How to get a 32 on ACT?

Test Preparation
1

I am planning to take the ACT in April, and I am looking to score a 32 composite. Any tips?
I do very well on the grammar questions (I guess being a newspaper editor has its perks!) My math is pretty good but needs some work. The worst areas are critical reading and science.

2

Study for it.

I took the ACT twice. The first time I received a 31. The second time I received a 32. Superscored, I have a 33.

Get an ACT study book. I used PR and it was good enough. Take a practice test and simulate the conditions as well as you can (don’t go over time limits, sit at a desk and don’t get up). See what sections you do best on and the types of problems you get wrong. Study the concepts in the problems you got wrong.

The first time I took the ACT I did great on reading but comparatively much poorly on math. I got the ACT Math/Science PR prep book thing and on the second time, my Math was the highest score. Studying specific material will do wonders but don’t neglect studying the other sections.

What’s the highest level math you have taken? The second time I took the ACT, I got a 34 on the math section; at the time my highest level in math was Alg2/Trig. The math is pretty simple, a lot of it is plugging and chugging. Memorize the equations the best you can.

General test tips:

  • if you come across a hard problem you can’t do it, skip it and go back later. do NOT be afraid to do this for many questions
  • to save time on the Science section, read the questions first and then refer back to the graphs/data, etc. You don’t need to read all the graphs. Exception is the conflicting viewpoints section. You want to read all of that before trying the questions. The conflicting viewpoints section is for most people the hardest questions on the science test.
  • critical reading is IMO the hardest section to raise the score on, since reading comprehension takes years to build and can’t really be “studied” for. Nonetheless you can learn to eliminate ridiculous choices, this process is probably better detailed in a study book.
3

skip passages readings in both science and reading sections (except for memoir or fiction). read questions, read answer choices. answer questions. grade yourself, notice what types you get wrong. get faster at doing this, then when you have created a minute or two to spare, go back and check those answer types you always get wrong.

4

Really work on your speed.