Free Sharp ACT resources
ACT study plan and mistake log
An adaptable eight-week plan with a worked mistake-log example, weekly planner, practice-test record and printable review sheets.
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An eight-week starting plan
Start with a test result, turn the errors into assignments and leave room to review what you practice. Move a checkpoint when you need more time to finish the follow-up.
| Week | Focus | Work | Before moving on |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Establish a baseline | Confirm your sections and testing conditions. Take and review an unused official practice test. | A saved result and specific follow-up assignments. |
| 2 | Work on one recurring issue | Learn the method, practice it and explain a new answer with the solution closed. | An explanation you can give without copying. |
| 3 | Add timed practice | Continue skill work; check how your errors change when time is limited. | Notes separating content gaps from pacing problems. |
| 4 | Check progress | Try another unused official test if the previous follow-up is finished. Review it separately. | A comparison of conditions, results and recurring errors. |
| 5 | Revise the assignments | Use that comparison to choose the next skills and questions. | A short list of unresolved skills. |
| 6 | Rehearse pacing | Practice those skills and decide what to do when a question stalls your progress. | A pacing decision you have tried in practice. |
| 7 | Rehearse the test | Schedule a full rehearsal with enough time afterward to review and act on it. | A final-review list and outstanding logistics. |
| 8 | Finish the review | Revisit the list, confirm test-day instructions and reduce work near test day. | Materials ready and no unfinished test review. |
This is Sharp's suggested schedule, not an ACT-prescribed timetable or a prediction of score growth. Full tests and their reviews need separate calendar blocks beyond the ordinary practice week.
Before you begin
Confirm your date, paper or online format, required sections, approved accommodations and timing. Include Science or Writing when they are part of your test. For school-day testing, confirm the configuration with your school.
Turn a result into an assignment
A sample ordinary practice week
| Session | Minutes | Assignment |
|---|---|---|
| Tuesday | 30 | Find the subject in agreement questions; explain three answers. |
| Thursday | 30 | Try new agreement questions, then review errors and guesses. |
| Saturday | 60 | Timed passage or section work plus review; schedule unfinished review separately. |
The total is 120 minutes. This is an example to adapt to your availability. Add separate blocks for full tests and their reviews, and for Science or Writing work if needed.
A worked mistake-log entry
| Field | Example |
|---|---|
| Question | Original Sharp drill: The list of donated books are on the desk. |
| My reasoning | I chose are because books is plural. |
| What went wrong | I matched the verb to the nearest noun instead of the subject. |
| Correct method | Set aside of donated books. The subject is list, so list is. |
| Next assignment | Find the subject and verb in three new sentences. Explain the choice. |
| Follow-up | Thursday: answer with the solution closed; record whether the same error returns. |
When the calendar changes
One month: keep a baseline and its review, select fewer priorities and leave time to act on a later rehearsal. One week: use a recent result if available, review recurring errors and settle logistics. A missed week: carry forward the most useful assignment rather than automatically doubling the workload.
If you understand an explanation but cannot solve a new question, return to the method. If untimed work is accurate but timed work is not, examine pacing and decisions under time pressure.
Your weekly calendar and test record
Week beginning: __________________ Test date: __________________
This week's priority and why:
| Day | Time / minutes | Assignment and review |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | ||
| Tuesday | ||
| Wednesday | ||
| Thursday | ||
| Friday | ||
| Saturday | ||
| Sunday |
Practice-test record
Record the exact form, conditions and section scores. Use that form's own scoring directions; do not compare raw totals from different forms as if their scales were identical.
| Date / form | Format, timing, sections | Section scores / reported Composite | Review date / next assignment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | |||
| 2 | |||
| 3 |
Separate full-test and review blocks reserved for:
Your mistake log
Include wrong answers and uncertain correct answers. Describe the decision that caused the error. Use the last column to test whether your next assignment helped.
| Question / source / date | My reasoning and the error | Correct method in my words | Next assignment / follow-up result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | |||
| 2 | |||
| 3 | |||
| 4 | |||
| 5 |
Resources for your plan
Sources checked November 5, 2026. The schedule, example and worksheets are original Sharp planning aids. This is an independent Sharp resource, not an ACT publication.