ACT and SAT Ponderings

Test Preparation ACT Preparation
1

<p>Alright here's where I'm at. I'm a 17 year old Senior in high school currently taking dual credit classes at our community college- College of Southern Idaho. I plan on attending the same college in the fall of next year (2009). </p>

<p>I didn't place much importance on the PSAT/SAT/ACT tests until recently. I took the PSAT once in my junior year, and took the SAT this October. Here are my scores for both.</p>

<p>PSAT:<br>
Critical Reading: 55/76%
Mathematics: 43/32%
Writing Skills: 76/99%</p>

<p>SAT: (This is all that was given me right now)
Critical Reading 700 95%
Math 480 38%
Writing 630 87%</p>

<p>Multiple Choice 62 (score range: 20-80)<br>
Essay 9 (score range: 2-12) </p>

<p>After snooping around on collegeboard.com at the SAT requirements for schools such as Franciscan University of Steubenville, Ball State University, and other universities my friends are attending, I feel that I need more training. My scores are decent I believe, but my math is definitely a little lacking.</p>

<p>I'm not bad at math in general but did little training for the SAT, and didn't understand all the concepts. I therefore skipped problems, and didn't do so hot.</p>

<p>I don't plan on hitting the Ivy League school requirements, but my goal is to have a decent score that will aid me in obtaining scholarships for the College of Southern Idaho. Also, I would like to get a score that will allow me to enroll in a mid range liberal arts college if I decide to go that route. </p>

<p>Basically, I don't want to be stuck in a university because I didn't work hard enough in high school. I'm sure that after two years of college, my grades will be the main factor in my acceptance at a university, but I figure it never hurts to study hard and get a good grade now.</p>

<p>So I have a plan. I've always taken the Iowa Tests of Basic Skills, and the ACT seems to line up well with the type of testing I'm used to. I've heard its "easier", but I'm sure its more a question of preference.</p>

<p>I plan on purchasing the Real ACT Prep Guide, and another book such as the Princeton Review: Cracking the ACT, then studying hard and taking the ACT this December, and possibly in the Spring of 2009. </p>

<p>I'll talk to a counselor at my college to see what kinds of scholarship opportunities are available as well. I'm very indefinite about what I'd like to study as a major but my current thoughts are English, Music, and/or Computer Science.</p>

<p>I think I will be able to get a scholarship in English or Music, but Computer Science is a little iffy, given my less than stellar Math scores. Math and science have always been my worst subjects.</p>

<p>I am interested in computers though, and probably would be content getting a network technician license etc. as opposed to a computer science degree. Since I'm not as much of a numbers person, I doubt it would be the thing for me anyway.</p>

<p>I've also considered studying to become a sitcom writer, but both English and Music are difficult ways to make a living--teaching aside. </p>

<p>So after all this rambling, I ask for your advice. What can I do to increase my scores? Should I pursue the ACT alone, or have another go at the SAT? Are my literature choices good ones or should I use a computer program of some sort? Any advice or thoughts are welcome and appreciated. Thank you for your time.</p>

2

<p>Oh, don’t be afraid kids–fire them posts off, i know you want to :)</p>

3

<p>From all the information I’ve gathered, Spring of your Senior year is too late to take your ACT. The last chance you’ll have is this December. So by only taking it once, you’re rolling the dice. I would recommend that you do take it though. If you buy the mentioned books above and practice practice practice, you should be able to pull off a decent score.</p>

4

<p>Hey thanks for the advice. Aren’t there tests in February, April, and June though?
[ACT</a> Registration : 2008 - 2009 test dates](<a href=“ACT Registration & ACT Testing Dates | The ACT Test”>ACT Registration & ACT Testing Dates | The ACT Test)</p>

<p>Or can I not take them past a certain age/date?</p>

5

<p>math is one of the easiest subjects to improve in imo
but everyone is different</p>

<p>i used barron’s 2400 (the most useful section was also math IMO)
it goes over techniques, strategies, and tricks</p>

<p>just know pythagoreon’s (however it is spelled), right triangle properties, and all of that other alg. 2 and geometry stuff</p>

<p>and the key to success on the math sat is…</p>

<p>DON’T LET THEM TRICK YOU!</p>

<p>if it asks for 2x+7, don’t solve for x and put that down. put down whatever 2x+7 is!
simple, careless errors kill on SAT math</p>

6

<p>Take the ACT the next time it’s given so if you want to use those scores, they will get to the colleges on time. You have nothing to lose by trying it.</p>

<p>Plus, from what I’ve heard many colleges don’t pay much attention to the new writing section of the SAT, but look at the ACT Composite score. So if math is your weakness, your ACT might look better. Be sure to take the ACT with writing because many colleges require that too - it costs a little more.</p>

7

<p>In my region, the majority of the freshmen scholarships require ACT scores. Do research your colleges and available scholarship requirements so you know which tests are required. ACT has a search feature to see if a college requires the supplemental essay test @ [ACT</a>, Inc. : A Student Site for ACT Test Takers](<a href=“The ACT Test for Students | ACT”>http://www.actstudent.org/)</p>

8

<p>You have got to be joking me? I’m taking dual credit from CSI right now. HAHA. That is flippin awesome! What high do you go to?</p>

9

<p>Work on math — It’s soooo easy to improve upon. I went up from a 25 in Dec to a 34 in June simply by spending a few hours a day boosting my speed and working on that elementary math that I had forgotten.</p>

10

<p>@ bdunc 24–that’s pretty crazy indeed, haha! I’m home-schooled actually. But I know a few kids from TFHS and around. Where do you go? --I noticed your other thread btw, and I’d say you’ve got a good shot at the old ivy leagues. I know a guy from TFHS that’s going to Yale, so I’d say us Idahoans can do it if we’re so inclined :)</p>

11

<p>@bdunc24 --you’re not Logan by any chance are you?</p>

12

<p>I’m not Logan. haha. and I doubt that I know you if you live in TF. I don’t really want to say my high school on these forums, but lets just say i’m east of TF. We play TF all the time in sports though. Well good luck to you, wherever you are headed! Sorry I didn’t give any advice. I’m new to all of this too.</p>

13

<p>Well the bulldogs are ringing a bit of a bell, haha but its cool- i’m not into the whole "here’s my name, phone number, and address for everyone to see’ thing either :slight_smile: good luck to you too man!</p>

14

<p>take the ACT. most colleges don’t look at writing, so math is 50% of SAT. on the ACT math is only 25% of the test…they also just look at the composite score for the ACT, so it’s not the end of the world to do badly on one of the sections.</p>