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06-15-2008, 10:01 PM
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#1 | | Junior Member
Join Date: Jun 2008
Threads: 18
Posts: 265
| Just started to consider ACT....
Here's the situation...
I'm a rising senior, and my scores after taking my first SAT are 690 m 690 CR 600 w.
For some reason, I never really took the ACT seriously and had never prepared for it, etc.
I am studying for the October SAT over the summer, but for some reason I am just now seeing that I should at least attempt the ACT to see if my scores are more favorable on it.
So, I just want to see if the ACT is generally a good idea for me (worth the time, effort, etc). I was going to take a PR test that told you which test you would likely do better on, but they don't offer any in my area.
Any ideas that would help give me a good idea of whether or not I should pursue the ACT, without really spending much money or time? | 
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06-15-2008, 10:05 PM
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#2 | | Junior Member
Join Date: Feb 2008
Threads: 25
Posts: 262
| Depends, if you are good at testing under pressure then the ACT maybe for you. The test is generally easier than the SAT but its under harsher time conditions. The Math also test on concepts that are beyond that of the SAT but the questions are much more straight forward and less tricks. | |
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06-15-2008, 10:08 PM
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#3 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Arizona ---> HANOVER, NH Gender: Male
Threads: 56
Posts: 1,699
| Take some sample questions: ACT Test Prep : Sample Tests
Also, would you consider yourself a better student or better test-taker? If it's the former, I would recommend you look into the ACT. Also, if you can solve the sample questions pretty quickly, I think the ACT would be a great match. The one thing people think is difficult about the ACT is simply the timing. | |
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06-15-2008, 10:24 PM
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#4 | | Junior Member
Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Durant, OK Gender: Male
Threads: 5
Posts: 168
| i agree with atrophicwhisper...if you can deal with the time restraints of the ACT you should definitely go for it.. | |
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06-16-2008, 08:27 AM
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#5 | | New Member
Join Date: Jun 2008
Threads: 1
Posts: 12
| IF your okay with time restraints and you do well in school the ACT is a good exam to take. However if your happy with your SAT score I would recommend retaking it b/c you'll have alot of stuff to do in your senior year. | |
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06-17-2008, 11:47 AM
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#6 | | Junior Member
Join Date: Jun 2008
Threads: 18
Posts: 265
| Yeah. Ideally I would study my butt off for the ACT and SAT and take both. But I have lots of time constraints and can't do everything. im taking some of the practice questions you linked to.. and am doing pretty well, atleast right now. Did the first science and math sections, got 11 right 1 unanswered, no wrong in math (not sure answer, didn't run out of time) and 5 right no wrong on the science.
I do consider myself a very good student. I would definitely say I a better student in the sense that I can comprehend and work with everything I am taught very well, and usually do finish tests in classes very quickly.
But when I'm not sure of something or haven't been acquainted with it, I tend to get stuck. I'm pretty indecisive. So, maybe the ACT will be better for me.
BTW my SAT scores weren't bad, but I hoped to improve them by about 200 pts total (1980 to ~ 2180) | |
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06-17-2008, 12:18 PM
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#7 | | Junior Member
Join Date: Jun 2008
Threads: 18
Posts: 265
| Is there any way to use your scores on the practice questions on the ACT's website (given in this thread) to amalgamate (like put together) and yield some estimate of your ACT score (ex: 24, 32)?
I seem to be doing pretty well, but I don't know what their curve is like.
Maybe I should just get a practice test and figure my score from that. | |
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06-17-2008, 12:24 PM
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#8 | | Junior Member
Join Date: Mar 2008 Gender: Male
Threads: 21
Posts: 238
| Since you seemed to do pretty well on the practice questions, I would go ahead and try to find a practice test online, or go the the library and do part of a practice test out of the ACT book.
There really isn't a way to study for the ACT besides just doing practice tests I think... if you do really well, you should buy the ACT book or check it out from the library and just do all the tests.
The first SAT I took was in March and I got a 690M 640CR 700W, similar to your scores. I took the April ACT without studying at all (I did take a practice test) and ended up with 34E 34M 34R 30S, 33 composite. I just found the ACT to be a LOT easier because I am a fast reader and the test is more straightforward than the SAT. It's definitely possible to have a lot higher score on the ACT than the SAT. | |
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06-17-2008, 12:37 PM
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#9 | | Junior Member
Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Durant, OK Gender: Male
Threads: 5
Posts: 168
| i had that same problem...i just increased my reading and comprehension speed and that did the trick! plenty of practice will help ya! | |
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06-17-2008, 12:37 PM
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#10 | | Junior Member
Join Date: Jun 2008
Threads: 18
Posts: 265
| Cool. Thanks man.
I think I will do very well on all of the sections except the reading. I have a bad test taking habit of trying to understand and comprehend every word of a passage or book.
We'll see though.
I'll be hittin the library.  | |
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07-08-2008, 04:14 PM
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#11 | | Junior Member
Join Date: Jun 2008
Threads: 18
Posts: 265
| Well here's an update: I took the ACT practice test and got a pretty good score (32ish), and with a little more focus I could bump it up (ran out of time on math for stupid reasons). So... looks like it might be worth it to study and take the ACT.
Since there's no sticky on ACT books, what do you guys suggest? Of course I'll use the red book for practice exams, but what is the best for studying/strats? I heard Barrons sucks.. lol | |
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07-08-2008, 04:45 PM
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#12 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Arizona ---> HANOVER, NH Gender: Male
Threads: 56
Posts: 1,699
| ^ I like Kaplan a lot. | |
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07-08-2008, 05:04 PM
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#13 | | Junior Member
Join Date: Jun 2008
Threads: 18
Posts: 265
| Kaplan's 'comprehensive program'? | |
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07-08-2008, 05:07 PM
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#14 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Arizona ---> HANOVER, NH Gender: Male
Threads: 56
Posts: 1,699
| Yeah, whatever the book is called. | |
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