Im a sophomore student who is really eager to get above a 30 on my first ACT. I have never taken the test before, and I plan to achieve this score when I take it in February 2017. I am going section by section trying to get a 30 or above on each. I can consistently get a 30 or higher on the English section, and now I am working on math, which I struggle to get higher than a 26-29 on every test (My results fluctuate between these scaled scores). Also, I am currently in Geometry, without any Algebra II. Although I know that some responses may encourage me to wait until I take that course, I refuse to wait for my school, who barely gets through 5 chapters of my math book… which is very frustrating… If there are any online sources or advice that will help comprehend all of the concepts that are on the Math section, please share. Any strategies or tricks that will help me get through every problem of the test without any surprises? I am hopeful I can use any help to use in my practice to score in the 30’s on my first ACT.
Also, I am not being picky but if the responses could be limited to only those who have actually achieved a 30 or above on the Math section could give me adequate advice. Thanks in advance!!!
If you’re consistently running out of time towards the end I recommend doing it backwards. However only use this technique if you know you can get the last few correct - they’re the toughest!
The test is designed to get harder as you go through. Time is the main issue there so make sure you either go quickly through the first section to save up time for the end or just do it backwards and spend the most time on math.
if you haven’t taken Algebra 2, I am not sure how you can at above 30 without learning the concept…why not try the online prep from ACT to see how far you can go?
I am familiar with the first 45-47 questions on the ACT. I can consistently get through these, but as I get through the late 40s and 50-60, I end up either taking educated guesses or trying to reason through the equations. This is why I cannot get higher than a 26-29
I would say wait. I’m concurrently taking algebra 2 and geometry, and my teacher (we just took a ACT practice) expected us to only get around a 24. You’re FINE! Getting around a 30 without algebra 2 experience is superb.
I have to ask… do you take these timed when you practice? I assume you do, but just to be sure.
Try using Khan Academy SAT Math to learn math concepts you haven’t gotten to in class yet. Its not perfect since its for a different test, so you’ll want to make sure to take practice ACT tests too, but it will probably be good for learning general concepts.
I found the best results in my score after just regular schooling. I had college algebra under my belt and scored consistent 30s. After taking college trig, I brought my score to a 35.
I am a sophomore too, but in the exact opposite situation as you (35 in math and ~30 on reading on practice tests). One strategy that I like to incorporate is doing a problem backwards (they are all multiple choice). For example, if a problem asks for the solution to some simultaneous equations, I use my graphing calculator and stow the prided answers for each variable, going through each multiple choice answer. It should hard, but it works very well if you know what you are doing.
Another suggestion is to look at the questions that you are missing! On the reading, I have found that I was missing questions about specific details in the passage and now know to read slower. See if you are missing geometry, statistics, or algebra questions and then study those especially hard!
Good luck with the test and remember that as a sophomore, you have a lot of time to prepare. If you feel as though you are teaching yourself entirely new concepts, I would suggest waiting until the summer to seriously study, and then take the September date.
I struggled with this issue when I was taking the test. I was a 26-28 scorer consistently but eventually got a 33 and moved up to 34 and 35s.
My biggest recommendation is not to speed up but to slow down. People, like me, tend to rush out of anxiety or rush to go faster which leads to poor question comprehension and doing the wrong part of the problem. So take a practice test where you simply relax and the questions more slowly.
Also, always underline important information in the question and box the last part of the question to know exactly what you are solving for. This will help narrow your focus.
Make sure you reflect after every practice test. Take practice tests, grade them, and then reflect on them. After each test I would look at all the ones I answered incorrectly and guessed on and analyzed what I did wrong and how I can fix the issue. This way I knew exactly what my weak points were so I could be aware of them. Without this, you’ll struggle to really understand what you’re doing wrong.
I’m having a similar issue. I’m a junior and did well on ELA but my Math and Science were pretty low for me. Science I know I can get up but I really need tips for Math. I took CC 2/3+ In the spring but since I have a block schedule at school I won’t have CC 3/4+ until next spring. I am going to try going through the test without being timed and hopefully that will help-of course I will also study old practice tests, get some tutoring, etc. If anyone knows of any helpful website to use for math that would definitely help!
Hi, I know I’m a little late to the game here, but I am a student who is fairly average at math but got a 32 on the section. Here’s what I did:
Practice tests (for math at least) every day for a few weeks before the test. I don’t think months is necessary, but to each his own.
The repeated practice tests will help you find minute patterns and similarities between questions; for example, there are always one or two questions on algorithmic problems that need to be solved in a more efficient way, or the same kind of imaginary numbers problem will reappear. It is really all about repetition and finding patterns.
Get a graphing calculator- please. It saves a lot of time on graphing problems when you don’t have time to solve them algebraically.
Take notes and reflections after each practice. Is there a type of question you keep getting wrong? Try to hone in on that.
A few days before the big day, make a “cheat sheet”- don’t take it to the testing center of course, but simply making a review sheet with things you find challenging will help you learn.
I highly doubt that you will be able to get above a 30 without taking PreCalc. Maybe you can get a 30 or a 31, but you will have no room to make a single mistake. With 2-3 Precalc and a few statistsics questions on every exam, plus hyperbolas and matrices there is no way you will achieve a high score unless you wait. I started taking SAT sophomore year and in hindsight it was a bad choice because my scores went up with my schooling, not with how hard I studied. Same thing happened for ACT.
With that said, my only reccomendation: Haul a.s.s. Haha. Go as fast as you can.
