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Hello! It's Minnow and I will be providing some tips for the ACT. Although I didn't score a 36 (I got a 34), I hope some of my advice will be of help.
To first begin, we have to break down the ACT. The highest score you can achieve is a 36. The score is calculated by the averages of all the sections individual scores. There are 4 sections to the ACT: Reading, Math, English, and Science. The test will generally take around 3 hours and 30 minutes to complete.
Pros:
It primarily has more questions compared to the SAT. However, the questions are easier and the test is non-adaptive. The ACT also has a benefit over the SAT in the fact that you can take the tests multiple times to focus on an improved super score.
For example, let's say you have a 32 Reading, 32 Math, 26 English, and a 34 Science, you could just focus on the English section the next time to bring your score up. The SAT, on the other hand, would require you to score well in both Reading and English sections to bring up your score. With the new adaptive format, it will be essential that you score well in the first sections of the SAT, otherwise your subject score won't be high.
Cons:
It is a longer test and each question has a shorter answering time than the SAT. There is an additional Science section. This section is more of a graph comprehension type question; It does not ask specific Chemistry, Biology, or Physics questions.
Additionally, there are fewer resources to study for the ACT compared to the SAT.
Preparing for the Exam:
The best way to study is to just practice. Practice makes perfect (If done correctly). My favorite method was setting myself 2 weeks before the exam to take as many practice exams as possible. I'd spend one day doing the Reading and Math section, and then the next day I'd tackle the English and Science. After getting my approximate score, I'd designate a day to go back and review each question I missed and was unsure of. I would repeat this until the exam came up.
However, you don't need to study like this. If you prefer studying a bit each day, maybe split each section into a day and give yourself a month or two. The schedule is up to you, but there are two golden rules to abide to for studying the ACT.
Never study the day or night before the exam: You need a day of rest and to absorb the information
Study for the test, not the material: This doesn't mean not to review your Algebra, but to see how they ask the question. Is there a repeating pattern in the questions you miss? For example in the English section, I would always miss simple Grammar rules. Instead of remembering each rule, I noticed that the general answer for those was *blank* and *blank*. Thus, I started scoring correctly everytime I saw that type of question.
The ACT also doesn't punish you for guessing, so make sure to answer every question!
Subjects
Resources: (Minnow here!)
This is by far my favorite resource for the ACT! It has over 5 practice tests and thousands of practice questions. Although it does cost money, making an ACT account will give you around a year free trial. The tests may be slightly easier for the Science section, but this website has every single resource needed to score in the 30s.
This website primarily focuses upon AP courses, but there are ACT practice questions and tests located on the bottom left. The practice questions will split them into 10 so it is a good way of studying and timing yourself for each chunk. It is also free!!
Although there isn't ACT practice specifically, this website provides good questions over the subjects needed for the exam. It's free and a solid resource to utilize for practice your base.
Any Questions? - teo.teach.educate.opportunity@gmail.com
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