March ACT (70E) Easy/Hard? What do you think?

Test Preparation ACT Preparation
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<p>Here's what I thought</p>

<p>English: Pretty easy, probably made a few mistakes.</p>

<p>Math: Easy, I guessed on 2 but the ones I didn't guess on I know I got them right.</p>

<p>Critical Reading: Medium. I didn't read the passages in order, but I thought the Prose Fiction was the easiest.</p>

<p>Science: Hard... I want to shoot myself I deliberately missed one I knew was right because I panicked.....</p>

<p>Writing: Pretty easy, I read books prior that helped me with the topic.</p>

<p>Scores I think I got
E: 30
M: 34-35 (36 if I happen to guess those 2 questions right)
CR: 27-28
S: 20- 24 :(
W: 9-12</p>

<p>Also, how do you think the curve will be??? What were your opinions of the test??? Thanks!</p>

2

<p>I thought the test was going great until I hit that science section… That final passage destroyed me. Do you remember what you put for the “lumber” question in reading? </p>

3

<p>Which question was that?? I can’t recall it right off the top of my head!</p>

4

<p>It was in the passage about the galaxy/stars etc. It asked what “lumber” meant in the passage. I was debating between clutter up / move slowly, and eventually went with move slowly. Anyways, I’m sure we both did well!</p>

5

<p>Oh yeah I’m pretty sure I put cluttered up :confused: hahahaha but anyways, I agree!!! Best of luck to you!! What do you predict you will get??</p>

6

<p>I really studied for this one, so I’m hoping to improve from my last test (30). This was the first time I finished the math section, so I’m really happy about that! If I had to predict…</p>

<p>E: 34+
M: 30-34
R: 34+
S: 26-30 </p>

<p>My science last time was a 26… So I’m just hoping I don’t score lower!</p>

7

<p>Did you think the science section was harder this time than??? I’ve never done well in the science section, and this time didn’t help me boost my confidence :confused: But I’m sure the math will be my saving grace! :slight_smile: And your scores seem solid! I’m sure you’ll get into the college you want to attend!</p>

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<p>I’ve taken it a total of three times now and so far my science scores have been 24 and 26 haha, so it’s definitely not my best subject! I thought it was pretty hard this time, especially the last passage with opposing viewpoints. Your scores seem solid, too! I see you’re interested in engineering, so that high math score will definitely be good. :slight_smile: </p>

9

<p>Thank goodness for that!!! And The school I’m mainly interested in doesn’t even require the ACT science section :slight_smile: LOL!!! But a few schools I’m interested in do (Chapel Hill :confused: ). But my cousin didn’t have stellar scores and got in, so there’s hope (I saw you were looking into that school). If you want advice or care to give me advice, feel free to inbox me! (We probably shouldn’t blow up this thread )</p>

10

<p>I had a lot of trouble with the math and science, feel like I did really well in reading and English though. I pretty much gave up on the writing portion, I feel like I wrote something worthy of a 7-8 but we’ll see. </p>

<p>I just wish they would grade these things faster </p>

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<p>Me too! The anticipation is killing me!!!</p>

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<p>@wchristen89 are in state for Chapel Hill or OOS?
I too am interested in Carolina.</p>

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<p>@Joe2015 I am in state!! From Catawba!! And I predict this ACT will be my worst :confused: Probably not submitting!</p>

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<p>you have taken the ACT before?</p>

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<p>I thought the science was ridiculously hard… I panicked. Retaking it! Glad I only chose to have this one sent to MSU and UMich as the main schools.</p>

<p>I think I got a 33-36 in reading and english depending on how lucky I got. varies from test to test. hopefully 32-33 in math and honestly i dont even want to think about science haha</p>

16

<p>I found everything easy except the reading part… Could barely finish it. Though I finished the math section with 30 minutes left on the clock and science with 4 minutes… </p>

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<p>how did you all studied for Act? I am giving in April. Are there any books or guide?</p>

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<p>@poling14</p>

<p>I’m a junior who will also take the April test. I’m shooting for a 33-36. I’ve been studying using McGraw Hills 10 ACT tests (fake tests), The Real Act Guide (5 real tests), and ACT Booklets online (real tests).</p>

<p>links to real previously admisistered ACT tests.
<a href=“http://achievementcenter.wikispaces.com/file/view/ACT+booklet+2007+2008.pdf”>http://achievementcenter.wikispaces.com/file/view/ACT+booklet+2007+2008.pdf&lt;/a&gt;
<a href=“http://www.satprepforadhd.com/PDFs/ACT%20Practice%20Test%2059F.pdf”>http://www.satprepforadhd.com/PDFs/ACT%20Practice%20Test%2059F.pdf&lt;/a&gt;
<a href=“http://www.yashnatrust.org/Resources/Preparing%20for%20the%20ACT.pdf”>http://www.yashnatrust.org/Resources/Preparing%20for%20the%20ACT.pdf&lt;/a&gt;
<a href=“http://cty.jhu.edu/talent/docs/ACTtestprepbook2013-14.pdf”>http://cty.jhu.edu/talent/docs/ACTtestprepbook2013-14.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>By far, the real tests are better. not only do they accurately represent the test questions but they come with test scoring curves so that they accurately represent your scores.</p>

<p>As for my methods of studying, here goes:</p>

<ol>
<li>Practice makes perfect.
Not a thing exists where practicing doesn’t help. Practice practice practice. I take 3 tests a week. Monday = Eng/Math. Tuesday = Read/sci. And so forth</li>
<li><p>Review mistakes
Always review your mistakes. On each test you must review in detail your mistakes. On the English and Math sections figure out what topic you missed and research it. In math, use the Khan Acedamy online. Just google it. In english refer back to you school books about those comma rules.</p></li>
<li><p>Analyze scores and questions missed for trends in your strengths and weaknesses. This step is difficult and time consuming. However, if you truly want to increase your scores, you MUST do this. There’s recently been studies showing just how much self analyzing can improve you.
For an example, I’ll use my scores. After I had taken 5 practice tests, both real and fake, I did the following:
a. Totaled all my missed questions
b. Added the numbers together per section.
c. Catorgorized missed questions.
I sorted using titles like these: For English: Passage Analysis, Sentance Sorting/adding, Comma Rules
For math: Sin/cos/tan, graphs, etc.
Reading: Passage analysis, details in passage, inference
Science: Details in passage, details in graph, science knowledge
I also added a “dumb mistakes” catagory to all sections
After doing this, I was able to view my weaknesses on a practical level. I found that of all missed english questions, 27% were passage analysis mistakes and 27% were dumb mistakes. These were the biggest percents.
For math, I found that at 46%, my biggest errors were dumb mistakes.
For reading, I found my biggests mistakes were again passage analysis
For science, it was dumb mistakes.</p></li>
</ol>

<p>Now that I knew my weaknesses, i could fix them. For dumb mistakes in English, I made myself slow down. For the passage analysis questions, I followed these guidelines: The sentance added must completely fit with the preceding sentance and the one after it. I was able to effectively fix my mistakes.
My previous scores had been: E=34, M=34, R=34, S=29. Total=32.75 =33
After studying my mistakes, I had: E=36, M=35, R=33, S=33 Total= 34.25 = 34
I was one question away from a 35! Very close! I had never gotten a 36E, 35M, or 33S before. My science was a 33 but I only missed two questions.</p>

<p>Now, once you hit a composite 30, it can be very difficult to improve your score. However, my method worked drastically! No matter what your score is right now, if you’re dedicated to improving, this WILL absolutely help!</p>

<p>Well, that was HOW I studied. But WHAT I studied also included techniques and guides. This is one of he best guides content wise. <a href=“Jeandevaches' Guide to the ACT - ACT Preparation - College Confidential Forums”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/act-preparation/1071765-jeandevaches-guide-to-the-act.html&lt;/a&gt;
I printed it all out, pinned it above my desk, and studied it before each test.
Use this guide to get a good score. Then analyze yourself to get a better score. Then use this guide again for perfection!</p>

<p>One last thing. Some of my personal tips per section:</p>

<p>English. If you have time read most of the content. It will help with questions about the passage as a whole. Most people don’t have trouble with time on this test. Follow the guide in the link above!</p>

<p>Math: You know it, or you don’t. If you do, don’t go to fast through the first 30-45. That is where most mistakes by students getting 30+ are made. If you don’t know the math, hit your math books! As I said use Khan Acedamy online and the guide above.</p>

<p>Reading: It’s vital you practice until you can read the ENTIRE passage in 3.5 to 4 minutes tops! Use the finger method to speed up your reading. Simply move your finger faster than your eyes. Remembering content is key on this section. You must practice immersing yourself into the story and making it exciting even when it’s not. Pace yourself. You need to be done with each section in 8:45. If your ahead of time always refer back to text for confirmation. Never answer only 5 questions and come back later. You’ll have forgotten so much that you’ll have to reread. This causes timeloss.Only skip ahead if you have NO IDEA what the answers are. And even then guess</p>

<p>Science: Read the short paragraph at the top then hit the questions. Don’t look at the content first. The science test is all about time. Read the questions and as you read them place your fingers accordingly. “Figure 1, bird x at site C produces how many eggs?” Place your fingers onto each part of the figure as you read the question. After this. follow the guide above. </p>

<p>One thing that works for every question is this: “Once you eliminate the impossible, whatever remains, no matter how improbable, must be the truth.”</p>

<p>In conclusion, if you want to do well on the ACT, you have to commit to it. Slackers are lackers. If you truly want to do well and throw yourself into the prep, the you’ll succeed. Otherwise, no one can help you.</p>

<p>Feel free to ask questions! Hope this helps!</p>