I don’t want to lecture you for too long, but I can’t help it. What did you think was going to happen if you’re a sophomore who didn’t study? Okay I’m done with that sorry.
Moving along, I think it’s definitely possible for you to get a 34, but don’t trust the guy who said that their classes could get you there. I spent the summer before my junior year studying – there really is no better time --, got a 36. I did take precalc sophomore year, so I had more math knowledge than most people my age, but generally the math section is easy to learn.
During the fall of my junior year (before I took the October test) I went to a 4-hour ACT prep class that was offered at my school. It was a complete waste of time, and I would have been angry if it wasn’t free. I already knew everything they were talking about, and those classes really don’t cater to people who want to score high. The only useful tip they gave: every time you guess, guess the same letter (unless you know that the letter choice is just straight up wrong). For example, if you guess B for 5 math questions, chances are, one of them will be correct, but if you choose different letters, you’re likely to miss every time.
My strategy: Look up a list of ACT math formulas. Memorize it. Buy the ACT Red Book (It’s big. It’s red. It’s filled with practice tests from the ACT corporation, and I don’t know what it’s actually called. Take practice tests under real conditions (yes, you have to do it in one sitting so you’re not giving your brain extra recovery time between sections - that will skew your results). Grade your tests the next day, and in a notebook, write down every single mistake, and figure out why you messed up. If you don’t understand where the right answer comes from, look it up and ask someone else. Repeat the process every 2-3 weeks, maybe? Anytime you find a huge gap in your knowledge, look it up and teach yourself, maybe go to khan academy, and put all your notes in the notebook. If a problem requires a formula that you don’t know, add it to the formula list and the notebook. Read the notebook once a week.
My tips:
- Like I said above, guess the same letter every time unless you know it’s wrong
- in science and reading, read the questions before the actual material, or switch back and forth.
- the week before the test, take your formula list and make flashcards, INCLUDE HOW/WHEN TO USE EACH
- To get a 34, work every problem. Chances are you’ll get something wrong no matter what, so you can’t afford to skip anything (obviously if it’s taking a really really long time, do others and come back later, or at least fill in the bubble)
Really big tip lol: the day of the test, stand with your feet shoulder width apart, hands on your hips, chin up, shoulders back, think positive thoughts for 5 whole minutes. This made me feel so ready and super hype.