How to Study for the ACT: AI Tools & Strategies for 2026
The ACT is the content-based alternative to the SAT, testing your knowledge across English, Math, Reading, and Science with straightforward, fast-paced questions. In 2026, AI-powered study tools give students a decisive edge in preparing for this demanding exam. This comprehensive guide covers every section, the unique Science component, proven strategies for the ACT's tight timing, and the best AI apps to maximize your composite score from 1 to 36.
Written by Sarah Mitchell
Education Tech Researcher
Sarah has researched standardized test preparation for over eight years, with particular expertise in the ACT. She has analyzed score data from thousands of ACT test-takers and consulted with high school counselors to understand how AI tools are transforming college admissions test preparation. Her research focuses on strategies that help students maximize their composite score in minimal study time.
Quick ACT Study Summary
- Sections: English (75Q, 45min) + Math (60Q, 60min) + Reading (40Q, 35min) + Science (40Q, 35min) + optional Writing
- Score Range: 1-36 composite (average ~20, competitive 30+, Ivy 34+)
- Key Difference from SAT: Science section, faster pacing, more straightforward questions
- Study Timeline: 2-3 months, 40-80 hours total
- Best AI for Content Review: LectureScribe (class content to ACT prep materials)
- Digital ACT: Rolling out 2025-2026 alongside paper version
Table of Contents
The ACT in 2026: What Every Student Needs to Know
The ACT has long been the preferred college admissions test for students in the Midwest and South, but in 2026 it is a fully national alternative to the SAT accepted by every college in the United States. What distinguishes the ACT from the SAT is its straightforward, content-based approach. ACT questions tend to test knowledge more directly, with less of the tricky question phrasing that characterizes the SAT. For students who know their material well and can work quickly, the ACT can be a significant advantage.
The biggest development for the ACT in 2025-2026 is the rollout of the digital ACT. While the paper-based test is still available at many locations, the digital version is becoming increasingly common. The digital ACT maintains the same content, timing, and scoring structure as the paper version, but the transition means students should practice taking tests on a screen. Unlike the Digital SAT, the ACT digital format is not adaptive, meaning all test-takers still answer the same questions.
The ACT's defining characteristic is its pace. With 215 questions across four sections in just 2 hours and 55 minutes, time management is arguably the most critical skill for ACT success. This is where AI study tools provide an enormous advantage: by making your content review more efficient, you can devote more preparation time to developing speed and accuracy under timed conditions.
Why the ACT Rewards Well-Prepared Students
The ACT tests content knowledge more directly than the SAT. If you have been paying attention in your high school English, math, and science classes, you already have a strong foundation. AI tools like LectureScribe can convert your existing class notes and lectures into ACT-ready study materials, meaning your daily schoolwork becomes test prep automatically. Students who leverage their classroom learning alongside targeted ACT practice consistently outperform those who treat ACT prep as entirely separate from school.
ACT Test Structure & Timing: The Complete Breakdown
The ACT consists of four mandatory sections taken in a fixed order, plus an optional Writing section. Understanding the structure, timing, and pacing demands of each section is essential for building an effective study plan.
Section 1: English
75 questions | 45 minutes | 36 seconds per question
Tests grammar, punctuation, sentence structure, and rhetorical skills through passage editing.
- - 5 passages, 15 questions each
- - Usage/Mechanics: grammar, punctuation, sentence structure (~40 questions)
- - Rhetorical Skills: strategy, organization, style (~35 questions)
- - Questions are embedded within passages (underlined portions)
- - Fastest-paced section: you must average 36 seconds per question
Section 2: Math
60 questions | 60 minutes | 60 seconds per question
Tests math concepts from pre-algebra through trigonometry. Calculator allowed.
- - Pre-Algebra & Elementary Algebra (~24 questions)
- - Intermediate Algebra & Coordinate Geometry (~18 questions)
- - Plane Geometry (~14 questions)
- - Trigonometry (~4 questions)
- - Calculator allowed throughout (bring your own)
- - Questions arranged roughly from easiest to hardest
Section 3: Reading
40 questions | 35 minutes | 52 seconds per question
Tests reading comprehension through four long passages from different genres.
- - 4 passages (or 3 single + 1 paired), 10 questions each
- - Prose Fiction / Literary Narrative
- - Social Science
- - Humanities
- - Natural Science
- - Extremely tight timing: ~8.5 minutes per passage (read + answer)
Section 4: Science
40 questions | 35 minutes | 52 seconds per question
Tests scientific reasoning and data interpretation, NOT science content knowledge.
- - 6-7 passages with data, experiments, or conflicting viewpoints
- - Data Representation: interpret graphs, tables, charts (~15 questions)
- - Research Summaries: analyze experiments (~18 questions)
- - Conflicting Viewpoints: compare different scientific perspectives (~7 questions)
- - ~90% of questions answerable from passage information alone
- - Speed is critical: practice reading data displays quickly
The ACT Timing Challenge
Time pressure is the ACT's defining challenge. Many students who know the content well still struggle because they cannot work fast enough. The Reading section gives you just 8.5 minutes per passage (read a 700-word passage AND answer 10 questions). The Science section is similarly demanding. If you are consistently running out of time on practice tests, your study plan should prioritize speed-building strategies just as much as content review. This is where AI tools that streamline your content review are invaluable: they free up preparation time for timed practice.
ACT Scoring: Understanding Your Composite and Section Scores
The ACT composite score is the average of your four section scores, each scaled from 1-36. Understanding the scoring system helps you set realistic targets and identify which sections offer the most room for improvement.
National Average (~20)
The average ACT composite score is approximately 20. This is the 50th percentile, meaning half of test-takers score higher and half score lower. A score of 20 is generally sufficient for admission to many open-enrollment and less selective state universities.
Above Average (24-27)
A composite score in this range places you in the 74th-87th percentile. Competitive for many state flagship universities and mid-tier private colleges. This range is where merit scholarship opportunities begin to open up significantly. Achievable for most motivated students with 6-8 weeks of focused preparation.
Competitive (30-33)
A 30+ composite places you in the top 5-7% of all test-takers. This score is competitive for highly selective universities like UCLA, University of Michigan, Georgetown, and Emory. Strong scholarship potential at most schools. Typically requires 60-80 hours of dedicated preparation.
Ivy League Level (34-36)
The top 1-2% of test-takers. Competitive for Harvard, Yale, Princeton, MIT, Stanford, and other elite institutions. At a 34, you can miss only a handful of questions across the entire test. This level requires both thorough content mastery and exceptional speed and accuracy under time pressure.
Composite Score Strategy
Because your composite is the average of four section scores, improving your weakest section has the biggest impact. If you score English 28, Math 26, Reading 22, Science 24 (Composite: 25), raising your Reading score from 22 to 28 would boost your composite from 25 to 26.5, rounded to 27. That same 6-point improvement in English (28 to 34) would give the same composite boost but is much harder to achieve at the higher end. Always invest the most study time in your weakest section.
ACT English Section: Grammar, Rhetoric, and Speed
The ACT English section is the most rule-based section on the entire test, which means it is also the most learnable and improvable. If you master the tested grammar rules and rhetorical strategies, you can score 30+ on English even if other sections are weaker. The section presents five passages with underlined portions, and you choose the best version of each underlined section.
ACT English Content Breakdown
Usage/Mechanics (~53%)
- - Commas, apostrophes, colons, semicolons, dashes
- - Subject-verb agreement
- - Pronoun agreement and reference
- - Verb tense consistency
- - Sentence fragments and run-on sentences
- - Modifier placement (dangling and misplaced)
- - Parallel structure
- - Idiomatic expressions
Rhetorical Skills (~47%)
- - Sentence and paragraph organization
- - Transition words and phrases
- - Relevance (should a sentence be added or deleted?)
- - Conciseness (eliminate wordiness)
- - Author's purpose and tone
- - Opening and closing sentences
- - Paragraph placement within the passage
- - Writing style and word choice
High-Impact English Strategies
Learn the "Shorter Is Better" Rule
When two or more answer choices are grammatically correct but differ in length, the ACT almost always prefers the more concise option. Wordiness and redundancy are tested heavily. If "NO CHANGE" is wordy and another option says the same thing in fewer words, choose the shorter version. This single principle can help you on 10-15 questions per test.
Master Comma Rules
Commas are the single most tested punctuation mark on the ACT. Learn these rules: commas separate items in a list, set off nonessential (nonrestrictive) clauses, follow introductory phrases, and separate independent clauses before FANBOYS conjunctions (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so). Never put a comma between a subject and its verb. Create flashcards for each comma rule with examples.
Read the Whole Sentence (Not Just the Underlined Part)
Many students look only at the underlined portion and miss context clues. Subject-verb agreement errors often have the subject far from the verb. Pronoun reference errors require seeing what the pronoun refers to in the surrounding sentences. Always read at least the full sentence, and sometimes the sentence before and after.
Pace Yourself: 9 Minutes Per Passage
With 5 passages and 45 minutes, you have 9 minutes per passage (15 questions). Grammar questions should take 20-30 seconds each, leaving more time for rhetorical strategy questions that require reading context. Do not spend more than 45 seconds on any single question; mark it and come back.
ACT Math Section: Content Coverage & Strategic Approach
ACT Math tests a broader range of mathematical content than the SAT, covering everything from basic pre-algebra through trigonometry. The questions are arranged roughly from easiest to hardest, which creates a natural time management strategy: spend less time on the easier early questions and budget more time for the harder questions near the end.
ACT Math Content Breakdown
Pre-Algebra & Elem. Algebra (~40%)
- - Basic operations, fractions, decimals, percents
- - Factors, multiples, and primes
- - Ratios and proportions
- - Linear equations and inequalities
- - Absolute value
- - Exponents and square roots
Intermediate Algebra & Coord. Geom. (~30%)
- - Quadratic equations and the quadratic formula
- - Systems of equations
- - Functions and function notation
- - Matrices (basic operations)
- - Coordinate plane (slope, distance, midpoint)
- - Graphing equations and inequalities
Plane Geometry (~23%)
- - Angles (complementary, supplementary, vertical)
- - Triangles (area, perimeter, properties)
- - Circles (area, circumference, arc length)
- - Rectangles, parallelograms, trapezoids
- - Volume and surface area of 3D shapes
- - Transformations (reflections, rotations)
Trigonometry (~7%)
- - SOHCAHTOA (sin, cos, tan definitions)
- - Trigonometric identities
- - Trig values for special angles
- - Graphs of trig functions
- - Law of Sines and Law of Cosines
ACT Math Speed Strategy
Since questions go from easy to hard, aim to spend 30-45 seconds each on questions 1-30 (banking time), 60-75 seconds on questions 31-50, and use remaining time for questions 51-60 (the hardest). If you are targeting a 28-30, you can afford to skip or guess on the last 5-8 questions and focus on getting questions 1-50 correct. Use your calculator strategically but do not over-rely on it. Simple arithmetic in your head is often faster than typing into a calculator.
ACT Reading Section: Speed Reading & Strategic Passage Order
The ACT Reading section is where most students feel the greatest time pressure. You have just 35 minutes to read four long passages (approximately 700-800 words each) and answer 40 questions. That is roughly 8 minutes and 45 seconds per passage, including both reading and answering. Many well-prepared students fail to reach their target score simply because they run out of time.
The Four Passage Types
Prose Fiction / Literary Narrative
Excerpt from a novel or short story. Tests character motivations, tone, narrative structure, and emotional themes. Students who read fiction regularly tend to find this passage easiest.
Social Science
Topics include psychology, sociology, economics, political science, or anthropology. Factual and argument-based. Strong overlap with content you learn in history and social studies classes.
Humanities
Covers art, music, architecture, literature analysis, or personal memoirs. Can be analytical or narrative in style. Often the most variable in difficulty from test to test.
Natural Science
Topics include biology, chemistry, physics, or earth science. Typically more straightforward than Fiction since information is presented factually. Strong readers often find this the easiest passage.
Reading Speed Strategies
Choose Your Passage Order Strategically
You do not have to read passages in order. Start with the passage type you find easiest and fastest, then work toward harder passages. If Natural Science is your fastest passage, start there. Tackle your most challenging passage type last so that if you run out of time, you are rushing on the passage you would have struggled with anyway.
Read Actively, Not Passively
As you read, mentally note the main idea of each paragraph. Many questions ask about specific details or inferences, and knowing where in the passage to look saves enormous time. Underline or mark key points if taking the paper ACT. On the digital version, use the highlighting tool.
Use Line References to Your Advantage
Many questions include line number references. Go directly to those lines, read the surrounding context (2-3 lines above and below), and answer. Do not reread the entire passage for every question. This targeted approach can save 1-2 minutes per passage.
Build Reading Speed Through Daily Practice
The best way to improve ACT Reading scores is to read more. Read articles, essays, and fiction for 20-30 minutes daily. Time yourself to build speed gradually. Use LectureScribe to generate study guides from your English class readings that reinforce comprehension skills overlapping with the ACT format.
ACT Science Section: The Hidden Advantage
The ACT Science section is the most misunderstood part of the test, and that misunderstanding creates a significant advantage for prepared students. Despite its name, the Science section is not a test of how much science you know. It is fundamentally a data interpretation and scientific reasoning test. Approximately 90% of questions can be answered entirely from the information provided in the passages. The remaining 10% require a handful of basic science concepts that most students already know from their classes.
This means that a student with strong data analysis skills but limited science background can outscore a student with extensive science knowledge but poor analytical skills. The Science section rewards the same skills tested in the Reading section: reading carefully, interpreting visual information, and drawing logical conclusions.
Three Types of Science Passages
Data Representation (~30-40%)
You are given graphs, tables, and charts with a brief introduction. Questions ask you to read values, identify trends, and make predictions based on the data.
Strategy: Read the axis labels and units first. Most questions are answered by reading the data display directly. Practice reading scientific graphs quickly.
Research Summaries (~45-55%)
Descriptions of experiments including methods, results, and sometimes conclusions. Questions test your understanding of experimental design, variables, and what the results show.
Strategy: Identify the independent variable, dependent variable, and controls for each experiment. Understanding experimental structure answers most questions.
Conflicting Viewpoints (~15-20%)
Two or more scientists/students present different explanations for the same phenomenon. Questions ask you to compare, contrast, and evaluate their viewpoints.
Strategy: Before reading the viewpoints, read the introduction to understand the question being debated. Then note where each scientist agrees and disagrees. Most questions ask about specific differences between viewpoints.
Science Section Mastery Strategies
Go to the Questions First for Data Representation
For Data Representation passages, skip the introductory text and go straight to the questions. Most questions ask you to read specific values from graphs or tables. Look at the data display only when a question directs you there. This saves 1-2 minutes per passage.
Know These 5 Background Concepts
While 90% of questions need no outside knowledge, these concepts appear regularly: (1) pH scale (7 is neutral, lower is acidic, higher is basic), (2) genetic inheritance basics (dominant/recessive), (3) plate tectonics basics, (4) natural selection concept, (5) basic chemistry (atoms, molecules, reactions). Create flashcards for these with LectureScribe.
Practice Graph Reading Speed
The fastest way to improve your Science score is to get faster at reading graphs and tables. Practice with any scientific data: weather charts, economic graphs, biology diagrams. Train yourself to immediately identify: what is on each axis, what the units are, what the overall trend is. This skill transfers directly to ACT Science.
Save Conflicting Viewpoints for Last
Conflicting Viewpoints passages require more reading than Data Representation or Research Summaries. Tackle the data-heavy passages first (they are faster) and leave Conflicting Viewpoints for the end. If you run out of time, you are skipping the most time-consuming passage type rather than the quickest ones.
Science Score Booster
Upload your science class lectures to LectureScribe to create flashcards on the small number of background science concepts the ACT does test. While most Science questions are passage-based, having instant recall of basic scientific terminology and principles helps you read passages faster and with greater confidence. This is especially true for the 10% of questions that do require outside knowledge.
Optional Writing Section: Should You Take It?
The ACT Writing section is optional and adds 40 minutes to your test. You are given a prompt presenting an issue with three different perspectives and asked to write an essay analyzing the perspectives and presenting your own position. The Writing score (2-12) is reported separately and does not affect your composite score.
Should You Take the ACT Writing?
Take Writing If...
- - Your target colleges require or recommend it
- - You are applying to engineering or STEM programs at selective schools
- - You are a strong writer and want to showcase that skill
- - You want to keep all options open for college applications
- - Your state requires it for state university admissions
Skip Writing If...
- - None of your target colleges require it
- - You are retaking the ACT solely to improve your composite
- - The extra 40 minutes would drain your energy
- - You struggle significantly with timed essay writing
- - You have a strong writing portfolio or application essays
Writing Essay Template
If you take the Writing section, use this proven structure: (1) Introduction stating your position and acknowledging all three perspectives (4-5 sentences), (2) Body paragraph analyzing one perspective and its strengths/weaknesses (5-7 sentences), (3) Body paragraph analyzing a second perspective with a counterargument (5-7 sentences), (4) Body paragraph presenting your own position with evidence (5-7 sentences), (5) Conclusion summarizing your argument (3-4 sentences). Aim for 400-500 words total.
How AI Tools Transform ACT Preparation
The ACT's content-based format means your existing classroom knowledge is directly relevant to the test. AI tools capitalize on this by converting your daily schoolwork into ACT-ready study materials. Here is how the best AI tools change ACT preparation in 2026:
1. Your Classes ARE ACT Prep
The ACT directly tests knowledge from your high school English, math, and science classes. Upload your class lectures, notes, and assignments to LectureScribe, and it generates flashcards and study guides that serve double duty: they help you succeed in school AND prepare for the ACT. Your English class grammar lessons become ACT English prep. Your algebra class becomes ACT Math prep. Your biology labs become ACT Science prep.
2. Identify Your Weakest Section Quickly
Since your composite score is the average of four sections, improving your weakest section has the greatest impact. AI diagnostic tools analyze your practice test performance to identify exactly which section and question types need the most attention. Instead of studying everything equally, you target your limited study time where it will raise your composite score the most.
3. Free Up Time for Speed Practice
Since timing is the ACT's biggest challenge, you need to spend significant preparation time on timed practice. AI tools like LectureScribe reduce the hours spent on content review by automating flashcard creation and study material organization. This frees up your precious study time for what matters most on the ACT: building speed and accuracy under timed conditions.
4. Spaced Repetition for Grammar Rules and Math Formulas
The ACT English section tests specific grammar rules repeatedly, and the Math section requires knowing formulas and concepts from memory. AI-powered spaced repetition ensures you review these rules at optimal intervals for long-term retention. Browse community study materials for pre-made ACT grammar and math formula decks, or create your own with LectureScribe.
ACT Study Timelines: 2-Month and 3-Month Plans
The ACT responds well to focused, efficient preparation. Most students achieve their target scores with 2-3 months of consistent study. The key is balancing content review with extensive timed practice.
2-Month Focused Plan (40-60 hours)
Best for: Students within 3-4 points of target score, strong in most content areas.
Hours per week: 5-8 hours
Weeks 1-2: Diagnostic & Strategy
- - Take a full-length ACT practice test under timed conditions
- - Analyze results: identify weakest section and question types
- - Use LectureScribe to create flashcards from relevant class content
- - Learn key strategies for each section (passage order, pacing, etc.)
- - Begin daily grammar rule and math formula flashcard review
Weeks 3-5: Targeted Practice
- - Focused practice on weakest section (2-3 timed sections per week)
- - Science section: practice data interpretation passages
- - English section: drill grammar rules with practice questions
- - Take second full-length test at end of Week 4
- - Continue daily flashcard review
Weeks 6-8: Full Tests & Refinement
- - Take 2-3 full-length tests under real timed conditions
- - Review every missed question: content gap or time pressure?
- - Practice your passage order strategy for Reading and Science
- - Final targeted review of remaining weak areas
- - Light review 2 days before, complete rest day before test
3-Month Comprehensive Plan (60-80 hours)
Best for: Students targeting 5+ point improvement, aiming for 30+, or needing significant content review.
Hours per week: 5-7 hours
Month 1: Content Foundation
- - Diagnostic test and thorough analysis
- - English: systematic grammar rule study (all tested rules)
- - Math: review content areas you struggle with via Khan Academy
- - Use LectureScribe with English and math class content
- - Science: practice data interpretation with 2-3 passages per week
- - Build flashcard deck for grammar rules, math formulas, and science terms
Month 2: Practice Intensive
- - 2 full-length timed tests
- - Timed section practice: focus on weakest 2 sections
- - Reading: develop and practice passage order strategy
- - Science: practice all three passage types
- - Math: targeted practice on question types 40-60 (harder questions)
- - Daily flashcard review (grammar + math + science vocab)
Month 3: Test Readiness
- - 3-4 full-length tests under real conditions
- - Detailed error analysis after every test
- - Refine timing strategies based on practice test patterns
- - Review only high-yield flashcards (rules you still miss)
- - Practice maintaining focus for the full 2 hours 55 minutes
- - Taper final week, rest day before test
AI Time Savings for ACT Prep
Using AI tools like LectureScribe, ACT students report saving approximately: 8-12 hours on creating grammar and vocabulary flashcards, 5-8 hours on organizing content review materials, and 3-5 hours on identifying weak areas that would otherwise require multiple practice tests to discover. These 16-25 extra hours can be redirected to timed practice, which has the highest correlation with ACT score improvement.
Best AI Apps for ACT Prep in 2026
The right combination of tools makes ACT preparation dramatically more efficient. Here are the best options for each aspect of studying.
LectureScribe
Turn Your Classroom Learning into ACT Study Materials
LectureScribe is uniquely powerful for ACT prep because the ACT directly tests content from your high school classes. Upload your English class lectures to get grammar rule flashcards. Upload math class recordings for algebra and geometry concept cards. Upload science class content for the background knowledge that gives you an edge on ACT Science. Your daily schoolwork becomes ACT prep material automatically.
Upload class content and get instant flashcards for ACT-relevant grammar rules, math formulas, and science concepts.
AI generates organized study guides that align your class material with ACT test content.
Access pre-made ACT study materials from other students preparing for the same test.
Works with audio recordings, video lectures, PDFs, and handwritten notes from all your classes.
Pricing
1 Free Upload | $9.99/month
Official ACT Prep Guide
The official ACT preparation book with real practice tests
Published by ACT, Inc., the Official ACT Prep Guide contains real retired ACT tests, making it the most authentic practice material available. The questions, difficulty level, and formatting exactly match what you will see on test day. Every ACT student should work through at least 2-3 of these real tests.
Retired tests from actual ACT administrations. The most predictive practice material available.
Multiple complete practice tests with scoring guides and answer explanations.
Answer explanations are not as detailed as third-party resources. Use alongside a strategy guide for best results.
Pricing
~$25-35 (book)
Magoosh ACT Prep
Video lessons and practice questions at an affordable price
Magoosh offers high-quality video lessons covering every ACT topic, along with practice questions and detailed explanations. Their affordable pricing makes them one of the best value options for students who want structured lessons without the cost of a full prep course.
Expert-taught lessons for every ACT topic, organized by section and difficulty.
Significantly cheaper than Princeton Review or Kaplan while providing comprehensive coverage.
Guaranteed score improvement or your money back (conditions apply).
Pricing
~$99-129 (1-12 months)
Princeton Review ACT Prep
Full-service ACT prep with proven test-taking strategies
Princeton Review offers comprehensive ACT prep courses with expert instructors, extensive practice materials, and proven test-taking strategies. Their courses are fully updated for the transitioning digital ACT format and include both live instruction and self-paced options.
Decades of expertise in test-taking strategies, pacing techniques, and score optimization.
Money back if your score does not improve by a specified amount.
Courses are expensive, though they include extensive materials and instruction.
Pricing
$799-1,999 (courses)
Recommended ACT AI Study Stack
For optimal ACT prep balancing effectiveness and affordability:
- 1LectureScribe - Convert class content into ACT-relevant flashcards ($9.99/mo)
- 2Official ACT Prep Guide - Real practice tests for authentic preparation (~$30)
- 3Magoosh - Video lessons and practice questions ($99-129)
- 4Khan Academy - Free supplementary content review (Free)
Total investment: ~$160-190 for 2-3 months. Compare to private tutoring at $100-200/hour.
Frequently Asked Questions About ACT Prep
How long should I study for the ACT?
Most students achieve their best results with 2-3 months of focused preparation, dedicating 40-80 hours total. For modest improvement (2-4 points), 40-50 hours over 2 months is typically sufficient. For larger improvements (5-8+ points), plan for 60-80 hours over 3 months. AI tools like LectureScribe can help you study more efficiently by generating flashcards from your class content, reducing preparation time by 25-35%.
What is a good ACT score for college admissions?
The national average is approximately 20. A score of 24-27 is above average and competitive for many state universities. 30+ places you in the top 5% and is competitive for highly selective schools. 34+ is Ivy League level (top 1-2%). Research your target schools' admitted student ACT ranges for the most specific guidance.
What is the ACT Science section and how do I prepare for it?
The ACT Science section is not a traditional science test. It primarily tests data interpretation, scientific reasoning, and experimental analysis. About 90% of questions can be answered from the passage information alone. The best preparation is practicing reading graphs, tables, and experimental descriptions quickly and accurately. Knowing a handful of basic science concepts (pH, genetics basics, experimental design) helps with the other 10%.
What is the best AI app for ACT prep in 2026?
LectureScribe is the best AI app for converting classroom content into ACT-relevant study materials. Magoosh offers excellent affordable video lessons and practice. The Official ACT Prep Guide provides the most authentic practice tests. Princeton Review offers the most comprehensive courses. A combination of LectureScribe for content review and one practice-focused resource creates the most effective prep stack.
How is the ACT different from the SAT?
Key differences: the ACT has a Science section the SAT does not. The ACT is more content-based and straightforward while the SAT uses trickier phrasing. The ACT has tighter time pressure (especially Reading: 35 min for 40 questions). The SAT is adaptive; the ACT is not. ACT scores 1-36; SAT scores 400-1600. The ACT is transitioning to digital in 2025-2026. Both are accepted by all U.S. colleges.
Is the ACT going digital in 2026?
Yes, the ACT has been rolling out a digital version during 2025-2026. The digital ACT maintains the same content, timing, and scoring as the paper test but is taken on a computer. Availability varies by test date and location. Check act.org for current information. The digital format does not change what you need to study, but you should practice on a screen if your test date is digital.
Ready to Crush the ACT?
Turn your class lectures into ACT-ready flashcards and study materials
Try LectureScribe Free - No Credit Card RequiredUpload your English, math, and science class content to build personalized ACT prep materials
Build Your ACT Study Deck
Use our AI-powered flashcard maker to generate grammar rule cards, math formula flashcards, and science vocabulary cards from any content. Perfect for ACT preparation.
Related Articles
How to Study for the SAT: AI Tools & Strategies
Complete Digital SAT prep guide with AI tools for the adaptive format.
10 Best AI Study Apps for Students 2026
Complete guide to the top AI-powered study tools for academic success.
Auto-Generate Flashcards from Lectures
How AI creates study materials automatically from your lecture content.
How to Study for the GED: AI Tools & Strategies
Complete GED prep guide for adult learners with AI study tools.