<p>Hi all,</p>
<p>I currently have a 32 composite score. </p>
<p>My subscores are 33 on english, 35 on math, 31 on reading, 28 in science, and 10 on writing. </p>
<p>With 4-5 weeks left, how do I prepare daily to get a 35/36.</p>
<p>I would appreciate help with regards to books and what to use for prep.</p>
<p>A 35 is unrealistic for you given the time frame. You’d need to bring your reading and science scores up significantly which you won’t be able to do.</p>
<p>Remember the higher the score you already have the harder it is to improve. A 36 requires as much luck as knowledge. I would focus on science since that may be the easiest to improve due to it being your lowest score. Search around this forum and you find lots of tips on science. </p>
<p>The thing I’ve been told by several people including ACT tutors is that the science section varies more than any other section in terms of difficulty. So it is just a crap shoot what the next test will have.</p>
<p>If you don’t improve a 32 is still an excellent score and in the 98 percentile.</p>
<p>Bubinski always makes a pessimistic comment on every single ACT thread… Just ignore him. I heard many people who raised their scores from 32 to 35. You gotta raise your score by 3, and that’s usually like 12 questions in total. It’s hard, but it’s NOT unrealistic or impossible. I’m on the same boat with you. Same composite score and similar subscores… Best luck with you!</p>
<p>It would be difficult to improve that much in months, let alone 4 weeks. There’s honestly not much to do but takes as many practice tests as you can–one a day, maybe. Get as many practice tests as possible.</p>
<p>A more realistic goal might be aiming for a 33 or 34–which are still good scores (as is 32)!</p>
<p>It turns out I was able to go from 32 to 35 in 3 weeks. I just took 3 practice tests every week, studied the answers, and also learnt the strategies from Barron: 36.</p>
<p>It is possible.</p>
<p>Thanks! This is great motivation for me to turn my 28 into a 31+ in 3 weeks.</p>
<p>Just wanted to add that it is definitely possible. My dd just brought her science score up a full 10 points and added several points onto her reading. She went from a 28 to a 32 since science was really what was dragging her composite down. Time management is key for science and reading portions. There is something to be said for the “luck” factor too. Focused practice on your weak spots combined with a timed practice test once per week may be helpful.</p>
<p>I copied this post from another thread; it has really worked for quite a few people. D says it’s from the Princeton review. </p>
<p><<I don’t remember which of my ACT prep books I read this in, but this was by far the best advice I’ve ever received for the science section. I improved my score from a 29 (november) to a 36 in december! I only spent 5 minutes reading this but it was soooo helpful.</p>
<p>SCIENCE: I think there are like three “data based” passages with 5 questions each. These are the easiest passages. DO THESE FIRST. Don’t even bother reading the whole passage, just skim it and go straight to the questions. </p>
<p>Then, do all the passages with 6 questions. These are ‘intermediate level’. </p>
<p>THEN, leave the 7 question passage til the end. This is the passage with conflicting viewpoints and often, when found in the middle of all the passages, stumps students. People are so caught up with this section and accidently spend too much time on this passage.</p>
<p>The point I’m trying to get to here is do the passages in order of difficulty. It makes a HUGE difference. You build confidence when you zoom past the first easy passages and by the time you reach the tricky conflicting viewpoints, you’ll have way more time to spare and thus can calmly go about answering the questions.</p>
<p>The first time I took the test in November, I didn’t have time to finish the science section. Just one month later, I had three minutes to spare and left with a 36. </p>
<p>Let me know if anybody wants me to further clarify this tip!>></p>
<p>And this is a really informative thread on how students have done what you’re trying to do :):</p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/act-preparation/1264692-ok-so-you-didnt-do-too-hot-act-its-back-work-time-whats-your-coa.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/act-preparation/1264692-ok-so-you-didnt-do-too-hot-act-its-back-work-time-whats-your-coa.html</a></p>
<p>I went from a 32 to a 31 to a 35. </p>
<p>I took a few practice tests before my first ACT in March 2013, when I received a 32. For my June test date, I planned to study but never got around to it and ended up with a 31. Here is how I studied for the ACT and raised it to a 35…</p>
<p>1) Be healthier - I know this sounds weird, but drinking more water and exercising made me feel better overall. I also refused to take cold medicine, and anything else that would get in the way of my brain!</p>
<p>2) Challenged myself mentally - I joined lumosity a month before the exam to “stimulate my brain.” While I’m sure this didn’t directly effect my ACT score, seeing your mental BPI on the incline was definitely a confidence booster!</p>
<p>3) Practice tests ! - This is by far the most important thing to prepare for the test. All in all, I took 10 full exams (5 Real Prep Guide and 5 my school gave me) in 3 weeks, and 1 the night before. I recreated the environment the best I could every time I took it (same watch to time myself, an uncomfortable chair, etc.). I also drank a bottle of water and and a granola bar right before every test. The key to success for me was to take the stress and pressure out of the exam, and by creating a consistent approach I fell into a comfortable rhythm. I found the more relaxed I was and the less a second guessed myself, the better I did. The more you take the test, the more patterns you see and the more prepared you are! Each person’s rhythm might be different, but if you find your own I’m sure you will be successful!</p>
<p>However, I do have specific tips on each of the sections…</p>
<p>English: Take a few tests a passage at a time with a peer or a teacher. Discuss the different answers you get with each other and decide on whose is better. This really helped me, because English was my weakest subject. Once you are finished, check all the answers and discuss the ones you got wrong (if any). Also take practice tests on your own under the time constraints to get familiar with the speed. Finally unless you are 100% sure of another answer, never ever change it! Go with what you put down originally!</p>
<p>Math: The best thing you can do is brush up on your geometry, slope and all those random formulas and laws you learned prior to sophomore year. You’d be surprised how often circles and angles and 30-60-90 triangles are used on the test! Have a math teacher go over these laws and rules with you. Finally, every question is supposed to be able to be solved without a graphing calculator. Sometimes just looking at a picture or thinking logically can give you the answer. Guessing the right answer can be as simple as noticing a common factor, or being able to throw out one of two similar answers. The math is the one section I feel can be dramatically increased by anyone.</p>
<p>Reading: Practice and practice and practice. This test is all about going fast and comprehending the material. The more familiar you are with the test the easier it will be. One thing I did to make it easier was to write down two words next to each paragraph that would help me find the information faster when I looked back for it. 8 minutes for the first passage, 9 for the rest</p>
<p>Science: Take bio or chemistry or physics or all of them, AP if you can. So much of this test is bogged down by the language or unfamiliar units, and being exposed to this was a key to my success. Also, 5 question passages you rarely need to read, 6 question passages require a little more reading, and 7 question passages require you to read and understand. Once I learned this, I knew what were the straight forward questions and what we’re looking for deeper thinking.</p>
<p>The biggest thing you can do is build confidence in yourself. If you practice enough and know that the score you want is within your range of possibilities, you can achieve it! Good luck to everyone on your next exam!</p>
<p>March
C: 32
E: 29
M: 35
R: 33
S: 32</p>
<p>June
C: 31
E: 30
M: 34
R: 29
S: 32</p>
<p>September
C: 35
E: 35
M: 35
R: 35
S: 36</p>