<p>Hi,
I'm going to be a sophomore. I took a practice test w/The Princeton Review (free event) & got a composite score of 23. I know it's really bad, I flipped out when I got the test. The ACT isn't so big in California where I live, but I don't like the SAT b/c of the wrong answer penalty & how long it is...the vocab...& all.
I'm going to be very busy later so I want to take it fall of my junior yr. I will definitely prep intensely next summer right before the test, but I don't know if that will be enough. Is it better to start now?
The Science Section is really tricky for me...pretty much all of it isn't what I'm usually used to. The SAT is so much more popular in CA, I've used the Real ACT, but it didn't really help.
Thank. I really appreciate it:)</p>
<p>Pay attention in class, that's really the best long-term prep you can do.</p>
<p>Was your math score pretty low? There are several trig questions on the math ACT, and if you haven't taken trig in school, that would bring your score down a few points.</p>
<p>At any rate, to prepare, run through the Princeton Review practice tests, the Red Book practice tests... anything else you can find. There's no other secret.</p>
<p>And the SAT is much more popular here, but I've found that I consistently score higher on my ACT, so I've pretty much dropped the SAT.</p>
<p>Take a couple practice tests on both and see which one you do better on.</p>
<p>thanks! yeah thats why i dont want to take the sat, it requires a lot more prep (for me). um, my math score wasnt good, but my science score was horrible (19)! its so different from the sat & time was an issue for me. i didnt really know anything on the science section except for the bio passages. i felt that 7 passages in 35 min was way too much.
would it be easier to wait & actually learn more in school, then take the test?</p>
<p>thanks:)</p>
<p>would it be easier to wait & actually learn more in school, then take the test?</p>
<p>Yes^^</p>
<p>jdharms:
thanks. i was thinking of only taking the act b/c the sat seems like it requires so much more prep. but my school isnt really great & doesnt teach so much. the science section is so broad...</p>
<p>The Science really is usually mainly just graph analysis and a test over the scientific method, not so much any scientific concept itself.</p>
<p>It is possible to increase your science score without taking more science courses, just with some practice tests and maybe reading over a prep book. </p>
<p>Honestly, though, I think you should prepare for both pretty much the same amount. If you're taking two, prep for the SAT more, but if you're just taking the ACT, you should prep as much as you can. Why not, if it will increase your score?</p>
<p>The ACT is more straightforward, and the time limits are tougher. You really need to be on your toes the entire morning. But, it's also definitely possible to go from a 23-30, or even 33. You probably haven't taken trig yet, that will help a lot. Plus, I've found my reading and english scores increase over time the more I read. I read <em>a lot</em>, so I never prep for the Reading and English sections, and scored 35 and 36, respectively, on the June test.</p>
<p>If you're taking Bio/Chem/Physics the first three years of high school, you should be set. Right after you finish trig is when your math will be the best, probably. School will prep you a lot more than most study guides at your level/age, even if your school isn't all that great.</p>