Optional | Data interpretation, experimental design, graphs, and scientific reasoning | Not included in the Composite; reported separately with STEM. |
| Writing | Optional | Academic argument and written expression | Reported separately; not included in the Composite. |
International ACT testing is also moving through enhanced content and shorter-test updates in 2026. Students should check ACT's current notes for the selected test date and test center before registering.
Preparation time depends on the student's starting point and weekly availability. Set milestones that can be accommodated alongside schoolwork.
Include registration and score-submission dates in the application calendar. Confirm them with ACT and the receiving institution.
ACT section scores are reported on a 1-36 scale. The current Composite score is the average of English, Math, and Reading. If Science is taken, a separate Science score and STEM score are reported; if Writing is taken, the writing score is reported separately.
Wrong answers do not subtract points from correct answers, so ACT preparation should combine speed, accuracy, and question-selection strategy.
First establish which tests your target institutions accept in the current admissions cycle. Avoid choosing on the assumption that one test is easier for every student.
Use official practice materials to try each format under timed conditions. Compare how you understand instructions, develop answers and manage the workload.
Discuss those observations with HND Academics and decide on a focused preparation plan. Allow space for school commitments when setting the pace.
