ACT Testing Nerves, Reading, Careless Mistakes and More [Need Help]

Test Preparation
1

<p>Hey guys, I was wondering if you could help me out in anyway.</p>

<p>I recently got back on ACT scores and got a 32 (33E, 32M, 28R D:, 34S) and I was wondering how I can do better because I know I can. Leading up to the ACT I took a bunch of official previous tests (not the red book, but more recent tests) and scored 34-36 4 times in a row. Every section I would never feel rushed and would always have extra time left for each section (25 minutes in English, 12 minutes in Math, 3 minutes in Reading and Science). HOWEVER, when I took the actual ACT this September, this was far from the case (having 15 min in English, 1 min in Math, 0 in Reading and 1 min in Science). Furthermore, I would also score 34-35E, 36M, 33-35R, 34-36S. What's perplexing is how different my practice scores were from the real test and how different my timing was.</p>

<p>I think my biggest problem was that a lot of my testing strategies went out the window and for some reason I got all nervous and constantly ran out of time. For examples, I forgot about underlining the questions in the math section, which is bad because my biggest mistakes in the math section were from careless errors. For some reason whenever I step into that testing room, I perform way worse. For English it wasn't that bad, since I still had a lot of time left to check, but for the other sections it was. Math I did WAY worse in time, like so bad. I think my issue was that I got stuck on one problem, and while I would normally skip it and come back, when I was taking the test I was determined to answer it which wasted a lot of time.</p>

<p>For Reading, I'm not even sure what happened. On my last official ACT testing, I scored a 34. Now I scored a 28 and had terrible time management. I don't know why :(</p>

<p>I scored worse on English and Math then I wanted to (and did score leading up to the test), and Science was slightly lower.</p>

<p>How can I prevent these nerves, or whatever it is, from hampering my ability on test day since I have the ability? On the bright side I'll be taking the next ACT (Oct.) by myself since I FINALLY got approved a typing accommodation for the essay, and I think that will help since I won't be in a stressful environment, be one and one with the proctor and get to sit in a comfy chair :D Moreover, I'll be able to talk out loud to myself which should help calm my nerves, but I'm still nervous (lol) that I'll get the nerves again.</p>

<p>Any help would be appreciated and I'm sorry this post was long.</p>

<p>TL/DR: Did way better on practice ACTs (34-36) than I did on my Sept ACT (32), and I think it had mostly to do with nerves. How can I prevent this from happening again?</p>

2

<p>I boosted from 31 to 35 this September. You need to get out of your comfort zone.</p>

<p>Leave your house and take the tests in a library or cafe to simulate the “real” environment. The fact is, the real testing environment won’t be in your favor. Pencil tapping? You bet. Foot stomps? Of course. Constant nose noises? No doubt. That attractive person? Most likely. </p>

<p>The “nerve” won’t be stimulated if you practice like a real test. Good luck, and let me know if you need any help. </p>

3

<p>@viphan‌ Do you think I should do something one on one to simulate how my testing experience will be due to my testing accomodation? Like get someone to proctor my practice tests. OR, should I do the “real” enviorment to make it more stressful then my testing enviorment will be come Oct?</p>

4

<p>I just noticed that you will be taking the test by yourself. Then do whatever you do when you are alone.</p>

5

<p>Clench and unclench your fists and move your body. Nervousness = jittery, another trick is that I write down all the things I can make a mistake on and I eventually remember it and preform better. </p>

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<p>@viphan Great Sep score, can you share some of your strategies for prep? Did you take a class, tutor, can you suggest the best books to study? </p>

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<p>I spent 2 weeks in the summer by myself, embedded in the library, taking real practice tests once a day. No class, tutor whatsoever. If you have the right mind to achieve a high score, you will get a good score! </p>