<p>This thread is for everyone who is taking the ACT in September. Feel free to pitch in with any advice or thoughts!</p>
<p>Ahh I’m soo scared in taking it for the first time (I’m going to be in 10th grade this year) do u have any tips?</p>
<p>Make sure u are dressed comfortable that day. You don’t want to be squirming in your chair or constantly fixing your shirt, hair, etc. Also, someone told me that when you practice, you should give urself a min or two less than the time you would given on the act. I know this is easier said than done but leave every thought or stressful situation behind you and just focus on nothing but the test when u get in there Saturday. What score are you shooting for?</p>
<p>@Danceordie hi again 
do you mind reposting the tips I gave you here? I don’t feel like typing them again. @jpatel I would say to stay calm and give yourself about 2-3 min less time when practicing</p>
<p>the math tests on the same topics every time, it’s predictable
don’t get bogged down in too much info on reading or science
know the grammar rules for english
know what you’re getting wrong so you don’t keep making the same mistake
review your algebra and geometry, especially if you’re in a higher math class
beware of time, when you practice, give yourself less time than they give you on the real thing</p>
<p>@ironchariot: How many times did u take the ACT and how many times do u recommend to take it?</p>
<p>I took the real thing twice (34 w/o writing, still waiting on my June score w/writing) but I did take 3 practice tests (29, 30, 32). I recommend to take it twice at most, unless you are really committed to studying and improvement</p>
<p>Do any of you have any good review books you recommend?</p>
<p>Where can I get a free ACT practice test? I got a horrible SAT score and I’m debating whether or not I should take the ACT in Sept.</p>
<p>Your guidance counselor should have the free practice test with the registration info. It is also posted on the ACT website.</p>
<p>What practice resources are you guys using? I have the Real prep guide(red book) and a PDF version of the McGraw hill 10 act practice tests as well as PDF versions of old “preparing for” booklets</p>
<p>I took the ACT in June and got a 28 (E 29, M 31, R 26, S 26). I improved in all sections from the last time I took it in December except for the Science section ( 28 in dec.). I want to increase my score to a 32+ range in English, Math and Science; In that case, I will hopefully have a comp score of 32+. </p>
<p>Does anyone have any good tips for books I should use to do so? I did the Red book, PR 1296 and Kaplan when I prepared for the June test. Should I redo these tests to see where I need to improve? </p>
<p>I am a rising senior so time is running out!</p>
<p>@Jarch17</p>
<p>Be carefully with Mcgraw Hill’s tests. They are notoriously easy tests. When I took these tests, I got 36s in English and Math but on the real thing I got a 29 on English and 31 on Math.</p>
<p>Buy the red book, 1296 PR. They are great starts!!! If you have time and money, enroll in a Kaplan class. They give a nice review of the bare essentials for math, but for some people that is all they need. I would not pay much attention to Kaplan’s reading and science strategy because it is cumbersome and confusing.</p>
<p>4tests.com has free ACT practice quizzes in specific subjects.</p>
<p>I took the ACT in April and got a composite score of 28 (E 33, R 33, S 25, M 23) and I would really like to get a thirty when I take it in September. I didn’t study at all for the test in April, so obviously I’m studying now, but are the questions on the ACT website enough or should I buy a book? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!</p>
<p>How do you get better at the grammar section? I feel like I am not consistent enough with my scores. The first time I got a 26 but the second time I got a 34 without any practice inbetween. Any wonderful review books that can boost a composite score of 32 to a 34 ish?</p>
<p>Currently have a 29, I need easy Math/Science tests on this one to get my score to a 31.</p>
<p>General overall tip: Confirm the question and the answer. That is, do not guess or assume what the answer is. Know for sure what is and is not the answer (this goes for any multiple choice question). Knowing what they’re asking is the big key for any question.</p>
<p>To get better at the grammar section, I recommend this website:
[English</a> Rules | Grammar Rules | Punctuation and Capitalization Rules](<a href=“http://www.grammarbook.com/english_rules.asp]English”>English Grammar Rules | The Blue Book of Grammar and Punctuation) It’s free, so it cannot be beat.</p>
<p>I am helping my niece to prepare, and I saw her improve from a 20 to a 26 in a one month span between different practice tests. If she continues to review, she will hopefully get into the 30+ range.</p>
<p>To get better on the math, the best thing I recommend is reviewing the Algebra and Geometry from the high school level. There are few trig questions, so if you have limited study time, you get the most bang for your buck by being very solid on Algebra and Geometry. If you take the practice tests, you should be pretty clear on what concepts you’re weaker on. Once you identify them, make sure they’re reviewed thoroughly. What helps the most is asking the question of practical application. If you can find a practical application for the concept, it’ll stick in your head a lot longer.</p>
<p>To get better at the Science, I recommend reading the questions carefully, and finding the answer in the diagrams/exhibits. </p>
<p>To get better at the reading, it depends on your problem. With my niece, the main problem is vocabulary, so I am trying to get her to read more difficult books. Also, I’m trying to get her to look up words when she doesn’t know the meaning, versus asking what the meaning is or assuming a meaning that is wrong. An optimal strategy would be just reading a dictionary or thesaurus, but that would probably be boring for her. Another problem that affects her reading is that if the grammar skills are weak, they actually inhibit the ability to read properly. That is, strengthening the grammar actually should make the reading comprehension easier.</p>
<p>You can find tons of resources out there to prepare, but for the most part, there are two sections of the test that should be automatic:
English is entirely about knowing the grammar rules.
Math is entirely about knowing how to work problems covered in Algebra, Geometry, and Trigonometry.</p>
<p>That is, you can study things, and be fully prepared for those test sections.</p>
<p>Reading comprehension, to a large degree, depends on your reading ability (which, to be honest, is related to vocabulary). If you don’t read that much, you have to find a way to get more vocabulary, so that the section is easier. Improving grammer obviously helps here, too, as I explained earlier.</p>
<p>I actually see the science section as another form of reading comprehension, as it is about interpreting given data.</p>
<p>Hope this helps.</p>
<p>So I am a rising senior and I’ll be taking the ACT in September, and if I take it in October as well, would it affect the college admissions process for me?</p>
<p>P.S. It’s my first time taking the ACT too…</p>