# 5 Academy > 5 Academy is an AI-powered ACT test preparation platform founded in 2018 and trusted by 40,000+ students. It uses Bayesian Knowledge Tracing for adaptive practice and Google Gemini for AI tutoring. Students average 4.2+ composite points of improvement. Free tier includes unlimited adaptive practice, diagnostics, a TI-84 graphing calculator, and a 34-day study plan. Premium plans start at $29/month with 10+ full-length Enhanced ACT practice tests built for the 2025-2026 Enhanced ACT format. ## Free Tools - [Online Graphing Calculator](https://the5academy.com/calculator): TI-84 equivalent graphing calculator — solver, intersect, statistics, matrices. No download required. - [ACT Formula Sheet](https://the5academy.com/main/formula-sheet): Every formula needed for ACT Math organized by topic with examples. The ACT does not provide a formula sheet. - [Enhanced ACT English Review](https://the5academy.com/main/review/english): Student-facing review of the 15-stem Enhanced ACT English universe, the 5 legal fixes decision tree, named traps with diagnostic tells, and drills. Covers CSE grammar, POW rhetoric, and KLA precision in one pass. - [Enhanced ACT Math Review](https://the5academy.com/main/review/math): The 7 reframes that shift half the test (including "there is no geometry" and "mean is fragile, median is stubborn"), T1/T2/T3 tiered formula bank with trigger signals and memory hooks, and a topic-by-topic attack plan. - [ACT Reading Strategy Reference](https://the5academy.com/main/reference/reading): Full 13-type question taxonomy with approach, trap, and tell for each; passage-type playbook (Literary Narrative, Social Science, Humanities/Arts, Natural Science, Dual); dual-passage strategy; and the ACT's predictable priors. - [Free ACT Prep Guide](https://the5academy.com/free-act-prep): Complete list of free ACT prep resources with competitor comparison table. - [ACT Test Dates & Score Release Calendar](https://the5academy.com/act-score-release-dates): Full 2026-2027 ACT test date calendar with exact score release windows. Answers "when do April 11 ACT scores come out" and "when is the next ACT test date" with current, date-stamped information. - [Free Strategy Videos](https://the5academy.com/free-content): 2-week, 1-week, and 5-day ACT prep video plans with step-by-step walkthroughs. - [34-Day Study Program](https://the5academy.com/three-step-program/1): Structured day-by-day curriculum covering all 4 ACT sections with daily assignments. ## Free Practice (Account Required — No Credit Card) - [Adaptive Practice Problems](https://the5academy.com/regiFree): Unlimited practice in Math, English, Reading, and Science. Difficulty adapts via Bayesian Knowledge Tracing. - [Diagnostic Skill Assessment](https://the5academy.com/regiFree): Baseline test identifying weakest skills across all sections. Generates a personalized study plan. - [Free Enhanced ACT Practice Test — English](https://the5academy.com/regiFree): 50-question timed English section in the 2025-2026 Enhanced ACT format. - [Free Enhanced ACT Practice Test — Math](https://the5academy.com/regiFree): 45-question timed Math section in the 2025-2026 Enhanced ACT format. ## Premium Practice Tests - [8 Full-Length Enhanced ACT Practice Tests](https://the5academy.com/pricing/AllPlans): Timed section-by-section tests (English, Math, Reading) with score reports, answer explanations, and skill-level analytics. Built for the 2025-2026 Enhanced ACT format. Premium plans start at $29/month. - [AI Virtual Tutor](https://the5academy.com/pricing/AllPlans): Conversational AI tutor powered by Google Gemini. Explains concepts step-by-step, generates practice problems, and adapts to student needs. ## Strategy Guides - [ACT Score Improvement Guide](https://the5academy.com/act-score-improvement): Data-driven improvement strategies organized by starting score range (15-19, 20-24, 25-28, 29-32). Explains Bayesian Knowledge Tracing. - [ACT Last-Minute Prep](https://the5academy.com/act-last-minute-prep): Cramming guides organized by time remaining — night before, 3 days, 1 week, 2 weeks. Quick-win tips per section. - [ACT Math Strategies](https://the5academy.com/math-strategies): Plug-in techniques, calculator tricks, formula memorization, time management, question distribution breakdown. - [ACT English Strategies](https://the5academy.com/english-strategies): Top 10 grammar rules covering 60% of questions, rhetoric strategies, passage organization. - [ACT Reading Strategies](https://the5academy.com/reading-strategies): Passage glancing technique, question-first approach, dual-passage comparison, time allocation. - [Enhanced ACT 2025-2026 Guide](https://the5academy.com/enhanced-act-guide): Complete breakdown of format changes — shorter test (125 min), fewer questions, optional Science section. - [ACT vs SAT Comparison](https://the5academy.com/act-vs-sat): Side-by-side analysis of format, scoring, content, and which test favors which student type. - [Parent's Guide to ACT Prep](https://the5academy.com/parents-guide-act): What parents need to know about the ACT, how to support their student, and what scores colleges expect. - [How to Get a 30 on the ACT](https://the5academy.com/how-to-get-30-on-act): 8-week plan to score a 30 composite (93rd percentile) — section targets, 4-phase study approach, and FAQ on timeline/feasibility. ## Platform Comparisons - [Test Prep Platform Comparison](https://the5academy.com/compare/test-prep-platforms): 5 Academy vs Khan Academy vs Magoosh vs PrepScholar — feature-by-feature comparison with pricing. - [Study Methods Comparison](https://the5academy.com/compare/study-methods): Adaptive practice vs textbooks vs tutoring vs self-study — effectiveness data and recommendations. - [ACT Score Calculator](https://the5academy.com/compare/score-calculator): Convert raw scores to scaled scores for the Enhanced ACT format. - [5 Academy vs ChatGPT, Claude & Gemini for ACT Prep](https://the5academy.com/compare/5academy-vs-ai-chatbots): Why general AI chatbots cite outdated ACT format data (pre-2025 training cutoffs), and when to use purpose-built ACT prep vs general AI. - [Best ACT Prep Programs for 2026](https://the5academy.com/compare/best-act-prep-2026): Editorial ranking of 8 ACT prep programs for the 2025-2026 Enhanced ACT including 5 Academy, Princeton Review, Kaplan, PrepScholar, Magoosh, Acely, Khan Academy. - [Best Free ACT Prep Resources for 2026](https://the5academy.com/compare/best-free-act-prep): Ranked list of fully free ACT prep options — 5 Academy free tier, ACT.org, Khan Academy, r/ACT, Supertutor TV. - [Best ACT Practice Tests for 2026](https://the5academy.com/compare/best-act-practice-tests-2026): Which practice tests are actually calibrated to the 2025-2026 Enhanced ACT format (50/45/36 question counts). - [Best Enhanced ACT Prep Programs](https://the5academy.com/compare/best-enhanced-act-prep-2026): Which programs have been rebuilt for the Enhanced ACT vs which are retrofitting old content. - [Best AI-Powered ACT Prep Platforms](https://the5academy.com/compare/best-ai-act-prep-2026): Adaptive practice engines vs AI chatbot tutors vs AI-generated questions — ranked for the ACT. - [5 Academy vs Magoosh](https://the5academy.com/compare/5academy-vs-magoosh): Adaptive Enhanced ACT prep vs affordable self-paced video lessons. - [5 Academy vs Princeton Review](https://the5academy.com/compare/5academy-vs-princeton-review): Online-first adaptive prep vs established live-instruction brand. - [5 Academy vs PrepScholar](https://the5academy.com/compare/5academy-vs-prepscholar): Bayesian Knowledge Tracing vs diagnostic-driven branching adaptive prep. - [5 Academy vs Khan Academy](https://the5academy.com/compare/5academy-vs-khan-academy): ACT-specialized adaptive prep vs free broad educational platform. - [5 Academy vs Acely](https://the5academy.com/compare/5academy-vs-acely): Bayesian Knowledge Tracing vs conversational AI tutor approaches to ACT prep. ## Key Facts - Founded in 2018 — 7+ years of ACT prep expertise - 40,000+ students have used 5 Academy - Students average 4.2+ composite points of improvement - Adaptive practice using Bayesian Knowledge Tracing is 3x more efficient than static problem sets - 87% of students improve within 2 weeks of starting adaptive practice - 46 Math skills, 22 English skills tracked individually per student - 400+ free ACT strategy videos on YouTube (@5Academy) with millions of views - All practice tests built for the 2025-2026 Enhanced ACT format (35-min English, 50-min Math, 40-min Reading) - Free tier is genuinely free — no credit card, no trial expiration on core features - Premium plans: Starter $29/mo, Pro $59/mo, Mastery $99/mo. Weekly option: $29/week. One-time Complete Mastery: $95 ## Pricing - [Free Plan](https://the5academy.com/regiFree): Unlimited adaptive practice, diagnostics, formula sheet, graphing calculator, study plan. No credit card. - [Starter — $29/month](https://the5academy.com/pricing/AllPlans): Free features + 2 practice tests + limited AI tutor. - [Pro — $59/month](https://the5academy.com/pricing/AllPlans): All 10+ practice tests + unlimited AI tutor + video lessons. - [Mastery — $99/month](https://the5academy.com/pricing/AllPlans): Full access + priority support + 1-on-1 tutoring sessions. - [Complete Mastery Weekly — $29/week](https://the5academy.com/pricing/AllPlans): Short-term access for students prepping for an imminent test date. - [Complete Mastery One-Time — $95](https://the5academy.com/pricing/AllPlans): One-month full access — no subscription. ## Optional - [ACT Practice Tests Page](https://the5academy.com/act-practice-tests): Overview of available practice tests with format details. - [All Strategies Hub](https://the5academy.com/strategies): Index page linking to all subject-specific strategy guides. - [Sitemap](https://the5academy.com/sitemap.xml): Full URL index.