Imagine two children playing tag in the forest. Who will win—the girl who never stumbles because she knows the placement of every tree and all the twists and turns and hiding spots, or the kid who keeps falling down and tripping over roots because he doesn’t pay any attention to the landscape? The answer is obvious. Even if the other kid is faster and more athletic, the girl will win because she knows how to navigate the territory and use it to her advantage.

This example of tag in the forest is extreme, but it illustrates a point. The structure of the ACT is the forest. Taking the test is the game of tag. And no one likes to lose at tag.

In this chapter, you’ll learn how to take advantage of the ACT’s structure to achieve the score you want. You’ll learn basic rules for taking the ACT, as well as pacing and preparation strategies. These are the general test-taking strategies that you should use in all sections of the test. There are, of course, specific strategies for each of the individual Subject Tests. We’ll cover those in the chapters devoted to each Subject Test.