How do i effectively use the PR/red book method?

<p>Alright so the first time I took the ACT i got a 23/24(lost my password, can't remember). I've been looking through the forum and i've seen that the best way to tackle the ACT is to review from the PR book and then use the ACT red book for tests. I'm still kind of confused as to what i'm meant to do as these posts don't really explain the "method" very well. Can any of you guys elaborate???</p>

<p>What I did was wake up (for you, every Saturday morning) at 7 and lay out one of the tests. (Real ACT has 5, PR 1.2k has quite a bit more). </p>

<p>Take a rehearsal practice test every Saturday morning, 8am-1pm with the same time limits and breaks. Make this as real as possible. No cell phones, no internet, just you and the test. Minimize distractions, and take the test in an unfamiliar area (ex. your kitchen table as opposed to your computer desk). If you really want to prepare for nerves, drive to your local library and take a practice exam there.</p>

<p>After you’re done, spend the day (or the weekdays/weekends in between each Saturday) taking a long hard look at why you got the questions wrong that you did. If you missed one because of a grammar rule about commas, study commas. If you missed a math question on trigonometry, study trigonometry. Get a sheet of paper for each test and write down a sentence or two explaining each wrong answer. It’s tedious, but it works.</p>

<p>Start out with PR tests and then save your Real ACT tests for when you want the most realistic indicator of where you’re at (i.e. take one now, take one/two spaced out during your study plan, take the final two/three right before your test). </p>

<p>If you get done studying your test (spend as much time on this as possible - this is your best study tool), use PR for review. PR 1.2k has “drill sections” - a plethora of questions for each subject. Spend your extra time doing as many of these as you can, with no time restraint/rehearsal conditions.</p>

<p>Track your progress too - make a graph and plot out each tests’ English, Math, Reading, Science, and Composite scores over time. In addition, track your percentage correct for each test AND your PR review. Progress is the best motivator, and it’s awesome once you see that upward trend.</p>

<p>If you’re posting this now, you have a lot of time until the next test (Sep/Oct?). Heed this advice: start studying now. Not every single day, but do the Saturday thing, and maybe spend 5-15min a night on it. Do the QOTD ([ACT</a> Question of the Day for Sunday, June 24, 2012](<a href=“http://www.act.org/qotd/]ACT”>ACT Test Preparation | Test Prep Resources | ACT)) everyday. I can confidently say that with this consistent practice you can hit 30’s. Don’t waste time and procrastinate… trust me. Start now and you’ll thank yourself later.</p>