<p>I want to be able to take the ACT in the fall so ive been trying to prep. I took a practice test and got a 27, which i know isnt a terrible score but i want to score above a thirty. So i bought Princeton Review's Cracking the Act and the Red Book. I got through the English part of the Princeton Review and more than halfway through the math section and decided to take another practice test. Again, i scored a 27 and did worse on the english section than before.
So whats the best way really to study? And how did those of you who got a 30 or higher prep?</p>
<p>My personal approach for the SAT/ACT was to zero in on my area weaknesses and drill them. It’s not enough to just do a lot of questions. If you’re weak in algebra but strong in geometry, you need to focus your time in algebra and do a lot of focused practice questions. Then, you really need to review your mistakes and learn from them so you don’t make the same mistakes again. At least half of your study time should be focused on reviewing your mistakes. I did this analysis myself, but if you could use some guidance, try a program like PrepScholar that studies your strengths and weaknesses and gives you focused practice in each skill. Again - to get a higher ACT score, do lots of reviews on your mistakes.</p>
<p>Are you taking rigorous courses in school? AP English classes and trig/calc will definitely help. Remember, the ACT is a review of the things you’ve learned. </p>
<p>Chance me? :)</p>
<p>I think one mistake people make is not being familiar enough with the test. Review questions or practice tests are a great tool for studying. You should establish a “game plan” to approach the test. Many strategies for the test will be outlined I’m your review book, so you are off to a great start!</p>
<p>For me, it was a matter of really knowing how the test worked. I knew or could figure out all of the material on the test, but I would either make a dumb mistake, run out of time, or not think through the question right. I ended up taking 10 practice tests throughout the year, plus around 15 SAT/PSAT practice tests. By that point, I knew every type of question, the patterns that they followed, and how to utilize my time in the best way possible. I bumped a 28 up to a 35 in the span of 7 months</p>
<p>Red Book is your best help. Other than that use PR.</p>