<p>I've been taking a lot of ACT Math and English sections lately (with the timing used at the actual test). For English, I usually score a 34, and for Math a 35. First question is if you think this an accurate representation of what I may score.</p>
<p>The Reading and Science sections, however, have been troublesome. I'm working really hard and I'm hoping to get them up to the 31+ range. Second question is, for those of you that have taken the ACT, is it easier to concentrate at the testing facility when you feel that it is actually FOR REAL?</p>
<p>Generally practice tests are fairly accurate (give or take). </p>
<p>However, I would have to say for me personally, that it was not easier to focus at the test center. In fact, the opposite was true for me. I felt much more pressured, and while I was finishing the reading and science sections on practice tests with 5-10 minutes left, on the actual test I finished without any significant amount of time remaining. </p>
<p>Not trying to make you nervous, but keep practicing to where you feel comfortable. Maybe the stress will motivate you on the tests and you will react differently than I did. Personally, I felt more stressed and had to focus more on what I was reading. </p>
<p>Stress/focus is going to vary depending on the individual. In general, most students are feeling a bit frantic/overwhelmed in an actual testing situation. And what if the timer doesn’t announce “5 more minutes” and all of a sudden says you are done. What if the timer isn’t keeping accurate time and tells you to finish 5 minutes early? There are a lot of things that can be stressful. </p>
<p>Oh and invariably somebody in the room is sick so is coughing or sneezing or snorting. And then somebody else is tapping their pencil or their foot or mumbling to themselves. </p>
<p>Make sure you practice taking the entire test in one sitting though, more than once. Don’t just work on individual sections. </p>