ACT study plan: 8 weeks for the enhanced ACT
The ACT got shorter in 2025, with fewer questions, more time per question and Science made optional. This prompt has your todo.is agent plan around the version you are taking, aim at the composite your colleges want, and drill the sections where a few extra right answers move your score most.
The prompt
- Build me an ACT study plan. My test is on [TEST DATE], my goal composite is [GOAL COMPOSITE], and my latest practice scores are [PRACTICE SCORES]. I [SCIENCE AND WRITING CHOICE]. I can study [HOURS PER WEEK] hours a week. Check the current ACT format on the official site, then make an 8-week plan with timed section drills, a full practice test every other Saturday and a review session after each. Focus on [FOCUS AREAS]. Put it in an Excel calendar with a mistake log tab, email it to me, and send me a short task list every Monday at 7:00 on WhatsApp.
What to change
- [TEST DATE]: E.g. "April 11".
- [GOAL COMPOSITE]: E.g. "30". Look up the middle 50% ACT range for the colleges on your list.
- [PRACTICE SCORES]: E.g. "English 26, Math 22, Reading 25, Science 23, composite 24".
- [SCIENCE AND WRITING CHOICE]: E.g. "am taking Science but not Writing". Check which ones your colleges or scholarships need.
- [HOURS PER WEEK]: E.g. "5".
- [FOCUS AREAS]: E.g. "Math timing and English punctuation". Or "you decide from my scores".
Example result
- Enhanced ACT plan: 8 weeks, composite 24 to 28
- Test: April 11 · English 26, Math 22, Reading 25, Science 23 · Science yes, Writing no · 5 h a week
- The format you are taking
- • English: 50 questions, 35 minutes
- • Math: 45 questions, 50 minutes (calculator allowed)
- • Reading: 36 questions, 40 minutes
- • Science: optional, 40 questions, 40 minutes. Your composite comes from English, Math and Reading; Science gets its own score.
- • Some questions in each section are unscored field-test items, so don't panic over one strange question.
- Why Math and English first
- Your composite is the average of three sections. Math is your lowest at 22, so moving it to 27 does the most. English is the fastest to raise because the grammar rules repeat.
- Weeks 1 to 2
- • English: commas, semicolons, apostrophes, subject-verb agreement. 15 questions a day.
- • Math: linear equations, percentages, ratios. Write every step for one week, then drop the ones you do not need.
- Weeks 3 to 4
- • Math: functions, quadratics, basic trigonometry (SOH-CAH-TOA)
- • Reading: one passage a day in 10 minutes, then check which answers you could point to in the text
- • Practice test 1, then a 90-minute review
- Weeks 5 to 6
- • Science: read the charts first, skip the long intro, answer data questions before the conflicting-viewpoints set
- • English: rhetorical questions (add, delete, best purpose)
- • Practice test 2
- Weeks 7 to 8
- • Timed mixed sets only, at slightly less than real time
- • Practice test 3 ten days out, test 4 a week out, then light review
- • Night before: pencils, approved calculator, admission ticket, ID
- Mistake log entry
- • Math 31: chose 40%, answer 60%. Cause: answered the percent that left, not the percent that stayed. Rule: reread the last line before choosing.
How to do it with todo.is
- Take one timed practice ACT so you have section scores, then fill them into the prompt.
- Send the prompt to your agent in todo.is, on WhatsApp or on Telegram.
- Your agent checks the official format, then emails you an Excel plan with a mistake log.
- After each practice test, send your scores and wrong question numbers. The plan updates for the next two weeks.
Tips for a better result
- Don't leave answers blank. The ACT has no penalty for wrong answers, so guess on anything you cannot finish.
- Learn the handful of grammar rules the English section tests again and again. It is the quickest place to gain points.
- Practise with the same calculator you will bring, and check it is on the allowed list.
- If your colleges do not need Science, ask your agent to move that time to Math.
ACT study plan: FAQ
- Is the ACT Science section still required? Since the enhanced ACT, Science is optional and is not part of the composite score. Some colleges or programs may still ask for it, so check before you register.
- ACT or SAT: which should I take? Take a timed practice test of each. Many students do noticeably better on one, and colleges that accept both treat them equally.
- How long should I study for the ACT? Two to three months of 4 to 6 hours a week works for most students aiming to raise their composite by 3 to 5 points.
- Can the agent register me for the test? No. Your agent can find the registration page and the deadlines for you, but you register and pay yourself.
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