<p>Given I'm a junior and this was my first test of this sort ever, with no practice or prep of any kind, im still really disappointed in my score. i take honors and AP classes, i get As, i do well, but this test makes me feel like a complete idiot. definitely getting a tutor.</p>
<p>any reassurance or commiseraters out there?</p>
<p>Prep some.</p>
<p>The time constraints definitely take at least a little practice.</p>
<p>Don't worry. ACT and other standardized tests like the SAT's are completely different with your normal high school exams. You just need to get familiar with the tests. After you get through with tests with preparation, I'm sure that you are capable of nailing the ACT, since you can ace AP classes.</p>
<p>Try the SAT, although the ACT is more of a reflection of what you learned in school while the SAT is more "intuitive knowledge"...yea horrible name but that's the first thing that came to my mind. </p>
<p>If you retake the ACT, you need to study your score in each section and see which ones to work on. Just take that 3 Real ACT practice tests and before you know it you'll be scoring well.</p>
<p>thanks guys. another of my concerns is that i hear that on average people only go up about 3 points from their original score. i need to go up like 6-7 to get where i want to be. i feel like my potential intelligence is a lot more than 3 points above this score, so hopefully with practice i will surpass it.</p>
<p>Don't worry too much about it. I got a 26 the first time I took it. For the Dec one, I just got a 31. It's possible to raise your score.</p>
<p>wow congrats! that's definitely encouraging.</p>
<p>i make straight A's in school also. i hate my ACT scores. so far i have received 19, 24, 24, 25. def taking it in feb.</p>
<p>I don't think a tutor is as helpful as just getting a few prep books and working them to death.</p>
<p>It's absolutely doable. Take this thread as a reference. You can also raise your score by more than 5 points.</p>