<p>Like how many hours a day or a week did you study?</p>
<p>I'm taking it for the first time on the 14th, I unfortunately haven't studied yet but I got to get a book and take a crapload of practice tests. </p>
<p>What's a good strategy...</p>
<p>Musab, </p>
<p>I too am taking it on the 14th. Just get the prep books and practice every day for 2-3 hours and you will be set for it. I read one story on a previous thread about a kid who took a practice test the week before and got a 27, studied intensely everyday for 1 week and got a 32 on it. So you got about 2.5 weeks till the test, and that gives you plenty of time to do well.</p>
<p>Also as you keep going through practice tests you will notice some stuff repeating and you can pick up tips and trends, etc.. so if you see it on the test you will recognize it.</p>
<p>The first time I took the ACT, I stressed over practice tests, prep books, and my parents even hired me a math tutor. I slept for 9 hours a night the week before, ate a wholesome and healthy breakfast every day before the test (as well as the test date), and felt completely prepared to score the 30 I needed to be half-way competitive at the nation's top liberal arts colleges.</p>
<p>I got to school, energized, well-fed, and what I felt to be academically prepared by the practice tests and my tutor. The results came back, and I got a 28; a decent score, but nothing that would hold up at Middlebury, Bowdoin, etc. So I decided to take it again.</p>
<p>This time, I never picked up a practice test, stopped the lessons from my tutor, and decided to take the test like it was just another classroom assignment.</p>
<p>Unintentionally, I was at a friend's house until 1:30 in the morning, when he reminded me that I had the ACT in the morning. I hurried home, and got to bed at 2:00 a.m. A quick 5 hours later, I was up and in the shower, getting ready to rush out the door. I brushed my teeth, left my uneaten breakfast on my dining room table, and spent the next 20 minutes looking for my calculator. I got to the school 5 minutes before the door closed. </p>
<p>My second experience could not have been more different. I was so tired and hungry I couldn't worry about the ACT. When the tests came out, I made quick work of the problems; even solving the complex geometry problems that had troubled me in the past. I seriously think I was so tired I couldn't over-stress about the test. I finished, and had no clue how I had done. I felt like I had done better on math, but I was uncertain on everything else. </p>
<p>As soon as the scores were available online, I logged into my ACT account and eagerly awaited the results. I was in class, and my best friend was standing right behind me, reminding me that this was the most important test I would take in my life and I absolutely had to score high. No pressure. The results came up, and I screamed, "Holy S***!!!" A 33. With a 36 in science- my least favorite subject. (My teacher was more concerned with my outburst of profanity......) </p>
<p>So I don't think the tutors, the programs, the books, the sleep, or even the food helps you on the test. They only add to your stress level. Walk into the testing room like it's any other test. Don't use tips or tricks, or "perfectly" engineered test strategies- just take the test. Good luck!!</p>
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<p>Yeah, awesome... let's not prepare/study for the exam and just show up at the testing center and wow our friends with a score of over 30!</p>
<p>I knew I was just wasting my time studying! HELL YEAH!!! Where's my party hat and bong at?!?</p>
<p>The first time I took it, I tried to study for it and everything and I got a 24.</p>
<p>The second time, I didn't study at all and I got a 27. I think that it had something to do with being familar with the test and halfway knowing what to expect.</p>
<p>This time, I'm studying every night so I can hopefully do better. My study plan includes getting thru a section a night (the bigger ones I split into 2 nights). I plan on taking practice tests the week before the ACT and then spend the days after that going over the things I didn't do so well on. Hopefully I'll do better!</p>
<p>I only took it once(in April) and had just gotten back from a large trip and was in the climax of the worst cold I have ever had. The only studying I did was for about a half hour the night before to review the old math stuff that is taught in like middle school. I got a 33, but hopefully it wasn't a blurb of intelligence because of the sickness. I'm taking it again in June to see if being healthy will help my score at all. And I plan on actually studying a few more hours(focusing on math, its still my weak point). Good luck!</p>