<p>Has this happened to anyone else? I am able to score highly on the ACT practice tests from The Real ACT Book, but when I take the test, it drops about 8 points. I realize that most do better taking practice tests at home, but dropping this many points on a test worries me. I have taken the ACT twice and each time, this has happened. If anyone has dealt with this, please let me know! It's super frustrating. </p>
<p>For me the real Math and Science sections are much harder than those in the red book.</p>
<p>For me its the opposite I did worse on a practice ACT and did better on the real ACT. But then again I only took one practice test and it was the morning of the ACT so that probably had an affect. </p>
<p>Are you timing yourself while taking the practice tests are home? Are you not reading fast enough on the reading and science sections? Have you considered getting prep books?</p>
<p>@tola2015 You’re so lucky to have the real tests better than the practices! I am timing myself. At home, I finish reading and science about 5 minutes before time runs out, but on the test, I run out of time before the last couple of questions. I’ve taken about 15 practice tests, so it’s really annoying as I’m trying to figure out how to fix this. 
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<p>Some people will probably disagree with me about this. I would say cut down the time you allot yourself on the science and reading sections. Instead of giving yourself 35 minutes to take the practice test only give yourself 30 minutes or less. This will cause you to work and think faster and may help in the long run. </p>
<p>Have you taken any of your practice tests more than once already? You may be implicitly remembering answers causing you to work faster on those sections. </p>
<p>@TheFellowMello that’s a common problem. One question for you, how realistic are your practice conditions. Are you taking the full exam timed, with no breaks? Are you sitting in a chair like you would for a real exam? Are you taking them at the same time of day, with the same amount of food?</p>
<p>The point is that you should try to make your practice test as realistic as possible. Right now there is some difference between them that makes the real exam harder for you. This might be something you can control, like the amount of sleep you got.</p>
<p>Also, most students feel anxious before an exam. You can call that nervousness and try to fight it, or you can call it excitement and let the feeling take over. I think it is important to get excited and don’t try to fight it. Your mind probably won’t let you calm down, because it knows you you are about to do something important. If you think that you should be calm, but you can’t get calm, then you might start to panic. Instead just realize that you don’t have to be calm. You are excited, but you are prepared. Your excitement will actually help you perform your best. Own it.</p>
<p>hope that helps!</p>
<p>@banjoandstuff Thank you :)</p>