Planning your ACT study schedule over break? That’s how top scorers get started. The ACT plays a significant role in college admissions, and summer is the perfect time to prep without the pressure of school.
The digital ACT is shorter, features fewer total questions, and offers one less mandatory section. With more time per question and a new composite score format, early prep is more important than ever.
In this blog, we’ll walk you through a step-by-step summer ACT study plan. You’ll learn to study effectively, reduce stress, and feel confident on test day—without giving up your summer fun.
Why Summer ACT Prep Is a Game-Changer
Balancing ACT prep with classes, sports, clubs, and everything else on your schedule during the school year is tough. Summer gives you the breathing room to build fundamental skills without the pressure.
Benefits of Summer ACT Prep:
- Take advantage of more free time and fewer distractions
- Get a head start on your rising junior or senior year
- Adjust to the new ACT changes in 2025 early
- Study at your own pace and avoid last-minute cramming
- Boost your confidence before fall test dates
Even a few focused study sessions each week can lead to big gains in your score—and make your school year less stressful.
What’s Changing for the ACT
The ACT got a major refresh in 2025. Here’s what you need to know:
- Shorter exam duration: Less time sitting, same college readiness evaluation
- Fewer total questions: You’ll answer fewer questions but have more time per question, which helps reduce rushed mistakes
- Optional science section: You can now choose whether to include science, depending on your strengths and college goals
- Updated composite scoring: The scoring system will be adjusted to reflect the new format while remaining fair and standardized
Prepping now means you’ll be fully prepared for the updated test structure before your test day.
Smart Summer Study Strategies
Summer doesn’t have to mean burnout or boring test prep. The key is to create a realistic study plan that fits your schedule and goals and use methods that work.
How to Design a Flexible Summer Study Plan:
- Break your prep into weekly milestones (ex, finish one English and one Math section per week)
- Block off 2–3 study sessions per week, 20–30 minutes each
- Take a self-assessment test early to find your starting point
Sample ACT Summer Study Plan
Here’s a flexible 8-week ACT study schedule you can tailor to your summer routine. Whether you’re prepping for the first time or aiming to improve your score, this plan helps you stay consistent without burning out.
8-Week Sample Plan
| Week | Focus Areas | Plan |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Diagnostic Test + English Review | Take a full diagnostic test, review results. Watch 2 English videos, read explanations, and do 15 QBank questions. |
| 2 | ACT English + Reading | Focus on grammar rules, punctuation, and reading strategies. Alternate English and Reading days. |
| 3 | ACT Math Foundations | Start with algebra and number operations. Watch 2–3 math videos, practice 15 QBank questions. |
| 4 | Geometry + Word Problems | Add geometry and data interpretation. Practice visual problem-solving and pacing strategies. |
| 5 | ACT Reading + Science | Practice reading passages + (optional) science reasoning. Use UWorld’s detailed visuals for tough questions. |
| 6 | Math Review + Mixed Practice | Reinforce weak math topics and mix in timed practice sets from all sections. |
| 7 | Full-Length Practice Test | Take a full-length timed ACT using UWorld or official materials. Review all missed questions. |
| 8 | Targeted Review Week | Focus only on your weakest areas. Re-watch videos, re-do tough QBank questions, and take short quizzes. |
Tip: To make major progress over the summer, you only need to study 2–3 times a week for 20–30 minutes.
Why Learning from Mistakes Matters
Everyone misses questions—that’s part of the process. But what you do after matters more than the score itself.
How UWorld Helps You Learn From Mistakes:
- Visual explanations show where you went wrong (and why)
- You get to compare your thinking to the correct reasoning
- You can focus future practice on your weakest areas
- You avoid repeating the same mistakes on test day
This approach turns frustration into progress, and that’s where real score growth happens.
Top Resources for ACT Success
Want to know what works? Here are the best tools for building a strong ACT foundation over the summer:
- UWorld ACT Prep QBank: Includes realistic practice questions, detailed visual explanations, and a customized performance dashboard
- Official ACT Practice Tests: Use these to benchmark your score and track improvement
- Digital Flashcard and Notebook tools: Useful for capturing your own personal list of “must know” concepts, then reviewing on the go using our mobile app.
Whether you prefer self-paced learning or scheduled sessions, pick the tools that work best for you.
Staying Consistent and Motivated
Let’s be real—summer is for sleeping in, hanging out with friends, and relaxing. But, a little structure goes a long way when it comes to ACT prep.
Tips for Staying On Track:
- Reward yourself after each session (yes, even 15 minutes counts!)
- Study earlier in the day so you can enjoy your evenings
- Remind yourself why you’re doing this—college goals, scholarships, freedom from retakes!
- Form a study group or accountability chat with friends, or join our Discord to connect with other ACT students prepping this summer!
Progress is motivating. When you see your scores improve, you’ll want to keep going.
Final Thoughts: Start Strong, Stress Less
Prepping for the ACT over the summer is one of the best decisions you can make. It frees up your school year, boosts your confidence, and helps you stay ahead, especially with the ACT changes in 2025.
With UWorld’s Watch, Read, Practice method, you’ll build real skills, learn from your mistakes, and be ready for test day.
Start Your ACT Prep Journey with UWorld Today
With expert-written practice questions, visual answer explanations, targeted lessons, and a personalized study planner, UWorld gives you everything you need to succeed on the ACT—no matter when you test.
Try the method. Trust the process. Walk in ready.
