TwasMe

Hi, I'm a Junior and I'm new to this site. I have taken 4 practice tests through Kaplan, prepping for the ACT in December (although I have a feeling I might end up taking it 2 additional times). My main issue is that anytime I take the Math test, I get a 34,35,36 . I really badly want to get a 34-36 composite but my score is just not there. I started off in English with a 27 which recently went down to 25, 29 in science which went down to 22, and a 16 in English that went up to 24. (My composite went up though from 26 to 27) My main issue is time management. I spend a ton of time staring at the question making sure that it is right when a lot of times I have no idea what the test maker wants me to think. Also, did any of you guys see a dramatic dip in your score? I have a feeling that I end up feeling so tired after the reading section that my science score just gets trashed. Do you guys have any suggestions on how I could raise my score? (I have never actually taken the ACT; these are all practice tests). Also I spend a ton of time thinking on the test, especially on the "what does this scientist think" or "what is the main idea of the passage" jumping back in forth between to answers thinking that they will determine my score; I think the test prep is getting the best of me.

TwasMe

Also, I know I'm capable of doing it. I'm currently a 4.0 student and I am dual enrolled at my local university. Any help would be appreciated. I intend on cramming the Barron's and Princeton review test prep books next week as we will be on break.

theradiostar

I think that cramming with Barron's and Princeton is your best bet, as well as checking out the various threads on this board that do offer ACT advice from 36-ers. There are plenty that are on this first page, too. I haven't read Barron's yet, but I know the strategies in Princeton Review help a LOT for all of the sections you're having trouble with.

mmr7911

Reading I'm in the same boat haha, but English I feel is one of the easier sections to improve. It's all about knowing your grammar rules. And some general guidelines: Less is more (an overly wordy answer is almost always wrong, excessive punctuation too), and (this is the big one), you DO know this stuff! Trust me, you know your grammar just from being alive and speaking and hearing English for 16+ years. You may not know exactly why an answer is wrong but if just sounds bad in your head, it typically is.

TwasMe

Alright cool, I'm going to switch over to PR because Barron's is WAY harder than anything I've ever taken before.