I’m about to be a senior and I have a 26 ACT but for my first choice school I need at least a 28 preferably maybe a 29/30. I have to apply early action to be considered for scholarships so I really only have one chance left with the Sept ACT. I already have a tutor and I’m trying to do a lot of practice tests but what were the best things that helped any of you who significantly improved?
One of the easiest scores to improve is English. Learn all the rules and your score will surely be higher. If you can learn what you’re doing wrong in math as well, then that score will be pushed up.
As for reading and science, practice tests will help. But, make sure you review what you did wrong, and not just get them wrong and move on.
If you want to join my act study group on the groupme app, just PM me and I’ll add you right away!
I took the December ACT and got a 32C (31 w/writing) and retook in June with about 3 days of studying and improved to a 35C. Here are some fast study tips:
Writing: Go on the ACT site and read all the sample essays; i made a list of everything the high scoring essays had in common (clear thesis, a few good points, and acknowledgment and discussion of counterargument) and made sure to include this in my essay (went up from an 8 to a 10). This is stupid and formulaic but there are definitely some very specific things theyre looking for in these essays.
English: Go with your gut. If you speak english as your first language, just answer whatever sounds normal. Don’t agonize over any question bc theyre usually pretty straightforward. Practice tests should help with this.
Math: Go over whatever topics you dont know, this section is much more about testing what you know than how good you actually are at math. You’ll be fine if you can’t remember every formula youve ever learned but knowing basic ones for algebra through trig will be helpful. There are few very difficult questions, so if you have a solid math background, even if youre not great at math, you should be able to get at least a 29. Save the ones you dont know how to do for last. To prep for math, make sure youre going back and looking at what questions you got wrong on practice tests so that you can study those topics more (e.g., I was getting all the coordinate geometry ones wrong so i went and studied that)
Reading: Time is everything here; Don’t do the prose passage first; this one takes by far the longest. start with science: read the questions, read the passage as quickly as possible (scanning for any factual answers to questions and filling them in as you go). Then answer the broader ones. Do the same with the humanities and arts ones. They shouldnt take long if you skim read the passage. Then, actually read the prose last and the questions should be pretty easy if you take time to read the passage.
Science: DO NOT READ THE PASSAGES. Read the question, scan the passage, and find the answer. No question is too simple; like half of them just ask you to find something on a graph. You 100% do not need to know anything about science, so just think of this as a second reading section. If you don’t know what a question is asking, try looking at the intro section on the passages bc that can help clarify what it means. And if you really dont know what it’s talking about, bubble something and come back if you have time.
I hope this is helpful!! I was in a very similar place but try to just dedicate like 1 day to each section in the days in leading up to the test and you should be fine. Also remember that some schools superscore the act so if you have some high scores in particular sections, you might be able to retain them when you bring other sections up.
@ecomberg thank you so much this was really helpful! I have a 26 right now and only need a 28 to get a scholarship for my first choice school but unfortunately they don’t superstore. I’ll definitely take your advice and congrats on your 35!
no prob! Good Luck!