I’m a junior, I’ve only taken one ACT in early June. The reason for this is that I started out with the new SAT, but the math was just too difficult for me, so I switched over. I’ve had a hectic year and didn’t have much time to study- but now I have the whole summer and plan to take it in September and October of senior year.
I did not study when I took this ACT- this was the first full test I took (the real one). Here were my scores:
English: 24
Math: 24
Reading: 32
Science: 26
Composite: 27
I’m really upset about this because I expected better even for my first time. I’ve taken a practice English before (pACT) and got a 30, so I’m confused as to how my score has gone down so much since then.
I was looking for any tips based on these scores- what should I focus on? Will I be able to improve a lot since this was my first time taking the test? I really want to get a 32 by senior year, which I know sounds impossible, but I’m willing to put in the work over the Summer. If anyone has any tips for studying over three flexible months and what I should focus on based on my score- that’d be very helpful. Thanks!
**Also, timing is not a problem for me. I’m usually a very fast test taker and end up still doing fine. I was able to finish all sections. So I guess I need to focus on content more?
For the English Grammar I recommend “Barron’s ACT 36:Aiming For the Perfect Score”. It has an excellent guide to all the grammar rules. Also, this book talks about the time wasters on all 4 sections of the test so you can avoid them You might want to get this book from the library first to see if it is helpful, before you buy it. Hope this helps.
My daughter, who just graduated, improved from a 27 (no prep or even practice test) to a 31 composite without doing much of anything. The only thing she did was “Top 50 Skills for a Top Score” - the smallest ACT book she could find, for Math and she didn’t even do all of it. She raised her math from 23 to 28, science from 25 to 28 and English and reading from 30/31 to 33. This was between April and June of junior year. I think a 32 is definitely within your reach.
I know this post was from a couple weeks ago, but here’s my two cents:
I’m like you being that I always finished every section no problem, but I still didn’t do too well. (I got a 28 composite my first time.) Basically, just practice. I don’t think full length is necessary unless you have endurance issues. I only did individual sections and would thoroughly review them. I would then spend a minute to write down a summary of what I learned and my adjustments/strageties for my next practice test.
I got a 32 composite on my June ACT. I’m now working on a 35 for September.
My daughter improved from 27 with no prep to a 32. She got the Red Book and took practice tests for the week before the second ACT. She went over all her wrong answers and made sure she understood why the right answer was right. She also realized as she took those practice tests that she did not have a good handle on comma rules, and studied those in particular.