Ok, I have a few tips that I use.
First off, I think the best tools to use are:
- Ultimate Guide to the Math ACT by Richard Corn. Like you, I struggle with the last 10-15 math problems, and it has been consistently my lowest score. So, I bought this book and it has helped me out tremendously. It truely is a life-saver.
- Practice makes perfect, I would advise you buy the Red Book that contains 5 official ACT tests, and do a lot if not all of the tests on ■■■■■■■■.com (it has official ACT tests… A lot of them). If your feeling good you can also get the 2016/2017 ACT book which has 3 more official tests.
Tips for each section of the ACT:
English: Time is not really a big factor. I would say take your time, and read the question and make sure you read the whole passage as you go through, not just the underlined parts. After taking 10 plus tests, you will really get a feel for the section, and will definitely do better. This is the section I excel at, and I think you can too. Most people just go too fast and just read the underlined portions and then get stuck with the more in-depth questions.
Math: I really advise the book I suggested above. Other than that, just keep practicing. AND USE YOUR CALCULATOR. If the ACT allows you to input the distance formula and midpoint, DO IT. It saves a lot of time. But don’t make it a crutch. And a tip for lines… When they ask at what point do these graphs intersect, I usually just plug both equations in my calculator and it tells me. It is faster for me. It is also ok to guess and check. And if the question says LEAST, start at A and go down. If it says MOST then start at E and go up.
Reading: There are lots of strategies you can use. I prefer doing a quick 30 second sweep of the passage, fully reading the 1st and last paragraph, and then the first sentence and last sentence of the middle paragraphs. Then I go back and read the whole thing. You may think that this takes too much time, but I usually am done with the 2 sweeps in about 1 min 45 sec… On the 2nd sweep underline anything you think is important, but don’t underline everything. A lot of paragraphs have the idea listed as the first sentence, and then lots of examples following, and then a concluding sentence to sum it all up. Usually, you only need the first and last sentence. Also, after reading each paragraph, ask yourself what you just read. I promise it helps. Then, the questions should be fairly easy. Lastly, I always ask myself what the author is feeling when writing the passage… Angry, upset, agreeing with/supportive, etc… That way when I see the questions and it has aome answer choices like enraged or furious, then I know wether this is way to exaggerated or not. Most of the time, the author’s mood is not "furious, enraged, or any extreme feeling. They love to trick you with those options. You may conclude that the author was angry, but enraged and furious push the limits.
Science: I strongly reccomend not reading the passages unless they ask you to. I like answering the bar graph questions and from that I can usually get a jist of the overall point of the passage.
Essay: Make sure you include all 3 arguments AND state your viewpoint. An easy format is:
- Powerful intro paragraph. Don’t try to tie in all 3 points in your thesis. I would actually suggest putting your viewpoint in the thesis.
- 4 Body paragraphs, talk about a viewpoint given in 3 paragraphs and your own in the 4th.
- Powerful conclusion. Do not introduce new info.
A lot of information I think… but you can do it. I didn’t list that many tips and tricks but if you want those, let me know.