If your child is preparing for the ACT, avoiding common mistakes can be the difference between an average score and a competitive one. At Mackler Associates, we specialize in helping students in Maryland Heights and beyond improve their performance through personalized, results-driven instruction. As a leading provider of Maryland Heights SAT and ACT test prep & tutor services, we’ve helped countless students boost their scores, build confidence, and gain admission to top colleges.
In this article, we’ll cover the most common ACT mistakes, share actionable ACT test tips, and explain how working with an experienced ACT tutor can make all the difference during ACT prep.
1. Not Taking Full-Length Practice Tests
Many students focus only on reviewing content but fail to simulate the real test experience by taking a full practice test.
Why it matters: The ACT is a timed test that requires stamina and pacing. Without full-length practice, students may struggle with time management, fatigue, or anxiety on test day.
How to avoid it: Encourage your child to take multiple timed practice tests before the real exam. At Mackler Associates, we offer proctored ACT practice exams that help students build confidence and measure progress. These tests also allow our tutors to tailor their instruction based on real data during ACT prep or SAT prep sessions.
2. Avoiding Weak Subjects
It’s natural for students to focus on areas where they feel strongest—but avoiding difficult sections like the ACT math test, science, or reading can seriously hurt their overall score.
Why it matters: The ACT composite score is an average of four sections—English, Math, Reading, and Science. Ignoring any of them, especially math or science, can drag down the final result.
How to avoid it: Work with a math tutor or subject-specific ACT tutor to strengthen weaker areas. Our Maryland Heights SAT and ACT test prep & tutor program includes targeted instruction in ACT math test topics, science analysis, and reading strategies, as well as support for SAT Math and SAT Reading.
3. Rushing Through Questions Without Reading Carefully
One of the most common ACT mistakes is misreading a question or skipping over key details in a passage.
Why it matters: Rushing leads to avoidable errors. The ACT often includes tricky wording designed to test a student’s attention to detail in both the English and reading sections.
How to avoid it: Teach your student to slow down just enough to understand what’s being asked. At Mackler Associates, our tutors guide students through proven reading and annotation strategies that reduce careless mistakes and improve accuracy—especially on Reading, Science, and English sections.
4. Poor Time Management
Not having a pacing strategy is one of the biggest reasons students underperform, even when they know the material.
Why it matters: The ACT includes 215 questions to complete in less than three hours. Without a plan, students may run out of time or guess on entire sections—particularly in ACT math or reading.
How to avoid it: Use timed drills during test prep to build time awareness and endurance. We teach students how to pace themselves on each section and when to skip or revisit challenging questions to maximize their score potential.
5. Letting Test Anxiety Take Over
Test-day nerves can impact even the most prepared student. ACT test anxiety is a common obstacle—but it doesn’t have to derail your child’s success.
Why it matters: Anxiety can affect focus, memory recall, and decision-making. If not managed, it can lower a student’s performance regardless of preparation.
How to avoid it: Build familiarity through repeated practice tests, establish a test-day routine, and teach calming techniques. Our tutors help students develop not just academic skills but also the mindset and confidence they need to overcome anxiety during ACT or SAT test prep.
Why Choose Mackler Associates for ACT and SAT Prep in Maryland Heights?
Mackler Associates is proud to be a trusted SAT and ACT tutor in Maryland Heights, offering personalized instruction that helps students succeed. Whether your child needs support in ACT math test topics, reading comprehension, English grammar, or science analysis, we offer flexible, one-on-one tutoring tailored to their individual needs.
We help students:
- Master the test format and pacing strategies
- Improve scores through customized instruction in ACT prep and SAT prep
- Build confidence and reduce test-day anxiety
- Identify and address their biggest academic challenges
- Work with subject-specific tutors, including math tutor, reading tutor, and science support
Take the First Step Toward ACT Success
Avoiding these ACT mistakes starts with proper preparation—and the right tutor can make all the difference. If your student is preparing for the ACT or SAT and you’re looking for high-quality, local support, Mackler Associates is here to help.
Contact Mackler Associates today to schedule a free consultation and learn how our Maryland Heights SAT and ACT test prep & tutor programs can help your child boost their test scores and succeed on test day.