<p>I took the ACT last June and got a 32 Composite with a 36E 34R 29M 29S. I am retaking it in October and I would like to raise it to a 34-36.</p>
<p>I have been prepping a good deal of math and now I can breeze through the math no problem with a pretty solid score. I started working on science also and soon that shouldn't be a problem.</p>
<p>My question is how do I maintain such a hard-to-get score on the two Englishes? I obviously knew both the basics and advanced mechanics of English pretty well...but that was back in June. I do not want to reread an ACT English review book. Is there a less obsessive and tedious way to keep up my English skills and get back into the swing of answering ACT style questions?</p>
<p>Also, I am taking practice tests online at SparkNotes. How will those scores compare to the real thing? Easier or harder?</p>
<p>I generally don’t like Sparknotes’s test prep material, but that’s me.</p>
<p>I know you specifically noted that you don’t want to do this, the strategy that best works for me is to read through the Princeton review section on the english test and review all the rules. There are only maybe 20 different types of questions that can be re hashed throughout the test, so knowing what to look for is key. </p>
<p>practice test, practice test, practice test…</p>
<p>I have a question: What did you use to prepare for the English and Reading portion of the ACT?</p>
<p>I’m sorry.. but i have a really low score on English and Reading portion right now.</p>
<p>For English prep, I just did two or three practice English sections. I have always had a natural knack for English grammar structure and vocab. Sorry, I know this wasn’t the answer you were looking for.</p>
<p>I actually have the Princeton Review in my room right now. How much time should I devote to just going over the strategies of each section? A week?</p>
<p>It is so hard finding time to really sit down and do this on top of a tough curriculum, ECs, and college apps. The first half of my senior year is going to suck.</p>
<p>How did you prep for the Math section? I got a 22 on the math while a 33 on the science, 31 on Reading, 30 on the English. No writing. Dropped my composite down to a 29! 
I too took the ACT in June and retaking it again in October with the writing. I know most schools don’t look at the science portion, that’s a blow…
I didn’t do well in the Trig section and they don’t offer Trig at my school. I also noticed my biggest problem while prepping for the October test, time management. I can’t help but spend more than a minute on each problem. If I rush I might answer incorrectly. I usually excel in math, especially geometry. Was the math portion a natural for you or did you have a special way prepping for it? What books did you use? I’m reading the 2006 McGraw-Hills ACT Book.</p>
<p>Sparknotes isn’t reliable though. I’ve read the ACT prep and they go back-and-forth on techniques. But the tests are good. Just wish they would change the questions every once in awhile. Remember, the people who wrote it aren’t trained professionals, but Harvard students.</p>