<p>ALSO has anyone used the tips discussed on "cracking the ACT" reading on the actual test and gotten a good score ?</p>
<p>When I did the reading, I used the Kaplan “passage mapping” technique. What you do is you read the passage first, not the questions. After each paragraph, on the side of the page you make little notes, just phrases, about what the paragraph was about. You have to do that for all the paragraphs. The point is that taking notes helps you both to remember the passage and understand it better, but if you forget an answer while answering the questions, looking at your notes to find out which paragraph the answer is in is a lot easier than re-reading the whole passage.</p>
<p>And I got a 34 on the reading, using the passage mapping strategy.</p>
<p>are you a fast reader…i am somewhat slow so i am afraid if i use this technique i will run out of time…but i will try it out on practice test thank you</p>
<p>Abby;</p>
<p>The first time I took the ACT, I used Cracking the ACT’s strategy and got a 30 on the reading section (I ran out of time). Now, I’m not sure if this is a reflection on the actual strategy, or if it was just my nerves acting up; I’m inclined to think it was a combination of both factors. However, the second time I took the test, I got a 34 on the reading section by simply reading the passages and then moving onto the questions. Let me explain why I think that this method works better:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Although reading is undoubtedly slower than skimming/underlining/going through the “loop,” as Cracking the ACT refers to it, it also does a better job of solidifying what you’ve read in your mind. I found that when I skimmed, I spent a lot more time searching for answers to questions and/or fell for trick answers a lot more often. This was probably due to the lack of overall comprehension of the passages. When you read, you get the BIG picture, which is invaluable. It allows for greater analysis of what the question is asking, and you’ll find that sometimes, you don’t even need to return to the passage to answer the question. Also, it’s really the only way to nail those annoying “tone” and “theme” questions.</p></li>
<li><p>This, again, is a reference to the timing factor. While, yes, you personally may be able to answer more questions using the PR’s method, does that mean you’re answering more accurately as well? Probably not…</p></li>
<li><p>Almost everyone I know who has been successful when attacking the reading section of the ACT simply did what I did the second time around and read the passages before moving on to the questions. But again, everyone is different. Try it out, and then do whatever you feel more comfortable with.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>thank you cowboycliche022 i have tried your strategy before and i think i just have really bad concentration because i zone out but i will keep on trying everything out until i find what works !</p>
<p>I am barley starting to review on the ACT, and i am doing what cowboy said. Also, this may sound ridiculous, but LOVE the passages. Love them as if they were the most important and exciting thing in the planet.</p>
<p>^Definitely agree. If you read for interest, you’ll find that your overall comprehension of the passage is greater. At least, I did.</p>
<p>So, I’m tl;dring all of this…but here’s my strategy.</p>
<p>5 minutes reading, 3 minutes answering.</p>
<p>After your three minutes is up on the last passage, go back and try to do the ones that you know, but didn’t have time to read. Mark "C’’ if you don’t know it right away.</p>