<p>Hi guys. I'm a sophomore and I'll be taking the ACT for my third time in April. I took it in 7th grade and got a decent score, but I don't know if you guys would count that so I'll call this my second official time taking it. I also took it in February of this year and got a 34. Broken down: 36E 30M 34S 35R. Besides improving my math score, does anyone have any strategies for getting from a 34 to a 36? Thanks!</p>
<p>Also I got an 8 on my writing (terrible for me) so I would love any suggestions on how to improve that score as well.</p>
<p>First of all, should shoot for three 36s and a 34 in math. You obviously have english down, and reading/science can brought up with a little bit of careful study. Everything in science is in the graphs, but I sure you know that. With Reading and Science, your scores are already close, so I think your best bet would be practice problems every day until you’re regularly pulling 36s in both. Your big problem is math, and a four point jump at the high end of the scale is difficult. It’s harder to get a 36 in math than it is to get an 800M. ACT math is a lot less coachable, with fewer ‘archetype problems’. I think the best bet for math is simply practice test, and find out your areas of weakness. Once you find those out, intensively study problems in that area until you can you easily complete any type someone can throw at you. Math was my (relative) area of weakness, too, so I’ll let somebody else go into more detail. Hope this can help!</p>
<p>Just saw your second post, what a coincidence! Fellow 34 ACT/8 Essay here. What schools are you looking at?</p>
<p>Thanks a ton for the advice, it’s great! It’s cool to know someone with around the same scores. I’m not sure about schools so far, but I know I want to apply to at least Duke and my state flagship, Missouri. I’ll be auto-accepted there but it’s a safety. I’m looking at some Ivies and U of Chicago as well as Vanderbilt. I know I don’t want to get much more Southern than where I am right now though! @tegauntt</p>
<p>Sorry to bug you guys again, but does anyone else have ideas? Or advice on the math?</p>
<p>What math class are you taking? You will probably get a higher math score naturally when you are taking the right level of class with the materials to be tested in ACT. You should not worry about it. Just keep up your good work.</p>
<p>I’m in Pre-Calc/Trig right now so I should have about covered what’s on the test. @billcsho</p>
<p>First off, are your mistakes on the math section silly mistakes, are you missing them because you don’t know the content, or is there a time issue??? If I know what the issue is I can try to help you with that section (I personally went from a 30 to 35 in math)</p>
<p>Time is definitely the issue, I tend to want to check to see if I got the right answer but then I don’t have enough time. @wchristen89</p>
<p>Anyone who can get a 30-36 is smart enough to ace the test. The key lies in analyzing your practice results.
See my post here: <a href=“March ACT (70E) Easy/Hard? What do you think? - ACT Preparation - College Confidential Forums”>March ACT (70E) Easy/Hard? What do you think? - ACT Preparation - College Confidential Forums;
<p>My scores are lower than yours, but this method is the way for any serious ACT taker to perfect the test. This method is being studied by professors as an approach to all problems. Take this analyzation seriously and you’ll ace the test.</p>
<p>Does anyone have any recommendations what to review for geometry or higher-level trig, specifically circles?</p>
<p>@Peytonmg One thing you need to do is sketch (or come up with in your head) step by step how to solve a problem. And don’t solve it until you know 100% that your method is right. Read every single step the question is asking for and then see how your method accomplishes each step mentioned. Your method should be a straightforward way of solving the problem. If you do this, because there are no trick answers on the math ACT that I am aware of, there will be little to no need of checking you answers (unless you skip some). One of the only mistakes you would make would be a calculator error, and if that occurs, it typically won’t be an answer choice. If you do a question wrong, Just analyze and verify your method step by step again with relation to the question, and check to see if you did every single step right, and if you see nothing wrong, it’s most likely a calculator error. Also, I tend to put off the wordy math questions until the end because I feel obligated to dissect them right then and there because if I don’t, I end up feeling rushed and missing minor details. If you do the simple problems/ones you know how to solve with the method above, the stress will be reduced, therefore you can read the question MUCH easier. It also helps Also to not disrupt your flow. Also, I find that going back to these questions makes it WAAAAAAAY easier to understand than the first time I read it (This happened to me on my last ACT). If it’s a multistep question, make sure you know how EVERY step gets you closer to the answer. Also, regarding content, you have trouble with geometry/trig, so here are some websites to help you.</p>
<p><a href=“jumbotests.com - jumbotests Resources and Information.”>jumbotests.com - jumbotests Resources and Information.;
<p><a href=“Math Content Review III - ACT Video by Brightstorm”>http://www.brightstorm.com/test-prep/act/act-math/act-geometry/</a></p>
<p><a href=“http://m.sparknotes.com/math/geometry2/theorems/section5.rhtml”>http://m.sparknotes.com/math/geometry2/theorems/section5.rhtml</a></p>
<p><a href=“http://library.thinkquest.org/20991/geo/circles.html”>http://library.thinkquest.org/20991/geo/circles.html</a></p>
<p>I’m sure you are probably aware of the method above, but I find when I’m consciously aware of the steps during the test, I do better. Good luck!</p>
<p>Does anyone have any recommendations what to review for geometry or higher-level trig, specifically circles?
@Peytonmg</p>
<p>This site has many problems and videos geometry and trig. you can pick the ones you want to do, They are real ACT questions.</p>
<p><a href=“http://sbstjohn.com/QODWebSite/act_qod.htm”>http://sbstjohn.com/QODWebSite/act_qod.htm</a></p>