JDB
5-Year Member
- Joined
- Aug 11, 2016
- Messages
- 56
Hello New@This:
My DS is also a Junior and just started this process. He is taking his first ACT this weekend and he just took the PSAT-NMSQT yesterday at his school. We were given some great advice by Brovol and several others on this site about strategies for taking the ACT. Number one, they say take it as many times as you can. Not only does he get better at the test, but the academies take your best scores from each section to calculate your DS's composite score- super scoring.
I also love Just Dad's advice. Study the test, get comfortable taking the test, and understand the quirks of the test. My DS has been self studying for the ACT for about a month. There are countless books available; we are using The Official ACT Prep Book 2016-17 and Barron's ACT 36. There's also a plethora of web sites and YouTube gurus who offer test specific help. You can do this without the expense of a private tutor, but it will require self discipline. My DS has taken two practice tests, which are available on several web sites and in the ACT Prep Book. After taking the practice tests, we have reviewed the wrong answers and figured out why he missed them. He started out with a very low score on his first test and increased it by a couple of points on his second. These college board tests have proven to not be his cup of tea. However, he is determined to conquer them, so we'll continue working toward his goal. We'll see how this first test goes and tweak his strategy from there.
DS is aiming for a 30+ composite score, which will reflect a significant increase from his first practice test score. Just Dad's story about his DD should give any potential candidate the template for a major increase in his/her test scores. Good luck to your DS; he has a lot going for him, so don't let him get discouraged.
jdb
My DS is also a Junior and just started this process. He is taking his first ACT this weekend and he just took the PSAT-NMSQT yesterday at his school. We were given some great advice by Brovol and several others on this site about strategies for taking the ACT. Number one, they say take it as many times as you can. Not only does he get better at the test, but the academies take your best scores from each section to calculate your DS's composite score- super scoring.
I also love Just Dad's advice. Study the test, get comfortable taking the test, and understand the quirks of the test. My DS has been self studying for the ACT for about a month. There are countless books available; we are using The Official ACT Prep Book 2016-17 and Barron's ACT 36. There's also a plethora of web sites and YouTube gurus who offer test specific help. You can do this without the expense of a private tutor, but it will require self discipline. My DS has taken two practice tests, which are available on several web sites and in the ACT Prep Book. After taking the practice tests, we have reviewed the wrong answers and figured out why he missed them. He started out with a very low score on his first test and increased it by a couple of points on his second. These college board tests have proven to not be his cup of tea. However, he is determined to conquer them, so we'll continue working toward his goal. We'll see how this first test goes and tweak his strategy from there.
DS is aiming for a 30+ composite score, which will reflect a significant increase from his first practice test score. Just Dad's story about his DD should give any potential candidate the template for a major increase in his/her test scores. Good luck to your DS; he has a lot going for him, so don't let him get discouraged.
jdb