<p>well, I should mention again one of the reasons my friend's score was so low to begin with was because the proctors screwed up the time on one section. </p>
<p>He just took a bunch of practice tests from those big nasty books you can get.</p>
<p>backfire: what are you talking about? I'm completely lost.</p>
<p>julyinoh: Thank you. For my essay, I got an eight. I still have a couple of months before the test. I'll do practice tests. Hopefully, they will help me as much as they have helped you.</p>
<p>BurnThis: I don't think age has a factor in scoring better on the ACT/SAT. It's the materials you learn during that year. To improve, like everyone has been telling me, buy books and practice. </p>
<p>illinois_kid: Thanks. I'll do the same. :)</p>
<p>BurnThis: The ACT is far more oriented toward actual high school material than the SAT. Naturally, four years of high school course work is going to make a huge difference in scores. The ACT Math alone tests geometry and trigonometry, neither of which your daughter is likely to know a thing about yet.</p>
<p>Frankly, I would not even be concerned with the ACT at 14. Most people do not start considering it seriously to their junior years at the least. Have her study and work on the high school courses and the ACT scores will raise by themselves. There is no need to worry about the ACT now.</p>
<p>
My ACT composite went from about a 25 to a 32 between the first time I took it, in jr. high, and the second time my junior year of high school. Both times I took it cold (no studying, no classes, no practice tests). I have no doubt I would have improved some more if I'd done a couple practice tests and taken it again. I think your daughter is in line for an excellent score, with a couple more years of school and a little practice.</p>
<p>i went from a 29 to 33, cold the second time. I think the biggest difference for me was knowing how to approach the sections. Since you have to move so fast, i didnt even bother reading the graphs or general info for the science section. I just went right to the question and the went and searched out the info I needed to answer the question. This helped me a lot, and i was actually able to finish the science section the second time (went from 29 to 35 in science score too)</p>
<p>Im sure you already know the format of the tests so i dont know how much my theory will help.</p>
<p>Hey Flare222, would you care to tell us how you approached every section to get such marked improvement.</p>
<p>Got my June scores in the mail today... figured i'd post them here too. Compared to my April ACT scores:</p>
<p>E: 35 to 36 (+1)
M: 27 to 34 (+7)
R: 29 to 30 (+1)
S: 23 to 34 (+11)
Writing: 5/12 to 8/12 (+3)</p>
<p>Composite: 29 to 34 (+5)</p>
<p>It's very possible to make some big jumps if you are willing to devote a lot of time to it (as evidenced by my Math score), and especially if you were at a supreme disadvantage on the test date (as for the Science score).</p>
<p>mo24: How did you study for the test? It would really be helpful if you can tell me what book you used and etc. Thank you. :)</p>
<p>yeah, can u give us a schedule of your studies?</p>
<p>The best advice I can offer, not at all being an expert, is to WATCH THE TIME and BUBBLE IN EVERY 2 PAGES. Bubbling after completeing every 2 pages instead of after every question will increase your time available to read and think about the questions.</p>
<p>I raised mine from a 24->25->29->29->...hopefully this fall it will go up again...superscored i have a 30 though.</p>
<p>MrMatt, that doesn't work for me.. It's ruins my concentration, having to go back and bubble in every so often. I'd rather take a second after each question. Also, it seems like mass bubbling will result in more mistakes.</p>
<p>Mo24, how do you improve on the science section. That is the hardest for me.</p>
<p>The best advice anyone can give you for the science section is to not read all the scientific gobbledygook. Just go straight into the questions. However, if Mo24 used some other techniques of his own, I would be interested in hearing those also.</p>
<p>i agree with not reading the experiments in the Science section. It's not even Science, and all you need to do is look at the graphs. </p>
<p>However, on the Contrasting Opinions or whatever one, I would glance the paragraphs.</p>
<p>how come -4 questions on the science section equals 29. Dont you think that is a little harsh.</p>
<p>Science is very tough. sometimes the curve is 36, 33, 31, 29 etc.</p>
<p>Has anyone here used the ACT online program that is offered at the act.org? I've thought about getting it as a way to prepare, but I'm not sure if it's worth it.</p>
<p>I think one of the reasons i did so much better was because I was focused but relaxed. My first time (April) i was taking it at the same time as a bunch of my friends so we were all talking about going to eat after or whatever. Also the morning of i had to worry about carpooling with my friend and it was my first time at that school where i was taking it. Didnt really eat anything that morning (poptart?)</p>
<p>Second time (June), I took it at the same school by myself. The morning of the test i didnt have to worry about rides or what i was doing afterwards, so I felt like i was decently locked into the test, even though school had just ended that week. Full McDonalds breakfast, i know gross, but at least my stomach was full.</p>
<p>As far as each section, All the science (35) graphs are just there to confuse you, dont bother trying to learn them. From what i remember, the math (34) questions were pretty straightforward and just fell back on my math classes at school, not too tricky. I read all the passages in the reading section (33) first, then looked at the question. but now in practicing i find that its better to at least skim the questions before you read the passages so you know what to look for. On the english section (28), it is basically just fighting through all the structure and grammar questions... i hate these type of questions. For my essay (10), i just used a ton of examples. I dont thing i have the best structure or form, but apparently they liked it. </p>
<p>Best advice I can give: relax, be focused, and try not to waste any time. Hope this will help someone out there....</p>
<p>Flare, your information certainly was much appreciated. I find it interesting that you find you do better skimming the questions in the reading section before you read the passage. Does that method still work out for you with the time constraints?</p>
<p>I went up 13 points. But I still only have a 29...I don't really know if that's helpful...</p>