Advice on math section of ACT

Test Preparation ACT Preparation
1

I’m not very good at math and I constantly struggle with it. I took the ACT earlier this month and got a 17 on the math section which brought down my composite score.

Here is the subsection score for math:

Mathematics
Pre-Algebra/Elem. Algebra 09
Algebra/Coord. Geometry 10
Plane Geometry/Trig. 08

I scored a 28 comp score but I am aiming for at least 30 on the June testing. Do any of you have advice on how exactly to achieve that? I’d like to score at least 25 on the math section or do you think I should lower my goal? Any advice would be appreciated, thanks!

2

Don’t push yourself too hard. In general, I would go with the following:

  1. If you are a C / B math student, you should be shooting for 25 - 30.
  2. If you are an A math students and are taking AP Stat / Calc, you need to get above 30.
    Obviously, you do way better in English subjects, and since you probably have no intentions to major in mathematics or the sciences, a moderately low math score will be overlooked.
    However, I can still offer advice. Your subscores show a slight weakness in trigonometry. I would suggest that you work with a math teacher or hire a tutor if you have yet to fully understand or learn introductory trig. Many (if not most) ACT math questions are exactly the same types of questions found in standard high school textbooks. If you tend to get certain questions wrong (e.g. slope of line, volume / area of figure, exponents / logarithms), do practice questions online or in your book, and ask your teacher for help if necessary. Finally, I would suggest that you not even look at the final 5 to 10 questions on the math section. These are designed to differentiate 36s from 30s; if you are shooting for a high 20, these questions will only suck up your time.
    A 17 should not be too difficult to raise. But when you take practice tests, I can not reiterate enough the importance of LEARNING WHY YOU GOT EACH QUESTION WRONG. You need to understand your mistakes so you don’t make them again.
    I got a 36 on the ACT math last December.
3

I could swear that there are SO many questions concerning simple stuff (at least to me). Mostly slopes, some though not a lot of angle ones, little trig, additions/subtraction, exponent, simplification, and working with variables. If you master those there is no reason to get less than a 30.

4

Thank you for the advice, guys! I appreciate it.