<p>Hello, </p>
<p>so my goal is at least a 30 for the act, but science is my weakest area in the act. i'm just wondering what study methods may be recommended, and what is the most effective way to improve science??</p>
<p>and also, i understand that practice is key! if it's not too much trouble, can you provide me some links for tests to practice and/or practice tests that reflects the real act?</p>
<p>thank you!</p>
<p>Well the Red Book has 5 real ACT tests from previous years, so it is the best book for practice tests, but I hear not for reviewing subjects: <a href=“http://www.amazon.com/Real-ACT-3rd-Prep-Guide/dp/0768934400”>http://www.amazon.com/Real-ACT-3rd-Prep-Guide/dp/0768934400</a></p>
<p>Also, in this thread you can find PDFs of plenty of ACT tests from previous years, they just don’t have answer explanations (but they have answer keys): <a href=“ACT released tests? - ACT Preparation - College Confidential Forums”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/act-preparation/1384979-act-released-tests.html</a></p>
<p>This website goes over questions from these tests and explains how to get the answers: <a href=“http://www.actquantum.com/”>http://www.actquantum.com/</a></p>
<p>This guy goes over the first 2 and half of the 3rd math tests in the Real ACT Prep book: <a href=“http://www.youtube.com/user/SchoolMadeEasy/search?query=Real+ACT”>http://www.youtube.com/user/SchoolMadeEasy/search?query=Real+ACT</a></p>
<p>links to real previously admisistered ACT tests.
<a href=“http://achievementcenter.wikispaces.com/file/view/ACT+booklet+2007+2008.pdf”>http://achievementcenter.wikispaces.com/file/view/ACT+booklet+2007+2008.pdf</a>
<a href=“http://www.satprepforadhd.com/PDFs/ACT”>http://www.satprepforadhd.com/PDFs/ACT</a> Practice Test 59F.pdf
<a href=“http://www.yashnatrust.org/Resources/Preparing”>http://www.yashnatrust.org/Resources/Preparing</a> for the ACT.pdf
<a href=“http://cty.jhu.edu/talent/docs/ACTtestprepbook2013-14.pdf”>http://cty.jhu.edu/talent/docs/ACTtestprepbook2013-14.pdf</a></p>
<p>As for my methods of studying, here goes:</p>
<ol>
<li>Practice makes perfect.
Not a thing exists where practicing doesn’t help. Practice practice practice. I take 3 tests a week. Monday = Eng/Math. Tuesday = Read/sci. And so forth</li>
<li><p>Review mistakes
Always review your mistakes. On each test you must review in detail your mistakes. On the English and Math sections figure out what topic you missed and research it. In math, use the Khan Acedamy online. Just google it. In english refer back to you school books about those comma rules.</p></li>
<li><p>Analyze scores and questions missed for trends in your strengths and weaknesses. This step is difficult and time consuming. However, if you truly want to increase your scores, you MUST do this. There’s recently been studies showing just how much self analyzing can improve you.
For an example, I’ll use my scores. After I had taken 5 practice tests, both real and fake, I did the following:
a. Totaled all my missed questions
b. Added the numbers together per section.
c. Catorgorized missed questions.
I sorted using titles like these: For English: Passage Analysis, Sentance Sorting/adding, Comma Rules
For math: Sin/cos/tan, graphs, etc.
Reading: Passage analysis, details in passage, inference
Science: Details in passage, details in graph, science knowledge
I also added a “dumb mistakes” catagory to all sections
After doing this, I was able to view my weaknesses on a practical level. I found that of all missed english questions, 27% were passage analysis mistakes and 27% were dumb mistakes. These were the biggest percents.
For math, I found that at 46%, my biggest errors were dumb mistakes.
For reading, I found my biggests mistakes were again passage analysis
For science, it was dumb mistakes.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Now that I knew my weaknesses, i could fix them. For dumb mistakes in English, I made myself slow down. For the passage analysis questions, I followed these guidelines: The sentance added must completely fit with the preceding sentance and the one after it. I was able to effectively fix my mistakes.
My previous scores had been: E=34, M=34, R=34, S=29. Total=32.75 =33
After studying my mistakes, I had: E=36, M=35, R=33, S=33 Total= 34.25 = 34
I was one question away from a 35! Very close! I had never gotten a 36E, 35M, or 33S before. My science was a 33 but I only missed two questions.</p>
<p>Now, once you hit a composite 30, it can be very difficult to improve your score. However, my method worked drastically! No matter what your score is right now, if you’re dedicated to improving, this WILL absolutely help!</p>
<p>Well, that was HOW I studied. But WHAT I studied also included techniques and guides. This is one of he best guides content wise. <a href=“Jeandevaches' Guide to the ACT - ACT Preparation - College Confidential Forums”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/act-preparation/1071765-jeandevaches-guide-to-the-act.html</a>
I printed it all out, pinned it above my desk, and studied it before each test.
Use this guide to get a good score. Then analyze yourself to get a better score. Then use this guide again for perfection!</p>
<p>Science: Read the short paragraph at the top then hit the questions. Don’t look at the content first. The science test is all about time. Read the questions and as you read them place your fingers accordingly. “Figure 1, bird x at site C produces how many eggs?” Place your fingers onto each part of the figure as you read the question. After this. follow the guide above.</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.satprepforadhd.com/PDFs/ACT”>http://www.satprepforadhd.com/PDFs/ACT</a> Practice Test 59F.pdf
<a href=“http://www.yashnatrust.org/Resources/Preparing”>http://www.yashnatrust.org/Resources/Preparing</a> for the ACT.pdf</p>
<p>I think these links are incorrect, I do not see any tests there</p>