<p>So I've took the ACT and got a pretty bad score of 26. So I'm planning on retaking it and will actually study for the upcoming one in June. So I've been taking some practice tests and I'm scoring much higher on them (composite is like 31-33) than the real ACT. Any idea why? Could it be the environment I'm taking it in? (In the living room at night with my brothers shouting and playing video games in the background). Hopefully it isn't a fluke and I really do get a 30+ score :D</p>
<p>Depends on which tests you are taking. Real ACT Tests are scored accurately.</p>
<p>Non-official exams have inaccurate conversion scales.</p>
<p>Students tend to fall into two categories: those who do better on actual tests because of increased focus, and those who suffer from test anxiety and do worse. </p>
<p>Maybe you are the latter category, and you are far more relaxed with Call of Duty as background noise. That, or maybe the tests you are taking are not official and thus are far easier.</p>
<p>The best way to get over test anxiety is to take as many practice tests as possible in realistic situations. Ideally, you should practice where it is completely silent with somebody “proctoring” the exam (maybe try and convince your mother or father to sit nearby and do some reading). If you take realistic practice tests, you become desensitized to the process and anxiety can be reduced.</p>