Taking the ACT on Saturday...any advice?

Gothic Walrus

Gothic Walrus

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I'll take anything you can give me - I want a high score (at least 30), and I need all the help I can get. :D

Is there anything I should know about, or any way to raise my score?
 
I do what I did for my normal school schedule, I was nice and relaxed, but thats how I always am. I took the mini-quizzes teachers gave me, and just went in, and did fine. Also some say to eat a big breakfast and sleep a lot, but just eat and sleep as normal. I got a 32, and it didn't really vary from whatever the name of the pre-ACT was really. Good luck.
 
Get a good nights sleep the night before, eat a good breakfast, take some change to the test location so that you can get a snack during the breaks (nothing hurts your score more that being tired or hungry.)

Stay calm.. stressing out will only hurt your score.

Don't get your hopes to high though... even smart people don't break 30. (But don't worry to much... I got a 24 on it when I took it in 7th grade)

Unless you are fighting to get into U of M, 26 is good enough to get into any other university in the state (with a full ride scholarship).

So don't stress.. and don't forget, it isn't the end of the world if you don't kill the test, or if you don't get into your first choice school.

To recap. Stay calm, collected, and treat it like you would any normal test... if you don't know the material by now, there isn't anything you can do to cram for it really quickly.

Of course, there are a few strategies that help, such taking advantage of the way they set up the multiple choice questions. 1 of them is obviously correct. 1 or 2 of the others may seem correct, and one is usually obviously wrong. First remove the one that is obviously wrong. Continue to remove those that are clearly wrong or look wrong under further inspection.

The biggest thing, however is to just be calm and well rested.
 
May I ask why? University of Michigan is great if you go to one of it's worthwhile degree programs, but I'm getting sick of everyone thinking it's God's gift to Michigan in University format just because it has a competitive football team.
 
I agree with the people that say to just relax. That is the best advice I could give. Also taking some of the pre-ACT tests wouldnt hurt, as I too found them to very similar in style to what the ACT will throw at you. I got a 31, so it looks like stoneface one upped me.
 
[quote name='JSweeney']May I ask why? University of Michigan is great if you go to one of it's worthwhile degree programs, but I'm getting sick of everyone thinking it's God's gift to Michigan in University format just because it has a competitive football team.[/quote]

Actually, I was thinking of their aerospace engineering program. Yes...I might just become a rocket scientist. :D

That's another problem I've got right now - I'm still not entirely sure what I want to do with my life. I have a feeling that I'd like engineering, but there are other things that I love to do - like write - that aren't really compatible with each other. I'll figure that out later, though.
 
Well, at least you're smart enough to pick one of the better schools that U of M has. You are aware that even if you didn't get accepted at Uof M Ann Arbor that you could go to U of M Flint or Dearnborn and then transfer, right?

Of course, if you are thinking about scholarships, you may want to look into a few others schools.. full rides to U of M are few and far between unless you are an athelete or a minority.
 
Wow, bluntly put.

My parents got me a whole SAT encyclopedia one time. I read one page and from that I upped my score by 200 points when I re-took it. I know, SAT/ACT are different but they're really pretty much the same.

Here's my ONE piece of valuable information. I don't remember about the ACT, but on the SAT you lose 1/4 of a point for guessing wrong rather than getting a 0 if you leave blank or a +1 for a correct answer.

Most people leave the ones they're not sure about blank for this reason. However, as JSweeney pointed out, there is always 1 OBVIOUSLY wrong answer and you can usually eliminate another as wrong as well. So, if you have 4 questions you're not sure about, but you narrow each down to 3 possible answers, the statistics are in your favor if you close your eyes and guess. You have a 1 in 3 chance of guessing right on 4 questions, and you're only going to lose 1 out of 4 points.

I don't know if that made sense or not but the summary is, if you take out the obviously wrong ones your odds of gaining points outweigh your odds of losing even on a TOTAL GUESS so don't leave anything blank no matter how much they warn you.

Also, for those like me that agonize over every little detail, it gives you the confidence to throw down a guess when you're not 100% sure. Hope that helps, and good luck. By the way, except for incredibly specific programs (like Aerospace) the job you land after you graduate will have more to do with what companies recruit at your school than which one you go to.

And don't forget to come back and let us all know how you did.
 
Ok here's what you do. Get a mismatch of people from your school: a stoner, a jock, a goth, whatever you see fit. Then break into your regional ACT office. Ok fine so I just watched the Perfect Score... Great movie though!
 
[quote name='RedvsBlue']Ok here's what you do. Get a mismatch of people from your school: a stoner, a jock, a goth, whatever you see fit. Then break into your regional ACT office. Ok fine so I just watched the Perfect Score... Great movie though![/quote]

Nah...my home school has far too many stoners for this to work. I'm almost positive that the school is half druggies. :D

Now, at the magnet school I go to in the afternoon, we're all geeks. Again, not enough diversity.

Nice plan though, unoriginal as it may be.
 
Heres some advice! Get off the computer! Quit playing games ! AND STUDY!! Or plan b get rich and pay off your test giver. But I don't see much hope in plan b since you are on a cheap ass web site!


DUH


Just playing!
 
once again, relax, get lota rest the day before, prepare everything (pencil, id, etc.) before hand, and hope that luck is with you. i went to took the test pretty confident but come out with a 900. damn SAT!!
 
[quote name='dynamite99']once again, relax, get lota rest the day before, prepare everything (pencil, id, etc.) before hand, and hope that luck is with you. i went to took the test pretty confident but come out with a 900. damn SAT!![/quote]

I got a 1270 on my PSAT. :lol:
 
[quote name='st0neface']If you wanna start bragging, not only did I get a 32 on my ACT, but I got a 1360 on my SAT.[/quote]

Notice I said PSAT and not SAT? The P would have been emphasized, but the whole word is capitalized. ;)
 
When you're doing the part where you read the passages and answer questions based on the readings, just read the questions and look for the answers in the reading. If you read the passage first and then try to answer the questions, you probably won't have enough time to make it through the entire section.

And U of M's admission standards are ridiculously difficult for the white male. I got a 30 on the ACT and still couldn't get into the school. My 3.44 GPA probably didn't help me much, but after talking to my friend at Michigan I'm kind of glad I just wound up going to State.
 
I scored a 17 when I just guessed on every part of the test except for the math. Which was better than my two previous tests of 16 where I actually read the test and tried to get the right answer. Who knows, you might get lucky and get a 30 by guessing, it worked for me!
 
[quote name='drfrielgood']When you're doing the part where you read the passages and answer questions based on the readings, just read the questions and look for the answers in the reading. If you read the passage first and then try to answer the questions, you probably won't have enough time to make it through the entire section.

And U of M's admission standards are ridiculously difficult for the white male. I got a 30 on the ACT and still couldn't get into the school. My 3.44 GPA probably didn't help me much, but after talking to my friend at Michigan I'm kind of glad I just wound up going to State.[/quote]

Now did they tell you weren't accepted right away, or did they wait list you until a week before classes started? I was accepted at Kettering (then GMI), Wayne State, and MSU. I ended up choosing Wayne State because they offered me the best total package, since thier schools in my area of interest are every bit as good as the others... and on top of it, the were offering the best scholarship.

A week before classes started at Wayne State, I get a letter from U of M telling me that they would not be taking students of the wait list.
Of course, at the moment I'm glad. I have a job and no student loans, while my friends that went to U of M (one of which studied the exact same thing as me) don't have jobs yet and are sitting on mountians of student loans... well, except for the one who was the backup kicker for the Wolverines.
 
[quote name='ted630']I scored a 17 when I just guessed on every part of the test except for the math. Which was better than my two previous tests of 16 where I actually read the test and tried to get the right answer. Who knows, you might get lucky and get a 30 by guessing, it worked for me![/quote]

I hope you are joking. I know children that have taken the test and been able to break 20.
 
As someone who got a 36 on ACT and a 1600 on SAT, I believe I trump you all :). Currently attending Johns Hopkins University on a full scholarship, majoring biomedical engineering.

If the test is this Saturday, there's not much you can do to prep. I recommend just briefly going through your notes (if you have any), but try to stay away from cramming. In fact, I was playing videogames the day before my tests :D. Otherwise, just stick to a routine and don't get freaked out about tests.
 
[quote name='peteyrose']As someone who got a 36 on ACT and a 1600 on SAT, I believe I trump you all :). Currently attending Johns Hopkins University on a full scholarship, majoring biomedical engineering.
[/quote]

Petey, congrats if its true (which I sincerely doubt you will make me believe), but who cares? The fact that you blurted that out leads me to believe that you think it makes a difference to people, and you are kidding yourself. If your personality sucks, PEOPLE WILL HATE YOU, but it might change how much they pretend to like you in front of you. this is the internet, so I'm not going to pass the judgement, but I wanted to....


First off, Walrus, screw what other people say. Don't listen to me either. The ACT dictates how much your debt is going to be. The higher your score, the "better" school you'll get into. Thats BS. when it comes to getting a job, you need a degree and a personality... the rest: scores, grades, schools (unless you attend ivy league) won't matter much. After that, it's all about experience and no one will give a damn where you went to school. I've sat in on many interviews and it all comes down to experience and personality..... You gots to be able to sell yourself.

/end rant
 
1600... thats a perfect score
not even ben stein got that high (1560)
i call bullshit

anyways, my friend did ecstacy his first time the night before SATs, and ended up getting the highest score out of all the males in my school
 
If you are taking the ACT study your biology and chemistry. That part really killed my grade on there. I did really good on math and english, but the science and the writing brought my grade down

I think I got a 27 or so
 
Petey, congrats if its true (which I sincerely doubt you will make me believe), but who cares? The fact that you blurted that out leads me to believe that you think it makes a difference to people, and you are kidding yourself. If your personality sucks, PEOPLE WILL HATE YOU, but it might change how much they pretend to like you in front of you.

Practice what you preach. I'm not sure if you are purposely trying to be hostile, but that is the read I'm getting. I don't know if it's more from concern or jealousy though.

this is the internet, so I'm not going to pass the judgement, but I wanted to....

But from your tone, it is apparent you passed some sort of judgement. Face it, unless he furnishes copies of his results sheet (which even that can be easily doctored) no one is going to belive him. Without proof that post is just empty words... but you don't have to get hostile to point that out.


First off, Walrus, screw what other people say. Don't listen to me either.

Funny, most of us have given good general information, and those of us living in his area have been giving specifics based on the local colleges.
He's actually gotten some good advice in this thread. To tell him to just ignore it is sheer folly.


The ACT dictates how much your debt is going to be. The higher your score, the "better" school you'll get into.

Only in part. Your race, ethnic background, academic performance and athletic ability all play in to that equations as well.


Thats BS. when it comes to getting a job, you need a degree and a personality... the rest: scores, grades, schools (unless you attend ivy league) won't matter much.

You need knowledge, not a degree. Even if you go to an Ivy league school, if you are an incompetant fool, you wont hang around your job long (unless daddy or mommy happen to be your boss.)
College is the best way for most people to gain that knowledge, and the degree signifies that the bearer has at least a basic or general idea of the field in which they studied.





After that, it's all about experience and no one will give a damn where you went to school. I've sat in on many interviews and it all comes down to experience and personality..... You gots to be able to sell yourself.

Yeah, but the burden is a little different and a bit higher when you aren't hiring for fast food or retail jobs (I kid, I kid)
 
[quote name='CaseyRyback']If you are taking the ACT study your biology and chemistry. That part really killed my grade on there. I did really good on math and english, but the science and the writing brought my grade down

I think I got a 27 or so[/quote]

You did well on your english section, not good.
 
[quote name='JSweeney']
Practice what you preach. I'm not sure if you are purposely trying to be hostile, but that is the read I'm getting. I don't know if it's more from concern or jealousy though. [/quote]

Yeah, I come off a little harsh sometimes. I meant well....

But from your tone, it is apparent you passed some sort of judgement. Face it, unless he furnishes copies of his results sheet (which even that can be easily doctored) no one is going to belive him. Without proof that post is just empty words... but you don't have to get hostile to point that out.
Click to expand...

I knew that it was going to seem like it, but I just couldn't seem to change the wording to get my tone right. I'm a non-hostile type of guy


Funny, most of us have given good general information, and those of us living in his area have been giving specifics based on the local colleges.
He's actually gotten some good advice in this thread. To tell him to just ignore it is sheer folly.
Click to expand...

My post was to give some points about doing your own thing and make light of the situation, everyone (who didn't just post their scores) has definitely given some great advice.

My post was to be lighthearted and to give completely vague information. Thank you for dissecting my post JSweeney and shedding light on what was intended to be the underlying principles.

Yeah, but the burden is a little different and a bit higher when you aren't hiring for fast food or retail jobs (I kid, I kid)
Click to expand...

That just hurts...... my boss told me today that I might make assistant manager in 10 years or so and you just had to crush my good news. Damn.... there goes the fries timer again....
 
[quote name='"jdpimp"'][quote name='JSweeney']




Funny, most of us have given good general information, and those of us living in his area have been giving specifics based on the local colleges.
He's actually gotten some good advice in this thread. To tell him to just ignore it is sheer folly.
Click to expand...

My post was to give some points about doing your own thing and make light of the situation, everyone (who didn't just post their scores) has definitely given some great advice.

My post was to be lighthearted and to give completely vague information. Thank you for dissecting my post JSweeney and shedding light on what was intended to be the underlying principles.
[/quote]

Wow. That was a great backhanded compliment! Good Job!! :)

Of course, You do have a good point about he people just coming in and posting thier scores... people have been trying to use this a bully pulpit for them to post ACT scores and try to make themselve appear more intelligent with no real work.
 
[quote name='weimerwanger']1600... thats a perfect score
not even ben stein got that high (1560)
[/quote]

During my senior year, this straight-C student got a 1600 on the SAT. It was pretty amazing. Needless to say all the straight-A students were pissed!! :lol:
 
My only advice is that you should do whatever you can to relax and eliminate stress. When I took the ACT and SAT (many years ago), I didn't care how I did. In fact, I was actually hung over for the SAT. My scores were good enough that I got into U-M (I still live in AA). Meanwhile, many of the kids who took prep courses and were stressing out about the tests did terribly and ended up retaking them to try for better scores. If you are worried and stressed, you spend too much time second-guessing your answers. Be confident and decisive and keep moving forward!
 
[quote name='weimerwanger']1600... thats a perfect score
not even ben stein got that high (1560)
i call bullshit
[/quote]

Ben Stein's score is not comparable to recent scores, since the test was recentered in April 1995, raising scores by as much as 100 points. That's why you never really heard about people getting 1600s until the mid to late nineties (before then, a 1600 was newspaper-worthy news).
 
In addition to doing all the things previously mentioned on this thread (i.e. relax, don't work yourself up, move on if a question is too hard, etc.), there are just a few more things I would like to throw in:

- Remember, the ACT does not take points off for wrong answers, so make sure you have at least something down for every question.

- Wear a t-shirt underneath a sweatshirt. Michigan weather can be brutal around this time of year, and if your test location doesn't have a good heating system, it'll be much harder to concentrate if you're not properly dressed. You can always take the sweatshirt off if you get too hot.

- Bring a watch. You can't always trust the proctor, so it's safe to have your own timepiece where you can see it easily.

Good luck!
 
[quote name='chosen1s']And don't forget to come back and let us all know how you did.[/quote]

Since you all helped ease my fears, it's time to see how I did...

English: 35
Math: 32
Reading: 36 (!)
Science Reasoning: 35

That comes out to an average of 34.5 out of 36...which is then rounded up to a 35. :D

It's nice to know that someone thinks I'm smart... :D
 
Wow, haven't seen this thread in awhile. I don't recheck threads frequently so I missed the ensuing discussion.

I've had this discussion A LOT, believe me. I'll be the first to tell you that SAT and ACT scores mean jack in terms of success in college or life.

You want proof of my scores? I have a scan too. Let me get home and I'll upload it to my FTP. But really, what's the point? If I lied about getting a 1600, I would just be lying to myself. I got into Johns Hopkins regardless, one of the premier universities in the world and I'm majoring in their most esteemed major, so that should tell you something. Besides, it's not as if I'm getting anything out of posting that I got that score.

Sorry if anybody took my statement as bragging, but people were stating their scores and I just added mine. If you know me in real life, I'm probably one of the most humble people you'll ever meet. (obviously, me saying that has no significance, but that's what my friends and classmates say about me).

But what am I doing explaining myself to anonymous people on a videogame message board? :lol:

EDIT: My brother got 1600 on his SAT and 36 on his ACT as well. The scores came out last week. I guess it runs in the family :lol:
 
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