<p>Hi, </p>
<p>Im taking the June 14 ACT and I need some help preparing for it. I scored a 24 composite on the April ACT but I'm trying to shoot for a 29. I tried the Real ACT Prep book but I'm still having difficulties with the english and reading sections. I usually get to the middle of the 3rd passage in the reading when time is called.<br>
Heres my scores from April:</p>
<p>English: 23
Math: 26
Reading: 21
Science: 27</p>
<p>Any suggestions on what I can do to improve? Thanks</p>
<p>Conserve the practice tests of the Real ACT prep book.</p>
<p>Those are the best tests considering they're actual retired tests.</p>
<p>I'm in a similar position as you. I'm trying to get a 28+ and I got a 26 the first time w/ little studying. </p>
<p>I get out of school the May 21st (which is a wednesday), so I'm going to begin studying the following day, May 22nd.</p>
<p>So, the 22nd, I'm going to dedicate that day to English. I'll use PR's book for their strategies/tips on that day, and on that same day I'll use one of PR's english practice tests. The following day will be Math, then Saturday is reading, and Sunday is Science. I'll treat Monday like the day before the actual ACT and lightly brush up on everything, and Tuesday I'll take a full length practice test from the Real ACT (minus the essay, although I am doing ACT + writing in June). After the test, I'll grade my score and then review over the entire test. The following day, Wednesday, I'll rest entirely. Then, I'll repeat that same process Thurs-Tues. I could do that three full times before the June 14th ACT. However, June 9th-12th I'm taking a class for the Math ACT. Math is my weak subject (got a 23 on it), so I'm shooting for 25+ on it and I'll be happy. </p>
<p>I like this schedule I made though because I study and prepare myself, and then I take a full length practice test to see what I get. Plus, I get to see my score increase due to my studying (hopefully).</p>
<p>For your weaker subjects, I'd suggest taking 2 practice tests on the days where practice is dedicated to that subject. </p>
<p>You might have to get another book, like Kaplan, for those extra practice tests, but it's worth it.</p>
<p>Since you're having trouble with the time constraints that go along w/ Reading, you need to practice w/ that even more. Make sure when you take your practice portions for reading on your Reading day that you put yourself under the same 35 minute time limit. You have to get adjusted to it, and for any of your practice tests you should put yourself under time. I'll have to do the same thing for Science. I'll be taking anywhere from 6-8 science practice tests because that (along w/ Math) is my weakest subject.</p>
<p>But don't make the mistake of not studying for your best subjects (in your case Science & Math). Study for those too and don't get lazy. If you improve upon your best subjects, it makes up for your weaker subject scores. Keep that in mind.</p>
<p>Stay focused and be determined. Don't get lazy. You will find success with hard work and determination.</p>
<p>For the reading, really pick a stragey and stick with it. For me, I had to work on my "skimming and scanning" skills. Basically, do a quick read-over of the story, ciricling names, dates, important items etc. (I skim the questions beforehand, not the answers, but that doesn't always help other people). </p>
<p>Anyway, pick something and practice. Practice is the only way a person can develop time-management skills for these tests.</p>
<p>Good Luck!</p>
<p>leftwichqb7, I also received a 26 composite and planning to raise it up to 28+ just like you. But my school does not end until the day before the ACT :[. What school system do you go on because school ends so early for you... </p>
<p>When you say you only take an English,Math, Sci, Reading practice test..you mean just take that section on one practice test for the whole wk and then you take a different full practice test at the end, right?</p>
<p>I live in Alabama. I'm on block scheduling, and we start school in August, and end in May...as opposed to starting in September and getting out in June.</p>
<p>And yes. On the English day, for example, I'm just going to study with PR reviewing there rules/strategies/tips, etc. Then, after I do that, I'll take a little break, but on that same day I'll take a practice portion of the English test from one of PR's practice tests. I'd do the same on the Math, Reading, & Science days.</p>
<p>Now, on that Tuesday or w/e, I'll take a full length practice test from the Real Guide to the ACT. Those are the best tests, so I want to save them for the full length practices I do.</p>
<p>suggest you pick up one of the major publisher's books (PR, Kaplan, Barrons), and work thru their excercises prior to taking any tests.</p>
<p>PR books have very good practice tests, I scored the same on those as the REAL ACT. I went through about 8 practice tests and raised my score from 24 to 33.</p>
<p>Silverzc413, where did you get all these practice tests? I think PR only has two..</p>
<p>I said the PR ones are the closest to the real test. I went through PR, REAL ACT, Kaplan, and a couple from Sylvan. I took my ACT prep course from them.</p>
<p>Did Sylvan let you keep your practice tests? If so, can you share them? :]</p>
<p>I went out and bought a PR 2008 prep and started reading it, so far so good lol. Is there any thing else you guys think could help improve scores for each section pretty well?</p>
<p>yes, they let me take as many as I want, but I'm sure they proabably didn't have more than 4. I took 3 from them, one of them was the diagnois before the course. What do you mean by share them? But no I don't have them anymore, they gave me a score analysis of my weak areas after each of them and they kept the test.</p>
<p>After reading a question and you can't immediately answer it on your own, skip it so you can get sure points on the ones that you do know the answer to. Same thing with Math - if the question involves 3 or more (long-ish) steps, skip it and answer the easy ones (30 seconds or less of solving).</p>
<p>i use to score 24s on the practice reading, and recently about 29.</p>
<p>the strategy that i use is very basic. i spend most my time reading the passages and actually absorbing what the passage is telling me. if i can fulling understand the passages, then the questions are a breeze. for one pratice i spend about 90 seconds on all the questions for one passage and spent about 5 mintues reading it twice. so over 7 and a half mintues for each passage, some shorter some longer, but it seems that i always finish a few mintues to spare.</p>
<p>i understand taht sometime the passage are boring as hell, but just remember, i only have to be interested in it for 35 mintues of my life, which would pretty much determine my entire life ; ), so it;s worth it.</p>
<p>hope that helps</p>
<p>which is the best book?? i bought the real ACT book but havent started studying yet because of APs... is that book enough or do you recommend other books as well??</p>
<p>I would do another book sunshine.... just because there's only 3 practice tests in there and nothing else but info.</p>
<p>I think "best" varies from person to person but so far i think the Princeton Review 2008 for the ACT is pretty good. They go over all the topics and questions that will be on the ACT and have a mini review at the end of each chapter. The Barron's ACT books seem to have material harder and somewhat inaccurate to the actually ACT.</p>
<p>I also need to improve my reading and english (mainly the usage/mechanics) sections. I think I'm going to get a few of those books for some practice. Are there any other suggestions for improving those scores? Would reading some regular books or the newspaper help? How can I improve my usage/mechanics?</p>
<p>I got my english up from a 26 to to a 35 on one of the practice tests on the red book today. Stretegy? Look for short and sweet answer. It works, really.</p>
<p>i took the test for the first time in April and got a 34 composite. just relax during the test, and read the questions first. i know its sounds weird, but reading the questions first and then going to the passage really helps save time. since the ACT is extremely time-crunched, this should help.</p>