• 3 min read

How to Improve Your ACT Score by 10 Points

Table Of Contents

If you are hoping to improve your ACT score by 10 points, you are thinking in the right direction. A 10-point increase can unlock better college opportunities, scholarship eligibility, and confidence on test day.

Is it possible? Absolutely. But real improvement does not come from casually practicing questions. It comes from structured ACT test prep, consistent effort, and focused work on the sections that challenge you the most.

Tips & Tricks To Improve Your Act Score By 10 Points

Here are some tips to improve your act score by 10 points

Understanding Your Comfort Zone

Many students focus on what they enjoy. They breeze through English passages or easy Math problems while leaving Science experiments or tricky Reading questions for last. Comfort feels safe, but weak areas are where the biggest opportunities for score improvement on the ACT exist.

On test day, tackling easier questions first secures points. Then returning to more challenging problems ensures that you are maximizing your score. Even if time runs out on questions you could not answer, you have already banked points from questions you could solve.

Why Preparation Needs to Be Different

Here’s the paradox: what works on test day does not work during preparation. The sections you already excel at do not offer much room for improvement. True progress comes from practicing what is difficult or uncomfortable. Each skill you improve in your weak areas unlocks more points, better timing, and consistent performance. This is where real ACT score gains happen.

Facing Discomfort to Improve Your ACT Score

Improving your ACT score by 10 points requires you to confront the sections and questions that challenge you. Whether it is Math trigonometry, Science reasoning, or complex Reading passages, deliberate practice is essential. Facing these challenges repeatedly is the path to measurable growth.

Don’t Obsess Over Practice Test Scores

Your practice test scores do not define your potential. They have no permanent consequences and should not be the focus. Over-focusing on scores can trap you in your comfort zone and prevent you from improving where it matters most. Instead, treat practice tests as experimental, strategy-driven exercises to identify opportunities for improvement.

Use ScoreSmart to Target Your Weak Spots

This is where ScoreSmart ACT test prep becomes critical. ScoreSmart identifies exactly where you are losing points, which sections are taking too long, and which question types need the most attention. Drill Banks provide practice on the questions you most need to focus on. This targeted approach maximizes the impact of your study time.

The Path to a 10-Point Increase

Improving your ACT score by 10 points is like eating your vegetables before dessert. The “vegetables” are the hard sections, the uncomfortable questions, and the strategies that feel counterintuitive. Master these, and your improvement will follow naturally.

By committing to a structured ACT test prep plan, staying consistent, and using ScoreSmart to guide your practice, achieving a 10-point increase is realistic. It is not about working harder; it is about working smarter, focusing on your weak areas, and embracing the path of most resistance.

Sarah has helped over 500 students achieve top-tier scores on the SAT and ACT. With a Master’s in Education from Columbia University, she specializes in curriculum development and adaptive testing strategies.

ACT©️ is the registered trademark of ACT, Inc. ACT is not affiliated with or a sponsor of the publisher or authors of these tests or testing content.

SAT©️ is a registered trademark of the College Board, which neither sponsors nor is affiliated in any way with this product.

ISEE® is a registered trademark of the Educational Records Bureau (ERB), which neither sponsors nor is affiliated in any way with this product.

SHSAT® is a registered trademark of the New York City Department of Education (NYC DOE), which neither sponsors nor is affiliated in any way with this product.

Bluebook™ is a trademark of the College Board, which neither sponsors nor is affiliated in any way with this product.