Vocabulary.com's Roadmap to the ACT

These words are likely to appear in question stems, answer options, and test directions on the ACT. Master these important terms to ensure you understand the language of the test.

On the ACT Reading Test, you'll encounter questions that ask you to determine the meanings of common words in context. We've identified 200 high-frequency, multiple-meaning words of the sort that you'll see on the exam. As you practice this list, you'll have to rely on context clues in order to determine each word’s meaning in a particular sentence. Be careful! Several of a word's meanings might show up as answer choices — but only one answer will capture the meaning of the word in the context of the sentence.

On the ACT Reading Test, you will almost certainly encounter questions that ask about an author's tone — that is, the author's attitude toward their subject matter. Master our comprehensive collection of common words used to describe an author's tone, and you'll be well prepared to tackle these questions.

We've compiled a list of basic math terms and concepts that you're likely to see on the ACT Math Test. As you prepare for the ACT, test your knowledge of these important words.

The ACT Science Test will test your understanding of the methods and procedures of scientific experimentation, your ability to analyze scientific information, and your ability to interpret and make inferences about data. The Science Test will not directly test your recall of specific facts or vocabulary. However, familiarity with basic terms and concepts in various scientific disciplines will help ensure that you understand the information presented in passages, charts, and graphs. To help you prepare, we've compiled fundamental terms from each of the major scientific disciplines covered on the exam.