Help needed-ACT scores

Test Preparation
1

hi all,
so I am a pretty average student (mostly A’s). Anyways I am a very bad test taker. I just got back my September ACT scores and i did terribly (I went down in my composite score (25 from a 26)). I planning on taking the ACTs again in December (I am on the Varsity soccer team at my school and I don’t feel I have the time to put in the study time I would need to for the October ACT. Also I wanted to focus on my college apps because some of the schools i am looking at are test optional). I know December would be the last time I could take the test ( I am senior). Anyways I have used the Red book (used all of the tests); I have done individual tutoring*; and now I am at a loss. I am considering doing the Prep Scholar online ACT course so if anyone has any input (like does it actually help or not) that would be greatly appreciated. I am very disappointed in the scores I got this past test because I had studied a lot for them. I had taken four practices test and was very disappointed to see the score I got on the sept test (on the practice tests I got 28s, 27s, and some 30s in most of my subscores). This will be the fourth time I will take the ACT so any help would be great! Also I am not looking to get into an very selective school but my target score is a composite score of a 29 or 30. So any suggestions would be greatly appreciated and also any recommendations for Prep scholar or any other online study programs.

  • The one on one tutoring was over the summer when I had more time. Now that i am in school I feel I need to able to study on my own time and plan to study around my daily schedule and such.
    Thanks for any input!
2

@George24 taking in December is a smart move because you will have time to prepare.

I hear good things about Prep Scholar and Testive. I do no have any personal experience.

Did any of your section scores go up? What is your super score.

3

Well. I was a little disappointed in my score this time around, but It is completely understandable. I received a 28 on my first test.
This included a
28 english
25 math
32 reading
27 science
10 writing

My second test, this september, I received a 30 overall.I took it without writing by accident, but that is okay
26 english - really surprised I went down by two points.
27 Math- Well everything is evened out. I am in Calc 3 through a local community college, so most of this math is a hazy memory,
35 reading- very surprising
32 Science- a good improvement
30- stem, however I do not know how that factors into the score
No writing

So even though I improved by 2 points in math, 3 points in reading, and 5 points in science, I only went up two points because of my decrease by 2 in english.

For studying, I did a little more than half a practice test the night before in the red book. I did a practice, science, math, half reading, and a full writing.
So I probably deserved a 30, since I really needed to study for the english portion, because it is my weakest portion overall usually. I worked hard on that before the first act, and that really helped my score.

P.S. I am also a really bad test taker. For the english portion, there is one site that is helpful for rules. I forgot about it until now.
http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/quiz_list.htm

For math, it depends on how far you are at. If you are at alg 2-Pre Calc, then you are probably most familiar with this math. I would suggest going over each math section again, and seeing what you did wrong. I would also review trig, special right triangles, and basic rules for the simpler stuff. Also work really hard to do the first 40 correct, since they are usually the easiest. Then the rest can be attempted, but they are less time rewarding.

Reading. I have taken ap lang. I did well in it. I read very very fast and can critically analyze pretty well. I would suggest one slow read through, then attempt the questions. Most will be easily remembered. Make a mental or physical note on the paper about what happened in each paragraph.

Science… honestly, I did not read the passages on my retake. I only did the questions, and looked at the charts. For the comparison of student 1,2,3 and so on, you do need to read that part. This strategy allows you to finish with extra time to look over any questions

I did not retake the writing, but again ap lang prepared me well for it last year.

4

my super score is a 27 (I went up in math and science which I am proud of but my other scores dropped) .

5

If you can get a 27, you clearly know the content.

Focus on timing and minimizing any careless mistakes for your December test.

It is important for you to review your mistakes in practice and learn from them.

You can PM me if you help for a specific section.

6

AVOID PREP SCHOLAR AT ALL COSTS! THEY PAY YOU TO SAY GOOD THINGS ON HERE ABOUT THEM!

7

@aznboi4981 have you used Prep scholar? I looked on their website and I look at their customer reviews. I was struck by how positive they were but they didnt seem very authentic so it is very good to know!

8

I have two questions:

  1. Where is a good place to get full length tests? I have done all of the tests in Red book.
    I am taking pre-cal now I know my problem areas are the math section ( i am not a strong math student) and the science section.
    I think one of my major issues is timing. How do I work on that? Also I how do I learn to fix my mistakes on the questions i get wrong?
9

@george24 Yes, I have used it for the SAT. Biggest hoax.

10

@aznboi4981

As stated above I have not used Prep Scholar myself and I am certainly not paid by them.

It sounds like your experience was not good.

Can you tell the OP what was bad about it?

It will help other users as well.