How to raise my ACT score?!?!??

Test Preparation ACT Preparation
1

Hello all,

I am currently a junior in a situation where I really want/need (more of wanting) a higher ACT score. Here’s the thing: my dream school is Brown University and their average ACT score is 33-34. In order to be even considered as a qualified applicant, I need at least a 33. I have taken the ACT two times (September and December). The scores is as follows:

Sept: C30 E28 M33 R28 S29 W29
Dec: C31 E33 M32 R26 S33 W28

The reading part always gets me because I am crunched with time, like most people who take the ACT. I’ve tried all methods and have found that reading the passage first then answering the questions worked the best.

Well, here I am now – a junior in January wondering how to raise his ACT score. Can anyone please give me advice on how to raise my score?

THANKS!

2

Hi! I can speak from some experience here. I took the ACT cold turkey (like I knew nothing about the ACT beside the fact that it was a standardized test) and scored a 30. From here, I studied and brought my score up to a 35. My recommendation is to just take practice test after practice test. Get the 1296 Princeton Review ACT book - its great. Try some different strategies on the reading, such as reading the passage first vs reading the questions first. After taking many practice tests, your score will definitely go up (I scored a 36 on reading). As for writing (I had a 36 essay) google some examples online - this will help a ton. Let me know if you have any other questions!!

3

Someone PMed me, and this was my response. Like @collegebound1915, I took it cold, and hungover, and scored a 31, and went a 35.

First of all, don’t panic! You sound unduly worried already and you haven’t even gotten my help yet.

Seriously, the most important part about ACT prep is to remain calm, because on test day, the clock is ticking, and your heart is racing, and the second you panic, it’s game over. Especially on the science section.

I will give you as much as I can, but I’m not the most qualified person. I scored well, but objectively, I’m an extremely lazy student, never do my homework, and sleep and skip class. I’m not the model scholar boy, but I can test.

I took the ACT 3 times, once blind, once with little prep, and once with accomodations for extra time and a computer (because of ADHD and anxiety, which is why I always say be calm. I took the normal amount of time for the test, but remaining calm got me a 35)

Here is the breakdown of my 3 sittings
April 2015 (no prep, hungover): 31C/25E/30M/36R/34S 8 essay
Sept 2015 (2 prep sessions): 31C/28E/33M/35R/28S
Oct 2015 (more prep, ready) 35C/34E/35M/36R/35S/36 Essay

All the prep I did was this: one small grammar packet that outlined 12 rules for ACT grammar. (unhelpful)

The important part was this: PRACTICE WITH ACTUAL TESTS!

I had a tutor who would come over, sit down, and watch me take tests, because if he wasn’t there, my lazy ass wouldn’t do ****. We would normally cover 2 sections, and he would correct me.

Here’s how I did the sections that eventually got my scores up:

English: **** the rules, just use your ear. Take 10 tests, but correct each one when you finish, each time, look at what you miss, and find it’s other applications. READ ALOUD. Your brain will get it right, if you read it aloud slowly.

Math: You will probably miss 1-2 questions in the last 15, it happens. Know matrices, they’ll be on there. For weird geometry applications, think outside the box, chances are, it’s a weird question that isn’t a geometry answer at all, they’re logic puzzles. For the first ~40, don’t relax, because that is prime territory for stupid mistakes, you will make them unless you’re consciously aware of the fact that they can **** your whole test. Go slow but not too slow and don’t miss cues. Don’t fall for the bait, because it’s there.

Reading: Skim and go back, don’t read everything super carefully. Unlike math and english, the answers are literally ALL in the passage. So when you’re crunched for time, skim, take the easy answers, and you should only be going back for 1-2 questions max per passage. Get the memory game strong, and understand ideas, not text. You should get the overarching idea, you don’t need to memorize sentences.

Science: This section will make or break you. It broke me in September, because I got anxious. Stay calm, you know this. Browse, but do read enough to get the subtle questions. I always tried to fill out what I could just looking at the graphs, and do all the questions I NEEDED to read the passages for later. Always get the easy ones first. Watch time, time is killer. Do not spend 5 minutes on a question, it will ruin you. Again, like the reading, excluding ~2/40, all the questions are completely passage based, and you should be able to find your answers in the passage. If you start freaking out because you can’t find it, calm down, and look again. It’s there.

Overall: Watch time, time is key. Don’t let your brain get fatigued for science, it’s just as important, and the fact that it’s 40 questions makes it the make or break. Remain vigilant, and keep pushing.

Any specific questions?

4

@16108510 We honestly sound like the same person - its scary. I took my first ACT in a sub-par mental state (lol), Im incredibly lazy, test well, and manage to slide by in school without doing my work.

@clichescreenname I also second what he said about performing on test day. To raise my score from a 30 to 35, I basically took 3 math practice tests the day before the ACT (my weakest subject) and watched a video on YouTube about the science section. Ultimately though, I think the reason I scored so much better was because I actually slept the night before and was calm and focused during the exam. Take a deep breath, bring some gum, a snack, and a water bottle, and you will be fine. My friend struggle with Reading and English, and she says practice tests and a tutor help too.

And no worries - based on your scores already, your going to be totally fine.

Last tip: google “ACT cheat sheet” and review those before the test. I did that for English and Math, and it covers all of the major concepts on the exam.

Anyway, good luck, and let me know if you have any further questions.

5

CollegeBound1915, I think the most relevant part of your post is "I can speak from some experience here. I took the ACT cold turkey (like I knew nothing about the ACT beside the fact that it was a standardized test) and scored a 30. From here, I studied and brought my score up to a 35. "

Students who take tests “cold” often have plenty of room for improvement if they study hard for a subsequent test. In your case, it looks like you may not have maxed out on room for improvement after the first re-take. So, ironically, the more someone studied and prepared well for the first time they sat for the test, the less room there probably is for improvement. Consider a runner vs a couch potato. Both compete in a race and get a time of X. Then both train very hard for the next race. Well, Couch Potato is going to improve far more than the runner.

So if clichescreenname went into the 1st test having studied hard for it, then there may be far less improvement shown in subsequent tests.

6

@lostaccount I took the September ACT with intermittent studying starting from June. My first ever practice test score was 27 and from there improved to a 30 on my first ever official ACT.

7

Take some pressure off of yourself. I’m not quite sure where you got your information, but Brown’s average ACT score is likely the least competitive of the Ivy League schools. The average ACT is a 32. The 25th/75th percentiles are 29 and 34 respectively. So, to be considered, you really only need around a 29. Anyway, just work on your weakest sections. Practice test are the best way to do this.

8

I’m not sure how your study habits are, but maybe I can shed some advice. When it comes to studying, I cannot focus on those huge prep books (think Princeton Review, SAT Blue Book, Kaplan, the ACT practice book). Absolutely CANNOT. They make me frazzled as I feel there is not enough time or energy to delve through that huge of a book.
I decided to use the Up Your Score series for the ACT instead. It’s witty, short yet dense, and doesn’t bore you to death. It tells you exactly what to expect and gives you hints based on what type of test taker you might be. Now I know not everyone likes this, but I personally had a friend go up EIGHT POINTS from this book. Yes, 25 to a 33. That’s a huge difference. So definitely a book to consider.
Good luck!!! :slight_smile: