With the essay, I reccomend that you write a 5 fully developed paragraph essay. I have taken the test 4 times and earned 10,9,10, and 10 on the essay. Although length does not necessarily guarantee a better score , it is better to be able to give more examples and details.
On that, I recommend you DO spend your first 5 minutes planning the essay.
On my view, my essay had everything to have a decent score. When I began to write, however, I mixed my introduction with my first development paragraph. That is equal disaster. On my view, as I remember, my essay was pretty messy, and I got a 6... something tells me that, if it was better organized, I would have a better score.
So, PREPARE, PLAN, EXECUTE.
In military terms... you would normally PLAN, PREPARE, EXECUTE.
On the ACT, you will have like this: PREPARE, PLAN, EXECUTE.
PREPARE: Practice exams. Practice writing. Practice development of essay
within the time limit.
PLAN: ACT essay time: spend 5 minutes to get your idea FULLY developed. Do NOT jump straight into the essay - you might end-up getting good ideas, but a bad format.
Bad esthetics = bad grade!
Remember... Try 5 fully-developed paragraphs. Intro, 3 development paragraphs, conclusion.
EXECUTE: Write your essay.
STICK TO THE PLAN!
(This plan of battle was put down by me based on several suggestions from test-maker books, prep course...)
Again... I got a 6... but I did not follow the above. I think that, if i did follow the above, I would get a better grade. So, if anyone got a better grade, please give constructive-criticism to my plan of battle.