<p>If you'd rather just read the specific questions and not background information or descriptions, skip to the last paragraph.</p>
<p>So I'm taking the ACT for the third (sigh) time on the Dec. 13th date and I need some help coming up with an action plan. I'm afraid this may bore most of you as I'm having trouble getting the 29 super score that I need for 100% of a FL state scholarship called Bright Futures. This one point (raising 28 to 29) is the difference between 75% and 100%, so it's really bugging me that I haven't raised it yet. I took the ACT for the first time in June and had studied for 2-3 hours a day for a tad less than a month before taking it and received a 28 total, 29 English, 23 Math, 33 Reading, and 25 Science. I then took it again in August just aiming to raise any subscore points as the Bright Futures scholarship will super score. Unfortunately I was very sick for the few days leading up to the ACT, and had horrendous sinus headaches during the whole test. I ended up with a 27 total, 26 English (down 3), 25 Math (up 2), 31 Reading (down 2), and 24 Science (down 1). While this seems awful, this is actually alright, because it means now I only need 2 more subscore points for a super score of 29. </p>
<p>Since I'm not aiming for a great score or breaking 30 or anything I'm okay with just leaving the reading score alone. That's the section that came most naturally for me and unless it would just be very easy to improve it then I'm fine with just letting it be. I received a 16 in the Social Studies/Science part of the Reading section, and an 18 in the Arts/Literature part. </p>
<p>I am not taking the essay for Writing, as I only received a 9 on it. I was actually curious about if I should change my mind and take the essay or not, as I received a 12/12 on my SAT essay from October (if only Bright Futures cared about the writing portion...). But as far as multiple choice in the Writing section, it broke down to 17 in Usage/Mechanics and 14 in Rhetorical Skills. English was my 2nd highest score so, much like with reading, I don't expect to be raising the points in that area, but if it would be easy enough as just remembering a couple more grammatical rules I'd be willing to try raising that one.</p>
<p>Math and Science are sadly my worst scores. I think my main issue with math is, despite the fact that I really like the subject, most of the high school math the standardized tests use were things I did in middle school/freshman year, and I've since forgotten some of the concepts. I received a 12 in Pre Algebra/ Elem. Algebra, 11 in Algebra/Coord. Geometry, and a 13 in Plane Geometry/Trig. I've already finished math up through pre-calc, but do not have any of my old textbooks to look at and review as some suggest. I know that graphing is one of my weak points for sure, and I tend to try and complicate problems and use formulas I'm currently learning instead of looking for a simple solution. I already know to backsolve, and definitely do that when possible, and I know when to use my graphing calculator and when to let it be, but any advice/resources would be greatly welcomed.</p>
<p>I know the books all say that Science is basically the same as Reading, but I haven't really found that to be the case. I feel like it asks for more inferences that I'm not really sure how to make. Both times I've tackled Science the same way I did for Reading and felt okay about it going out of the test, but have received scores with large gaps between the two. They don't break this down into anything else, so I guess I just need any kind of advice for Science at all. </p>
<p>I have both the Real ACT book and the KAPLAN ACT Premier 2014 book at home. I have used all of the Real ACT book's practice tests, and quit using the KAPLAN tests after the first one I took, as I felt it was a very unrealistic projection (it was the first practice test I'd taken with no studying as a diagnostic and it said I was going to receive a 34, when I took my first Real ACT book test it projected a 26, which I felt was definitely more realistic). I still have a couple of KAPLAN tests left, as I'd started using them when I finished the Real ACT book tests just so I would have something to practice with. Also, at my school's library they have a book of test prep books that are on reserve, I didn't look to see which brands as I was just passing by, but I definitely saw a few fat books with "ACT" printed across them. Assuming these books aren't the same as the ones I already own, which ones should I look for/take off the shelves?</p>
<p>Any advice on the specific sections is welcomed and greatly appreciated, but once I know what exactly to study and what the best resources are, I need some help planning for it. It is most likely important to note that I am a Junior in high school who is taking 4 dual enrollment classes at the local community college. Honestly I just have to turn in a paper next week and after that none of my classes, besides statistics, will have any homework for the rest of the semester, just quizzes or a test. I also have one AP class online, but I am taking the semester 1 exam for that on Friday, and then since I'm ahead my teacher is going to allow me to work at a fairly slow rate (1 or 2 assignments per week), so despite my classes I actually don't have a very large workload. I am planning to figure out what to study, if no one replies, and start studying on Saturday, as I don't want to distract from my AP test and the difference between starting tomorrow and starting Saturday is only a few days. That leaves me a bit over a month to really focus and work on my skills. I would just like to remind anyone who bothered to read this far that I only need 2 subscore points, but I'd like to study enough and do better than that on the practice tests that way on test day I have some wiggle room.
I also have chronic sinus issues and tend to come down with sinus infections often. Thankfully I was well for my first ACT, and the last SAT, so while that obviously hasn't gotten me the score I need, it definitely contributes. While my doctor seems confident that she's 'fixed' my issues for now, and I haven't had a sinus infection for a month or so now, I'd also like to hear any tips for taking the test while sick, or taking it with a sinus headache (or a migraine, as I've heard they're similar).</p>
<p>So, yeah, which sections would be best to work on? The lower scores since there's more room to improve? Or the higher scores since I'm already doing alright in those areas? How often should I study per day? Since I already have an alright base is it okay to do an hour or so a day or do I still need to be in the 2-4 range that people who want really great scores do. Also, is there anywhere online where free ACT tests are floating around that aren't in the Real ACT book? Because I'd really like to avoid using those KAPLAN tests if possible.</p>
<p>Also.. I'm know that the ACT and SAT are totally different, but I figured I'd just put in the last SAT score here (my first one was something I don't want to remember) for reference. 650CR, 540M, 730W (with the 12/12 essay)</p>