<p>great post! I’ll be sure to use this advice when I’m taking practice tests and the real thing.</p>
<p>did anyone who took the June test follow the english tips? what were your english scores?</p>
<p>I pretty much did what he said on the English last feb and I got a 33. So anyone who isn’t sure, I would definitely say use this guide</p>
<p>peacelovesoul: for the colleges you want to go to the range around a 28-31, 28 for the least selective on your list and 31 for Wustl and northwestern, as for brown if you apply if your around a 32-33 you should be good</p>
<p>again this all depending on your GPA and everything else, if your around the average for GPA and EC’s the above scores should suffice</p>
<p>peacelovesoul: as for your first question if your aiming for 28-31 like i state above, a good start point would be 26-27, most people improve 2-4 point after studying and practice you can do the same.</p>
<p>I meant to respond earlier but I had to leave. I’ll try to aim for a 27 or 28 on my first go, but I’d really like to get a 30 since I’m a rising senior… ah I should’ve started with the test taking earlier. :/</p>
<p>thanks for the advice though, I really have to study my arse off this summer</p>
<p>This is good.</p>
<p>For the science section, is it a good idea to simply skim the paragraphs and skip to the questions?</p>
<p>^ Unless it’s the debating scientists section, I wouldn’t even skim the paragraphs.</p>
<p>^ using this technique what were you able to score on the science section?</p>
<p>Maximum: 34</p>
<p>Minimum: 31</p>
<p>I generally find the science section to be the hardest. With the really harsh curve and the unforgiving time restraints, missing a couple of questions can be really damaging to your overall composite. This is why I suggest not reading the introductory material: it’s usually confusing, and it wastes precious time.</p>
<p>It seems to be a viable option, I’ll try it.</p>
<p>@whodares- I also do not read the introductory information unless I have to, I took the June ACT for the first time and got a 33 on science.</p>
<p>I find that I spend a lot of time going back and searching for the answer when I need to read the passage, but if I read all of them up-front I still waste time. Science just kills me.</p>
<p>UPDATE: New ACTScience strategies</p>
<p>my best advice is to buy a wrist watch because you need to pace yourself VERY good</p>
<p>Science
- Spend 6 min on the 7 question passages (only 1)
- Spend 5 min on the 6 question passages (3)
- Spend 4 Min on the 5 questions passages (3)</p>
<p>as for practice instead of doing the whole section cut up the science section into 7 parts and pace yourself the way i have advised you. after you finish each one look up the answers. only do full 35 min practice section tests every once in a while.</p>
<p>hope it helps.</p>
<p>^I would be careful when using a strategy like that. Why put yourself under any more pressure by adding more time constraints to your test? If it were me, I would probably find myself thinking “oh god, has it been four minutes yet? I HAVE to move on to the next section…” And this is not where you want your focus to be during the test. In my opinion, just go as fast as you can and only glance at your watch every so often (while adjusting your pace if you need to).</p>
<p>Hoping this guide and some hardcore studying will help bring my ACT up from a 28 with barely any study to above a 30 in September. Wish me luck!</p>
<p>you can’t use a watch during the real test. What does it matter anyways?</p>
<p>fresh101: a wristwatch is permisable as long as it doesnt make any noice and i think we are all amrt enough to pace ourselves without using the alarm funtion…</p>
<p>thelawn: i wish you the best of luck if i can do it anyone can</p>
<p>vince: i advice this for anyone who has problems pacing and to avoid burnout if your naturally adept at doing well on this section you dont have to follow my advice</p>
<p>Fresh: A wristwatch is allowed as long as it doesn’t make noise. I always bring one for the reading and science sections</p>
<p>FENTS: I agree that pacing is a major factor with the science section, but I think wearing a watch and taking timed practice tests can help with that. I was just trying to emphasize that if someone attempts to adhere to even more time constraints, it may put him under greater pressure and take his focus away from the test.</p>