Hi everyone, I’m currently a sophomore and being the usual me I’m starting to freak out about standardized testing. I’m thinking of taking the act in September so I can study all summer. I’m actually going to stick through it and I’d appreciate if anyone could give me a summer study plan, some tips, good books to use, how to get a 30+ in each section, and things of that nature. My goal is to get a 30+. Thanks in advance!
Check out some of my previous posts. I got 34 and gradually improved to a 36.
I’d recommend starting with the Red Book and doing one practice test per week, then doing intensive review of topics you consistently miss. However, if you need a lot of structure and suspect that motivation will be an issue, then see if your parents are willing to pay money for a prep course.
First, though, I’d find an online practice test released by ACT and take that before you decide how much prep you need. In my case, I found that an intensive review course would have been a waste of money, since I didn’t need an exhaustive review of all the topics tested.
Thanks for the response and nice job on the test! I heard about ■■■■■■■■.com from a friend but I was wondering what year to start at (which would be the best representation of the act now)?
The most current
How do you recommend I take my practice tests? Should I take each section separately or do them all at the same time?
Check out your local library to see if they have prep books. You may do one section at a time. Make sure you go through the answers and explanation for the one that you missed. Do one timed full practice test each month to keep track on your improvement.
Thanks! Will do. Any prep books you recommend in specific?
Purchasing access to the on-line practice through the ACT website was money well spent ($40/year). My daughter also practiced with the tests in the red book.
Thanks. I’ll take a look into it.
We did not spend a penny on any prep books except for some late fees. Both my D’s used the prep books from our local library and they have all the major brands for each test every year. They both reached plateau scores in the 99 percentile range before depleting the materials available there.
I waited until my junior year to take it and got a 34 my first time. I don’t recommend taking it sophomore year.
I’m not taking it sophomore year. I’m studying the summer leading up to my junior year so I can take it in September
Prepscholar! I started the May before high school!
What did you end up receiving? What’s their program like?
34-35! I’m not quite sure, though! It almost parents you because it is so personal! It helps you set up a study schedule and reminds you. It gives you a diagnostic that places you in levels in several different sub-topics, and it assigns lessons for you to study with little quizzes at the end! The lessons also teach you very helpful strategies for all types of problems! If you don’t like it in five days, you can get your money back!
Wow thanks and good job!!
Before spending any money, try a few practice test first. Just by practicing over the summer by themselves, both my Ds got 33-35 in their first and only ACT attempt after a 4-5 points improvement in practice score. D2 got the lower ACT 33 but scored better in SAT, so she is not going to retake ACT. You should also try a couple SAT practice tests to see which one you do better.
Thanks! I’ve already taken many sat practice tests and it’s not my thing haha
How do you recommend me doing my first practice test? Timed or untimed? Broken up or taken whole?
Do your first practice test timed so that you have a baseline score. Then you can practice section by section untimed but do a full timed practice at least once a month to track your improvement.