Am I a better ACT test-taker?

Test Preparation ACT Preparation
1

<p>So, in short, I have to take some standardized test again before I apply to colleges, (I'll be a senior), and I cannot determine whether I will excel on the SAT or ACT. So here goes:</p>

<p>In April, I took the ACT feeling extremely confident. I walked in confident, took the test confident, and left the test center feeling confident. I was expecting to get at least a 32, I got a 29 (31 English 29 Math 29 Reading 27 Science, 11 essay). I had taken a practice test from the official ACT prep guide but definitely had not studied intensively.</p>

<p>In May, I took the SAT. I had studied by practicing a fair amount of Math sections, and by learning all I could about Writing. I hadn't really worked on Critical Reading though. I felt like I bombed the test; I was distraught after finishing. I was also so mad that I recognized so many words from Direct Hits, but didn't remember the definitions. I merely recognized they were in Direct Hits. After the test, I was praying for just an 1800 so it wouldn't be a trainwreck if top school saw it. Result: 2010 (600 CR, 670 Math, 740 Writing, 10 essay)</p>

<p>So, with confidence, I studied for the June SAT. I memorized the words in both Direct Hits books cold, practiced reading passages, reviewing the answers with explanations from CB and by trying to figure them out myself. I reviewed Writing and practiced more math. I took the 3rd test in the Blue Book two days before my SAT in one sitting. 700 CR, 720 Math, 780 Writing, with 10 essay). I then felt great taking my SAT that Saturday, hoping I had broke 2200, but almost positive I had broke 2100, so I knew I would be satisfied. I could relax and know I had the summer to study for subject tests. Result: 2040 (620 CR, 710 Math, 710 Writing, 10 essay). I was so sure I was above 650 on CR and was actually expecting an 800 on Writing because I thought it was so easy. Ugh.</p>

<p>In June, I also retook the ACT without studying at all. Of course, this was after my SAT, which I had felt confident about, so I stupidly didn't care much for this test. It was in a run-down, hot, high school, and the proctors had no idea what they were doing. I had my eyes set on summer. Well, I at least tried, worked through English no problem. Math was easy like most said, but the problems took forever to solve, so I believe I guessed on at least 5. Then reading came. I felt like I had an extreme case of ADD, as I just couldn't focus at all and didn't care. Wasting so much time, I just skimmed the passages with remaining time and guessed on most questions. Science was worse, I was thinking, "how is it even possible to do this in the allotted time? I don't care at all!" I must've guessed, not educated guessed, just completely guessed on 15 questions. I was going to cancel my score because I was sure it would ruin my chances at top schools if they saw it. Result: 30, (34 English 34 Math 25 Reading 27 Science, 9 Essay). How i managed a 34 in math, and the same science score as last time, I have no idea. I would love to know how.</p>

<p>To sum this up, it appears that whenever I study, prepare myself, and feel confident about a test, I get a mediocre result. When I feel lost, and afraid that I'm failing, I surprise myself.
Given my less ACT prep time, do you believe I am more of an ACT taker? Btw, I only had a 163 on my PSAT, so I have vast improvement, but perhaps not much more on the SAT? I feel like my Math and Writing won't improve unless I get lucky, and that it'll require a lot of work to improve CR.
Will it be possible to bring my 29 Reading and 27 Science up to get around a 33 composite? I like the idea of using the ACT in lieu of the SAT and subject tests, but do any of you think I'd be better off studying for the SAT more, or have I about reached my score limit?</p>

2

<p>Your problem is that you’re not studying enough for the ACT and you’re expecting to get a good score. Sure, the ACT and the SAT are similar, but not similar enough that you can just study for the SAT and expect to ace the ACT.
I am a fast reader so the ACT was easier than the SAT for me. In my honest opinion, you didn’t spend all the time you could have studying the ACT so your ACT has not reached its score limit yet. Your SAT may have.</p>

<p>I’ve only taken the SAT and ACT each once.
Your GPA and classes you’re taking may help me see why else your score isn’t what you want it to be.
my scores:
PSAT: 224 SAT: 2110 ACT: 35 [writing 7… I’m not the greatest essay test writer =.= ]</p>

3

<p>I hope you’re right simply because I don’t feel like having to take subject tests and the SAT again; I’d rather just take the ACT a final time. And I really haven’t studied for the ACT at all, and I somewhat attribute that to feeling like not much prep is necessary. What can I do to boost my scores? Any prep books besides the official ACT prep guide?</p>

<p>…Oh and my current GPA is a 3.85 only because I slacked off my first semester freshman year. If it weren’t for that I would have a 4.0. That first semester and lack of upper level classes that semester leaves my class rank just above the top 10% at an average public school.</p>

4

<p>Massive misconception: I don’t need to study for the ACT because it’s “easier” than the SAT.
First of all, the ACT is considered on equal terms as the SAT, so of course it will match the SAT in difficulty; otherwise top colleges would scoff at the ACT.</p>

<p>STUDY. I don’t know what else to say. I took the same ACT as you (June) and I myself got a 33 after taking 2 practice tests in the Official Guide (33/34/29/35). And also, like you, I find that I don’t perform well on the SAT (1990). </p>

<p>Just study. That’s it.</p>

<p>Oh and about your SAT scores… it seems that you have reached your score limit. The only way you’ll overcome that blockade would be to study for the SAT. A LOT. So at this point, take the ACT one more time. And make it count.</p>

5

<p>I did horribly on the ACT. I took it for the first time in June too. I was expecting at least a 29. My score ended up being in the low twenties. I felt even worse when I found out that a girl who has a 2.5 GPA got the same score as me. I’m experiencing bitterness toward the ACT. Of course, I’m going to re-take it, but I’m going to try the SAT. I’m going into my junior year, so when do you all think that I should re-take it?</p>

6

<p>I’d suggest April/May. Then, if you are once again unsatisfied, take it again. This time early senior year.</p>

7

<p>I took 13 practice tests to prepare for my ACT and scored 2 points higher then what I was aiming for. When you practice your also practicing your focus and patience, I didn’t get distracted once during my test. It appears that you are much more confident about the ACT though and if you prepped more you could do very well.</p>

8

<p>It looks like the ACT will be your better bet.</p>

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<p>And that’s why studying vocabulary is a waste of your time. First off, there’s only a few vocabulary questions, so you’re going to study lots of words you don’t need. If you really need the points from these questions and aren’t getting them, learning how to build words is much more beneficial. Learning all the prefixes and suffixes and knowing enough about roots to guess at a decent number of them allows you to assemble numerous words and make educated guesses as to those you’re still not sure about.</p>

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<p>You have to practice for the science section. It’s not as much about knowing the material, as in learning how to pace yourself, read the graphs quickly and answer the questions. This comes from practice.</p>

10

<p>Thanks everyone! I will study over the remainder of the summer for the ACT to make it count, as I wouldn’t want to do this with the SAT and then subject tests, where if I screw up on either one, I’m finished.</p>

<p>My problem is: what practice materials should I use? I have the real ACT prep guide, but like everyone said, I really just need practice, especially for reading and science. So what books will have accurate sections/questions? I was thinking about Princeton Review books. Anyone? I haven’t found a general consensus on the best ACT prep books from these forums.</p>

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<p>Try one of these, [ACT</a> Test Prep](<a href=“ACT Test Preparation | Test Prep Resources | ACT”>ACT Test Preparation | Test Prep Resources | ACT)</p>

12

<p>I would HIGHLY recommend the Princeton Review’s ACT prep book. Although it’s a bit hefty, they do have little useful facts scattered in here and there that I found EXTREMELY useful when taking the test. For example, they give samples of problems that are commonly missed, like on English, agreement between verbs and objects, misplaced modifiers…but they make it easy to understand. For math, ALL DIAGRAMS ARE TO SCALE!!! This was an INVALUABLE piece of advice, and the folks at Princeton Review actually got their hands on all of the practice tests they could possible and measured them out BY HAND. This can speed up the elimination process when guessing on questions and save valuable time. Buy and large, I’d buy it, and see what you can get out of it.</p>

<p>My first go at the ACT wasn’t that great…I got a 33 (35 English, 30 Math, 30 Reading, 35 Science, 10 Writing). I think my nerves got the best of me. The next time, at the in-school testing, I got a 35 (35 English, 35 Math, 34 Reading, 35 Science, 11 Writing). This is obviously a great jump, but I think the main reason for the difference in my performance was due to the peace of mind I had going into testing. I had a 33 to fall back on if I managed to totally screw things up that day, so I just buckled down and worked. Maybe I got an easier test. I don’t really know, but I’m not complaining.</p>

<p>The interesting thing is, I studied for HOURS before my first test, but didn’t study at all for my second…so I think your mindset is an extremely underestimated factor when taking the test. Relax, ease your mind, and just go. That’s honestly the best advice I can give you. Good luck!</p>