Retaking the ACT on October 22nd

<p>There's about 48 days before I retake the ACT. I took my first ACT test as a junior, but didn't do so well. I got a 20. (I don't know if it was because I was dealing with a lot of stress since AP exams were approaching. If it matters, I got a 4 on both AP Chemistry and AP Biology.) I confess I panicked while taking the ACT, though.</p>

<p>However, I have been preparing for a month and a half, or so, and my performance on the test seems to be improving. I read the "Kaplan 2010" book and made my own summary of (about five pages) just so I remember some helpful strategies. I bought the "The Real ACT Prep" book (only because of the practice tests), but I don't want to use it just yet. Instead, I have been doing "timed" practice problems using a book called "1,296 ACT Practice Problems." </p>

<p>Differently from "Cracking the ACT," I feel like the Kaplan book has really helped. In the English section, for example, I now usually just get two or three wrong answers every passage; in math, about five incorrect answers every 60 questions. My Reading and Science scores, on the other hand, are not as good as the first two. Based on the ACT scoring scale, I usually get 24-26 on the last two sections. </p>

<p>My goal is to score a 30. Although I don't know if I can boost my score by ten point on my second try. It just doesn't seem to realistic. (If it helps, I got a 4.0 GPA and I'm also ranked on the top 5% of all the students in my high school.)</p>

<p>I feel dumb by asking this, but how do you guys recommend me to prepare for the ACT? Would you mind giving me some tips for each section?</p>

<p>Every bit of information helps.
Thank you.</p>

<p>You’re not dumb, those two sections just aren’t your strong points. I recommend using Sparknotes [ACT</a> SparkNotes Online Test Prep](<a href=“SparkNotes: Today's Most Popular Study Guides”>SparkNotes: Today's Most Popular Study Guides) and The Real Act. I know you said you’re saving that but nothing is going to get you prepared for the real test as much as prep books from the actual people that administer the ACT. </p>

<p>My advice for the Science section: Read the passage first and then go straight to the questions.</p>

<p>You should see where your trouble is when testing. Maybe it’s time management? Or reading the question carefully? And then work on that. You seem like a great student just not a good test taker. Colleges know not everyone is a good test taker. I would suggest you have you high school counselor write how you don’t test well and then highlight your gpa. You may also want to take the SAT instead? You may do better on that one.</p>