Does anyone know where to find some practice tests for the dual passage format in the reading section??
I can’t seem to find a lot, only a few :\
first and only time taking the ACT. terrified. scored 31 and 32 on my practices and i need 34+ to suffice.
@michelle426 I also used to score the same but ended up with a 27 i_i
Does anyone have good advice for raising a plateaued English score?? I keep getting 31 and I do not exactly understand why I cannot seem to raise it!!
@ZainSD don’t rain on my parade :(( I’m scared enough as it is
Hi everyone. I was wondering if anyone had any tips for raising a weak science score? Specifically, how do you balance the tight time limit with still being precise? I have taken the ACT twice and have a weak science score that has pulled me down.
@neuprospect98 I would recommend getting Barron’s ACT 36 because although it is lacking in some other sections, I found its English section to be quite helpful. It covers every possible grammer rule that could come up on the real test. You want to make sure you master every rule, especially the ones that come up over and over again on ACT English. If you are confused on any rule, you can always look it up online. Also, when you take practice tests, make sure you go over your mistakes so you can hone in on certain rules/ things to go back over. That way, you can cater your studying to the specific problems you are having.
Some other things that may help:
– In general (not foolproof rule), the simplest answer tends to be the the correct one. The ACT English Section frowns upon complexity and loves brevity, so the simplest way of expressing something is almost always the right way. However, you still want to make sure the answer is clear and specific. So overall: concise + specific= right
– Redundancy is a big no no!
– Passive voice is always wrong (He walked the dog is always better than the dog was walked by him)
– It is very rare that it will be correct to add punctuation. You will either be changing it, leaving it, or taking it out completely.
– To ensure that you do well on all Rhetorical Skills questions, make sure to skim the whole passage. If you only read the sentences that have underlined phrases, your understanding of things like tone,purpose, and structure won’t be nearly as clear.
– Try to finish with some extra time, so you can come back to answers you are not 100 percent sure of and check your answers for silly mistakes.
If you are already getting a 31, you have a strong inner ear that allows you to identify most wrong answers. With lots of practice catered to the types of questions you tend to get wrong, a mastery of grammer rules, and patience, your score will go up!
(got a on English 35 in April)
@ecomberg Thanks for the tip. I guess I need to find a way to keep my cool and read the passages fast.
Are there any huge differences between the SAT essay and the ACT essay in terms of grading?
@michelle426 I’m just saying that do not always rely on the practice tests. The real test can sometimes be difficult compared to the practice test.
@ZainSD so true, I kept on getting 30s on the Science section for practice, on the real thing so bad not even going to say it
Does anyone know specifically what they’re looking for in terms of the essay section of the ACT? Last time I did the essay section I got a 10 which is equivalent to a 30 (I got a 33 composite). I’m hoping to at least get an 11 when I take it again in october. My problem is I just don’t know what they’re really looking for in the essays. Anyone able to help?
The New ACT Essay is totally different from the Old version seen in June and prior. You have to evaluate/analyze three opinions called “Perspectives” and provide strengths/weaknesses of each. You have to indicate if you agree with any, all, or none of the opinions. The Old essay didn’t involve much thinking. The New essay requires thinking.
The Old essay was scored on a 1-6 scale, by 2 readers, for a maximum total score of 12.
The New essay will now be scored on a 1-6 scale in each of four different categories:
- Ideas and Analysis.
- Development and Support.
- Organization.
- Language Use and Conventions.
Two readers will grade it, for a maximum total raw score of 48 (24 pts each reader). That raw score is then converted to a scaled score of 1-36, similar to the other 4 sections. But the Essay Scaled Score will NOT be part of the Composite.
If you have no idea what I’m talking about, you’re in serious trouble. Go to the ACT website and look at the sample provided as well as the new grading system. Also, “Preparing for the ACT” (which is available on the ACT website) has another example along with the 1-36 scaled grading system.
The New essay you will have to write is nothing like the Old essay. The Red Book and previous released tests are useless providing any info on the New essay.
Go on the ACT website asap.
Thank you, @mmk2015
@mmk2015 So how would you develop the essay? How many body paragraphs would you recommend? (I’m thinking that we would need to have a separate body for each perspective and one body for your own perspective. I don’t think that would be the correct way though.)
@anBoa122 the essay should really be all about your perspective.
@mchellemabelle26 So I’m guessing just writing your perspective with several well developed examples and comparing it to the ones given should suffice.
I would prob do 5 paragraphs:
–Introduction.
–Body 1.
–Body 2.
–Body 3.
–Conclusion.
Each Body would represent a Perspective.
Body 1 and 2 would present the two opposite Perspectives.
Body 3 would present the Perspective that you support.
@mmk2015 Oh my gosh thank you so much! I didn’t even know they changed it - I’m glad you posted that because I was completely clueless. I’ll be sure to look into what they’ve posted about this new test.