For those who made big jumps, what did you do?

<p>I took the ACT in June without any studying at all, and got a 25. Yeah, I know pretty bad. I ran out of time in all the sections.</p>

<p>For those who made the big point jumps, did you just keep taking practice tests to get used to the time restraint? What is your best advice? I want to at least reach a 30. Is it possible?</p>

<p>It is definitely possible. Just practice not second guessing yourself. If you are running out of time, just read a lot and take a few practice tests. My friend got a 25 his first time and a 30 the next. He said he answered way more questions. He went from a 28 in english to a 36, just from answering more questions. There is hope.</p>

<p>yeah, i shocked myself the second time. for the first time i took it, i had never even looked at an ACT before and i got a 29. i didn't really care, because my SAT was a little better. i practiced with a 10 dollar prep book that explained reading section answers and science answers when i missed them. my advice is to practice enough to approach questions from the perspective of a test-maker instead of a test-taker; ask questions in practice tests like "what am i being tested on here? which answers are sucker answers?" I improved to a 34 composite, and couldn't be any happier. </p>

<p>Word of advice: no school wants to accept professional test-takers. Everyone has their limits, and I wouldn't stress out too much about it.</p>

<p>There's your problem then - time management. The ACT exam isn't hard if you take a LOT of practice tests. When you practice, don't give yourself the same amount of time. For example, don't give yourself 60 minutes while doing the Math section. I gave myself 45 mins in the Math section (and minus 15 minutes also for the rest of the sections) and practiced over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over again then when it was time for the real thing, I was smiling throughout the exam! I've seen all the questions before and know what to do.</p>

<p>Do a LOT of practice tests so you know what type of questions they're going to ask and how to answer them quickly and correctly.</p>