<p>Basically, I didn't do as well as I should have on my first ACT (towards the end of last school year). I ended up with the following breakdown:</p>
<p>English: 36
Math: 30
Reading: 25
Science: 26
Composite: 29.25</p>
<p>There are several factors which I could blame my score on (the proctor deicded not to give any 5 minute warnings, and he also began to talk to another teacher in an idiotically vociferous manner during the reading/science sections), but that's all gone now. I failed to finish the last three sections (math because I stared at one question for too long, reading because it's always been my Achille's Heel, and science because I was so irritated from the reading that I forgot that it was 35 minutes for 40 questions, not 40 minutes for 35), and I know it'll be hard for me to fail to beat my old score. After taking one of the two practice tests today (which came with the purchase of online act prep), I received the following scores:</p>
<p>English: 34
Math: 34
Reading: 28
Science: 36
Composite: 33.00</p>
<p>Clearly this is a respectable score, however I could really use some advice in bringing up my reading. My English and math are pretty typical for my practice tests, and my science on this one was a little bit above average (usually 31-34). But my reading tests always stay between 27 and 30. My reading strategy is basically to read the passage for 4 minutes (starting with the last passage, and going backwards as prose is the hardest for me), complete the questions and move on to the next one. Any advice/strategies would be extremely welcome; I'm not an avid or incredibly fast reader but the literature I do read is fairly advanced. I've already taken all 5 practice tests in the red book.</p>