looking for an 2022世界杯入门名单? you’ve come to the right place! whether you prefer practicing online or with a traditional paper test, we’ve got you covered with both an interactive online version and a downloadable pdf. which is the best choice for you? we recommend that you pick the version that matches how you’ll be taking the actual act exam on test day.

paper pdf version: free 2022世界杯入门名单 with answers and explanations

magoosh’s full-length act sample test has been perfected over the years by magoosh’s act experts, who have decades of experience teaching the act exam. practice tests are an essential part of act prep, so this is a great place to start.

to access our practice test pdf (featuring all act sections, including the optional essay, as well as the answers and explanations at the end), just enter your email:

again, on test day, if you’ll be taking the act exam on paper, then we do recommend that you practice the test in that format. why? ultimately, you want your practice to be as close as possible to the real deal so that you don’t run into any surprises at the test center.

but if you’ll be taking the actual exam on a computer, then head to the section below to practice in that format.

online version: take the free 2022世界杯入门名单 on a computer

you can take the entire practice test online, or you can sample individual test sections. either way, enter your email below to head to our 2022世界杯入门名单 start page:

our 2022世界杯入门名单 is designed to provide an authentic testing experience that mirrors what you’ll face on exam day. wondering about the time commitment? you’ll tackle 215 questions across english, mathematics, reading, science, and the optional writing section in about 2 hours and 55 minutes (without breaks) or 3 hours and 35 minutes with the optional writing section.

at the end of your online practice exam, you’ll receive estimated scores for each section as well as your composite score. plus, you’ll get a detailed breakdown of your strengths and areas for improvement by question type. you can also review each question and its explanation.

practice test options

pressed for time and can’t commit to the full 3-hour test? no worries! if you have just 35 minutes, you can try out any individual section. below are the options available on our practice test start page:
 

for the most accurate, test-like experience and act practice score estimate, we recommend taking the full test with all its sections. however, completing a single section will still provide valuable insights into your current performance.

table of contents

• what to expect on the 2022世界杯入门名单
• practice test structure and features
• the english section
• the math section
• the reading section
• the science section
• the writing section (optional)
• is the actual act harder than the 2022世界杯入门名单?
• next steps after taking the free 2022世界杯入门名单
• official 2022世界杯入门名单s

what to expect on the 2022世界杯入门名单

our free 2022世界杯入门名单 offers more than mere practice questions; it’s a thorough preparation resource designed to get you ready for the real exam. here’s a detailed overview of what you’ll experience:

practice test structure and features

realistic: our practice test mimics the actual act in terms of format, types of questions, and time limits. you’ll go through the exam just as you would on test day, getting accustomed to the pacing and pressure of the official test.

immediate results: after finishing the online version of our practice test, you’ll receive your scores along with comprehensive explanations for each question. this helps you understand not only the correct answers but also the reasoning behind them, and why other choices are incorrect. if you’re taking the paper version of the practice exam, you’ll first need to manually tally up your correct answers to determine your final score.

easy-to-use platform (online version): a built-in timer keeps you aware of your progress. you can highlight or annotate passages as needed. there’s also an on-screen, basic calculator available during the math section. (though, you can also use your own approved calculator, which we recommend if that’s what you’ll be doing on test day.)

the english section

the english section evaluates your understanding of standard written english, rhetorical skills, and ability to improve the clarity and effectiveness of written text.

question types

• usage and mechanics: focus on grammar, punctuation, sentence structure, and usage. you’ll be asked to correct grammatical errors and improve sentence clarity.
• rhetorical skills: assess your ability to analyze and improve the organization, style, and tone of passages.

tips for success

• review grammar rules: refresh your knowledge of fundamental grammar and punctuation rules.
• practice editing: regularly practice editing passages to enhance your ability to spot errors and make effective revisions.

the math section

the mathematics section tests your mathematical skills typically acquired in courses up to the beginning of grade 12.

question types

• multiple-choice questions: all questions are multiple-choice, with five answer choices each.

content areas

• pre-algebra: basic operations, fractions, decimals, percentages, and simple probability.
• elementary algebra: operations with algebraic expressions, solving linear equations and inequalities.
• intermediate algebra: quadratic equations, systems of equations, exponents, radicals, and complex numbers.
• coordinate geometry: graphing equations, slope, distance, midpoint, and conic sections.
• plane geometry: properties and relations of plane figures, angles, circles, triangles, and polygons.
• trigonometry: trigonometric functions, identities, and solving trigonometric equations.

tips for success

• understand concepts: strive to understand the underlying mathematical principles.
• use your calculator wisely: familiarize yourself with your calculator’s functions before test day.
• solve practice problems: regular practice helps reinforce learning and identify areas for improvement.

the reading section

the reading section measures your ability to read closely, reason logically about texts using evidence, and integrate information from multiple sources.

about the passages

• long passages: includes four passages, each approximately 750 words in length.
• diverse content: covers topics in prose fiction, social science, humanities, and natural science.

question types

• key ideas and details: main ideas, supporting details, and summaries.
• craft and structure: understanding word meanings, analyzing text structure, and determining the author’s purpose.
• integration of knowledge and ideas: compare viewpoints, evaluate arguments, or analyze themes.

tips for success

• active reading: annotate key points, summarize paragraphs, and predict questions.
• time management: practice pacing yourself—you have about 8 minutes and 45 seconds per passage.

the science section

the science section assesses your interpretation, analysis, evaluation, reasoning, and problem-solving skills required in the natural sciences.

about the passages

• data representation: graphs, tables, and other schematic forms.
• research summaries: descriptions of experiments.
• conflicting viewpoints: multiple related hypotheses or views that are inconsistent with one another.

question types

• interpretation of data: analyze and interpret scientific data.
• scientific investigation: understand experimental tools, procedures, and design.
• evaluation of models, inferences, and experimental results: judge the validity of scientific information and hypotheses.

tips for success

• familiarize with scientific graphs and tables: practice interpreting data in various formats.
• focus on data and experiments: rely on the information presented rather than prior knowledge.

the writing section (optional)

the writing section measures your skill in writing a unified, coherent essay on a given topic.

you’ll be presented with a prompt that defines an issue and provides three different perspectives. your task is to develop your own perspective, analyze the connections between your perspective and at least one other, and support your ideas with logical reasoning and examples.

tips for success

• plan before you write: spend a few minutes outlining your essay.
• address multiple perspectives: discuss how your viewpoint relates to the provided perspectives.
• use clear and effective language: focus on clarity, coherence, and organization.

is the actual act harder than the 2022世界杯入门名单?

many students wonder if the actual act is tougher than practice exams. our practice test is crafted to closely match the difficulty and style of the official test. however, certain factors can make the real exam feel more challenging:

nervousness on test day: anxiety can affect your performance, leading to mistakes you might not make during practice. it’s important to manage stress effectively.

testing environment: the strict rules and unfamiliar setting of the test center can add to the pressure, potentially impacting your concentration.

time management: the act’s time limits can be a significant challenge, and pacing yourself is essential.

tips to overcome these challenges

recreate exam conditions: practice under conditions similar to the actual test. sit in a quiet place, adhere strictly to timing, and eliminate distractions.

increase stamina: regularly take full-length practice tests to build your endurance and get used to the length of the exam.

stress management techniques: incorporate relaxation methods like deep breathing exercises, mindfulness, or positive visualization to help reduce anxiety.

next steps after taking the free 2022世界杯入门名单

well done on completing the practice test! that’s a crucial step in your preparation journey. here’s how to make the most of it:

1. carefully review your performance

identify mistakes: for every question you got wrong, understand why. was it a lack of knowledge, a careless error, or misreading the question?

look for patterns: notice if there are particular topics or question types that consistently give you trouble. this will help you pinpoint areas that need more attention.

2. set clear objectives

focus on weaknesses: direct your study efforts toward the subjects and skills where you need the most improvement.

create a study plan: develop a realistic schedule that includes time for reviewing content, practicing questions, and taking additional practice tests. you can also follow one of magoosh’s act study schedules.

3. continuing practicing

monitor your progress: take more 2022世界杯入门名单s periodically to see how you’re improving.

refine your strategies: use the insights from each practice session to adjust your approach, whether it’s time management, question prioritization, or problem-solving techniques.

official 2022世界杯入门名单s

taking one practice test is great, but you’ll want to take more than one before your exam! we strongly suggest boosting your preparation with official act practice exams as well. a free full-length paper version practice test is available on the official act website for download. within the pdf, you’ll find the answer key for that test at the very end. that will help you figure out your act scores: the composite score (overall score), as well as your sectional scores.

for purchase, you can buy the official act prep guide book. a new version is released pretty much annually, and the latest 2024-2025 book contains 9 practice tests. however, older versions of the book also contain practice tests, so you might be able to find those at a lower price (or even free if your library has a copy). we’ve reviewed some of those past versions here:

• official act prep guide 2021-2022
• the official act prep guide 2016-2017
• real act prep guide, 3rd edition

be aware that the official act materials do not contain the in-depth text and video explanations that magoosh offers for its own questions. still, those are excellent sources of practice.

a final word

your act score has many implications for the college admissions process, which can definitely be intimidating. but taking an 2022世界杯入门名单 is a great first step towards mastering the exam!

for more 2022世界杯入门名单s and practice questions, along with lessons covering all the content and strategies you need to know for the exam, take a look at a magoosh act premium plan. happy studying!

the post free 2022世界杯入门名单 – online or paper pdf, with explanations appeared first on magoosh blog | act.

your act percentile ranking tells you how you did compared to everyone else on the act test. act percentiles are, in some ways, even more important than your actual act score. why? because they provide an easy way to compare your performance on the act to other test-takers overall, providing you with important information for your act prep.

read on for everything you need to know about act score percentiles.

how are act score percentiles calculated?

act percentiles are calculated by comparing one act score to the distribution of scores of all the students who took the act at a given time. on your act score report, the lowest percentile possible is the 1st percentile and the top percentile is the 99th percentile (it’s impossible to score at the 100th percentile because that would mean that your act score is higher than your score, which makes no sense!).

as a standardized test, the act is intentionally designed to get most students scoring at the 50th percentile mark. the following infographic might help you visualize the act score distribution:

act scores and their corresponding percentiles tend to stay the same year to year. so, for example, scoring a 32+ typically means you did better than 97% of test-takers and scoring a 26 typically means that you did better than 82% of test-takers. (note that these scores don’t mean that you scored a 97% or a 82%, respectively, on the test.)
 

how to find your act score percentile

on your act score report, you’ll see your act score breakdown represented by several percentile scores—you’ll not only be able to see your composite percentile, percentiles for each subject area subscore, and percentiles for stem and ela subscores, but you’ll also see these percentiles in terms of your u.s. rank and your state rank.

here’s a snippet from a model act score report:
 

if you haven’t taken the act yet and you’re wondering where your practice test scores fall in the act distribution, you would first need to make sure that your raw score is converted to your scaled score for each subject area (except for the act writing test) as well as the composite score.

then, you can use the below act percentile chart to match all five scores to their corresponding percentiles, based on the most recently-released data. (to score your essay and determine your act writing score percentile, check out this post about what makes a good act writing score.)

act percentiles for composite score and subscores

this act percentiles information is provided by act.org.

*this chart represents the cumulative percentages rather than percentile scores. if any of your scores correspond with 100, you would be at the 99th percentile.

what is a good act percentile?

while it may be useful to know your act percentile as determined by the national or statewide distribution of scores, it’s not necessarily the best tool to determine what a good act percentile might be for you.

you may think that scoring at the 90th percentile nationally at least means that you have a competitive score for any school in the country (and to be fair, that would be the case for the vast majority of colleges and universities).

but for elite schools (where the average act score is around 33), scoring even at the 95th percentile might not be enough, especially if the rest of your application has some flaws. on the flip side, scoring below the 90th percentile mark could still allow you to be a great candidate at top state universities around the country.

this is because for pretty much any school in the u.s., a good act score percentile is anywhere in the middle 50% (25th percentile-75th percentile) of the score distribution of accepted students specifically at the schools you’re interested in —and that differs notably from school to school.

for example, at the prestigious university of chicago, their 25th percentile score of accepted students is 21 while their 75th percentile is 36. meanwhile, at the university of texas-austin, a phenomenal school in its own right, their middle 50% scores range from 27 to 33 (act test scores were not a required component for application to the class of 2025).

while schools don’t release their own act score percentile charts, they do release the score range of their middle 50% of students. you can check out more score ranges of the top 100 u.s. universities in our post about act scores. use this data to help you figure out the middle 50% ranges of your target schools—or better yet, the scores you need to go beyond the 75th percentile in order to maximize your chances of getting in.

how do colleges use act percentiles?

for college admissions offices, your act percentile is probably not as important as your act score. this is because the school’s act score range (as determined by the middle 50% at their school) is the information that admissions officers have handy; so, they don’t actually need to calculate your act percentile to see how your score falls into the middle 50% score range.

that being said, your national act percentile can provide an easy way of determining how you stack up to other students applying. because applicants send in scores from the act and sat, college admissions teams need some way to compare these scores. so for admissions officers who don’t have the act to sat score conversion memorized (a.k.a. most of them!), they are likely to take notice of your percentile rank as well.

how to use act score percentiles to improve your score

if you have plans to retake the act, the act percentiles provide valuable perspective to help you be strategic with your test prep: how much you might need to study and which subject areas take higher priority.

let’s take a look at our model score report once more:
 

with just a cursory look at the scores, you can see that this student is stronger at the stem subjects than the ela subjects. but the percentiles better show the magnitude of difference between these two areas and provide more of a sense of urgency to focus on ela.

although it is certainly fine to be stronger in one subject than another, you don’t want any one subject to drag down your score or percentile too much. colleges would use this information to note that you are weak in certain areas.

looking at this student’s scores alone can also make it seem like they might have to spend roughly the same amount of time studying for reading and english. or that the student might need to spend more time bringing up their math score to be more on par with their science score. when looking at the percentiles, however, you can see how the difference between the student’s performance on english and reading is significant and that they should prioritize studying for reading before other tests.

the state rank also provides some important perspective when it comes to prioritizing what to study for the act retake. if you’re only applying to public schools in your state, for example, your state percentile rank might give you a better sense of your competition than the national rank.

if your state rank is better than your national rank, you may be able to somewhat reduce the pressure to do well on a retake; conversely, if your state rank is worse than your national rank, you’d have to prepare yourself to hit the books.

in either case, you’d still want to dedicate as much time as possible to studying because the higher the act score, the more competitive of an applicant you’ll be.

key takeaway

hopefully, after reading this post, you’ll have a better understanding of act percentiles and the scores you should aim for (if you haven’t taken the act yet). if you have, then hopefully you have a better sense of whether you’re on track with your current act percentile or if you need to aim higher.

if it’s the latter, we have plenty of resources to help you to improve your act score! our blog is full of free resources, such as how to improve your act score by 10 points or how to structure your act study schedule.

for even more structured support and practice, you can check out our magoosh act app, which is guaranteed to increase your score by 4 points.

wherever you may be on your act journey, we at magoosh wish you all the best!

the post act percentiles – how to find act score percentiles appeared first on magoosh blog | act.

act test dates 2024-2025

curious about act 2024-2025 test dates? here’s the act schedule for 2024-2025 so you can find the next act test date that fits your planner! unfortunately, none of the 2024-2025 tests will be available as act at-home tests. it’s not clear whether act still plans to roll out this option, which was announced in 2020.

* act national test dates exclude new york and international locations.

act registration and fees

you’ll register for the act on act’s website. the act costs $69 without writing and $94 with writing. late registration (after the official act sign up dates) is $38. standby testing is $69 (but can be refunded under certain circumstances). to change the date or center, it’s $44. score reports to more than four colleges cost $19 for the fifth and sixth, then $19 each. to get your test information released (a copy of your questions and answers), you’ll need to pay $32 if the order is placed before the test begins, and $40 after.

faqs about act test dates and locations

now that you’ve read our guide, you may still have some questions. here are our answers to some of the most frequently asked questions!

the post act test dates 2024-2025: how to pick the best date for you appeared first on magoosh blog | act.

why would you care what the average act score by state is? a lot of colleges and universities have admissions officers who focus on a particular region. believe me, they’re more than familiar with what the average score looks like in your area! also, if you’re applying to college in a particular state with a lot of in-state applicants, it’s good to know approximately where you stand in terms of the admissions pool by comparing yourself to local test takers.

so if your score is slightly lower than average for the college—but far above average in your state—it might not hurt your chances as much as you think it might. in fact, it may even help you!

state act score averages

here are the average act scores by state, plus information about the percentage of students who meet national performance benchmarks for the united states. these are composite act scores or scores for the overall act test.

this chart contains data on the percent of high school graduates who took the act, average composite scores, and the average scores by subject. the data is organized by u.s. state.


 
data from act average scores by state (pdf), provided by the act.

that’s a lot of information, so let’s break it down. the table gives us the average composite score for each state, as well as the percentage of students from each state meeting college-readiness benchmarks in english, reading, science, and math.

what’s a readiness benchmark?

if you take a look at the 2023 national act profile report (pdf), the most recent report released by act, you can see that they take another measure into consideration for college readiness.

act has done a lot of research (and i invite you to read it), but for those of you on a tight schedule, this is how the act evaluates college readiness:

• act scores (or other standardized test scores) are a valuable predictor of college success for high school students, taken in consideration with high school grades and other factors.
• the “benchmark” scores for each section show the threshold above which high school graduates can expect to be reasonably prepared for college courses in this subject area. more specifically, the act explains, these indicators show the percentage of students who “have a 50% chance of obtaining a b or higher or about a 75% chance of obtaining a c or higher in corresponding credit-bearing first-year college courses.”
• in each state, a different percentage of test-takers meets or exceeds the benchmarks every year.

average act scores by the numbers

what do those scores mean in a national context? in 2023, the national average act score was 19.5 (source: 2023 national act profile report). the breakdown looks like this:

however, keep in mind that these numbers come from an incredibly large pool of students (over 2 million, according to the national center for education statistics!) each of whom is taking the act for different reasons.

so the overall averages are really not all that helpful in contextualizing your score. instead, let’s look at how to contextualize average sat scores by state and how you can use them to your advantage.

what average act scores by state mean for everyone

benchmarks are one way of determining college readiness and what constitutes a “good” act score, and they’re more reliable than comparing your score to the 19.5 average. but as we’ve seen, test scores in one state are not perfectly comparable to scores from another state—the 100% test rate in some states shows us that, in places, all students, not just those who are determined to go to college, take this exam. this most likely lowers that state’s act composite score.

a better way to put your score in context

in other words, to get a better idea of how your scores stack up, it can be helpful to look at data from a smaller pool of students—preferably some who have had a similar education.

1. first of all, you can look at average act scores for your state.although you will find that scores don’t vary drastically between states, you may live in a slightly less or more competitive one.
2. next, you can look at average act scores for your high school.many students can access this data on their high school’s “profile” sheet. this might be posted on your school’s website, or you can ask your college counseling department for it. in fact, this is a really crucial piece of paper. did you know that this is the info colleges use to understand how your high school compares to other high schools, as well as how you compare with to fellow students? information is valuable, people!
3. compare them to the average act scores at the colleges or universities you are targeting.if you don’t have a college list yet (or even if you do), i highly recommend doing some exploratory research by reading our comprehensive post on act scores, which has a great table you can use to find the average test scores at the top 100 u.s. universities.

   as you might expect, more selective schools have high average scores (even up to the highest possible score of 36!), while less selective schools have lower average scores. but keep in mind that these are usually ranges–you don’t need to get the maximum score of 36 to get into a highly selective school (though it won’t hurt!).

the magoosh answer

your act score can be a very important factor in determining college admissions. so make sure to arm yourself with all of the above facts and figures before you set your act goals. but, it’s also important to keep in mind that your act scores are only one part of who you are as an applicant, and you have lots of other talents to offer a college or university!

and, don’t forget the most important person to be comparing yourself to is…you.

so, if you studied hard and increased your act score from a 16 to a 20, that is a huge win! you are now way better prepared than “average you” was before. and that—rather than the average act scores by state—is what really counts at the end of the day.

the post average act scores by state (2022-2023 update) appeared first on magoosh blog | act.

click the links below to go straight to that section, or keep reading to get everything you need to know act scores!

• how are act scores calculated?
• what is the highest act score?
• what is a good act score?
• act scores for the top 100 u.s. universities
• how act scores can help you win scholarships
• should i cancel my act score if i get a bad score?

how are act scores calculated?

the act test score range is between 1 and 36. there are two types of scores that fall in this range: your section scores and your composite score.

section scores

the act exam comprises four sections:

• english (with an optional essay)
• math
• reading
• science

the score on each section is calculated by converting the raw score—the number of questions you answered correctly in a given section—to a scaled score in that 1-36 range. (there are no penalties for questions with an incorrect answer).

if you’re thinking “aw man, do i need to know a formula to figure out my practice act results??” — never fear! we actually have this handy dandy score calculator where you can plug in your raw scores to figure out your section scores. you can also check out our act raw score conversation chart for a sense of how many questions you need to answer correctly to get a certain scaled score.

composite scores

to make your composite, or overall, score, the test maker then averages your four scores on all sections. this is also scored using the 1-36 act scale.

so what is a good act composite score? many factors will help you determine what a good act composite score is for you. but before we get into that, know that the composite score is not the only score that matters! the act score report will provide you even more information about your test-taking experience in the form of subscores.

subscores

the reading, writing, and math sections also have categories with their own score ranges, as noted in the table below:

percentiles

finally, last but definitely not least, you’ll see your percentile. or, rather, percentiles.

your act percentiles compare your scores to the scores of other test-takers. in your score report, you’ll be able to see where you stand both in terms of your composite score and your section scores.

if you scored in the 90th percentile, for example, you scored better than 90% (or 90 out of every 100) test-takers. if you scored in the 50th percentile, you scored better than half of your peers.

what is the highest act score?

seeing as the act score range is between 1 and 36, naturally, the highest score that one can receive on the act is a 36. here are some facts to know about the max act score:

• in 2020, only 5,579 students (out of 1.67 million test takers) scored a perfect 36 on the act (source: act.org).
• you can miss up to five questions on the act and still earn a 36 (depending on what sections you miss them in!)
• the 99^th percentile of test takers includes those who earn a 35 or 34 on the act.

getting the highest act score, while an amazing feat, is nothing worth breaking your back over. sure, a perfect score does make your application all the more appealing—colleges love to brag about the percentage of perfect-scoring applicants they’ve admitted each year. and a 36 will definitely get your application moved to the top of the pile at less competitive institutions.

still, a 36 was worth a lot more ten or fifteen years ago. not only have many colleges and scholarships adopted more well-rounded admissions approaches to giving out letters of acceptance and/or monetary awards, but the number of students getting a perfect score on the act is also growing every year—truly an indication of just how competitive the college admissions process is becoming.

my advice? if you end up scoring in the 34 or above range on the act, it might be best if you’re trying to wow admissions committees through other aspects of your application. this advice is particularly relevant to admissions at ivy leagues and other competitive schools; some of these schools have a whopping quarter of their entering class scoring perfectly on the act or sat.

but if you feel like getting the highest act score can help you shine at less competitive colleges, make sure to check out our post on perfect act score stories to know how it’s done!

what is a good act score?

the act, like its cousin the sat, is a standardized test meant to measure both knowledge gained in high school and potential to succeed in a college setting. the higher the score, the more likely you will get into the colleges of your choice.

that being said, there’s no straight answer on what is a good or bad score; it depends entirely on you, your goals, your grades, your extracurriculars, the schools you want to apply to, and a variety of other factors. a passing score on the act for someone else might not be a passing score for you and vice versa.

furthermore, while most schools care about the composite score, some will look specifically for your subject area scores. so even a number isn’t just a single number.

objectively speaking, a score of 32 or higher would put you in a competitive position for any school that you choose apply to. if that’s your goal, check out this video by magoosh expert kristin on how to get the highest act score:

but unless you want to go to super-elite schools, you might find it more useful to focus on your gpa and extracurriculars than aiming for the max score. that’s where it becomes useful to look at school rank when deciding what’s a good score on the act.

good scores by grade level and school rank

we’ve crunched some numbers and come up with what could be considered good scores, based on your ultimate school goals as well as your grade level. after all, a good score for a sophomore (who’s maybe taking the preact instead) won’t be the same as a good score for a senior.

please note that the numbers on the act scoring chart are loose projections— a lot of factors affect how high of a score you need to achieve. act students with lower scores may still get into their dream schools and students with top scores may not (you can skip to the section on act scores for the top 100 u.s. universities to see the competitive score ranges for a given school). still, this is a good place to start as you plan your act test prep. you can choose between a live cohorted class with an instructor (which includes all our lessons and practice questions) or access to the self-study option by itself.

good scores by section

so those are good composite scores. but what does a good sectional score look like on the act? as we describe in our post on good act english scores, most people would consider any score above the average (around 20 per section, though this varies slightly by year) to be “good.”

however, if you’re applying to very competitive schools, aim for the 90th percentile or higher. this translates to the following scores:

• english: 20.1
• math: 20.4
• reading: 21.2
• science: 20.6

meanwhile, act writing is scored slightly differently. so what makes a good act writing score? here, a 9+ puts you in the range for the most competitive colleges.

the general guidelines for a “good score” by section also apply to preact scoring (though you won’t find an essay on that exam!). however, this is not the case for act aspire, which uses entirely different scoring scales.

average scores

so by now, you know the basic facts and may already have an idea on how you’d score on the act, either because you have taken real or practice act tests or you can convert your sat to act score.

but where do you stand compared to the average test-taker?

the average exam score was 19.9 (composite) in the 2023-2024 school year (source: act.org). basically, if you scored above 21 overall, you’re ahead of the curve.

to see how far ahead of the curve you are, or the points you’d need to score to reach 21, looking at act percentiles is a good place to start.

if you’re feeling super competitive, you can also check out how your score compares locally in average act scores by state.

act scores for the top 100 u.s. universities

though not the only piece in the college applications puzzle, your act score is the first thing most admissions counselors see. if you don’t score in the same range as most of the current students, it is going to be very hard to convince them that you would be the perfect fit. that’s why we provided for you, in the table below, the 25th-75th percentile scores (also known as the “middle 50%” scores) for the top 100 u.s. universities.

what do all those numbers mean? in short, the middle-scoring 50% of incoming students scored within this range. 25% of incoming students scored below the lower number, while 25% of incoming students scored above the higher number. everybody else (the middle 50%) scored between the two.

here’s an approximation of what the distribution of score percentiles could look like:

with all that said, take a look at the score ranges in 2019 below. you can search by school–if your schools of interest rank in the top 100, you’ll find it on this table. if the school’s middle 50% aren’t reported, take a look at the scores at similarly-ranked schools.

act score range for the top 100 u.s. universities

data from the u.s. news & world report: national universities ranking.

what are the score ranges for the ivy league?

ah, the $200,000 (and rising) question! no faffing about. although the ivy league score ranges were featured in the above chart, here they are again for your convenience:

if you’re wondering about the relative “value” of the sat vs. act in ivy league admissions, our act expert, kristin, does a great job of explaining that in this video:

final word? remember that when applying to the ivies, it’s important for your whole application to, well, sparkle.

if you’re scoring slightly below the middle 50% for your dream ivy (or any of your dream schools, really), it’s worth putting in the time to pull it up. maximize those chances!

how act scores can help you win scholarships

yup, a strong score can put you in the running for merit-based scholarships. but just what is that strong score for scholarships? as in the case of college admissions, there’s no one magic number.

if you’re scoring in the 30s (top tenth percentile), that’s a great place to start. on the other hand, you can still get a scholarship even if you’re scoring in the mid-20s. learn more in our post on good act score for scholarships.

should i cancel my act score if i get a bad score?

if you get your scores and find that you’ve scored significantly below your target score, you might be tempted to cancel your scores, worrying that colleges would penalize you for having low scores on your record. but there are a few reasons why you should definitely not cancel your scores.

• first and foremost, if you take the act more than once, most colleges only care about the highest act score you earn. and that’s true even if you do a little worse on the second try, so it’s just best to keep all the options on the table by not canceling scores.
• other colleges superscore act results, meaning that if your highest subscores for each section are spread out across different test dates, colleges will only focus on those highest scores. it’s like making a standardized test version of frankenstein, but using only the best parts!
  • for example, maybe you score really well on math and science but not so great on reading and writing. if you cancel your scores, you’d risk those great math and science scores that could potentially be superscored with better future results in reading and writing.
• another reason not to cancel your scores is that you’d be giving up a clear-cut set of results that explains your strengths and weaknesses when your scores come out. even “bad” results are an invaluable tool for getting great scores next time.

a final word

whew! that’s everything you need to know about act test scores (and probably more)! if you’re curious about how to boost your score to hit your ideal range, check out how to improve your act score by 10 points.

as a reward for sticking this post out and filling your head with all kinds of useful act information, check out how your scores compare to those of famous people. now you’ll know!

the post act scores: everything you need to know appeared first on magoosh blog | act.

start improving your act writing score (and everything else) today with magoosh!

act writing: essay percentiles

the act essay is scored from 1-6 in four categories by two graders. this gives you four scores from 2-12. you then receive a final act essay score from 2-12 that is the average of these four scores. this is the score you will be reporting to colleges. for more detail on how the essay is scored, make sure you check out rachel’s article on act essay scores.

here’s the breakdown for act essay scores and percentiles for the 2023-2024 reporting period:

as you can see from this table, the mean, or average, score on the act writing section is 6. it’s a good idea to aim for at least the 75th percentile, so in this case a good act writing score would be an 8 or above. a 9 or above would put you in the 97th percentile, which is great!

of course, a lot depends on the schools to which you apply (this thorough rundown on act scores has more info). generally, the more selective the school, the higher your score should be to be competitive.

universities that require the act writing will almost always have an average score range on their admissions website, so make sure you do your research. if you aspire to ivy league or other highly-selective schools, a 9 is the threshold you should try your best to reach to be safe.

however, most schools do not provide a cut-off score, so theoretically a below-average score will not eliminate you from being considered for admission. then again, it won’t help you either.

if you are ever concerned that your essay score is inaccurate, however, you can ask for your essay to be re-scored. the $58 fee for the re-score will be refunded if you do get a higher score.

takeaways

so what’s the takeaway from all of this? really, a few key points:

• research the schools you plan to apply to, and see which of them require the act writing test.
• at the least, shoot for an 8+ overall score for a “good” act writing score.
• a score of 9+ is an ideal score for applications to selective schools.
• if you believe your essay has been mis-scored, you may request a re-score for a fee.
• don’t panic!

act essay grader

if you’re coming to this post after taking your first 2022世界杯入门名单, you might be wondering how the heck you’re supposed to even grade your essay. you’re thinking, “what even is my act essay score?”

to start, let your essay sit for a day or two before grading it (it’s helpful to get some distance). then, follow the official scoring rubric from act, and ask a trusted friend/teacher/parent to do the same. be as objective as possible as you grade—you won’t do yourself any favors by inflating your score!

then, use our handy act essay grading tool to find your score:

act writing test scorer

click the button below to get started:
 
start quiz!

1. what score did you give your essay? 

6

• essays at this level will respond to all three perspectives offered.
• the thesis is nuanced and precise.
• the argument puts the issue in context insightfully, examining implications, complexities, tensions, values, and assumptions.
• ideas and analysis are well developed and qualified.
• organization is skillful and unified around a main idea; the essay progresses logically and uses transitions.
• word choice, sentence structures, style and register are all skillfully and precisely used.
• some errors that do not impede meaning may be present.

 

5

• essays at this level will respond to all three perspectives offered.
• the thesis is precise, though could be more nuanced.
• the argument puts the issue in context thoughtfully, examining implications, complexities, tensions, values, and assumptions.
• ideas and analysis are mostly developed.
• organization is productive and mostly unified around a main idea; the essay progresses logically and uses transitions.
• language use is serviceable, if not skillful.
• some errors that do not impede meaning may be present.

 

4

• essays at this level will respond to at least two of the perspectives offered.
• the thesis is clear.
• the argument puts the issue in context, recognizing implications, complexities, tensions, values, and assumptions.
• ideas and analysis are clear.
• organization is clear and related to the main idea; the essay progresses logically and uses transitions.
• word choice, sentence structures, style and register are all adequate.
• some errors that impede meaning may be present.

3

• essays at this level will respond to at least two of the perspectives offered.
• the thesis is somewhat clear.
• the issue’s context is limited or tangential.
• ideas and analysis are relevant, but too general or specific.
• organization is basic and mostly coherent.
• language use is basic and unvaried.
• distracting errors that impede meaning may be present.

2

• essays at this level only weakly respond to multiple perspectives.
• the thesis may not be evident and analysis is incomplete, irrelevant, or repetitive.
• development and illustration are weak, inadequate, or illogical, and the argument is unclear.
• some attempt at organization is visible.
• language use is inconsistent and distracting errors that impede meaning are present.

1

• the essay does not respond to the task.
• analysis is unclear, while ideas are undeveloped and unsupported.
• little to no organization is evident, while errors in language usage may be common and often impede understanding.

question 1 of 2

2. what score did you give your designated grader give your essay?

6

• essays at this level will respond to all three perspectives offered.
• the thesis is nuanced and precise.
• the argument puts the issue in context insightfully, examining implications, complexities, tensions, values, and assumptions.
• ideas and analysis are well developed and qualified.
• organization is skillful and unified around a main idea; the essay progresses logically and uses transitions.
• word choice, sentence structures, style and register are all skillfully and precisely used.
• some errors that do not impede meaning may be present.

5

• essays at this level will respond to all three perspectives offered.
• the thesis is precise, though could be more nuanced.
• the argument puts the issue in context thoughtfully, examining implications, complexities, tensions, values, and assumptions.
• ideas and analysis are mostly developed.
• organization is productive and mostly unified around a main idea; the essay progresses logically and uses transitions.
• language use is serviceable, if not skillful.
• some errors that do not impede meaning may be present.

4

• essays at this level will respond to at least two of the perspectives offered.
• the thesis is clear.
• the argument puts the issue in context, recognizing implications, complexities, tensions, values, and assumptions.
• ideas and analysis are clear.
• organization is clear and related to the main idea; the essay progresses logically and uses transitions.
• word choice, sentence structures, style and register are all adequate.
• some errors that impede meaning may be present.

3

• essays at this level will respond to at least two of the perspectives offered.
• the thesis is somewhat clear.
• the issue’s context is limited or tangential.
• ideas and analysis are relevant, but too general or specific.
• organization is basic and mostly coherent.
• language use is basic and unvaried.
• distracting errors that impede meaning may be present.

2

• essays at this level only weakly respond to multiple perspectives.
• the thesis may not be evident and analysis is incomplete, irrelevant, or repetitive.
• development and illustration are weak, inadequate, or illogical, and the argument is unclear.
• some attempt at organization is visible.
• language use is inconsistent and distracting errors that impede meaning are present.

1

• the essay does not respond to the task.
• analysis is unclear, while ideas are undeveloped and unsupported.
• little to no organization is evident, while errors in language usage may be common and often impede understanding.

question 2 of 2

 loading…

 

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after you take the act, you might feel like a big weight’s been lifted from your shoulders. but, as the days pass and you still don’t have your test score, the tension starts setting in again. if you’re refreshing your act account page and wondering, when do act scores come out?—don’t worry! your act scores are coming! in this post, we’ll take a look at act score release dates, so you can rest easy.

table of contents

• when will act scores be available?
• what time do act scores come out?
• how do i check my act scores?
• i have my act scores: what now?
• act score release faq
• a final word

when will act scores be available?

generally, the act score release date happens two weeks after you take the exam. but it’s important to note that the act releases scores in batches. not every score comes out on exactly the same day. here’s what this looks like this year!

act score release dates 2024-2025

sometimes, you may have to wait up to eight weeks to get your multiple-choice scores. it’s rare, but it does happen. by planning your act test date in advance, you can help ensure that this won’t have an impact on your college applications (particularly important if you’re applying for early decision or early action).

for example, if you take the october act, your scores will be posted between three and eight weeks after the test. this happens because the act uses an “equating” procedure on this exam to ensure that scores from different versions of the tests mean the same thing.

if you took the act writing test, you’ll be waiting an extra two weeks to receive your complete score. think of it as training. after all, this is good practice for all the anticipation you’ll feel waiting for either fat or thin envelopes from the colleges you applied to.
 


 

what time do act scores come out?

okay, great, you may be thinking. so that’s when i’ll get my act scores. but what time will act scores be available?

the act releases scores at 12am central time on a given test’s score release date, which is usually two fridays after you take the exam. if you have trouble remembering, just think of cinderella (although that’s 1am eastern and 10pm pacific time, so that won’t hold true for all of you).

if it’s after midnight and your scores haven’t appeared yet, go to bed! your results may not appear for one, two, three, or even seven days after the official release day. so don’t fret too much if your scores aren’t there the first day.
 

how do i check my act scores?

scores will appear in your act account (the same place where you registered for the act). this is the only way to get your official scores—calling, emailing, or chatting with act customer care won’t get you your act score report. however, if it’s been more than eight weeks, it’s time to get in contact with them to see what’s holding them up!

once you have your scores, you can find out more about how the act calculated your score and how you did compared to others in your state. then, it’s time to make some decisions.

i have my act scores: what now?

your scores are in! it can be an exciting moment or a disappointing one. no matter what, you now have two options: send your scores to colleges or retake the test.

send your act scores

love your act results? send them to colleges!

if you selected schools to receive your scores on your act registration, act will send the scores directly to up to four colleges for free. after that, you can use your act account to send the scores to schools for $19 per report/per school.

if you didn’t select four schools during registration, you’ll still have to pay the fee—you don’t get these reports for free retroactively. this can be a bit of a challenge and involve some cost-benefit analysis on your part during registration.

should you take advantage of the free score reports and have act send the scores before you even see them? or wait to ensure that you want to send these scores but pay more after the fact? kristin has some thoughts that can help you decide how to send your act scores

in all cases, keep in mind that the act doesn’t send scores to colleges until your writing scores are in—about four weeks after your test date. this is also important to keep in mind if you’re planning to…

retake the test

if you get your act scores and you’re not happy with them (whether that’s your composite score or sectional score), you have options. and your best option is to retake the test.

in fact, you don’t have to wait to get your scores to plan for an act retake. if you really think you did poorly on the act, my best advice would be to continue your act prep even before you see the results.

if you’re going to retake the act, you don’t want to fall out of the habit of studying. you could also put in a mail order for the report on how you did on every question plus the answer key, which would really help with prep for a retake (click here for more information on this service, plus more on act scores).

even if you’re relatively confident in your test performance, you may still want to go ahead and sign up to retake the test. even students who score well the first time may still retake the act. when you do get your scores, you can begin to focus your prep on the areas where you struggled. if you need some additional practice this time around, check out our magoosh act prep.
 

 

 

act score release faq

still have questions about how act score release works? check out our answers to your top questions.

a final word

asking yourself, “when do act scores come out?” can be exhausting as you refresh and refresh your act account page. but it’s a lot easier when you know what to expect! now, you can make plans for what to do with those scores and how to use them in your college applications. good luck!

the post when do act scores come out? score release dates and faq appeared first on magoosh blog | act.

once you’ve checked out the chart, learn more about how to take your raw act score and convert it into an official composite act score on the 1 to 36 point scale.

the chart below presents the raw scores on act tests 1-4 (english, mathematics, reading, and science), with their equivalent scaled scores in the right-most columns.

raw act scores and scaled act scores

source

important vocabulary

act raw score: the number of questions you answered correctly in the section. for example: if you answer 55 questions correctly on the act english test, then your raw score for act english is 55.

act scaled score: the score that you get on each section of the act test after your raw score is scaled. your scaled score ranges from 1-36, with 36 being the highest possible score on a section. for example, if you answer 55 questions correctly on the act english test, then your scaled score for act english is 24.

act composite score: the average of your four scaled scores (english, math, reading, and science). the highest possible composite score is 36.

how to use this act raw score conversion chart

what do you need to do to figure out your act score based on your raw score? follow this process:

• take an 2022世界杯入门名单 (when you get your official act results, this conversion is provided for you)
• add up the number of questions you answered correctly in each section; this is your raw score
• take your raw english score and look at the act score chart to find your scaled score
• repeat for math
• repeat for reading
• repeat for science
• average your four scaled scores by adding them together and dividing by four. this is your act composite score!

here’s an example

let’s say you took a practice test and you got the following scores:

not bad! in this case your act composite score is 32. (related: what is a good act score?)

when to use this act raw score conversion chart

when prepping for the act exam, it’s important to take at least one (or hopefully a few) full-length 2022世界杯入门名单s, which you can find on magoosh. we recommend finding a quiet spot, like the library or your room with the door closed, on a weekend when you don’t have a lot going on. you can time yourself (no cheating!) and try to recreate realistic test conditions as much as possible. not only will this help you get used to a long, grueling standardized test, but it will also help you perfect your timing and pacing strategies.

the trouble is, after you sit down for a 4+ hour exam, plus an extra 20-30 minutes of grading your own test, you’re left with a raw score. this is where the chart comes in. use the act raw score conversion chart to turn your raw score into a scaled score so that you can get a better idea of how well you might do on test day.

questions? let us know by leaving a comment below.

happy studying!

the post act raw score conversion chart appeared first on magoosh blog | act.

the choice between the act and the sat is really tough, and most high school students wonder which side of this epic battle they should take. both the act and the sat are accepted by many universities in the united states and are taken by millions of students. in this post, we bring together all the best information about the differences and similarities between the act and the sat to help you make this important decision.

act vs sat quiz

if you’re short on time, try our free quiz to get an answer on whether you should take the act vs sat!

test format and timing

the act takes 2 hours 55 minutes to complete without the essay and 3 hours 35 minutes with the essay. it takes 3 hours to complete the sat (no essay). now, let’s dissect how the sections and the order in which they appear are different on the act vs sat.

sections and order

the act has four multiple-choice sections and an optional essay. its sections are always presented in this order:

1. english
2. math
3. reading
4. science
5. optional essay.

the sat has four test sections. the order is

1. reading
2. writing
3. math with calculators not allowed
4. math section (calculators allowed)

time per question

it is also important to note that one of the main challenges of the act is its time constraints. the majority of students struggle to complete at least one of the act test sections, and many students struggle to complete several sections within the time limit.

still, the fact remains that every section of the act takes less time per question than the sat. overall, across sections, the act takes an average of 50 seconds per question and the sat takes 1 minute 10 seconds per question. however, keep in mind that the questions from each test have different styles. sat questions can take longer to analyze than the act questions and thus take extra time to complete.

only the act has a science section

the science section is specific to the act. there are no other standardized tests with anything similar to this, except those developed by the act organization.

before jumping to the conclusion of whether you are good at science in order to judge whether you can do well on the act, you really need to know that there is very little real scientific knowledge tested in the act science section.

you will see some questions that require you to bring in external knowledge, but most of them relate to your ability to read tables and graphs, make inferences about the scientific situation, and evaluate scientific hypotheses. before making a decision on your capabilities for this section, it is recommended that you review the act science video lessons or the examples of act science questions on the act website.

math emphasis of each test

the sat will ask you some questions about advanced math and trigonometry. however, the act seems to contain more questions in the areas of algebra ii and trigonometry. but don’t panic if you haven’t studied trigonometry in either test. knowledge of all trigonometry tested in either the sat or the act is at a very basic level, and you can learn what you need to know in the sat trigonometry learning guide and the act trigonometry resources.

the sat has a no-calculator section

the sat contains a 25-minute non-calculator section with 20 questions. the calculations here are designed to be easy to do by hand, but keep in mind that you may want to hone your mental math skills. if you can see and calculate a ton of math problems in your head, you may have an advantage in the sat over many of your peers.

act reading passages are longer

the act has four longer passages (700-900 words) and the sat has five slightly shorter passages (500-750 words). in general, reading comprehension is a little more intense on the act than on the sat, but the difference is mostly negligible.

act english vs sat writing and language

if you take a look at the english section of the act and the writing and language section of the sat, they appear to be virtually the same. not only that, they test many of the same concepts. arguably, these concepts are tested in a more subtle way in the sat than in the act, and with more subtle answer choice variation. still, it is important to note the difference in reading level between the tests and their approaches to the information graphic questions.

all passages in the act english section hover around a relatively low reading level (for example, about 9th grade). however, the text in the writing and language section of the sat may vary in difficulty level from early high school to early college. in the act, all questions are about the given text. the sat will also ask some questions about text-related tables and graphs.

the act has an optional essay (act writing)

as mentioned earlier, the act has an optional essay. the act essay offers three different perspectives on controversial issues and asks you to evaluate them and present your own perspective. of course, for those who are good at discussing on the fly and coming up with supporting examples, it may be a good choice to write the act essay.

different scoring system

the act uses so-called composite scores to provide students with an overall act score. the overall composite score ranges from 1 to 36. you will also receive scores for each individual section ranging from 1 to 36, but with most universities, it is the composite score that matters. the overall composite score is the average of the section scores and is rounded to the nearest integer.

sat scores range from 400 to 1600. your overall score is based on a sum of your 200-800 reading/writing score and your 200-800 math score. note that the sat has three major multiple-choice sections (reading, writing, math), but reading and writing are grouped into one combined score out of 800 points.

if you take both the sat and the act, how can you find out which scores you should send to your school or scholarship program? don’t let different score scales confuse you! act to sat conversion (and sat to act conversion) is possible. this act to sat conversion table makes it easy to convert the act scores to the sat scores.

different test dates

the sat and the act alternate every month (except june, october and december). both tests are offered seven times a year. sometimes their schedules align so you can take the sat and the act on consecutive weekends. some students do that, but it’s not always wise. would you want to spend two weekends at the test center and study for two different tests at the same time? probably not.

in an ideal world, you would just have to choose one of the tests to take. after all, making this decision is the point of this post! if you do take both, it’s best to have at least a month (ideally more) between test sessions to switch gears.

different costs and fees

the act usually costs $55 without the essay and $70 with the essay. the cost of the sat is usually $52. there may be additional charges depending on the situation. students who cannot afford to take the act or the sat can often work with their high schools to get fee exemptions. this allows you to take the test for free (with or without an essay), but the fee exemption usually does not cover the additional charges.

varying popularity by state

the sat remains popular on the east and west coasts, while the act is a more popular test in the midwest, although in recent years both tests have become established in areas where they were previously less popular. currently, it is common for students across the country to take both exams.

the act vs the sat: which is easier? which is harder?

the act may be easier than the sat if:

• you work really fast. usually, you don’t have any shortage of test time at school, and you’re a fast reader. the act is, in many respects, an even easier test if you have the speed to complete it in time.
• you like science and are good at interpreting data and trends. earlier i told you that you don’t need to know a lot of science to be successful in the act science section. this is still true, but it doesn’t hurt to be interested in what you are reading. students who may not be science fans, but who are really good at seeing trends in graphs and tables and can guess the next steps in a logical process, can also succeed in the act science.
• you are super reliant on your calculator in your math classes. you may find the sat no-calculator section and the grid-in may be a little scarier than act math.

the sat may be easier than the act if:

• you are not a fast reader, but a good reader. with enough time, you can understand what you read quite well. you may not be able to take all the time you want on the sat, but you will encounter more complex passages on the sat than on the act. this, coupled with slightly shorter sat passages and a little more time to answer questions, can make the sat a better choice.
• you are good at mental math. you can confidently get through the section without a calculator, while other students are stressing.
• you’re good at reading between lines and catching traps. the sat isn’t as tricky as it used to be, but there are still some tricks. if you know how to play the standardized test game, the sat should go well for you.
  

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  ]]> //www.catharsisit.com/act/act-vs-sat/feed/ 16 act vs sat header act vs sat infographic click the thumbnail to view our handy infographic comparing the act and sat! //www.catharsisit.com/act/act-tips-and-tricks/ //www.catharsisit.com/act/act-tips-and-tricks/#respond mon, 28 mar 2022 19:30:46 +0000 //www.catharsisit.com/act/?p=9956 if you’ve come to this post hoping to find the secret act tips for the perfect score, i hate to break it to you – but that just doesn’t exist! what i can offer you is the next best thing – tried and true act tips and tricks that will maximize your act score on […]

  the post top 6 act tips and tricks for a higher score appeared first on magoosh blog | act.

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  if you’ve come to this post hoping to find the secret act tips for the perfect score, i hate to break it to you – but that just doesn’t exist! what i can offer you is the next best thing – tried and true act tips and tricks that will maximize your act score on test day.

  preparing for success on the act starts well before test day. in this post, we’re going to cover how to prepare for the test in advance as well as tips to follow during the test. the act tips and tricks we will cover include:

  1. familiarize yourself with the test in a test-like environment.
  2. choose a default answer for when you’re stumped.
  3. choose your question order based on your strengths.
  4. don’t second guess yourself.
  5. come up with and follow a time management plan.
  6. relax!

  i’ll also provide you with some resources that provide tips tailored for each act test section and tips before and during test day to reduce anxiety.

  now, let’s dive right in to some act tips for success!

  act tips and tricks for success

  familiarize yourself with the test in a test-like environment.

  the most effective way to become familiar with the act is to include several timed full-length practice tests in your test day preparation process.

  most of us would rather watch paint dry than willingly set aside three-hour blocks of time to take practice tests on a regular basis. but if you’re one of the many students who suffer from test anxiety, exposure to and familiarity with the real deal really does lessen stress. it also allows you to establish a baseline score and see how you’re improving as you progress through your act preparation process. to best prepare for test day, make sure you’re taking your practice tests in a test-like environment, such as the library or a room tucked away in the quieter part of your home.

  i encourage you to reach out to magoosh to get access to several act preparation tools, including practice tests!

  how do i improve my timing if i can’t make time for full-length practice tests?

  setting aside a chunk of uninterrupted time for timed practice tests can be a hassle, and some might find it impossible on a regular basis. while i still recommend that you try to take as many full-length practice tests as you can, here’s an alternative (and complimentary) act trick.

  as you work on practice problems, divide them into sets of ten. it doesn’t matter which section you’re working on, as this technique adapts to your abilities and timing.

  1. first, do a set of ten problems. time yourself, but don’t make yourself stick to any given period of time.
  2. grade your problem set and write down your time. that’s your baseline.
  3. as you continue your practice over the coming weeks, work on shaving just a few seconds—15-20 a week is a good place to start—from your problem sets.
  4. when you get high accuracy scores in that time frame, shave off even more time.
  5. lather, rinse, repeat.

  you can also apply this on the macro-level. if you’re comfortable taking timed practice tests, try shaving off a few minutes from the timer during your next practice session. if you can successfully finish (and do well) on a test in less time, the actual thing will seem all the easier.

  choose a default answer for when you’re stumped.

  even advanced standardized test takers are likely to come across a question or two on the act that they don’t know how to approach. or perhaps you find yourself running out of time. in these situations, it’s important that you do not leave any answer choice blank, no matter what. there’s no penalty for incorrect answers on the act (thank goodness!). so when you reach a question that stumps you or if you find yourself down to the wire on time with questions you know you won’t get to, it’s important that you have a plan. pick your two-letter combo prior to taking the exam and commit to it for every question that you decide that you’re not going to be able to answer. my favorite combo is a/f! if you choose your “default answer” and consistently use it, you’re more likely to pick up a few extra points!

  choose your question order based on your strengths.

  approaching the test in order of the questions as they are presented to you can cause you to become inefficient with your time and make careless mistakes. for example, you could spend so much time on one hard question that you end up rushing through easier questions to make up time and making silly mistakes. instead of just going through the questions as they’re presented, briefly scan the question and think about your approach.

  • do it now: if you see the question and you immediately know how to approach it, go for it.
  • do it later: if you see the question and you think you know what to do but you’re not sure or you know what to do, but you think it will take you a while, mark it for later and move on.
  • don’t do it at all: if you see the question and you have no clue how to approach it, skip it. don’t waste time on questions that completely stump you. move on to questions you know you can actually answer.

  once you’ve gone through and answered all of the questions that you know how to answer, go back to your “do it later” questions and work through them. if you happen to have extra time, you can go back and review the “don’t do it” questions in a last-ditch effort to gain a few more points. otherwise, refer back to your “default answer” from tip #2 and finish up the test section.

  this approach allows you to be sure that you’re able to get to all of the questions that you know how to approach, maximizing your time and points on test day.

  don’t second guess yourself.

  we have all been there: you’re stuck between two answer choices, and after careful consideration, you choose “b”. a few seconds later, you think maybe it’s “c”. now you’re unsure again and you go back and ponder again, spending precious moments seconding guessing your gut reaction. an important act tip is to decide that once you’ve reviewed the question and made your choice, trust your initial reaction. only change your answer choice if you have time at the end and you find hard evidence that you’ve made a mistake and your answer choice must be changed. second-guessing yourself takes time away from your progress and can impact your confidence as you move through the test, thereby impacting your overall score. trust your instincts!

  come up with and follow a time management plan.

  when test day comes, it can be very stressful. it is tempting to just put your head down, plow through the test sections without a game plan or a strategy, and just hope for the best. however, this is not the most efficient way to approach the test and such an organized approach can negatively impact your test score.

  coming up with a specific time management plan in advance and sticking to it on test day will help you feel more in control and keep your cool in an infamously stressful situation. you’ll also gain additional time by eliminating the wasted time many spend by not having (or sticking to) a time management plan. here are some act tips to consider when coming up with your time management plan.

  • ask yourself:
    • what is my plan for when i reach a question i don’t know how to answer? (hint: see act tip #2!)
    • how do i pace myself in each section to maximize my time? (hint: see act tip #3!)
  • decide what is the maximum amount of time you will spend on a question or a set of questions before you decide to move on.
  • come up with a plan for what you’re going to do if the 5-minute warning comes and you’re not quite done with the test section.

  the best way to hone in on your time management skills is to use a comprehensive, reliable act prep course and resources and practice, practice, practice! magoosh has several resources to help you prepare for the act and sharpen your time management skills!

  relax!

  i know, i know – it’s easier said than done. but you’ve got to remember that no matter how much preparation you do, test day anxiety can still make you succumb to the pressure, forget your practice, and panic – all of which are not helpful to your overall score. so, one of the most important ways to do well on test day is to take a deep breath and relax.

  the nerves will likely never fully “go away”, but the goal should be to minimize your stress and anxiety as much as possible. here are the (not-so) secret act tips to do before test day that will help you relax and minimize stress on test day: i call them the 3 p’s: plan. practice. prepare.

  • plan: come up with and follow a time management plan to attack the questions based on your strengths and areas of opportunity. (see act tip #3!)
  • practice: the goal of practice is to close the gap as much as possible in your areas of opportunity and, secondarily, make your strengths even stronger. consistent practice also takes away the mystery of not knowing what to expect on test day; with enough practice, you will know exactly what concepts you will see on test day.
  • prepare: make sure you’re mentally and physically ready for test day. get plenty of rest, leave early with plenty of time to get turned around or to account for traffic, eat a light breakfast that won’t weigh you down, pack healthy snacks, and prepare everything you need the night before so you have less to do the morning of.

  if you adequately plan, practice, and prepare, then you should be able to relax, overcome the jitters that everyone feels, and perform your very best on test day.

  act tips by section

  the act tips and tricks above are only one component of how to maximize your score on test day. there are four different sections on the act (five including the optional writing section), and the act is set up in such a way that there are also strategies you can use within each section to help push your scores up on the different act tests, as well.

  whether you’re looking for all-around improvement or just need to focus on boosting one sectional score that you struggle with, these tips can help you get there!

  • act tips and tricks for reading
  • act tips and tricks for science
  • act tips and tricks for math

  best tips for before and during test day

  i discussed briefly in tip #6 the importance of relaxing and managing anxiety before and during test day. here’s a post with more detailed last-minute act tips to help with anxiety.

  the most obvious, but the hardest-to-follow tip: don’t forget to breathe!

  as with any kind of test-taking strategy, be sure to practice these first. some strategies may work better than others for you, and you’ll want to figure that out so you have a plan for test day!

  good luck, test takers! keep your minds sharp, your bodies healthy, relax, and do your best; the scores will inherently follow.

  the post top 6 act tips and tricks for a higher score appeared first on magoosh blog | act.

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