On Sept. 10, Nathaniel Ho sat down for his fourth ACT test, and about a month later he found out he scored a perfect 36.

“I didn’t really expect to get a 36 on the ACT,” he said.

Ho is in the 99th percentile of students who have taken the test nationally, but he admits he did not prepare much.

“I prepared for the ACT by taking a practice ACT or two before the test. I didn’t really expect to get a 36 on the ACT, so I didn’t study for it heavily, hence the reason why I only took two practice tests before sitting for the 36,” he said.

HO gave some of his best ACT preparation tips:

• Set a high goal for yourself: If you have a 1 on the ACT, aim as high as you possibly can, even if it is a 36! Setting a high bar for yourself really puts your goals into perspective, and even if you don’t reach your goal, you will have made significant progress towards your goal.
•  Never cram for the test: It is a very bad idea to try to learn all the concepts of the ACT the night before. Set yourself a time schedule of maybe 2 weeks or more before the test to brush up on some bits and pieces and relearn others.
• Learn the concepts rather than the test: Unfortunately, there are many classes in high school that teach students how to take tests well instead of learning actual content. Although it can be useful to wing a test every once in awhile with these skills, they won’t help you in the ACT or in the long run. So, learn the actual concepts on the ACT test rather than just the questions, even if it does take longer.

“Most importantly, don’t stress about the test! It is only a snapshot of how well you perform. Your ACT score doesn’t define who you are. Once you realize this, it takes a lot of pressure off of getting that certain ACT score. Just do your best,” Ho said.