<p>If you could answer some of these questions it would greatly help a lot of us out. Thanks</p>
<ul>
<li>What were your study techniques?</li>
<li>Which book(s) did you use?</li>
<li>Do any practice tests?</li>
<li>Private tutors or classes?</li>
</ul>
<p>Any other words would help!</p>
<p>have a 33
-PRACTICE TESTS were by far the most helpful, studied Math IIC SAT and that really improved my math section. I found that I would skip around when I got nervous-wrost decision that I can make, I hear than others can use this to their advantage though. Always time yourself, study english grammar and math equations. Find an effective way to approach the science section; once you sort out all the clutter in the passages they become much easier (I skim over the words, underline the studies and figures etc.). Reading sections are more of remembering the passage, UNDERLINE, most of the answers are found directly in the passage.
-Real ACT book, princeton review book and the 1296 question book, barron’s 36 book, kaplan review book.
-prolly did 12 practice tests
-self tutored, tried a class but hated it.</p>
<p>1)Try to avoid reading passages as often as possible on the Science section except for the two sides one.
Skip problems that you are not sure about (if you can’t figure it out in 15 seconds, move on) and come back to them later to save time. Note, that getting nervous and skipping many will waste significantly more time.
2) Official ACT book, but only for some practice tests, not the actual information. I haven’t finished the Official ACT book yet, but I took several ACTs in 8th grade which is pretty much the same prep.
3)Nope
4)Nope</p>
<p>The best way to improve is to pinpoint your weakest sections and work on them over a long time period; studying and taking a million practice tests in one day won’t help you unless your problem is timing. Otherwise it’s a build up of everything you do including just reading books in school, doing math, or understanding grammatically correct sentences. You don’t improve overnight but overtime.</p>
<p>34 so I’m not sure if you even want my advice
but here it is anyways.
<p>I know I’m not a 36-er, but my scores did improve significantly upon taking it a second time (from taking it cold).</p>
<p>Thanks. I got a 27 this first time, although I felt I did much better. If I can just hit 30 then I would be pretty happy…</p>
<p>34 So yeah. To be honest I didn’t exactly study. But I would recommend that you sort of do the science section as that was my weakest point first time around (29) and post studying I got a 36.</p>
<p>have a 33. superscored is 34</p>
<ul>
<li><p>study techniques = do the tests with 5 minutes less time than allotted. It really helps because you tend to slow down when you take the actual thing</p></li>
<li><p>Books I used to study were Red book, read sparknotes online</p></li>
<li><p>For taking tests, I skimmed stuff i didn’t know off sparknotes. Used the Red book along with 2-3 packets ACT releases. After I got a 31, I bought the Princeton Review book with a ton of practice tests and did those.</p></li>
<li><p>private tutors and classes are a waste of money IMO</p></li>
<li><p>extra tips = work out all your math problems even if you know how to do them. I got careless in my second test and dropped from a 35 to a 32.<br>
For reading, if you might catch yourself slowing down at some point and being really really focused on a problem. I kind of zonedout on my first test and ended up running out of time.</p></li>
</ul>
<p>I got a 33. I did practice tests in September, and they didn’t help much. This time I did them the week of the test, right up to the day before. So my advice would be to keep the material fresh in your mind as the test gets closer.</p>
<p>@Happymunkee: Where can I find the ACT Practice test releases?
Thanks</p>
<p>Just got a 33. Honestly, I think the best way to go about it is to not practice as much. Practicing and studying makes you used to the material and you get bored with it so easily that you’re bored and tired of it by the time you go to the test. </p>
<p>The only thing I’d suggest is a few practice problems in science, especially on topics you aren’t sure about (for me, it was physics) because they caused me some stress and were my lowest score (30).</p>
<p>If you go to your school’s career center, they SHOULD have packets with a full length test. The ACT site itself also has an entire test and some practice problems. Sparknotes online has 3 practice tests.</p>
<p>Oh alright, thanks</p>
<p>I got a 33.</p>
<p>Honestly, I never took a full ACT practice test. Instead, I worked on each section separately. </p>
<p>For each section, I timed myself, but I allowed myself to exceed the time limit. This way, I can understand the pace that I need to work with during the real thing.</p>
<p>Additionally, if you are not the best in grammar, I suggest using Princeton Review’s book on the ACT. My ACT practice score went from 27 to 31 (33 on the real test). Same should apply to the other sections.</p>
<p>These are the best piece of information I can give. That’s basically how I got through the test. Don’t go in cold turkey. I took the ACT without ever practicing a reading section, and I ended up having to do 10 problems in 5 minutes. Still got a 32, but that just means my score could’ve been significantly higher.</p>
<p>I used Princeton Review, and the McGraw 10 ACT Practice tests.
I took 4 English sections, 1/2 math section, 0 reading sections, and 3 Science Sections.
I did not have private tutors nor classes</p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>I got a 34. I’m an East-coaster so I actually wasn’t even sure how the scoring worked. I didn’t do any prep, but I did look skim over a science section in the Baron’s ACT book briefly. I was pretty taken aback on the actual test day, though. My advice is just to get 8 hours of sleep at the least, and do something unrelated to the test the night before.</p>
<p>Best of luck!</p>
<p>I got a 30 soph. year.
I took like 2 practice tests.</p>
<p>1) Several study techniques I utilized were:
English: Looking at the passages (general idea), and individual sentences. I can usually pick out the answer based on the verb tenses used in the sentence, correct word choice (in context of the passage/sentence), and so forth. In short: Everything must be consistent. Period.
Math: 60 questions to answer in 60 minutes. Not too bad. However, know your math very well. To be honest, the math on the ACT is very basic, and its very easy to take it apart once you know what its asking for. Of course, there’ll be those few hard questions lying around in the ACT Math section, but if you practice enough of those, then it should be no problem for you.
Reading: If done correctly, this section will be a breeze. While you have to pace yourself (40 questions in 35 minutes), the one key part to the reading passage is having proof to back up the answers you choose to individual questions. For most of the questions in the ACT Reading section, there is always proof in the passage to back up the correct answer choice in every question. If you cannot prove how you answered the question, then you’d better find another provable answer choice
Science: While this is in another realm, I follow the same procedures as if it was another Reading section. Again, all of the information you need for the questions in the Science passage is in the passage. Don’t make the questions seem harder than it is. Treat it as a Reading passage, and you will have no problem.
2) The Big Red book. Nuff said. This is the closest to the real deal you will experience.
3) Yes. Took all 3 practice exams the Big Red book provided (previously administered, released exams)
4) I have gone through ACT tutoring. However, it only will take you so far; I realized a while back that tutoring and taking my own initiative was the only way that I could succeed on the ACT test.</p>
<p>I have gotten a 31 on my 2nd try (December 2009). However, what made a difference was “feeling like I was the boss of everything” when I walked into the exam room last month. I remember reading a post on CC a few days before the October ACT exam that mentioned how having the “I am the boss!” feeling (or any other self-motivating feelings) will rid one’s mind of any anxiety before the exam. I decided to try that out, and sure enough, it worked wonders. I scored a 33 on my October 2010 ACT exam simply because I decided to self-motivate myself in an energetic way instead of feeling anxious about how I was going to do well on the test.</p>
<p>I got a 34 in December 2009, utilizing the Red Book. I got a 34 on state testing in March. I got a 36 (all sections) in October 2010. The difference I attribute to the following:</p>
<ol>
<li>For study techniques, make sure you know everything and anything that will be tested. </li>
</ol>
<p>-For science, it is almost a must to have taken biology, physical science, chemistry, and physics (non-AP). This knowledge helped me to get a 35, 33, and then 36 on science.
-For mathematics, I already had a strong base in mathematics, but this can be supplemented by purchasing the SAT Math II books and challenging yourself via the school curriculum. The Art of Problem Solving books are a bit more expensive, and I didn’t use them, and they go way beyond the scope of the ACT, but they offer invaluable problem solving techniques. The key to mathematics is tons of practice. I got a 34, 35, and then 36 on math.
-For English, use Silverturtle’s Guide to the SAT and learn all the grammar rules. These are invaluable, and relying on your ear is not consistent. I got a 34, 31, and then 36. By comparison, I had a 720 on SAT1 writing (12 essay), and then after Silverturtle’s guide I got an 800 (80 MC, 11 E). The 36 came after Silverturtle’s guide as well.
-For reading, refer to Silverturtle’s guide. This is often the most generous section via curves. It is not important to go in order, and do the ones you most feel comfortable with (for me, it was physical sciences) so you can collect the easy points. I got a 670 and then 710 on the SAT1. I got a 31, 35, and 36 on the reading portion.</p>
<p>The essay portion does not count, but taking AP courses such as AP U.S. History and AP Government help in giving you concrete examples to use in your essays. Concrete examples and concessions/refutations are key in the ACT essay. </p>
<p>In summary, learn the material before you decide to do any questions. Then, drill yourself on the sections. Make sure you understand why you got a question wrong and also why you got questions right. As you go through the test, justify the answer in the back of your mind.</p>
<ol>
<li>I only used the Red Book on my first test, and I ran through all three practice tests. However, for my last test, I located the practice booklets from '07, '08, and '09 and did all of those without a timer at my own pace. I also read the first couple pages of the Barrons 36 book, which was the english section, so that probably helped. I did 6 practice tests out of the SAT book 2 weeks prior over a course of about 3 days, and those helped a lot. If you didn’t notice already, there is a lot of overlap between the two tests. </li>
</ol>
<p>In short, the Red Book is invaluable and so are the practice booklets. However, save these until after you feel you have a strong foundation of knowledge with which you can take the test.</p>
<ol>
<li><p>I took a total of 6 practice tests tailored for the ACT, and 6 more for the SAT. I did one PSAT practice tests Cumulatively, it points to a positive correlation with score. I’d say do as many as you can, and if you run out of ACT tests, switch to SAT tests.</p></li>
<li><p>I do not recommend taking any classes. If you are adamant on getting outside help, get a private tutor, someone you know scored well and who is willing to work with you one on one or in a very small group.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>In conclusion, your most valuable resources are the Red Book, the free practice booklets, Silverturtle’s Guide to the SAT, and yourself! </p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>I just got a 30 on the October test. I went in cold, which probably wasn’t the best idea. I have the Red Book, but I never looked at it. I’m taking a course to prepare for the December test - not because I think courses are the best way to prepare, but because I haven’t found the self-motivation to study and do practice tests on my own, and this is going to force me to do it. Yeah, I’m lame.</p>
<p>34 here. I didn’t really study much other than a bit of review on a few Math concepts, since it had been so long since I did Geometry. What did help me though, was just going to sleep very early and giving my body as much sleep as possible, followed by getting a bunch of simple and complex carbs in my breakfast and drinking enough to stay well hydrated without getting the urge to pee in the middle of a test. That alone improved my score two points.</p>
<p>Also, if it makes any difference, my strategy here got me a 36 in English/Reading, a 33 in Math, and a 31 in Science. That might just be my own personal strengths and weaknesses, though.</p>
<ol>
<li>
32 the first time.
I used the kaplan test book, and simply studied sections that gave me a hard time.</li>
</ol>