December 12 in 6 weeks: an ACT study plan
December 12
VelaLowest section first. Short sessions, most days. Then lights out.
Six weeks before December 12 starts October 31. Take one timed test to find your lowest section, give that section two focused weeks, take a second timed test in week 4, spend week 5 on your misses and keep week 6 light. Register by November 6, or by November 29 with a $42 late fee.
Updated October 30, 2026 with dates read on act.org.
This plan runs on the dates act.org publishes and on the free parts of Prep36: the question bank, two full timed tests, the Daily Five and a study calendar that names a skill for each session. Starting later than October 31? Join at the current week. The calendar counts the days you actually have.
Math, English, Science: one question each.
Tap an answer to see if it holds up, and why. Nothing to sign up for.
Original Prep36 practice questions, not ACT questions. Your answers stay in this browser.
December 12, 2026: the dates that matter
- Nov 6Register byRegular deadline
- Nov 29Late deadline$42 late fee applies
- Dec 12Test dayPhoto upload by Dec 7
- Dec 17First scoresOnline Dec 17
Paper Dec 22
Dates from act.org test dates and act.org score release dates, read October 30, 2026. Deadlines close at 11:59 pm Central Time. Score dates are when scores start coming out.
The six weeks
Each week has one job. The links open the free tools in Prep36 that do it.
- You are hereWeek 1 · Oct 31 to Nov 6
Find your lowest section
Nov 6Register by: Regular deadline, 11:59 pm Central- Take free timed Form A under the real clock. That is your starting line. Open the timed tests →
- Build your plan: pick December 12 and how many days a week you can study. Build my plan →
- Start the Daily Five: one question from each section plus a wildcard, the same five for everyone. Today's five →
- You are hereWeek 2 · Nov 7 to Nov 13
Lowest section, skill by skill
- Drill your lowest section in the question bank, one reporting category at a time. Open the bank →
- Read the explanation on every miss before you move on.
- Keep the Daily Five going. A streak is easier to keep than to restart. Today's five →
- You are hereWeek 3 · Nov 14 to Nov 20
Second section, plus the clock
- Move to your next lowest section, same way: one category at a time. Open the bank →
- Add speed with Question Rush: one, two or five minute sprints. Start a rush →
- Learn the pacing table on the Cram Kit so the clock is not a surprise. Open the Cram Kit →
- You are hereWeek 4 · Nov 21 to Nov 27
Second timed test
- Take free timed Form B. Same clock, same rules as week 1. Open the timed tests →
- Put both tests side by side in My Scores and see which section moved least. My Scores →
- Point the last two weeks at that section in your calendar. Study calendar →
- You are hereWeek 5 · Nov 28 to Dec 4
Fix the misses
Nov 29Late deadline: $42 late fee applies- Redo the questions you missed until the trap is obvious. Fix my mistakes →
- Run the word banks: grammar rules and the formulas the ACT does not give you. Word banks →
- Want a third full test? act.org lists four free official practice tests. act.org free practice tests →
- You are hereWeek 6 · Dec 5 to Dec 11
Keep it light
Dec 7Photo upload: Photo and standby deadline- Daily Five and one short set a day. Nothing new this week. Today's five →
- Print the Cram Kit and read it once, slowly. Open the Cram Kit →
- Friday: pack your bag from the checklist below, then sleep. Test day checklist →
- December 12, 2026
Test day
Inside by 8:00 a.m. with your photo ID and admission ticket. Scores start December 17 online and December 22 on paper. The checklist
Let the app build your calendar
Pick what fits your week. This preview uses the same rules as the study calendar in Prep36, counted from today.
Sessions per section: . In the app each session names one skill, weakest first, from your own answers.
December 12 has passed. The next ACT is February 27, 2027, register by January 22, 2027. The same plan works for any date: build it in the app.
In the app: tap Build my plan, pick December 12, then your days and sections. Five quick steps, free, no account needed.
Build my plan in the app Or start with today’s fiveThe Daily Five
Five questions, one from each section plus a wildcard. The same five for everyone, every day.
Today’s five starts your streak.
Start today’s fiveTest day checklist
Straight from act.org’s test day page. Pack it Friday, then sleep.
Bag check, the night before
Tick each one as it goes in the bag. Every line is quoted from act.org.
Quoted from act.org, ACT test day checklist, read October 30, 2026. Bring your admission ticket too: act.org says to print it from MyACT after uploading your photo.
VelaBag packed. Lights out, big day tomorrow.
And one rule worth knowing before you sit down:
“Your scores will be based only on the number of questions that you answer correctly; there is no penalty for guessing.”
act.org, ACT test day checklist, read October 30, 2026.
After December 12
act.org lists December 17 for online scores and December 22 for paper. If this was a retake, the superscore calculator shows your best English, math and reading across every test, and what the next target would take. The next ACT is February 27, 2027: register by January 22, 2027.
Need a third full-length test along the way? act.org lists four official practice tests, and says it plainly:
“Digital or paper, always free.”
act.org, Free ACT Practice Tests and Prep, read October 30, 2026.
Sources
Every ACT date, fee and rule on this page was read on act.org on October 30, 2026. ACT can change them, so confirm on act.org before you register or send scores.
- ACT test dates and deadlines: https://www.act.org/content/act/en/products-and-services/the-act/registration/test-dates.html
- Register for the ACT: https://www.act.org/content/act/en/products-and-services/the-act/registration.html
- ACT test scores and score release dates: https://www.act.org/content/act/en/products-and-services/the-act/scores.html
- Current ACT fees: https://www.act.org/content/act/en/products-and-services/the-act/registration/fees.html
- ACT test day checklist: https://www.act.org/content/act/en/products-and-services/the-act/test-day.html
- Free ACT Practice Tests and Prep: https://www.act.org/content/act/en/products-and-services/the-act/test-preparation/free-act-test-prep.html
Frequently asked questions
Is six weeks enough time to study for the ACT?
What if I start this plan after October 31?
Can I still register for the December 12 ACT?
When do December 12 ACT scores come out?
Does this plan cost anything?
Six weeks, one printable kit.
The free Enhanced ACT Cram Kit puts it on one printable page per section, plus a pacing table and a test-day checklist. Your email unlocks the download.
We use your email to send the Cram Kit and occasional ACT prep tips. Unsubscribe anytime. We never sell it or share it.The full Cram Kit is now open and stays unlocked in this browser. Print the cheat sheets, keep the pacing table close, and run the test-day checklist the night before. Open the Cram Kit
Start practicing, free
The entire question bank and two full timed tests, no payment needed.
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