<p>complete full practice tests, and aim for 28+ in everything. It's in range for you if you put in the work, a 36 on english is all good and nice, but with low scores in the other 3 categories your score won't reflect it. </p>
<p>Take plenty of tests, and save the actual ACT tests used in past years for when you're all prepared so they don't go to waste. Practice makes perfect, here's 1 test I picked up from CC, <a href="http://www.act.org/aap/pdf/preparing.pdf%5B/url%5D">http://www.act.org/aap/pdf/preparing.pdf</a> .
I know books can get expensive so getting them from the library may be a good idea, i've already gotten 3 from there.</p>
<p>best advice is obviously to take plenty of tests and when you get something wrong, review your mistake. Taking 5+ tests should cover most of the scenarios and prepare you for the real deal, good luck.</p>
<p>(I'm currently preparing for the ACT in Sept and October. Got a 24 with little prep and the prep i did was for the SAT. Took it a year ago, but since i'm a 4.4gpa student at a rigorous priv high school in california, I know I can do MUCH better.)
got a 29 on my first test yesterday, 29 in eng 32 sci. almost done with my 2nd test, taking a break, and i have a 29 in math and eng so far.</p>
<p>GL and don't just focus on english, there are 3 other categories that are combined, obviously, and all are equally important.
<em>a 26 overall with a 36 in english is DEFINITELY not as impressive as a 30 overall with a 33 or something</em></p>