What are some tips & tricks to ace the ACFT?

Its definitely a different kind of test but definitely passable. Its more about form and making sure you are doing your test properly then it is about speed. So my advice would be to not necessarily take your time with it but make sure you pay attention to detail and make deliberate movements so that you are not wasting energy

Very, very few have gotten a perfect score on it. I think what - two? A NG soldier and a MAJ did before they changed the pushups. He had hired a personal trainer though...not everyone can afford that.

not really any tricks. tips: train and practice on the actual events. if you don't have access to a gym with all the proper equipment, make do with whatever you can come up with to approximate the events as closely as possible. the only real tip I have is don't push it too hard on the 250 meter sprint, drag, carry. That takes a lot out of your legs and you still have to run 2 miles afterwards. I wouldn't worry about trying to "ace" it the first couple of times.