The night before the ACT is not the time to learn new material. Any meaningful score improvement comes from weeks of consistent practice, not a last-minute sprint. What you can do tonight is briefly revisit the concepts and question types that tend to give you trouble.

Spend about an hour scanning your notes, formula sheets, or any weak areas you've identified in practice. A few concrete things worth reviewing:

• Math formulas you want fresh in your memory (Acely's ACT math cheat sheet and Desmos ACT guide are good for this)
• Grammar rules that have tripped you up in practice, like subject-verb agreement or punctuation at clause boundaries
• Your own error log, if you've been keeping one: a quick scan of recurring mistakes can be more useful than re-reading entire guides

If you want, try a short warm-up mini-quiz: just 2 or 3 questions per section. The goal isn't to get them all right. It's to get your brain into test mode, so you're not shaking the rust off at 8 a.m. tomorrow.

You don't need a gourmet meal, but a balanced dinner does matter. The ACT is a fast-paced test, and hunger or low energy will work against you, especially toward the end when focus is harder to hold.

• Eat earlier in the evening so digestion doesn't affect your sleep quality
• Avoid anything too heavy or unfamiliar that might leave you feeling sluggish in the morning
• Drink plenty of water throughout the evening. Hydration has a real impact on cognitive performance the next day

This one sounds obvious, but it matters. Trying to study right up until you fall asleep keeps your brain in a heightened state and makes it harder to get deep, restful sleep. Giving yourself at least an hour to decompress before bed is worth it.

What “winding down” looks like is up to you. Watch something you enjoy, read a book, go for a walk, or try 10 minutes of meditation if that's something you respond to. The goal is to quiet the noise so you can fall asleep more easily and wake up feeling rested.

Don't leave this for the morning. Getting everything ready the night before removes one source of anxiety from test day and means you won't be scrambling if something is missing.

Per the ACT requirements, here is what you will need:

• Printed admission ticket from MyACT
• Acceptable photo ID (must be a hard plastic card - paper and electronic IDs are not accepted)
• If you have registered for online testing and bring your own device, make sure to bring a fully charged laptop (Windows or Mac) and charger. Tablets and iPads are not supported for ACT online testing. Make sure your device is properly set up with ACT Gateway.
• A watch or timing device with no alarm. Make sure your device is on your desk at all times.
• Bring a permitted calculator for the math test only. Ensure your physical calculator is permitted and has fresh batteries. Note: If you are registered for the Digital ACT, a built-in Desmos calculator is provided on-screen, but bringing your own approved calculator as a backup is still highly recommended.
• Sharpened No. 2 pencils with erasers (No pens or mechanical pencils)
• Snacks and a water bottle for the break between sections

Also worth doing tonight: confirm your route to the test center. Look up the drive time, check for any traffic issues, and know exactly where you're going. Getting there early means you start the test settled, not rushed.

For the full official list of what to bring (and what to leave at home), see the ACT's test day page.

The ACT is a fast-paced test that demands sustained focus. Your ability to beat the clock depends heavily on your reaction time and clarity, both of which drop when you are tired.

• Go to bed earlier than usual. Nerves can make it harder to fall asleep, so build in buffer time rather than cutting it close.
• Put your phone down. Screen time close to bed is well-documented to delay sleep onset and reduce sleep quality.
• Don't try to fall asleep faster by worrying. Your relaxation routine should help here: give yourself time to decompress before you expect to sleep.

Staying up an extra hour to review won't move your score. A full night of sleep will.

Wake up with enough time to eat a real breakfast and get to the test center without rushing. Even if you're not a breakfast person, eating something in the morning gives your brain the fuel it needs to sustain focus during the test.

• ACT ticket and physical ID in your bag
• Approved calculator packed (with fresh batteries)
• Snacks and water bottle ready
• Test center address confirmed

When you get there, take a few deep breaths before the test starts. You've put in the work. This is just the moment you get to show what you know.