Feb. ACT

G

GoArmy22

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I'm taking the ACT this Saturday. Please let me know if you have any tips, especially for the Reading and Science portions. Any help is appreciated, as this is my first time taking it. There's a lot on the line. If I get a certain score, I will receive an offer of appointment. If not, I will have to turn to Plans B, C, D..
 
purpledog394 said:
I'm taking the ACT this Saturday. Please let me know if you have any tips, especially for the Reading and Science portions. Any help is appreciated, as this is my first time taking it. There's a lot on the line. If I get a certain score, I will receive an offer of appointment. If not, I will have to turn to Plans B, C, D..
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Look up "ACT practice test" online. Devote a chunk of the day to doing the tests in the time constraints. The ACT is a test for how well you are able to take in information and use it to find the best answer. Looking at practice tests will help you with doing this especially with the science section. Look for patterns and work on reading graphs and tables quickly. The reading part is very much personal preference. I read at a speed a little above skimming. Underline words you feel may have a purpose for the theme of the passage. I have seen more often than not your gut feeling will pay off. Once you have read through the entire passage and look over the questions. Skim through again looking for what the question is asking. I hope that helped somewhat. Good luck.
 
@dan_lof I actually have taken all of the released tests since April 2013, so I'm glad I did something right. I normally do piece by piece where I read a small portion, answer the questions that relate, and continue, but I can try your strategy as well. Thank you!
 
There are many techniques for reading and science, but the one that I benefited the most from was... SPEED. Go as fast as you can go while still being accurate. I won't go in immense detail, but there are several things that help. You do NOT need to read the whole reading passages. Actually, you can't. They are literally too long for you to read them and do all the questions. Read the questions, and do any referring to specific lines or words first. Then, do the others. You will more than likely have to read at least a little bit, but I never read more than two full paragraphs on any passage. Same goes with science. You can find exactly which parts not to read online somewhere, but most of the time intros and a lot of graph info is just uhhh.. useless. Find what is important. Read questions first to analyze what you need, and be extremely careful of small tricks. ACT LOVES those. Using these tips, along with a few other speed techniques, I raised both science and reading scores TREMENDOUSLY. Bottom line-speed.
 
Thank you so much @USMAcand9821. I'll try things here and there and see what works best. I do have a lot of trouble with completing science on time, so that'll help!
 
My DD is also taking it on Saturday and purpledog394 has an awesome shot! Any advice on the Math portion of the ACT?? My DD doesn't do good on the geometry parts. Good luck purpledog394!
 
Yes, any math tips as well for @jllera1 's DD! Thank you jllera1, best wishes to your DD! Please keep me posted on how everything turns out for her :)
 
jllera1 said:
My DD is also taking it on Saturday and purpledog394 has an awesome shot! Any advice on the Math portion of the ACT?? My DD doesn't do good on the geometry parts. Good luck purpledog394!
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A big thing I found for geometry is know the relationships that apply to terms. I know I experienced questions that can't be answered unless you know that vertical lines are equal or the corresponding angles of two parallel lines cut by a transversal are equivalent. It's the simple rules that are needed most of the time, because for many questions they are just testing to see if you understand a basic concept. If you want any additional info on little things like that you can message me and I'd be willing to help if I can!
 
jllera1 said:
My DD is also taking it on Saturday and purpledog394 has an awesome shot! Any advice on the Math portion of the ACT?? My DD doesn't do good on the geometry parts. Good luck purpledog394!
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Eliminate the possible answers you know are not going to be correct. Doing that makes me feel a lot less pressured to choose the correct one when I have one (or two) less to choose from. I would recommend making flash cards with the math associated with what your DD is having trouble with. DO NOT just memorize what is written. You must picture what it means in your mind. If you memorize it verbatim, the stress from the test may lock you up. I recommend again taking all the practice tests you can find and make sure to do them in the time constraints. Good luck.
 
Do your best and try not to stress over the test. Three days before the ACT is a little late in the game for tips/tricks/hints.

Best of luck

-AIR CAV
 
USMAcand9821 said:
A big thing I found for geometry is know the relationships that apply to terms. I know I experienced questions that can't be answered unless you know that vertical lines are equal or the corresponding angles of two parallel lines cut by a transversal are equivalent. It's the simple rules that are needed most of the time, because for many questions they are just testing to see if you understand a basic concept. If you want any additional info on little things like that you can message me and I'd be willing to help if I can!
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Thank you. I will let her know. Her AP Calculus teacher is going to crash tutor her Thursday and Friday after school. Funny thing is she got a 98% in that class last year. She just doesn't like geometry.
 
dan_lof said:
Eliminate the possible answers you know are not going to be correct. Doing that makes me feel a lot less pressured to choose the correct one when I have one (or two) less to choose from. I would recommend making flash cards with the math associated with what your DD is having trouble with. DO NOT just memorize what is written. You must picture what it means in your mind. If you memorize it verbatim, the stress from the test may lock you up. I recommend again taking all the practice tests you can find and make sure to do them in the time constraints. Good luck.
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I just screen shot it to her.
 
purpledog394 said:
I'm taking the ACT this Saturday. Please let me know if you have any tips, especially for the Reading and Science portions. Any help is appreciated, as this is my first time taking it. There's a lot on the line. If I get a certain score, I will receive an offer of appointment. If not, I will have to turn to Plans B, C, D..
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Make sure you wear a watch and/or can see the clock.
 
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