<p>Hi, my friend is a rising senior this year and he's having trouble with his standardized test scores. He is a good student maybe in the top 10% in his class and he has a 4.16 (out of 5.0, but not totally true because at our school we have to take theology and there are no honors classes for it.). He is even planning to take 4 honors this next semester so by the end of his 1st semester of senior year he will have at least a 4.2-4.3. Anyways this last June he scored a 24 act and he is very depressed because he really wants a 31-32 because that's what most of the colleges he is applying to want. He has taken the SAT and he got around the same score. He didn't study for these last standardized tests so I know that he is going to begin hitting the act books for the next test in October. Just came on here to see if you guys had any advice I could pass on to him he really is a good student he just happens to be struggling on these standardized tests. Thank you.</p>
<p>I know what you mean, I’m in the top 15% of my class, good grades, but i havent done so hot on my SATs. (took them twice). I’m taking the ACTs for the first time in September, my plan is to get a book, they call it the Red Book around here, and know basic grammar + math concepts up to precalc (just trig from precal). It’s more logic than reasoning as ive heard. Take alot of practice tests, and go over your answers to understand the wrong ones. The science is perhaps the hardest part i’ve heard, so i’d just do alot alot alot alot of practice. That’s the only way to really get better, prep + practice.</p>
<p>Practice, but don’t over practice. Clearly, you’re friend is already an intelligent fellow so he definitely has the capabilities for doing well on these tests.</p>
<p>Mostly, don’t panic on the test day. That got me the first time I took the SATs. When I took the ACTs, I literally closed my eyes and meditated between sections of the test. Worked wonders for calming my nerves. Looked weird doing it, but you can’t argue with results. Stay calm and you’ll do fine.</p>