It Can Be Done!!!

Test Preparation ACT Preparation
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<p>i'd jus like to thank college confidential and the ppl on it on everything so far (especially wit the act). i took the ACT in december, with prep using princeton review, and i got a 26. i took it again in april with prep from princeton review's book again and barrons book. i got a 26 again. i thought it was hopeless for me :(. then i read to try the book made by the ACT ppl, and i used that (only that) for the june 9th act, though i barely had any time to prep for the june one cuz it was the last week of classes and i had finals and papers and stuff due all week, so i really couldnt do much. i only got thru the first practice test in it. my score was around 27-28 after doing the 1st one, and the day b4 i did nothing. jus relaxed. the result? i got a 32. i was ecstatic when i saw my score in the mail. i couldnt believe it, since the first 2 times i prepped a lot and got the same score twice. and the strange part was that i guessed on a ton of the reading and science questions cuz i was running out of time. this is what my breakdown was for the 3 exams:</p>

<p>december 06-
english: 28
math: 29
reading: 23
science: 22
writing: 8
composite: 26</p>

<p>april 07-
english: 25
math: 29
reading: 22
science: 28
writing: 8
composite: 26</p>

<p>june 07-
english: 30
math: 35
reading: 28
science: 33
writing: 10
composite: 32</p>

<p>anyway, i think it was mainly from being more focused cuz i didnt want to take it again..lol. but this is what i did to improve them</p>

<p>english: after the 2nd one, some1 said to read elements of style...i read thru some of the examples and skimmed thru the book..helped a lot! (5 point score raise from the 2nd one!)</p>

<p>math: hm, didnt really do much for this, jus the practice test questions from the red book by ACT (i used the one from their site, but apparently it didnt help cuz i got the same math score from the 1st to the 2nd ACT exam...but the red book helped a 6 point score raise!)</p>

<p>reading: i found a method 2 days b4 the test, which was to divide the passage into parts, and look at the questions and go in order. skip the first 2-3 questions in each passage, and answer the rest from those broken up parts from each passage. im sure if u practice u can get it done with the time issue (i only figured that out and tried it, and apparently it raised my score 6 points from the 2nd one!)</p>

<p>science: again, i used the red book and just looked at the graphs, no passages, and on the last 6-7 questions, i looked quickly and just guessed on the rest..guess the 33 was just luck...the barrons act book helped me get from a 22 to a 28, so check that out for their science section, and then the red book helped from a 28 to 33, so check that out 2!)</p>

<p>writing: i think i wrote more on this than any other act exam. i wrote 2 full sides, and like 1/4 - 1/3 of the next page (3rd page), and my writing score went up from an 8 to a 10</p>

<p>hope this helps everyone who was looking for any help..good luck! and thanks again CC 8) 8)</p>

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<p>hmm. interesting! thanks for the help.. im considering taking it in the fall, so im guessing doing lots of practice tests from the ACT book would help? thanks for the bit saying u relaxed the day before..cuz i always cram the day before, and i guess that doesnt help much =.</p>

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<p>Thanks for sharing, i myself am trying to raise my score from a 24 to a 27, now that i saw you did i know i to can do it if i start practicing now!</p>

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<p>Two of my friends took it twice. </p>

<p>First guy got a 28 first time, 33 second time.
Second got a 27 first time, 32 second time.</p>

<p>A lot of time it helps just to be used to the layout of the test.</p>

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<p>Wow! That sounds great! Thanks for the detailed plan. I'll consider doing what you did.</p>

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<p>sn0angel- well i wouldnt consider doing too much practice..lol i mean u dont wanna do them all now and forget everything by the fall</p>

<p>collegekid1090-good luck! yes its possible (i didnt no it was till i experienced it...im still in a little bit of shock lol)</p>

<p>runforfun-yea, idk about that tho, i was familiar with the layout the first 2 times, but didnt seem to help :P</p>

<p>kollegkid-np..tell me how it works out :)</p>

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<p>bump for those that still r askin how to raise there score by a few more points</p>

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<p>When you say that you studied from the red book, such as for the math part, you just took the practice tests then reflected back on the ones you got wrong?</p>

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<p>no i just did the first practice test and looked at all the questions i answered, whether i got them right or wrong...apparently that helped a lot (though i didnt no it would help at the time..i just didnt have enough time to do another practice test)</p>

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<p>bumpin to help others in need</p>

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<p>I'll second what runforfun529 said: Just taking the test a second time and not stressing can help a lot. My daughter got a 31 her first try with minimal preparation (a couple of practice mini-tests.) She took it again with no preparation at all and got a 34. I think the fact that we were all pleased with the 31, and didn't expect anything more (she just took it again because her friends were) made her relax. And since she was used to the format from her first test that helped as well. So maybe... just take it twice, and don't stress out about it.</p>

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<p>yea i didnt stress any time i took it, but i dont think it has to do with stress</p>

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<p>Omg. I am so happy for you. Great job!</p>

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<p>thanks!!!!</p>

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<p>For the essay, I got a feedback saying I had a "limited dicussion."
what does that mean???
Does it mean that I WASNT acknowledging the other side?
Like on the June 9 one about the driving license...I whole heartly wrote a good essay saying that it was to keep it at 16. I had REALLY good arguments and everything...but I still got an 8. :( Was I suppose to have 1 whole paragraph where I'm like "Others doesn't want to keep it at 16 because they know teenagers are crazy driver but ......" ? </p>

<p>and Congrats LuckyMC!!!</p>

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<p>how much did u write? and did u provide any insight of the other side and say y that side's argument is wrong with ur argument?</p>

<p>dont worry about their comments, they dont help or tell u anything, esp for mine when i got diff things i think but an 8 anyway</p>

<p>thanks!</p>

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<p>maybe that's what i did wrong.
i was focus on persuading why i was right...when i should have mention why the others point was wrong. right?</p>

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<p>what examples did u give? were they clear and indepth enough?</p>

<p>well i talked about what the other side could say and say why my side is better to strengthen my argument even more</p>

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<p>how do you give good examples for the act tests? there is really no way to give examples from literature or history like you do for the sat essays. but i mean, i couldnt exactly think of any examples for, should students do more extracurriculars, or study more</p>

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<p>umm..did u give examples from literature and history on an act essay?</p>

<p>i didnt, but i still got a 10</p>

<p>u just give exampples..it doesnt have to be from literature history or anything..just give reasons on paper as u would explain to some1 if u were talking to them in person...u give reasons based on ur own opinions and just put it in essay form</p>