<p>this copied and pasted from my guide <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/act-preparation/897716-futureentsurgeons-simple-guide-improve-act.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/act-preparation/897716-futureentsurgeons-simple-guide-improve-act.html</a></p>
<p>reading- by far the hardest for me but i ended getting a 30
- the key to the reading section is to read!!! spend more time reading the passage before you answer the question. wen i got a 21 the first time i took it time to analyze why i got such a low score. i realized that i spend too little time reading. as you well know there a four passgages on the reading section to do in 35 min so about 8.5 min on each section. instead on spending 2 min skimming the passage then 6 min answering question i figured that for every minute more your spend reading you will get 1-2 more questions right. for example on the prose fiction section i got a 4/10 the first time and this was achieved by skimming for 2 min and answering for 6 min. instead i throughly read it for 4 min and i answered the questions in 4 min and i got a 8/10.
- my second tip is DONT READ THE QUESTIONS before reading the passage. you are not given enough time on the section to be using that strategy </p>
<p>i improved from 21 to a 30 in 3.5 months you can too</p>
<p>i on the whole test i went from a 25 comp (23E, 27M, 21R, 27S) to a 33(34E, 36M, 30R, 30S) in 3.5 months</p>
<p>here the rest of my guide
science
- if you notice on the science section there 7 passage broken down into sets of 5, 6, 7 each. now on every test there is 1-7 question section, 2- 6 question sections, and 4-5 question passages. the key is to spend 6 minutes on the 7 question passage, 5 min on each of the 6 question passages, and 4 min on each of the 5 question sections. so that is 6(1) + 5(2) + 4(4)= 32 min. this leaves you 3 min extra to spend more time on a passage that has stumped you (there is also one that you will just not get)
- buy 1496 practice question from Princeton review and the real act prep and total you will have about 9 practices tests and just start doing them. </p>
<p>english- i followed 3basic rules that got me a 34.
- the shortest answer is usual the correct answer ~ 70% of the time
- when “Omit” appears in the answer set it is right ~ 50% of the time
- dont add puncuation to the sentence. either leave it alone or take it out.</p>
<p>math- was the easiest for me i got a 36, only one rule
- SHOW YOUR WORK!!! just write out the problem and do it even if you can do it in your head. for example if they say solve -x^2+ x+ 6 when x = 6, write it out. it is easy to make a mistake by forgetting to turn the 36 into -36 if you do it in your head. and a lot of the geometry question require you to draw it out in order to solve it</p>
<p>reading- by far the hardest for me but i ended getting a 30
- the key to the reading section is to read!!! spend more time reading the passage before you answer the question. wen i got a 21 the first time i took it time to analyze why i got such a low score. i realized that i spend too little time reading. as you well know there a four passgages on the reading section to do in 35 min so about 8.5 min on each section. instead on spending 2 min skimming the passage then 6 min answering question i figured that for every minute more your spend reading you will get 1-2 more questions right. for example on the prose fiction section i got a 4/10 the first time and this was achieved by skimming for 2 min and answering for 6 min. instead i throughly read it for 4 min and i answered the questions in 4 min and i got a 8/10.
- my second tip is DONT READ THE QUESTIONS before reading the passage. you are not given enough time on the section to be using that strategy </p>
<p>i hope this helps feel free to comment or give suggestions i will be making changes to this. this is in its first draft. again you dont have to agree with anything i say these are just my experiences and its based of my analysis of the test during my time preparing for it</p>
<p>here is a post i made on a thread asking for my opinion on the ACT vs. the SAT</p>
<p>personally i think ACT is the most valid test because it actully tests material that a person should know before college. </p>
<p>for example:
English- learn how to identify and in the future write proper and concise english
math- up to precalc, so IMO if you get a 30+ you should be ready for calculus
reading- how to read for “business” not for pleasure which is essential because in college you must learn how to effectively read
science- problem solving </p>
<p>as for the SAT how is having just a strong vocabulary the key to succeeding in college and for the math section it is not relavent to have questions like that. in physics, chem, and engineering the math you need to know is formuated</p>
<p>source: Me. who has a 4.37 gpa but got a 1700 on the SAT (540 CR, 600 M, 560 W) and then a 33 composite on ACT ( 34 E, 36 M, 30 R, 30 S). </p>
<p>PM me if you want any more thoughts about the ACT and strategies to score high</p>