<p>I'm an upcoming senior taking ACT first time in September. I do pretty great overall, except when I'm timing.</p>
<p>Here are my scores from my latest test (yesterday):
English: 35
Math: 35
Reading: 35
Science: 32
Composite: 34</p>
<p>Seems as though I got accuracy down to just where I want it (except for science, which is shaky - I usually get between 32-35 on science). However, on timing, while I don't have too much of a problem in sections 1 and 2 (Eng/Math), it's really challenging to do Reading and Science in time.</p>
<p>On the practice test from yesterday, I ended up taking 40 minutes to complete the Reading, and 41 minutes to complete science. Yeah, I'm about 5-6 minutes off. </p>
<p>How should I approach these sections in order to finish on time while maintaining accuracy? While practicing, I can't just stop myself at the 35 minute mark, leaving like 6 or so questions blank (or guessing). That was simply kill my score and make me feel terrible :/.</p>
<p>What do you guys suggest to help finish <35 mins for reading and science? It'd be appreciated, the test is in 2 weeks, and I really need 34+...</p>
<p>BTW - I know the tip that I should skip the info, just read the tables. But my problem is that when I face a question, usually one of the last ones per passage (for science) I end up just staring at the charts, unable of what to make of it (some of those charts are so obscure!). That generally tends to kill some. Some of the other questions I'm able to answer within 30 seconds. So yeah, help would be appreciated on both sections as to how to finish on time. Thanks.</p>
<p>I think you should just start doing your practice tests under the actual time limit. It will make you work faster. I probably wouldn’t finish in 35 minutes if I wasn’t timing myself either. Do it a couple times and you will get the timing down, I guarantee you.</p>
<p>I’m currently kind of in the same position as you, but I’ve been going to an act tutor for a few weeks. I’ll try and give you some tips on both.
Reading: She introduced this really interesting strategy that seems to work for me. First of all, when you open the reading section, skip the first passage as it takes the longest. The rest are all fair game. When you approach a passage, the first thing to do is read the first and last paragraphs. After this you should have a basic understanding of the passage. Next read through the questions, and answer all the of the ones that refer to specific lines or had the answer in the first or last paragraph. Skip all the questions that are more general until you answer the specific ones. For ex. In this passage the author blah blah blah. After answering all the specific ones you will have most likely read most of the passage. Try to go back and answer the general questions now, and if you can’t answer try and skim for key words. Try using this strategy by timing yourself on individual passages rather that the entire reading section. After practicing this for a while, you should be able to get all the passages down to about 8 minutes, and hopefully close to that on the first passage.<br>
Science: This one is harder. For me it was just tons of repetition. I found out that the charts and graph passages take me the least amount of time, so I do those three first. Next I do the experiment passages, and last the arguing scientists. However this is personal. Try and find which you like the best, and do these ones first. When practicing all i can recommend is timing yourself for each individual passage, not the whole section. These kind of sprints get you into a rhythm. Charts and Graphs should take 4 min, the experiments should take 5, and the arguing scientists should take 6. Then its just practice practice practice…
Hope this helps!! Good Luck!</p>
<p>I was reading the Barrons ACT book and it had some good tips for both of these sections.</p>
<p>Reading:</p>
<p>I tend to skip the first passage because I personally suck at it and most peopole have the hardest time with this one. I was never a firm believer of writing notes on the side but when I did my score bumped from a 21 to a 30. It helps you read actively and keeps you focused. Plus you can use those references to find questions quicker and use them for questions that ask for the big picture. I dont really underline but that is a preference because I have a good memory so I dont really need to. If you take practice tests, you will be able to figure out with passages you are the best at so you have more time to answer those questions you know instead of rushing through the easy ones and missing them then missing the questions you had no idea in the first place.</p>
<p>Science:</p>
<p>There are 3 different types of passages: the ones with the graphs, comparing experiments, and conflicting viewpoint. Since I can tell you aren’t the strongest reader since you are asking for reading advice, skip the conflicting viewpoint for last. It is a pain in the butt and has the most questions (7). I go through the whole section at first and see which ones have the graphs because those are the easiest and only have 5 questions each so you can breeze right through them. I flip through them and put either a 5,6,7 for the number of questions they have so I know which ones will take less time. I dont really read the intro for the graph questions but I skim them for the rest to get the general idea. I also put notes on the side so that I can reference back to them like I did in the reading section. Remember: your booklet should never look the same at the beginning of the test as it does at the end. A clean booklet is a sad booklet.</p>
<p>For both of these, if you dont like to skip around and like to approach them like the english and math, you will have a harder time. Playing to your strengths is key and skipping around the test will give you the best results.</p>
<p>Wow, thanks for the tips guys! I tried them out, and I definitely worked much more efficiently as I completed both sections with only 1 minute extra. Of course, practicing will come into play :)</p>
…but got 4 wrong while rushing :(</p>