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 | high school.

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 | high school.

 
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 | high school.

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 combined 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:

examples by section from the free 2022世界杯入门名单

sample act english practice question:

this question comes from page 3 of the magoosh pdf.

sample act math questions:

the two questions above come from page 15 of the magoosh pdf.

sample act math questions:

the two questions above come from page 15 of the magoosh pdf.

sample act reading question:

for the full passage associated with this question, see pages 24 and 25 of the magoosh pdf.

sample act science question:

the table and question above come from pages 38 and 39 of the magoosh pdf.

where to find additional act practice exams and practice content

so you should be taking a practice test a week—but what happens if you’re studying for more than seven weeks? there are tons of other places you can look to find great sample tests and other content! for example:

free official act practice exams

once you’ve done the magoosh test, i strongly recommend doing some additional practice acts, starting with the official 2022世界杯入门名单s. these tests are the real deal because they were used in previous act administrations. there is one currently available on the act website: the 2022-2023 practice test (pdf).

every year, the act features a different test on their website, but they cycle through the same tests: the above test and additional practice tests that were also used in a real act administration.

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.

additional resources from magoosh

magoosh act is another great way to get test-like practice with full-length practice tests before the official exam. the 1300+ questions mean that you can take 4 full-length practice tests—and still have questions for quizzes and practice. you can also 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.

you can also get an extra test and lots of other practice by purchasing the magoosh act book.

official prep guides from the act test maker

the official act prep guide 2021-2022 offers six practice tests. you can find other tests in the official act prep guide 2016-2017, or real act prep guide, 3rd edition.

be warned—many of the practice tests in those books are exactly the same as the online ones linked above. the official act materials also do not contain the in-depth text and video explanations that magoosh offers for its own questions, but they are still excellent sources of practice.

how to use this practice test

once you’re ready to take an 2022世界杯入门名单, where do you start? here are our best act tips for the method you should use for the best results!

• begin with a diagnostic exam. this is so crucial to understanding the exam you’ll be taking, getting perspective on your strengths and weaknesses, and figuring out where your score is compared to where you want it to be (though don’t try to use it to make any score predictions—yet!).
• set your act score goal.
• spread the remaining tests out over your study schedule and work hard to reach that score goal. depending on how long you’re studying, you should be taking at least an exam every month—but every week or every two weeks is better.
  • if possible, take your tests on saturday mornings, because that’s when act test dates are.
  • try to emulate test day conditions as much as possible. take the test respecting time limits, without interruptions.
  • find a quiet spot where you can practice.
  • use an authorized calculator, no. 2 pencils, and bubble sheet for answers
• use an error log to review your answers. this can be as simple as tracking your mistakes in a notebook. by understanding and tracking your errors, you’ll be better prepared to face those question types and concepts the next time you see them!

a note about finding high-quality free resources

if you’ve finished this 2022世界杯入门名单 with answers and explanations and you’re looking for more free act practice resources, you can check out our post on the best online act prep. as you continue your search for as many practice tests as you need, the most important thing to do before spending hours taking a practice test you find on the internet is to make sure they come from a reputable source.

there are a lot of terrible act prep resources out there—most of them are free, but a good number also cost money. read reviews from external resources and for the resources that cost money, take free trials if you can to see if they match the quality of the resources featured in this post. you may be tempted to use the free ones, thinking all prep must be good prep, but it’ll help you so much more on test day if you practice with resources that match the act as closely as possible.

if money is an issue, there are also ways to get the above resources for free—you can check your library for the act prep books or see if your school can purchase magoosh accounts on behalf of their students. finally, you can also find additional resources on the magoosh blog. for example, this act math practice!

we also have a free sat practice test you can try as well. you can also do an act to sat score conversion if you want to take both and see which you do better on!

however you decide to get your practice in, we hope this blog has been helpful for you!

the post free 2022世界杯入门名单s (pdf) with bonus answers and explanations appeared first on magoosh blog | high school.

act math practice questions (with answer explanations)

after you’ve worked through each question, click on the link for the video answer and explanation! you can also do them in a row and check your answers later, as a mini-practice test in math.

we’ve included buttons for you to click to save your answers as you work through these problems, but keep in mind that these are just for your use. they don’t submit or save your answers, so you may want to take notes as you go. and now, without further ado, here’s are 15 act sample math questions to test your knowledge and sharpen your test-taking skills!

act algebra sample questions

difficulty: medium

1. if \(\frac{x}{3}+\frac{x}{4}+15=\text{x}\), then \(\text{x}= \)

click here for the answer and video explanation for problem 1!

difficulty: medium

2. given that f(x) = 3x – 5 and g(x) = x^3 – x, what is f(g(2))?

click here for the answer and video explanation for problem 2!

difficulty: medium

3. a, b, and c are consecutive odd integers such that a<b<c.

if a + b + c = 81, then a + c =

click here for the answer and video explanation for problem 3!

difficulty: medium

4. five lemonades and two cookies cost $1.50. two lemonades and five cookies cost $2.70. how much does one cookie and one lemonade cost?

click here for the answer and video explanation for problem 4!

difficulty: medium

5. if x > x², which of the following must be true about x?

click here for the answer and video explanation for problem 5!

act geometry sample questions

difficulty: medium

6.
in trapezoid abcd, bc = ef = 6, af = de = 3, and

ab = cd = 5. if the area of a trapezoid is given by

\(\text{a}=(\frac{{\text{b}_1}+{\text{b}_2}}{2})\text{h}\)

then which of the following is the area of trapezoid abcd?

click here for the answer and video explanation for problem 6!

difficulty: hard

7. in the diagram below, chord df is parallel to the diameter ac. the length of df is 20 cm and the length of ac is 28 cm. what is the distance, in centimeters, from b, the center of the circle, to e, the midpoint of df?

click here for the answer and video explanation for problem 7!

difficulty: easy

8. tony plans to put a rectangular perimeter of fencing around his backyard pool. the area to be sectioned off for the pool area measures 22 feet by 30 feet. one long side of the pool area is along the house, so he only needs to fence off 3 sides. how many feet of fencing will he need?

click here for the answer and video explanation for problem 8!

difficulty: hard

9. circle b below has a radius of 4 and arc ac has a central degree measure of 145°. what is the approximate length of arc ac?

click here for the answer and video explanation for problem 9!

difficulty: very hard

10. △abc and △def are both equilateral. given de is 50% greater than ab, by what percentage is the area of △def greater than the area of △abc?

click here for the answer and video explanation for problem 10!

act trigonometry sample questions

difficulty: very hard

11. whenever cos(θ) = 0, and π ≤ θ ≤ 2π, the value of sin(θ) =

click here for the answer and video explanation for problem 11!

difficulty: hard

12.

which of the following is the value of

(sin(30°) – cos(30°))2 ?

click here for the answer and video explanation for problem 12!

difficulty: hard

13. which of the following angles has the same terminal side as 1,105°?

click here for the answer and video explanation for problem 13!

difficulty: hard

14. the tree below casts a shadow that is 24 feet long, and the angle of elevation from the tip of the shadow to the top of the tree has a cosine of \(\frac{4}{5}\). what is the height of the tree?

click here for the answer and video explanation for problem 14!

difficulty: medium

15. which of the following is the value of 240° in radians?

click here for the answer and video explanation for problem 15!

more resources for act math

want more act math practice questions and resources? impressive! so what are your next steps? check out these posts to get a better understanding of all the question types you’ll see on the act math test, from categories of questions to basic formulas to geometric figures and systems of equations. these resources will help your act math prep by letting you get a better sense of all the different kinds of act math questions you’ll see on the actual test! take a look.

• 7 free 2022世界杯入门名单s
• hard act math problems
• guide to act trig
• guide to common act math topics
• act math formulas to learn

the post act math practice questions and solutions appeared first on magoosh blog | high school.

 
so what will you see in the pdf?

well, 154 questions, to start. but beyond that, the test has…

• sat reading test (65 minutes, 52 questions)
• sat writing and language test (35 minutes, 44 questions)
• sat math section – no calculator test (25 minutes, 20 questions)
• sat math section – calculator test (55 minutes, 38 questions)
• an answer key
• information on grading your test
• links to text and video explanations for every single question on ech section of the test

where to find full-length sat practice tests (even official ones)

there are a few great places to look for full-length sat practice tests! here are our top recommendations:

• khan academy: khan academy has paired up with the college board (they’re the test creators) to offer free online practice sat tests. there are four full exams on the khan academy site, which can also be found on the college board site. after you’ve taken an exam or two, you can then sharpen your skills with practice in different areas with resources on khan academy’s site and elsewhere.
• prep books: but beware! while prep books can be great for lessons, they tend to be better for learning than for full-length practice tests. yes, the college board’s book is awesome, but guess what? those eight tests are the same eight tests you can find on their website, just printed and bound (they’re transparent about this). there are a few great books out there and a few to avoid—you can check them out in magoosh’s post on the best sat books and our review of the princeton review’s practice tests!.
• magoosh 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.

why do i need to take a full-length practice test?

to maximize your score on the sat, you’ll need three things:

• lessons
• practice questions
• practice tests

and despite what a lot of students believe, those last two aren’t interchangeable! lessons are super valuable for reviewing content that you might not have seen for a while—or ever. practice questions are great for making sure you’ve mastered (and continue to remember) the lesson content.

learn it, practice it…why the third step? well, first of all, the official sat won’t have an “algebra” problem set or a “geometry” problem set. it’ll have all kinds of question types mixed together within the three sections. that means that studying different content areas is a very different experience from test day, when you’ll be in front of the exam for at least three hours (more if you’re taking the essay). so you need to get ready with multiple practice tests!

how to take an sat practice test

ready to mimic the official experience? fantastic! all students can benefit from taking an sat practice test–unless your test is the next morning, in which case, get your rest! for the rest of you, here’s what to do:

1. set aside approximately four hours of uninterrupted time to take the practice test.
2. take the test in a quiet place where you won’t be distracted.
3. mimic test day conditions by turning off your phone and leaving it in another room.
4. take the test in a quiet place where you won’t be distracted.
5. try to take the entire practice test in one sitting.
6. eat a healthy, energizing snack before taking the practice test.
7. give yourself a brief, 10-minute break after the reading test.
8. give yourself a brief, five-minute break after the math (no calculator) test.
9. use a countdown timer and remember to reset it for each test.

lucky for you, you don’t have to remember half of these steps if you follow our simulated sat practice test below, proctored by magoosh curriculum manager kat.

all you’d need to do is print your test, find a quiet place, set aside a few hours, and press play to simulate a test-day experience in the comfort of your own home!

what to do after practice tests

after the test, it is critical that you check your answers and make note of any questions you missed. in fact, it’s a good idea to spend at least as much time examining your results as you did taking the test. why? well, did you get a question right because you knew the answer, or because you were guessing? did you get a question wrong because you filled in the wrong bubble? (practice tests help a lot with this latter problem, by the way!)

make sure to check the explanations for every question you get wrong, so that you don’t repeat the same mistakes on test day. after you’ve examined your results, do some practice in your weak areas.

signing up for magoosh sat prep is a great way to learn or relearn concepts you need help with and get access to additional practice problems.

after working on your weak areas and brushing up on your strong areas, take another test and do the same process all over again! in the next section, we highlight some resources that will help you structure your sat prep after taking your first practice test.

free practice materials

while free practice resources for the sat may not be as easy to find once you’ve finished the work available here and on the college board site, don’t worry! there are plenty of other online resources–both free and low-cost (including this blog!)–that will allow you to target your weaker areas and keep your strong areas strong.

• magoosh sat ebook
• complete guide to sat scoring
• sat diagnostic test
• sat question of the day
• sat flashcards (prep and vocab)
• magoosh sat 7-day free trial

a final word

you’ve made it this far. congratulations! the sat can have many implications for the college admissions process, which can intimidate students. getting this far shows commitment—the same kind of commitment you need to master the sat.

so what are you waiting for? dig out those #2 pencils, find yourself a quiet corner, and get on it! it’s time to start boosting your test score.

the post free sat practice test with answers and explanations (pdf) appeared first on magoosh blog | high school.

let’s start out with a quick overview of the books and their quality before getting into greater detail with in-depth reviews below.

*list prices given at time of publication and subject to change

best act prep books of 2021: book reviews

below you’ll find even more information on the best act prep books we recommend for students as well as links to all of our act book reviews.

disclaimer: every book has pros or cons; make sure you pay close attention to what is important to you in a prep book!

act prep by magoosh

everything you need to know about the act, straight from magoosh’s experts.

it feels a bit awkward to promote our own book here, but the truth is that we made it because we realized that there wasn’t a great book out there that was up-to-date and comprehensive. our experts poured all of their knowledge about the act into this book and have made it available in act prep by magoosh.

there’s a ton of really important stuff in here, including 300+ practice questions, lessons in all act areas, great advice on how to approach each and every section of the exam, an in-depth study schedule…and a full-length practice test to help you gauge your progress! basically, everything you need to start your act prep is right here. (so, knowing all that, how could i not promote it?!)

the official act prep guide, 2021-2022

the tests in the official act prep guide are real former act tests. and there is no better way to hone your act skills than using actual questions crafted by the writers of the test.

the main differences between the 2020 and 2021 versions is the addition of a diagnostic exam at the end of chapter three. other than that the other 5 tests are almost identical to the 5 exams in the 2020 edition. the only other difference is that the 2021 version comes with access to 400 flash cards online.

check out our full official act prep guide review. (if you’re looking for reviews of earlier editions, you can find them here!)

act prep black book, 2nd edition

this is a bare-bones publishing job, but its information is pretty awesome. in addition to providing general strategy advice, the act prep black book walks students through many of the questions in the act “red book” (the real act prep guide) and explains how to strategically answer them.

yes, the red book gives you answer explanations, but the black book gives you strategic advice on how to answer them: which questions should be back-solved using the answer choices, for example, or how to use the english section answer choices to find the right answer without needing to understand the grammar. it’s a pretty great resource for learning how to get inside the heads of the test-makers.

check out our full review of the previous edition act prep black book.

barron’s act, 4th edition (2019)

as kristin mentioned in her review of the first edition of barron’s act, this book is one of the more useful unofficial act guides on the market. but was barron’s able to maintain this quality and build on it in barron’s act, 4th edition? to some extent, the answer is yes.

quality of the practice questions

as in previous editions, barron’s does a good job of capturing the basic format and “flavor” of real act practice materials. but once more, most of the practice questions are easier than the real test. the act writing prompts are top-notice, and there are multiple score sample essays for each question. the act english questions are a little too easy on average and largely unchanged from past editions. act reading questions are mostly the same and a little bit too easy. act math has too few data interpretation questions, though there are questions with figures which will give you some practice. finally, act science in this edition, two of the three science sections have six passages and the third has seven. this ratio of six passages and 40 questions is a better reflection of the current act. in fact, on the new act, you will pretty much always see six passages instead of seven.

answer explanations, strategies and skills

the start of the book gives a thorough account of what the act is and what it contains. the sections of strategy advice for act english, math, reading, and science are near-identical to the material in the previous version, all of which was excellent. still, this lack of change makes the new barron’s act book a not-so-appealing option if you already have the last edition. the act writing portion of the book is fully updated. this completely new content is really amazing, and it includes some extra practice questions and sample responses, with scorer commentary. the answer explanations are well-written and complete, just as they were in the last book.

grade

practice material: b+

answer explanations, strategies, and skills: b+

ivy global act guide, edition 1.2

ivy global is a less well-known name for test prep, but they continue to produce high-quality practice materials that are worth your attention. while they’re more commonly known in the realm of sat prep, they came out with an act guide in 2019 that is very good. they also released an updated act guide in 2020 but it is nearly the same as the 2019 version with only a few minor edits.

ivy global’s style is minimal and no-nonsense. it is a real breath of fresh air after other test prep books with a more cluttered and energetic style or format they offer a clear and concise introduction to the test and test taking strategies that are easy to understand. their section-specific review is great. not exactly enough to teach you a topic you’ve never seen before, but definitely enough to help you refresh or fill in any gaps. thankfully, they use lots of act-style questions and examples to help teach the concepts, rather than just rushing through a review.

the book offers three practice tests, and these are a good representation of the topics and difficulty on the real test. there are also free practice tests available to anyone on the ivy global site. it’s important to note that full answer explanations are available on the site only, which isn’t a huge deal, but does add an extra step. they offer a test only book with four full practice tests but the first three tests are the same tests from their act guide book.

grade

practice material: a-

manhattan 5 lb. book of act practice problems

the manhattan 5 lb. book of act practice problems may be the best unofficial act practice book, and it’s a great companion to the official act guide and official act website. still, this book does have some weaknesses alongside its many strengths.

quality of the practice questions

manhattan’s act math questions are excellent. they are 100% consistent with ones you’ll see on the real sat, and follow the same format and difficulty. the act reading and english are definitely act-like, but the sections as a whole are a little easier than the real thing. that’s because the real act will test you on more than one skill on each question, such as knowledge of vocabulary and literary devices. manhattan has a little too many one-skill prompts, which makes the sections easier on average. act science is also a little easier than it should be.

there are two other small issues. first, manhattan uses “except questions,” where you need to identify the one idea that is not in the passage. this is common in act reading but not in act science. second, there are some pre-algebra math operations that wouldn’t occur outside of act math. you’ll still get good practice, but just keep in mind that it’s not as accurate to the test as the other sections.

answer explanations, strategies and skill

each answer explanation really acts as a mini-lesson on academic content, and this allows you to walk away with knowledge that’s applicable to other similar act questions. as an added bonus, questions in this book are organized by subject. that way, you can focus your practice on the question types you find most challenging.

there is a potential shortcoming, though. unlike the current official act guide, manhattan’s explanations don’t directly address incorrect answers. you aren’t really given any insight into how incorrect answers are designed to trick you.

grade

practice material: a+ for math, b- for english and reading, c for science

answer explanations, strategies and skills: b

barron’s act 36, 4th edition

barron’s offers a smaller, more targeted book called act 36. the 4th edition is similar to previous editions, so i would direct anyone interested to kristin’s review of act 36, 2nd edition.

barron’s 36 has always been unusually short by test prep standards. this book is designed as a short introductory course for the act. key ideas and small sets of practice questions are much more clearly marked than before. certain content has been slightly re-ordered so that the organization of each chapter is more logical. and most of the answer explanations have been edited to be more short and to-the-point.

in its 4th edition, barron’s act remains a very basic book. the book makes for a good introductory warm-up before you move on to longer, more advanced prep books. i may recommend this as a source for students hoping to break into the 30s because they can still practice problem solving strategies and time and stress management. they’ll just need to make sure that they use other sources of questions as well to make sure that they give themselves time to get used to the full range of difficulty. for all sections, the explanations have a good level of detail, which many test prep books do not have.

grade

practice material: b-

answer explanations, strategies and skills: b-

mcgraw-hill act 2021

past reviews have observed that the 2018 book was better than the 2014 version of their book, 10 2022世界杯入门名单s, though it still had flaws. the 2021 edition is a little bit better, but like its predecessors, isn’t perfect. the 2021 edition includes a short section about the new updates to the act test. these updates include the shift to online exams, the retakes of individual sections and the new superscoring policy. the new edition retains the updated explanations from the 2020 version but is otherwise almost a page for page copy of the 2020 edition.

practice materials

mcgraw-hill’s act 2021 offers four print practice tests and access to four more practice tests online. there’s also a diagnostic test at the beginning of the book, and a set of additional practice questions for every section.

so you get a lot of act practice with this book, but is that practice good? act english in the 2021 edition is better than in past editions. the questions are a little on the easy side, but overall are the right length and contain the right mix of topics. act math is similar. it’s a little too easy but will help you learn the topics. not all of the act reading passages are the correct length, and the difficulty is too high. act science is excellent, as it was in past editions. this is the closest you can get to the real thing in a third-party act prep book. finally, the act writing is good, but not great. the essay prompts are good, but the opinions are too long. just something to keep in mind if you use act writing practice from this book.

answer explanations

in the past we called out mcgraw-hill’s answer explanations for being too short and unhelpful. some are still that way, but the explanation quality is also a little better. more explanations go into detail, which is a step in the right direction, but we’d still like them to be clearer.

skills and strategy

the good

mcgraw-hill has some really nice skills building practice materials for english, math, reading, and science. there’s some basic advice throughout their chapters on skills and strategy too, but certain strategies are not going to work for everyone, such as speed reading, or are too obvious to be of much help (“listen to your brain”?!). however, mcgraw-hill has especially good advice for pacing and multiple-choice strategy.

the bad

sometimes the activities are too short, and equal attention is not given to each section and skill. the chapter on act science prep is shorter than the other chapters. and there’s too much focus on easier act math skills like elementary algebra. harder aspects of act math, such as logarithms and trigonometry, are barely explained—and when the math chapter is about three times as long as any of the other chapters, you’d definitely expect more thorough coverage! the writing chapter is better than it’s been in previous editions, but is still a little light. overall, the “advice” portions of this book are written in a confusing, inconsistent way.

act 2021 (mcgraw-hill education): grade

practice materials (act science): a

practice materials (everything else): c+

answer explanations: c

skills and strategy: c

mcgraw-hill 10 2022世界杯入门名单s, 6th edition

there are some things i really like about mcgraw-hill’s 10 2022世界杯入门名单s, 6th edition. but there’s also a lot to dislike. mcgraw-hill’s ability to replicate truly act-like practice varies a good deal, depending on the section of the exam you’re dealing with. and their answer explanations leave much to be desired. it is worth mentioning that the 6th edition is the same as the fifth edition aside from a few reworded explanations.

quality of the practice material

the act english passages are too long, so they’re harder to complete in the time limit. the wrong answers are a little too ambiguous, which can make the questions harder in a confusing way, rather than harder in terms of harder material. also, grammar questions are over-represented in this book, so you don’t get as much practice with other question types. the act reading sections are too short, and are a little harder to understand than those on the real test. the act math questions are a little too easy, and favor pre-algebra and elementary algebra more than on the real test. the act science questions are very good. finally, the act writing is much better than it was in past editions.

quality of the answer explanations

here, mcgraw-hill falls really flat with their 10 practice tests. the answer explanations are maddeningly inconsistent and unhelpful. some answer explanations simply say something like “answer x is correct because it’s the only answer that makes sense.” not useful!

other answer explanations give a little bit of extra information on why an answer is correct, but they usually just reference a concept, without really explaining it. for example, an answer explanation might say “this answer is correct because it follows the rules for quadratics.” but what does that actually mean? moreover, at least half the time, the incorrect answers aren’t addressed at all.

grade

act english and act reading practice: c

act math practice: b-

act science practice: a

answer explanations: d-

princeton review

princeton review has many offerings for the act. here, we are going to give our review of princeton review’s materials in general, and then dive into the specific differences between their main books to help you decide which, if any, will help you in your prep. you may notice that princeton review has even more offerings than we review here, but we’ve decided to focus on these because they are both the most popular and fairly representative of the question style and approach in other books.

act premium prep, 2021

we’ll start with act premium prep, something of a flagship for pr’s act prep. it’s pretty similar to previous versions, so if you happen to have an older version, we would not recommend buying the updated edition. also, the difference between premium and regular is that premium has 8 practice tests whereas regular has 6.

the act reading advice is pretty good, although the text is heavily stamped with princeton review’s branding in the form of specialized terms and acronyms. (the awful acronym pood is back with a vengeance!) the passage itself thankfully has no princeton review buzzwords, and is comparable enough to a real act test.

but—just like previous years’ editions—the added act reading practice questions themselves are abysmally not act-like. most of the new dual passage questions are far too easy, and the “hard” questions are only hard because the answer choices are ambiguous. supposedly “wrong” answers could be right. on the real act, there are no “gray area” possibly right answers like this.

there are a few other flaws in the act writing advice. the sample act writing prompts are slightly more complicated than real act writing prompts, with more complex perspectives. one good update this year is that the princeton review has made some steps towards covering prewriting, a step it previously ignored. the advice about the new act essay is good in some respects. however, once again some branding creeps in. pr gives a pretty strict template for writing the essay, specifying phrases, the structure of individual paragraphs, and the order of content. this princeton review method for this essay isn’t bad per se. but it may not work for everyone. lighter guidance that helps students find their own voice and style would be more helpful.

grade

practice material: c

answer explanations, strategies and skills: b-

crash course for the act 6th edition

the crash course for the act is a shorter offering from pr that focuses on strategies and drills. the strategies are solid, though fairly standard for test prep in general, rather than being act-specific. if you are feeling rusty on standardized tests, this may be a good option for you. the questions are different from cracking the act, so it can be used in combination as well as on its own. the question quality is decent, but not the best, just like with other pr books.

bottom line: a source of additional practice questions as well as general test prep tips that can be helpful to those who aren’t getting those tips from another source.

grade

practice material: c

answer explanations, strategies and skills: b-

princeton review 1,523 act practice questions 2021

princeton review’s 1,523 act practice questions has topic-specific mini drills that would be a useful resource for students who want to focus on one topic at a time. the practice questions aren’t repeated from other books, which is good to know the book has three full-length practice tests and gives you access to pr’s online content. the new edition has the same questions as the previous edition with the exception of 12 new questions. like the others, good, not great.

grade

practice material: c

answer explanations, strategies and skills: b-

kaplan’s act prep plus 2021

just like the 2018 edition, the best part of kaplan’s act prep plus 2021 book is its structure. it lays out act content, question types, skills, and strategies in a complete and straightforward way. by the end of it, you’ll have a very good idea of what the act is all about.

this isn’t to say that kaplan act is perfect. there are strong points and weak points within the book’s largely-good framework. note: the “plus” edition gets you two extra practice tests compared with the regular act prep.

answer explanations, strategies, and skills

the answer explanations in kaplan’s act prep plus 2021 are refreshing in many ways. unlike many act books, this book explains both the right answers and the wrong answers! knowing why the wrong answers are wrong–and how the makers of the act are trying to distract you—is a really important aspect of test strategy.

the explanations are longer and of higher quality than explanations in previous editions, which is another point in kaplan’s favor.

the strategy and skill portions of the book definitely don’t have a problem with incompleteness. here, you get in-depth descriptions of all of the different kinds of questions in each section. there’s also a thorough overview of the major grammar rules and math principles on the exam. similarly, the book gives a very complete explanation of content and strategy in act reading and act science.

still, kaplan—much like its competitor the princeton review—sometimes lets its branding and sales tactics get in the way of its advice.

unfortunately, this edition still includes the smartpoint system. kaplan’s smartpoints system lists each question type in every section as a “smartpoint.” these smartpoint labels can be confusing and inconsistent. some smartpoints are said to be related to other smartpoints, but the connections are vague at best. similarly, the “kaplan method” for each section tends to be fairly obvious. however, the kaplan method for act writing does one thing that’s pretty awesome–it shows students how to brainstorm and write an outline. this is refreshing, since many act prep books don’t cover prewriting sufficiently. regrettably, however, kaplan again applies a flawed, time consuming method. the kaplan method for putting together an act essay includes a prescriptive, highly detailed outline structure that students will have trouble following within the test time limits.

finally, the practice materials all have pretty obvious flaws. here’s a quick rundown, section by section. the act english and reading questions are easier than the real thing. some are way too hard because of ambiguous answer choices, where multiple answers could have been right. real act questions won’t necessarily be easy, but you should be able to narrow down the choices to one. questions on the act math and science are a little easier than the real thing. as for act writing, kaplan’s corrected some of the over-detailed prompts that plagued previous versions of this (um, “kaplan act”) books. these are a lot more solid than they were in previous editions.

grade

practice materials: c-

answer explanations, strategies, and skills: b

the best act prep books that won’t cost you anything!

magoosh’s free act ebook

that’s right! magoosh has a free act ebook!

what will you find in here? strategies for the exam, practice questions, detailed explanations for those practice questions, explanations of the act format and details of all question types.

it’s written by magoosh’s test experts, meaning that it’s not dense or dry like some books. even better, it’s available in a handy pdf so you can study on the go.
magoosh’s sat math formula ebook
(this ebook was written for the sat, but is equally crucial for the act.)

the math formulas you’ll need on the test, plus strategies and practice problems so you can learn how to use them under pressure!

high schooler’s guide to the future

for this ebook, magoosh teamed up with collegexpress to combine our test-prep expertise with their college admissions knowledge. this guide to getting into college provides a timeline to help you navigate the college prep process year-by-year.

going beyond the best act prep books

our best act prep books list grows all the time, so be sure to check back for new reviews! (or send us a request for one!) if you’re interested in adding some online practice to your act prep, complete with videos and interactive tutorials, check out magoosh act prep.

happy studying!

the post best act prep books of 2021 – which book is best for you? appeared first on magoosh blog | high school.

how to improve your act study sessions: from goal-setting to practice tips

1. set a realistic score goal

the most important thing to do right away is to set a great score goal for you. this doesn’t mean that you need the best score out of everyone that you know or the highest score possible (1600 on the sat, 36 on the act). in fact, setting a goal for a too-high score in too short a time will just end up being discouraging and keep you from appreciating the progress you actually make.

instead, think about a variety of factors that would make a good act score or a good sat score for you. what colleges do you want to apply to? what are the average scores at your target schools? shooting for the 50th or even 75th percentile for these schools is a great way to set your target.

then, get a baseline practice test score. do this with a full-length diagnostic practice test, taken in test-like conditions. the results of the diagnostic test will help you set a realistic goal. in this video, erika goes over tips for planning a study schedule that helps you reach your goal.

very generally, here are some good timeline for score improvements:

act schedule for a busy student

• 3 points: 1-2 months
• 5-6 points: 3-4 months
• 7-8 points: 6-12 months

sat schedule for a busy student

• 70-150 points: 1-2 months
• 150-250 points: 3-4 months
• 250-350 points: 6-12 months

this won’t be true for every student in every situation, but it is a good baseline to use to plan your study at about 10 hours of prep per week.

2. know how much time you will need to study per week

understanding the time commitment of act prep will help you set up your schedule in a way that’s manageable with the rest of your commitments. the pacing of your plan will depend on how much time you have before test day. plan for the following session frequencies and lengths, working backwards from your official act test dates:

• one month: 3 days a week, 2-4 hours per day (the upper end of this is for students taking the essay/optional writing test), with 4-hour sessions on one weekend day (you’ll use this for an 2022世界杯入门名单)
• two months: 3 days a week, 2-3 hours a day, with 3-6 hour sessions on one weekend day
• three months: 2 days a week, 2 hours a day, with 4-hour sessions on one weekend day

as you can see, the longer you have to prepare, the lighter your act test prep sessions each week will be. this is why it’s important to start studying for the act as early as possible, especially if you’re a busy student!

in an ideal world, you’d start prepping for the act junior year. why junior year? by this point in your high school career, you’ve covered the material the act tests in your classes. but you’ll still have enough time left to retake additional act exams or take the sat instead if you need to. you’ll get your scores well in advance of deciding where to apply to college, and you won’t have to cram act study on top of everything else into senior year. all in all, junior year is a solid choice for testing!

3. schedule act sessions in advance and follow a study schedule

when your schedule’s packed, it’s really easy to let longer-term goals (like acing the act!) slide, “just for today.” but over time, those dropped sessions start to add up, leading to more and more stress around act prep in general.

don’t let this happen to you! by planning out your sessions in advance, you’ll be more likely to stick to them—and you can also rest easy, knowing that you have this goal under control.

keep in mind that while solid act prep does require several hours a week, you don’t have to do these hours in huge chunks to be successful! if you’re struggling to find 3-4 hour chunks of time for test prep, it’s important to realize that you can break these down into smaller chunks. even 20-minute study streaks will help you reach your goals over time! you can also maximize your study time by following the tips in this post about boosting your act score by 10 points, such as starting to study two hours after waking up.

magoosh’s experts have already crafted tried and true act study schedules for different periods of time to help students reach their goals. check them out!

• one month act study schedule
• two month act study schedule
• three month act study schedule

4. figure out what will motivate you to stick to your schedule

wondering how to stick to your study plan? in the end, it’ll come down to the personal factors that motivate you. here are just a few that magoosh students have found helpful in the past!

• get a study buddy. having someone else to whom you’re accountable can really help boost your motivation. if you have a friend or friends who are taking the act around the same time you are, this can help keep motivation up for both/all of you!
• reward yourself! setting up a system of external rewards for when you meet your act study goals, like watching an episode of your favorite show or getting a fancy coffee from your favorite place, can help keep you on-track.
• enlist outside help. being accountable to an authority figure or a class of people can be really motivating. if you suspect you’ll have trouble sticking to an act study schedule on your own, then signing up for an act prep course or getting act tutoring could be a great way to keep your energy from flagging during act study!
• be gentle with yourself. and yes, this includes in the planning! schedule lots of breaks into your sessions. make sure you’re loaded up with water and snacks to keep your energy high. take time to stretch and even meditate between practice questions, practice sets, and lessons. the kinder you can be to your mind and body, the less strenuous your act prep will feel!
• don’t forget to study the things you’re already good at! this may sound counter-intuitive–after all, if you’re struggling on the math section but awesome at reading, shouldn’t you spend all of your study time going over geometry, algebra, trigonometry, and charts and graphs? no! not only is it important that you keep your reading comprehension skills polished for test day, but by consistently practicing the reading section, as well, you’ll remind yourself of your strengths, as well as areas you need to improve.
• keep the test in perspective. yes, the act is important for college admissions. but at the end of the day, it’s just a snapshot of one morning in a testing room. other aspects of your application will be equally important to college admissions officers, who know that high school students are more than their test scores. they’ll look at a variety of factors as well, including your grades, your coursework, and your extracurricular activities. so prioritize act study, absolutely–but don’t let it cause you undue stress.

5. prioritize practice tests (essential act practice tip!)

taking a full-length practice test uses a big chunk of your study time. but it’s so worth it. it’s incredibly difficult to walk into the test center on exam day and complete a three-hour exam (four hours with breaks, writing, etc.) without having done realistic practice beforehand. this is why regular practice tests should be a key part of your test prep—whether you’re studying for the sat or act! plan on taking one every 2-4 weeks, depending on the length of your study schedule.

keep in mind that you should take these exams in test-like conditions, including following timing guidelines and doing the test all in one sitting if you can. if you’re taking the act writing test, make sure that you include this optional writing test as part of your practice as well. it’s tempting to skip it—but you need the full test-day experience to really benefit from.

practice tests will help you track your progress, help you adjust your study schedule, and build your endurance for test day. once you’ve taken the exam, set aside time the day after to review your answers. this is why getting a prep product or act guide with complete answer explanations is so important—it’ll help you understand how to avoid the same types of mistakes next time.

a final word on act study sessions

so if you’re wondering how to improve your act study sessions (especially if you have a busy schedule), these tips should help! in the end, it’ll come down to the personal factors that motivate you, so find what works and stick with it. let us know in the comments below if you have tips for great act study sessions!

the post top 5 ways to improve your act study sessions appeared first on magoosh blog | high school.

the act science test is the final section of the act—and the one that makes students the most anxious. after all, “science” covers a lot of ground! but the act science section focuses primarily on logic and scientific reasoning, rather than testing you on facts and equations. here’s what you need to know to master this section for test day!

what is act science?

in the science section on the act test, you’ll read passages summarizing scientific research or ideas, graphs, charts, tables, and/or research summaries. here are the fast facts you need!

• science is the final multiple-choice section of the act. if you’re not taking the essay, it’s the last section of the test.
• it lasts 35 minutes.
• it contains 40 questions.
• like the other multiple-choice sections of the exam, science is scored on a 1-36 scale that makes up 1/4 of your composite act score.
• although only a handful of questions directly test your factual scientific knowledge, frequently tested act science concepts can include biology, chemistry, physics, and earth science materials, like geology and meteorology—even space sciences like astronomy.

how many act science passages are there?

the exact number varies between tests, but you’ll find either 6 or 7 act science passages on the official exam.

there are three main act science passage types:

research summaries

about this passage type: research summaries are pretty much what they sound like: the most common passage type summarizes scientific research (sometimes, you’ll also need to compare experiments). again, these passages usually come with graphics.

how many passages to expect: 2-3

how many questions to answer per passage: 5-6

data representation

about this passage type: these are passages that give you scientific information of the type you’d find in a professional journal, along with accompanying graphics.

how many passages to expect: 2-3

how many questions to answer per passage: 5-6

conflicting viewpoints

about this passage type: think of the conflicting viewpoints passage as a “fighting scientists” passage pair. these paired passages give two different viewpoints/hypotheses on the same scientific phenomenon, then ask questions about both. conflicting viewpoints passages make up 15–20% of act science passages.

how many passages to expect: 1

how many questions to answer per passage: 7

what kinds of questions are asked on act science?

across all passage-types, you can expect three categories of questions:

interpretation of data

about this question type: for these questions, you’ll analyze the data from the passage and/or the accompanying graphic(s).

how many total questions to expect: 16-20

scientific investigation

about this question type: these process questions have you evaluate how an experiment was conducted, what the implications of it were, and other design/prediction-based issues, including those involving the scientific method.

how many total questions to expect: 8-12

evaluation of models, inferences, and experimental results

about this question type: these questions ask you to determine how valid various information is given the results of experiments, then draw conclusions and make predictions based on it.

how many total questions to expect: 10-14

is act science easy?

for most students, act science is not the most intuitive section on the exam. this is because it tests scientific materials and processes in a way that very few high school science classes do. any time we’re tested on material in a new way, it can feel challenging.

the pacing on this section is also pretty tight—less than a minute per question. this can be tricky even if you like scientific reading and are confident in your reasoning skills. to avoid running out of time, you’ll need to train yourself on knowing the quickest way on finding the information you need and using your reasoning skills to get to the answer.

for the easiest questions, this often means not even reading the passage and just using the graphs and diagrams to draw quick logical conclusions. for the hardest questions, though, you’ll need to know how to pinpoint the right information in a sea of scientific jargon and/or use multiple logical steps to get to the answer.

with all that said, the act is not testing string theory or any other advanced topics. the actual content in this section is relatively basic; with the right amount of practice, anyone can become a pro at act science!

how to study act science

there are three parts to successful study for any act section, and science is no different! these are:

• solid lessons in whatever format works best for you: videos, books, classes, a study guide, etc.
• test-like practice problems with thorough answers and explanations
• full-length 2022世界杯入门名单s to gauge your current strengths and weaknesses, measure your progress, and adapt your study plan.

with that in mind, though, there are a handful of specific ways to improve your score in this section, too. chief among them? work on your understanding of charts, graphs, and tables.

how to read science graphs

if you’re not used to working with charts, graphs, and other visual presentations of data, it’s never too late to start! take a look at the intro to act science graphs and tables here, making sure that you understand how to find the basic information on each. specifically, look for the titles, the axes/columns/rows, dependent variable/independent variable (if applicable), and the units.

once you’ve mastered reading this information and identifying the most important elements quickly, work on spotting trends and patterns in the data in this section.

how to improve science scores

the best thing you can do to improve your science scores is to read a lot of scientific passages and graphics in publications like scientific american and popular science in order to build your familiarity with this type of material. then, work on putting this experience into practice with a full-length practice test or a single section, act science practice test. then, keep building your skills with practice questions over time!

but if time is short, you can still boost your score! check out these easy tips for the science section, followed by this video with even more top science tips!.

the post what you need to know about act science appeared first on magoosh blog | high school.

the act writing test, or essay section, tests your ability to read different perspectives on a topic and present your own opinion in writing. it’s the optional last section of the exam, meaning that you don’t have to take it if you don’t want to–although there are many colleges and universities that require or recommend it for admissions. here’s what you need to know about act writing in a nutshell!

what is the act writing section?

here are the need-to-know facts about the act writing section:

• it’s a 40-minute test to complete with pencil and paper
• you’ll get one essay prompt about a debatable topic and three different perspectives on it
• you have to:
  • evaluate the three different perspectives
  • present your own perspective (which may agree in part or in full with any of the provided viewpoints)
  • explain the relationship between your viewpoint and the provided ones.

do i have to take act writing?

nope! it’s not a required part of the exam. you can think of it as an add-on that, yes, also costs a little bit more. but whether the test requires the essay and whether colleges do are two separate issues. while you can submit the act without writing to many colleges and universities, others (including most super-competitive colleges) will ask you for it. because the list of which colleges require act writing is constantly changing, it’s best to check with the individual schools you’re thinking of applying to before you register.

with that said, some students do take the exam before they know where they’ll be applying to college. so in this case, is it better to do the act test with or without writing? if you’re really uncertain, take it with writing. this will ensure that you don’t have to go back to the test center because you’ve decided to apply to a college that does require it in a few months! yes, it requires some extra prep–but it’s worth it to keep your options open.

how does act writing scoring work?

if you’ve been prepping for the act overall, you’re probably very (overly?) familiar with the 1-36 scoring scale by now. but this isn’t how the act essay is scored! because it’s not a multiple-choice section, the essay has its own unique scoring. take a look!

how act writing is scored

the writing portion of the act is scored by two graders, each of whom will assign you a writing score of 1 to 6 on four different writing “domains.” these domains include:

• ideas and analysis: does your thesis statement and writing examine the implications of the issue with clarity and nuance?
• development and support: do you use well-developed and specific examples to support your thesis?
• organization: does your essay have a strong structure and a logical flow?
• language use and conventions: do you use correct grammar, word usage, mechanics, punctuation, and sentence structures?

your total points added up between these two graders are converted from these domain scores to a scaled score of 2 to 12, which is the final score you will see on your score report.

getting your act writing scores

so you’ve done it! you sat down, you wrote your essay…now what? when will act writing scores be available? well, you’ll get your multiple-choice scores in around two weeks, and you’ll get your act writing scores (and full score report) about two weeks after that. so anticipate waiting around a month to get the total view of how you did on the act essay.

can act writing hurt your score?

no! not, that is, if you’re talking about the composite act score on the 1-36 scale. this is an average of your 1-36 scores in each of the four multiple-choice sections (reading, math, english, and science). it doesn’t take your essay score into account. in other words–does the act writing score affect composite scores? it doesn’t.

with that said, the essay score will affect your ela subscore on the exam. (you can see what this looks like on a score report here.) but colleges and universities are far more interested in your sectional and composite scores.

what essay score is good?

generally, an 8+ is an excellent act writing score, but it depends on where you’re applying. ivy-league-bound students should aim for 9 or above!

can act writing be superscored?

nope! the act superscore is a way of combining your highest multiple-choice scores from different sections and different test dates to give you the highest possible combination. but it only affects your composite score. because the essay isn’t part of your composite score, it’s not part of the superscore, either.

what happens if i mess up on the writing section?

if you’re wondering if you can cancel the section after they’ve taken it, unfortunately, the answer is no. once you’ve written the essay, your score will appear on your score report. but if you change your mind about taking the writing section of the act, you can cancel it before you get into the testing room.

if you feel that you didn’t do your best, or you get a lower score than you’d like, can you retake act writing? definitely! but for the moment, act sectional retesting is on hold—and it may or may not include the act writing test being taken separately. to retake act writing, in other words, you’ll need to retake the entire exam…for now.

how to improve your writing score

so how do you boost your act essay score? take a look at these tips!

practice planning and writing essays on practice act essay prompts. although writing full essays (preferably as part of 2022世界杯入门名单s) is the best practice, ten-minute outlining sessions in which you plan out your essay (like you will do on the test) can go a long way in helping you learn how to quickly generate and organize your ideas.

if grammar is not your strong suit, check out our post on act grammar rules. not only will this help you improve your grammar for the act essay, but it also will help you with the act english section!

share your writing with the strong writers you know and get feedback from them. have them score your practice essays using the act rubric.

review the sample essays on actstudent.org so that you can get a sense of what kinds of essays get which scores. this can be incredibly helpful!

learn about current events and form your own opinions on them. engage in lively debates with your friends and family so that you can practice supporting your opinions and anticipating opposing arguments!

want even more? read your magical guide to scoring a perfect 12 on the act essay, which will guide you through all the basics (if you’re a beginner) and how to improve your score (if you’ve already taken the test). there, you will find lots more writing tips and strategies that will help you show the act writing test who’s boss. happy studying!

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