<p>Today was the third time that I have taken the ACT.</p>
<p>Each time, I have studied very hard and have followed the red ACT book. Each time, I sit down and look at the test placed in front of my on the morning of the test and realize that it is significantly harder in difficulty than the practice tests supplied by not only the red ACT book, but practice tests supplied by other prep book publishers (which I tried after my first ACT attempt, knowing the red book didn't work for me.)</p>
<p>Does anybody else find this? Or is it just me? It makes me extremely aggravated. Also, I find the gap in difficulty between prep book and real test to be most evident in the science science.</p>
<p>To say the least, I remain Team College Board. At least their preparatory tests reflect accurately the difficult of their real ones.</p>
<p>My DD just complained about the science section too! I believe the red book contains past tests though so the difficulty level shold be about the same. It is over now! Don’t stress! If it was a harder version, the curve should be generous! Good luck!</p>
<p>Well the science was particularly easy for me since I was studying for the SAT Chemistry II test.</p>
<p>This just goes to show that while practice tests may improve test methodization, knowledge is still needed<a href=“from%20school”>Edit: helpful</a>.</p>
<p>@SuperbBast, that’s just my problem with the entire thing though. Every book I have read on the ACT, and I have read about 6-8 different prep books, stresses the fact that no scientific knowledge is needed in order to do well on the science section. However, having taking Honors Bio, Honors Chem, and Honors Physics, I look at a lot of those questions, especially the ones where it is extremely evident that they are physics based, and know that at least some knowledge is needed. Or… if you can find the answers within the data, you will spend more time doing so than is even close to being allotted.</p>
<p>I did fairly well on the ACTs my first try, while in the midst of studying hard for both the SATs and ACTs. I got a 31 on my ACTs the first attempt (34 E, 32 M, 31 R, 26 S, 10 essay). It is evident through my individual scores that without that science section my composite score would have been much higher. I took many practice tests are scored exceptionally well on the science sections (33-35’s).</p>
<p>My second ACT attempt was overall not nearly as good, as I felt the entire test to be challenging, and ending up scoring a 28, with a 21 on the science section dragging the rest of the scores (30’s, and one 31) down. </p>
<p>I just feel like I can’t even say that I score poorly on these science sections because I don’t put in any effort. If I could say that, I would have no right to complain. At this point it is too late because I am not going to test again, but I wish I knew what I could have studied in order to really improve my score.</p>