<p>I will be taking the ACT on Jun 11 for the first time, and I have been practicing quite a bit. I have had relatively little trouble, except for the reading section. Here is a little description of the scores I've been getting for Real ACT Book practice tests:</p>
<p>Practice Test 1)
E: 32
M: 33
R: 25
S: 33
Composite: 31</p>
<p>Practice Test 2)
E: 35
M: 34
R: 28
S: 35
Composite: 33</p>
<p>As you can probably tell, the reading section is pulling me back. The only strategy that I have been following is to read all of the passages with careful attention, in order, and answer the following questions afterwards (again looking back at the passages for reference, if necessary). The timer I have goes off as I am just starting the first few questions of the last passage. </p>
<p>Here are my questions:
-What tips do you have to make sure I finish the reading section without guessing? (Thus improving my 28 to a 30-33
-How accurate would you say the REAL ACT PRACTICE BOOK tests are?
-As a side note, what tips do you have for organizing, writing, and providing evidence for the written essay supplement test?</p>
<p>Thank you for any help you can offer :)
PS... I'm trying to earn a 33+ composite score, yet the reading section is making me very nervous about making it.</p>
<p>The real ACT practice book’s test are REAL ACT tests used in previous years. You have 8 minutes per passage and there are 4 passages which is 32 minutes, so that leaves you 3 minutes to check your work and or go back and answer questions you may have skipped. I would read newspapers, magazines, and books to help you with reading speed, thus giving you more time for answering questions. </p>
<p>For the essay if you write a lot you can get a very high score. You can write a bunch of ********, such as fake stories, fake facts, fake evidence. JUST MAKE IT LONG!! Whatever you want. One of my friends told me he did received a score of a 12, just by writing a bunch of crap that really didn’t make any sense. However, he used all the pages provided for his essay.</p>
<p>Do you have any English tips?</p>
<p>Sure, for me, most of it is not too challenging because in 8th grade I was in a class that was focused on proper english/grammar. Look online for general grammar rules. Choose the answer that makes the most sense when you read it. Don’t think too hard for the questions, as most are not tricky (you have 45 minutes to do 75 of them). </p>
<p>[Reading</a> and Writing Tips for the SAT and ACT: Complete SAT Grammar Rules](<a href=“http://ultimatesatverbal.blogspot.com/p/sat-grammar-rules.html]Reading”>http://ultimatesatverbal.blogspot.com/p/sat-grammar-rules.html) - This might help, even though it is geared for the SAT writing section… it has useful grammar rules.</p>
<p>Does anyone else have any tips for the reading test to try either DURING the test or to PREPARE for the test?</p>
<p>I use the PR method which includes skimming over the q’s and going straight to the answers
Supposedly, the Reading Test is merely a “treasure hunt” for the answers inside the passage
-Read the 1st Paragraph/get the gist of the Passage
-Go over specific detail q’s first (these include line ref./ones that you can find in pass.)
-check for Lead Words when searching through the Passage
-for inference q’s looks for a “paraphrase” of what the question is asking for
-after completing spec. detail q’s go to General Q’s which involve entire scope of pass. (should have enough understanding of pass.)
-go for wishy-washy answers that sound great (avoid ones that include NEVER, ALWAYS, etc.)
Hope this helps btw I consistently get 28-29 on them but finish on time; working to improve on this score</p>
<p>Thank you!! I’ll try completing the “treasure hunt” next time :)</p>