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I read a ton of articles online, so I imagine that naturally increased my reading speed, but you can train yourself to read faster. If you read too slow, then I recommend learning to read faster. Reading the whole passage before you get to the questions allows you to find the information needed in less time, since it'll be fresh in your memory. If you run out of time on the reading section, it's always because of one of two reasons: You read too slow, or you spend too much time looking for the answers in the text. Here are some things you can do to improve your reading score: Personally, the reading section was my best right from the get-go, but that doesn't mean I started off with a 36. Reading is one of those sections that people seem to be either really really good at, or just god awful at. Take it Saturday morning, catalog your errors, and then review them and study the content on Sunday. I recommend a practice test once every two weeks. I say regular-ish because this is the only rule of mine that I broke. Take practice tests on a regular-ish schedule. I've picked up some awesome tips and tricks from doing this. Watch videos when you're doing menial tasks, like riding the bus, or when you're on the toilet. It's low effort, and yields high returns. This is probably the best tip with regards to ROI. The only exception to this is the science section. If you're scoring below 34 on a section, you most likely have gaps in your knowledge, and would benefit a lot more from reviewing the content than you would from getting tips and tricks. I see people make this mistake all the time. If you're scoring below a 34 on practice tests, you have knowledge gaps. You might think you've learned a concept that you previously struggled with, but it's never a bad idea to just leave it on there anyways. When you review these, you'll see that you made a mistake reading a SD question, and you'll pay more attention the next time you come across one. There's no point reviewing SD if you just made a mistake reading the question. But, if you understand standard deviation, and messed up because you misread the question, or included the wrong groups, or misread a chart, then write down that you did just that. For example, if you messed up on a question because you don't understand standard deviation, write that down. Yours should include two things per mistake: The question number and test code, and the concept. I'm a bit less organized, so mine was messy, but I recommend that you separate it by section, and catalog your errors accordingly. Keep a detailed history of every mistake you've ever made on your practice tests. This leads me to my next tip:Ĭatalog all your errors. 5 months ago.) Go through it and look at all the questions you got wrong. This means with no prior review or studying. Start by taking a practice test cold turkey.
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If you're taking the writing section: don't study for it on the car ride to the test centre. I will endorse UWorld though, since it’s really great for practicing specific concepts, and is fairly priced imo. They can't offer you tips and tricks that aren't public knowledge, and they certainly can't teach you anything that you wouldn't be able to learn on your own. Test prep companies market convenience, and that's all. Don't use third party sources, like PrincetonReview, because they tend to be inaccurate representations of the real thing.ĭon't spend money on studying for this. Also, only take practice tests from trusted or official sources. When I took the ACT, I had already taken a few practice tests under real testing conditions, so the change (or lack thereof) of environment didn't throw me off. Only take practice tests under real testing conditions. you're working on happens to not include some of the concepts you struggled with, you're not making the best use of your time. There's no point in doing addition questions if you mess up a lot on statistics. If you're struggling with Math, it's crucial you figure out what concepts you're struggling with, and focus on those.
PREPARE FOR THE ACT FULL
If you've ever played an instrument (I play piano) you'll have been told at some point or another to not practice a full song, and instead only the parts you mess up on. I see people saying they'll do a Math/English/Science/Reading section every day or every x amount of days all the time. Before we talk about what does work, lets look at what doesn't work:ĭo not study sections.