what is a good mcat score

What Is a Good MCAT Score?

What Score Do I Need to Get Into Medical School?

If you’re reading this, chances are you’re starting your journey to medical school – the first step being taking the MCAT.

Getting a good score on the MCAT isn’t the same number for everyone. Depending on which schools you want to go to, a good score can vary.

Are you looking to go somewhere prestigious? You’ll need a higher score. If you’re looking to go to a more average medical school, your score can be closer to the average of 500.

Read on to find out what a good MCAT score is, tips for doing your best, and deciding on a school.

The MCAT

the mcat

Before we get into scores, you should know what’s on the exam and what to expect. Read on to find out more about the MCAT.

Sections of the MCAT

We aren’t trying to scare you, but the MCAT is a 7.5-hour exam. You’ll need to come prepared for the long haul and be able to score well on each section. And, since it’s such a lengthy test, you most likely only want to take it once—so study hard!

The MCAT separates into the following parts:

  • Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems
    • Basic biology, organic chemistry, inorganic chemistry, and biochemistry
    • 59 questions
    • 95 minutes
  • Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems
    • Basic biochemistry, biology, general chemistry, organic chemistry, and physics
    • 59 questions
    • 95 minutes
  • Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior
    • Introductory psychology, sociology, and biology
    • 59 questions
    • 95 minutes
  • Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills
    • Passages from humanities and social science disciplines
    • 53 questions
    • 90 minutes

As you can see, the MCAT is quite biology-heavy. If you want to score well, you need to ensure you’re knowledgeable on basic biology.

The point values are different for every exam, but each section will never be worth more than 132 points.

How It’s Scored

How It’s Scored

Every MCAT test (there are 15 exams given every year) varies in difficulty. So, your final MCAT score becomes scaled.

Your raw MCAT score is the score you receive before your scorers look at difficulty. If your test was particularly challenging, your score scales as such, and you’ll most likely get a higher score than what you had before.

It might sound odd to scale a standardized test, but it helps you out in the long run – it makes success and a good score possible for everyone, not just top scorers.

Scoring and Percentiles

A good MCAT score depends on percentile. Below are the percentiles for 2018-2019 and what you need to get for admission into certain schools, starting with the lowest percentile.

39th Percentile

An MCAT score of 497 will put you in the 39th percentile. Unfortunately, this is below average, but some schools will accept this score, such as:

  • Medical University of South Carolina
  • University of Tennessee Health Science Center
  • University at Buffalo SUNY

If you end up with a lower-than-average MCAT score, you can still get into medical school – don’t give up! Scoring lower than a 497 does lower your chances significantly, but several medical schools accept scores as low as 494.

Scoring and Percentiles

49th Percentile

The 49th percentile is the score you want. Being in the 49th percentile gives you a score of 500, the average MCAT score, so you’re more likely to get into the medical school of your choice.

Some mid-range medical schools that often accept 49th percentile scorers are:

  • Arkansas College of Osteopathic Medicine
  • University of Missouri – Kansas School of Medicine
  • West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine

Osteopathic medicine is a popular field for mid-range MCAT scorers.

99th Percentile

The seriously coveted 99th percentile includes MCAT scores of 521-523. It’s important to remember that most people don’t reach this level, but if you want to be the best of the best, you’ll need to aim high.

Schools that accept a lot of 99th percentile scorers are:

  • Yale School of Medicine
  • Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons
  • Perelman School of Medicine University of Pennsylvania

Ivy League schools have the highest MCAT average scores, which is unsurprising. Be sure to start preparing early if these schools are on your radar.

What to Aim For

What to Aim For

The consensus of test-taking publications like The Princeton Review is a 509. A 509 will put you above average but not in the top line of scorers—and that’s fine for most people applying to medical schools.

How to Get Your Ideal Score

Now that you have your goal score figured out, we’ll show you how to get there! There are lots of resources for taking the MCAT, and not all of them are book-based. We included some tips on how to study, too.

When to Start Preparing

When you prepare depends mostly on how long you’ve been out of school. If you’re fresh out of school, start about three to five months before the MCAT exam.

You should start six months or more before the MCAT if you’ve been out of school longer. Since you haven’t been in the classroom, some of your basic knowledge may have decreased.

Sometimes, though, three months is all you have, especially if you have a full-time job or other academic obligations. If you need to prepare in a rush, you should:

  • Take a practice test to see where your baseline is
  • Use that score and compare it to your goal score
  • Focus on areas you scored lowest on

Preparing for the MCAT in three months is possible, but it’s tricky. If you can wait another three months and have extra time, that’s ideal.

Resources and Classes

Resources and Classes

Almost every major testing preparation company has an MCAT course. Below are a few different ones and what they offer.

The Princeton Review

The Princeton Review offers several exam preparation programs, but, unfortunately, none of them are cheap.

If you want a good MCAT score and you’re serious about it, their featured programs are:

The 515+ and 510+ programs guarantee those scores, so if you want to be among the elite, those programs should be high on your list.

If you can’t afford any of the prep courses featured above, you can always purchase a self-guided study book from the Princeton Review as well. The books range anywhere from about $60 to $150. They also have a complete MCAT self-prep guide that’s about the cost as one of their courses.

Kaplan Test Prep

Kaplan Test Prep

Kaplan offers an abundance of options for MCAT prep, so if you aren’t sure what you’re looking for, it’s a great choice.

Most of the programs are cheaper than The Princeton Review options, but some are still up there in price. Below are only a few of their programs:

Kaplan offers more practice test options than most other prep services, so if you learn best with practice, you should check them out.

They don’t have any guarantees regarding score, though, so keep that in mind.

If you’re interested in self-paced learning, they have tons of books and book/online hybrids. The least expensive book will only set you back about $30.

Things to Consider

Before you sign up to take the MCAT, there are a few things you should take into consideration if you want a good score.

History with Standardized Tests

Do you have a history of doing well on standardized tests or the opposite? If you have issues with long exams or test anxiety, try starting your preparation even earlier than six months ahead of time.

You can also take practice exams and time yourself to see how long each section takes you to complete. You will be way less nervous on test day, we promise.

Type of Medicine You Want to Practice

Type of Medicine You Want to Practice

Medical school, at least at first, doesn’t let you focus on one subject. But, the difficulty of what you want to do and the MCAT score do correlate.

Osteopathic schools allow lower MCAT scores more often, but surgical-heavy schools only accept high scorers.

Research

Find your dream school! Make a list of schools that are attainable, with one dream school and backup options as well.

Check for MCAT score cutoffs, averages, and student demographics so you can make an informed decision.

Conclusion

conclusion

So, what’s a good MCAT score? It depends on who you are and where you want to go. A good score varies from person to person. Some people might consider 500 low, while others might have that set as their goal score.

Remember that preparation and keeping a realistic mindset is crucial, and take as much time as you need to prepare for the MCAT. Whether you choose The Princeton Review program or the Kaplan method, getting a good MCAT score is possible!

What do you think is a good MCAT score? Comment down below.

classes to take before MCAT

Classes to Take Before MCAT

Do you know what classes to take before taking the MCAT?

Preparing for medical school is the next step toward your goal of becoming a physician, researcher, scientist, or counselor. To get there, however, you’ll need to first pass the MCAT. And to pass the MCAT, you’ll need to take the right classes first.

MCAT is short for the Medical College Admissions Test, an entrance exam that most medical schools require candidates to take before applying. To do well on it, you’ll want to have the experience and knowledge of several core courses offered at most colleges and universities.

Are Certain Classes Required Before Taking the MCAT?

Are Certain Classes Required Before Taking the MCAT

Students often wonder if they must take any specific classes before the MCAT, and the answer is no. There is no requirement to have completed any particular courses. However, the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) does recommend that anyone taking the exam first complete specific introductory-level courses (which we’ll explore below).

If you don’t have these courses at your school, you should speak with your pre-health advisor to learn about the specific coursework recommended to meet your MCAT goal. Make sure to take as many of these courses as possible for the best score.

What Are the Recommended Classes to Take Before the MCAT?

Recommended Classes to Take Before the MCAT

Again, while nothing is explicitly required, some classes are highly recommended as they cover all of the content found on the MCAT exam.

These preemptive courses include:

  • Chemistry: General Chemistry 1 and 2 with lab and Organic Chemistry 1 and 2 with lab
  • Physics: Physics 1 and 2 with lab
  • Biology: General Biology 1 and 2 with lab
  • Psychology: Intro to Psychology
  • Sociology: Intro to Sociology

This video below from MCAT Self Prep goes over the classes you can take and strategies you can use to try to score in the 99th percentile and could be a great resource to those preparing for the exam.

Are Labs Important?

Yes, the labs are a vital component of the above classes as they offer hands-on experience and knowledge that many questions on the MCAT will specifically cover. As long as you take your undergraduate science labs, you will be fine!

Do AP Courses Count?

AP courses are a great way to get a head start on your college work, but they’re not the best replacement for college-level classes on topics like physics and biology when you’re preparing for the MCAT. AP classes don’t go into as great detail as college courses do, so you should plan to take the college versions of these courses before the MCAT.

Classes to Take Before MCAT: The Details

the details

Are you wondering what these recommended classes are all about? You’re not alone!

Here’s some more information on what these important courses cover so you can prepare for the MCAT questions.

Chemistry

General Chemistry 1 and 2 are usually standard classes for all pre-med students. However, not everyone will need to take General Chemistry 2. If you’re unsure, you should ask your advisor or older pre-med students to determine if it’s crucial for a good MCAT score.

Altogether, your general chemistry and organic chemistry classes should cover the following topics:

  • Chemical bonds
  • Atomic/electronic structure
  • Thermodynamics
  • Chemical bonds
  • Kinetics
  • Intermolecular forces
  • Equilibrium
  • Acids and bases
  • Solutions chemistry
  • Electrochemistry

If your General Chemistry 1 class covers all of these topics, General Chemistry 2 may not be necessary.

Physics

Physics

Physics 1 and 2 should be taken by anyone considering taking the MCAT without exception. In Physics 1, you’ll cover Newtonian Mechanics, which includes fluids and waves, kinematics, work and energy, and forces.

In Physics 2, you’ll usually cover electricity and magnetism, electrostatics, geometric options, and quantum mechanics.

Sometimes, students can choose between a calculus-based version of physics for engineering students and a non-calculus version for medical students. While the non-calculus version may be easier to pass, the calculus version is more thorough in its MCAT preparation, so consider that.

Biology

General biology is essential knowledge to have, but your school’s specific coursework will determine whether you need to take both General Biology 1 and 2 or if General Biology 1 will be sufficient.

At some schools, Bio 1 covers all medically-related topics, while Bio 2 covers things like plant matter, which aren’t crucial for the exam.

Many students also elect to take more advanced biology courses to cover more details that may appear on the exam. Some of these courses include immunology, cell biology, physiology, or microbiology.

Biochemistry

Biochemistry

Biochemistry is critical to success on the MCAT. In both the Chemistry/Physiology portion and the Biology/Biochemistry portion, biochemistry makes up 25% of the topics, 

This percentage makes biochemistry the second-highest-tested natural science subject found on the MCAT exam, just after biology.

Psychology

Psychology is another class that can be highly beneficial for those who want to take and do well on the MCAT exam, but it’s not required by the testing company or any medical school. Psychology covers topics on neurobiology, learning and memory, psychological disorders, neurobiology, and more. 

Sociology

Some sociology topics covered on the MCAT comprise 30% of the Psych/Soc section of the exam and may include:

  • Social interaction
  • Social structure and stratification
  • Social processes and behavior
  • Social thinking and attitudes

An introductory sociology class at your college or university will likely cover the majority of these topics. Still, feel free to take more advanced courses if you think that will prepare you better.

Final Thoughts

final thoughts

In essence, no classes are required to take the MCAT, but it’s a good idea to take biology (general and organic), physics, chemistry, biochemistry, psychology, and sociology first. You may also want to consider taking other, more advanced-level courses to give you a leg up the first time you take the exam.

Do you have further questions? Be sure to leave a comment down below, and we’ll be glad to answer them.

Top 10 MCAT Studying Tips

Top 10 MCAT Studying Tips

Studying for the MCAT can be pretty stressful. The amount of material you need to cover can seem overwhelming, and it’s easy to get burnt out. There’s no denying it — preparing for the MCAT requires dedication, persistence, and hard work.

However, creating a study plan and sticking to it can help you manage your stress and reach attainable goals. Here are ten tips that can help you prepare for the MCAT and get the score you’re aiming for on the first try.

1. Discover Your Areas of Weakness

Discover Your Areas of Weakness

Your first step is to discover your areas of weakness. Which topics do you need to pay extra attention to?

Taking a diagnostic test can help you determine which topics you don’t understand well. The purpose of this first practice test is not to build stamina in preparation for the actual MCAT. That will come later. For now, you want to understand which content areas you need to review again.

Once you understand your areas of weakness, you can move on to the next step, which is creating your study plan. Your study plan shouldn’t focus exclusively on your areas of weakness. You need a comprehensive review; there will always be things you forgot or didn’t fully understand. However, you need to spend more time on your areas of weakness.

2. Create and Stick To a Schedule

Create and Stick To a Schedule

Once you’ve figured out which areas you need to focus on, you can move on to creating a schedule. You need to stick to that schedule, or you’ll never reach your goals.

On the one hand, you don’t want to be too rigid. If you see that you need to spend more time on a particular subject, don’t be afraid to adapt your schedule and allocate more time to that subject while focusing less on topics you already understand fully.

On the other hand, you have to be careful you’re not just making excuses for yourself. There’s a fine line you need to walk here. Studying for the MCAT requires you to push yourself a bit, so don’t just keep telling yourself, “I’ll finish this tomorrow.” If you constantly do that, you’ll fall behind on your schedule, and you won’t be ready when test day arrives.

3. Focus on Understanding Instead of Memorizing

Focus on Understanding Instead of Memorizing

Take your time to understand each topic instead of just memorizing it. When you see you got an answer wrong when taking practice tests, try to understand the reasoning and logic behind the correct answer.

That doesn’t mean you can forget about memorization entirely. A big chunk of the MCAT does require you to memorize and remember answers to questions. However, whenever possible, you want to make sure you are not only memorizing the answers but understanding cause and effect.

Some questions may try to confuse you, so having a good grasp of the topic will help you get them right.

4. Use Anki and Khan Academy

Use Anki and Khan Academy

Many online MCAT test prep resources are available — make use of them. Two of the most useful ones are Anki and Khan Academy.

Anki helps you with the memorization aspect. It uses spaced repetition to help you remember key concepts. Spaced repetition is a scientifically backed learning method that introduces material at spaced intervals. Anki uses flashcards for spaced repetition.

The brain just isn’t good at processing a lot of information in a short period for long-term retention. If you want the information to enter your long-term memory storage, you need to keep introducing it to your brain, but not all at once.

You can introduce more complex concepts that are harder to understand or remember more frequently while gradually spacing out older concepts that you already understand.

There are many decks on Anki that others have created that can help you prepare for the MCAT.

Another fantastic resource for MCAT test prep is Khan Academy. This one is better for the understanding aspect as opposed to pure memorization. That’s why it goes so well together with Anki.

Khan Academy is one of the most extensive online resources for self-study and test prep. It’s entirely free to use, and its MCAT test prep course is very popular. It includes passages and practice questions on all topics that the MCAT covers.

5. Simulate a Real Testing Environment

Simulate a Real Testing Environment

When doing your practice tests, make sure to simulate an authentic testing environment. That means you need to prepare for your test day as you would for the actual MCAT test.

Together with breaks and optional sections, the MCAT is around 7.5 hours long. It will probably be the most extended test you’ve ever taken, so you need to build up your stamina. Otherwise, when test day comes, you may become anxious and get itchy feet in the middle of the test. That will distract you and may prevent you from concentrating, which may affect your test score.

So, how can you build up your stamina? You need to take practice tests for 7.5 hours as well. One isn’t enough; you need to do a few to get used to the MCAT testing environment. In addition, you need to treat a practice test as if it were a real test. That means that cheating, skipping questions, or guessing questions are not allowed. Don’t take shortcuts.

Before the test starts, eat whatever you will eat on test day. During the MCAT breaks, you will be able to eat, drink, and take medication. During your practice breaks, eat whatever snacks you will be taking with you to test day.

After each test, you can continue optimizing your study schedule and set goals based on your areas of weakness.

6. Give Yourself Time To Rest

Give Yourself Time To Rest

Burnout is a real thing. You need to set up your schedule, so you are getting enough rest. However, just taking breaks is likely not going to be enough.

The months you spend studying for the MCAT can be some of the most stressful in your life, especially if you have other things going on, such as school, work, or family issues. You must give yourself opportunities to de-stress.

Find things you enjoy and allocate time for them. It can be Netflix and chill, going out with friends once in a while, taking nature hikes, going ice skating, or whatever helps you forget about the stress and enjoy yourself. Otherwise, your performance will be negatively affected.

7. Do What Works For You

Do What Works For You

There are a lot of MCAT study guides and tips online. However, just because one method worked for someone else does not mean it will work for you. You need to figure out which study method helps you understand and retain information best without getting burned out. Don’t force yourself to do something just because your friends are doing it, either.

You might learn well with flashcards. For some, studying alone is the best method; for others, it is learning with a partner. Some people will want to take many notes and organize them, while others understand topics better when watching videos on sites like Khan Academy.

8. Avoid Distractions

Avoid Distractions

Find a study spot where you can focus on your test prep without any distractions. If you live alone, that will be easier. However, you still need to make sure you are studying in an ideal study environment. If you need to, buy a desk and chair and study near a window.

Studying on your bed isn’t ideal. You’ll have bad posture, you’ll feel more tired and less motivated, and you won’t be able to focus as much.

If you can’t study at home, look for a quiet cafe where you can focus. If you can’t afford to study in coffee shops or coworking spaces, your local library will usually offer a peaceful environment without distractions.

9. Consider Tutoring

Consider Tutoring

Tutoring might have a bit of a stigma attached to it, but it’s not just for challenged students. Anyone can benefit from private mentoring, especially when studying for a comprehensive exam like the MCAT, which you will only take once (hopefully).

A tutor can provide a lot of guidance with planning your study schedule and figuring out your areas of weakness. You can even get a tutor just for a final review before your exam to ensure you understand everything correctly and that you don’t forget anything.

10. Take It When You’re Ready

Take It When You’re Ready

If you don’t yet feel ready to take the MCAT, push it off! Ideally, you shouldn’t take the MCAT more than once, so you want to do it right the first time. Don’t just take it and hope for the best.

If you struggle with perfectionism, that’s another story, as you may be genuinely ready but end up pushing it off forever.

Final Thoughts

final thoughts

Try to find a support group (like an online forum) or someone who can keep you motivated while preparing for the MCAT. Also, use online resources like The Princeton Review — its MCAT Study Guide has some fantastic tips worth checking out.

The Ultimate Flashcards to Boost MCAT Scores

The Ultimate Flashcards to Boost MCAT Scores

Are you a pre-med student who is preparing to take the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT)? Are you looking for the best flashcards for MCAT success?  If you answered yes to these questions, then you’ll be happy to read our guide on the ultimate MCAT flashcards.

What are the best flashcards for MCAT tests? This is a common question among pre-med students. The greatest flashcards come from Barron’s Educational Series as well as Kaplan Test Prep. However, there are several options from these two businesses, which this guide covers below.

Kaplan MCAT Flashcards and App (Third Edition)

Kaplan MCAT Flashcards

The Kaplan MCAT flashcards come in a set of 1000 cards and will provide you with the material you need to succeed on the MCAT exam. These flashcards are excellent for studying and improving your knowledge to get a higher score on the MCAT.

Along with these flashcards, there is an online resource (or digital app) that can help you review the major subjects necessary to become a medical school student.

Several subjects divide this set including biochemistry, biology, behavioral science, physics, organic chemistry, and chemistry. The number of flashcards for each subject ranges from 90 (organic chemistry) to 247 (biology).

Pros:

  • Each flashcard includes definitions, terms, and ideas to improve understanding.
  • The MCAT app, which you can install on your smartphone, allows you to study for the MCAT on the go.
  • The flashcards include typical questions found on the MCAT exam.
  • The flashcards are delivered in an organized fashion and are sectioned off for each subject.

Cons:

  • Some of the definitions are slightly confusing, which can lead to misinterpretations.
  • There are minimal images, making a visual learner’s review difficult.
  • You need to have a Kaplan account to access the mobile app.
  • The cards are printed on delicate paper, which makes it difficult to carry on the go.
  • The vast number of cards leads to a large variety of information with less focus per subject.

To purchase this product, click here.

Kaplan MCAT in a Box (Second Edition)

Kaplan MCAT in a Box

The Kaplan MCAT in a Box flashcards will help you prepare well for the MCAT exam and will be a great addition to your other MCAT books. This set includes 1,404 flashcards and covers topics ranging from biology and physics to general chemistry and organic chemistry.

This particular product is excellent in helping you learn scientific definitions and boost your medical vocabulary. It will also help you review key topics found on the MCAT exam.

If you also purchase the standard MCAT books and sample tests, you’ll have a considerable advantage in getting a high score on the MCAT exam.

Pros:

  • This set includes many scientific terms, definitions, concepts, and more.
  • They are designed in a way that helps improve scientific vocabulary.
  • They are readily available on Amazon or the Kaplan store.
  • You can purchase either brand-new flashcards or used ones at a lower price.

Cons:

  • The flashcards are small in size compared to standard index card size.
  • The cards are printed on stock that is relatively thin and flimsy.
  • Reviewers found the cards’ definitions too simple/short.
  • These are somewhat expensive compared to other flashcards.

To buy this product on Amazon, click here.

Barron’s MCAT Flashcards (First Edition)

 

Barron’s MCAT Flashcards (First Edition) are great tools to help you boost your MCAT score. Best of all, these particular flashcards are easy to bring on the go. These comprehensive flashcards are durable enough to travel with, so you will always have the chance to review for the MCAT exam regardless of how busy your day is.

These flashcards come in separate sections as well. The subjects covered include physics, organic chemistry, biology, and general chemistry.

This set of flashcards comes with a metal key-ring holder, and each card has a small hole cut in the same corner for the holder. This makes it much easier to organize the cards and make sure you don’t lose any.

Pros:

  • The flashcards include imagery which can help visual learners review and absorb the information easier.
  • The information is clear and concise (as well as thorough!) for studying both at home and on the go.
  • Quality content to help boost MCAT scores
  • These are sturdy and durable flashcards strong enough to throw in a purse or backpack and last longer when on the go.
  • They arrive in good condition and are organized by subject.

Cons:

  • You may need more comprehensive MCAT books and materials to truly review all the information you need to learn for the test.
  • Most of the information is on the back of the cards, and the front has only one printed word.
    • This may make it more difficult to absorb the content
  • Some concepts/definitions are too long, which makes it harder to absorb and memorize.
  • The gloss coating on the flashcards makes it impossible to highlight important topics or definitions.
  • Some flashcards have minor errors.

To purchase Barron’s MCAT Flashcards (First Edition), click here.

Barron’s MCAT Flashcards (Proprietary Edition)

Barron's MCAT Flashcards (Proprietary Edition)

The Barron’s MCAT Flashcards are easy to use and prepare for the MCAT exam. You’ll be able to organize these flashcards quickly and easily due to their superior design. With these quality flashcards, you can review essential information anywhere you are – whether you’re studying at home or traveling to work or school.

Like the other flashcards, you’ll find that Barron’s MCAT Flashcards (Proprietary Edition) are also divided into specific subjects. In this set, there are seven subjects including general chemistry, physics, organic chemistry, biochemistry, biology, psychology, and sociology.

The front of the cards has questions and concepts’ names, while the back of the cards has answers and explanations. While these flashcards are a great addition to your MCAT preparation materials, you would still benefit from reviewing the MCAT books to gain a greater knowledge base for this exam.

Pros:

  • These flashcards are well-organized in seven subjects, which makes studying efficient.
  • Every flashcard is the size of a standard index card.
  • The flashcards include a hole punch, making them easy to organize with a metal key ring or carabiner.
  • Upon arrival, the flashcards will be inside a durable box and will come with a table of contents.
  • The flashcards are numbered and include background information about the cards’ authors’ on them.
  • Each section is color-coded to make review even easier.

Cons:

  • Every card has multiple explanations and concepts, which may make it harder to memorize.
  • There are several errors, including grammatical errors, on the cards.
  • The organic chemistry flashcards can be overly detailed, making it challenging to review and memorize.
  • Many of the flashcards lack imagery.

To buy Barron’s MCAT Flashcards (Proprietary Edition), click on this Amazon link.

What Secondary Flashcards Are Available?

What Secondary Flashcards Are Available

While the MCAT flashcards detailed above are the best ones on the market, there are others that you may want to take a look at, as secondary flashcards could also help you raise your MCAT score.

You can either check out these free MCAT flashcards and notes or purchase the Official MCAT Flashcards from the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) store.

The free MCAT flashcards will provide you with information on many vital subjects you will see on the exam. These subjects are organic chemistry, general chemistry, biology, and physics. More specifically, you’ll be able to review DNA replication, transcription, translation, anatomy and physiology, molecular biology, cellular biology, genetics, and evolution.

You can also check out some affordable MCAT flashcards from the AAMC store.

AAMC Store’s Official MCAT Flashcards

AAMC Store’s Official MCAT Flashcards

The AAMC Store’s Official MCAT Flashcards have 150 practice questions. The same people who write the MCAT exam developed these questions. There are 25 questions per section. The different subject areas covered in these flashcards include biology, biochemistry, physics, general chemistry, psychology, and sociology.

The size of these flashcards is 5.5 by 4.25 inches (keep in mind the standard index card size is 3 inches by 5 inches). These cards include questions, answers with explanations, and the concept’s category. One flashcard includes the periodic table while a second one describes the MCAT exam’s Foundational Concepts and Skills categories.

However, there are no online resources or digital apps associated with the Official MCAT Flashcards. A different online version of these flashcards is available if you’d rather use a mobile screen to review for the MCAT exam.

Before You Go

before you go

To get a great score on your future MCAT exam, you’ll need to purchase some of the best flashcards for MCAT success. The best flashcards available include the Kaplan MCAT Flashcards and App (Third Edition), the Kaplan MCAT in a Box (Second Edition), Barron’s MCAT Flashcards (First Edition), and Barron’s MCAT Flashcards (Proprietary Edition).

There are also some other adequate choices to consider, such as the AAMC Store’s Official MCAT flashcards.

With the suitable materials to help you score well on the MCAT exam, you’ll soon be accepted into a medical school. Before you know it, you’ll be enjoying saving the lives of patients and helping families in the healthcare field. Your future will shine bright.

MCAT Study Schedule 3 Months

MCAT Study Schedule 3 Months

Creating an MCAT study schedule for 3 months may seem daunting. Some believe you should study for at least six months or more! After all, the MCAT is extensive, covering multiple subject areas, and it’s arguably one of the most challenging tests a student can ever take!

So, how do you prepare for this beast of a test in a 90-day timeframe? Where do you even begin?

That’s where this guide comes in.

We’ll walk you through the process of creating an MCAT study schedule for a three-month period, from the first practice test all the way through exam day. Then, we’ll give you our top tips for successful studying.

Creating a Three-Month MCAT Study Schedule

Three-Month MCAT Study Schedule

Top performers on the MCAT often report studying around 300 hours leading up to the test. Three hundred hours is perfectly doable within a three-month frame, but you’ll need to stay on track.

Organized and focused study is key to success, and having a study schedule is one of the best ways to ensure you cover all the test subjects in full.

Ideally, your MCAT study schedule will be unique to your needs. You can find a variety of pre-made plans online, but studying for the MCAT isn’t a one-size-fits-all task. It’s crucial that you tailor your study schedule towards the areas you feel the least confident in.

We recommend taking a few hours to make your own MCAT 3-month study schedule using a three-phase structure.

The first phase comprises weeks 1 thru 8 and focuses primarily on covering and studying exam content.

The second phase consists of weeks 9 – 11. During that time, you’ll focus more on test-taking practice. You’ll still have time to study content, but practice tests will become the overarching focus.

In the week leading up to the exam, or phase three, you’ll prioritize your studying to focus on areas you believe you can master with just a bit more time. You might also spend a few hours reviewing areas you felt confident in from the start.

Essential Resources

Essential Resources

Below, we’ll walk you through creating this 3-phase schedule step by step, but first, let’s go over the study resources you’ll need over the next twelve weeks.

The AAMC website is the first resource you should check out when studying for the MCAT. They cover everything from test logistics to actual content from retired tests. You can find full-length practice tests and questions on their site for a very affordable price.

  • Other MCAT Study Bundles, Practice Tests, and Resource Books

There are many study resources available to MCAT takers in a range of styles and price points. Test prep experts like Kaplan and Princeton Review all have study bundles available on Amazon and also offer extensive online resources.

  • Calendar 

A calendar will help you keep track of the topics you still need to study. We suggest an online calendar, so you have access to it wherever and whenever you need it. You can also share your online calendar with study groups or tutors.

  • Missed Question Spreadsheet

This is just an excel sheet where you can list any questions you miss on your practice exams. It’s a vital study tool since it helps you see exactly where to focus your studying.

  • Classes or Tutor 

Taking an online or in-person MCAT prep class might be a good idea, though it’s not crucial for everyone. If a full-blown class isn’t your thing, you still might benefit from hiring an MCAT tutor, especially if there’s an area of the test you continue to have trouble with.

Study Phase One: Weeks 1-8

Study Phase One

Phase one is all about tackling the massive amount of content the MCAT covers, but before you start studying, it helps to develop a plan. And, in order to create a plan, you need to know what to expect.

Setting Expectations

So, the first thing you should do is learn all you can about the exam. The AAMC website has multiple resources, but if you prefer a video format, you might try this. After watching it, you’ll understand the MCAT format, how it weighs in your med-school applications, and what score you’ll need.

Once you understand the exam in full, you should take a practice test. Consider this a pre-test. It will set the baseline for your studying.

After you complete and score your first practice test, you’ll be able to see which areas you need to focus on. Then, you’re ready to create your plan.

Creating Your Study Plan

Creating Your Study Plan

To create your study plan, you’ll need to block out about three hours per day, six days per week. You’ll devote each hour of each study session to a specific topic. The goal is to devote more of your study hours towards areas you feel less confident in, as shown by the results of your practice test.

That said, you should still aim to cover each subject area weekly, even the areas you feel like you can ace. And, you should review for the CARS section every day. The CARS section is the most heavily weighted section of the MCAT, and admissions departments look very closely at it.

With all of that in mind, the first week might look something like this:

Monday: 

Full-length practice test

Tuesday: 

Review test, build missed question spreadsheet, create a study schedule

Wednesday:

Biology, Biochemistry, CARS

Thursday:

General Chem, O Chem, CARS

Friday: 

Physics, Psych, CARS

Saturday: 

Sociology, CARS, Problem area of choice/ review missed question spreadsheet

Sunday:

Off

Using A Missed Question Spreadsheet

 

Using a missed question spreadsheet will help see which areas you should devote the most time to. It also acts as an excellent study tool. We suggest working through your missed question spreadsheet topic by topic as they come up on your study schedule.

Write down the question and all of the answer choices. Then, look up the definition of each answer choice. Learning them all will be more helpful on the test than memorizing the specific question and its answer.

Study Phase Two: Weeks 9-11

Study Phase Two

Once you reach week nine of studying, your emphasis should shift from focusing on content to simulated exam practice.

At this point, you should aim to take a practice test every week. Then, you should adjust your study plan according to your results.

If you’re struggling in biochem, maybe add a few more one-our study blocks in that area. Conversely, if you’re acing all of the physics questions, you can probably take a few hours away from physics study time.

You can find practice tests through most MCAT study programs or the AAMC website.

A week of study in phase two might look like this:

Monday:

Practice test

Tuesday:

Review practice test, biochem, CARS

Wednesday

biology, general chem, CARS

Thursday

O chem, physics, CARS

Friday

Sociology, psych, CARS

Saturday:

Revisit three weakest areas

Sunday:

Off

The Final Week

The Final Week

The last week before the exam will look similar to weeks 9-11, but your focus should shift slightly. You should abandon any concepts you feel are completely out of reach and focus on areas you think you’re on the verge of mastering. You can also review areas you feel confident in.

Ideally, in this last week, you’ll also scope out your test site. Drive over at some point this week. Figure out where to park and how to get to the exam room. Doing so will help ease any nerves you have on test day.

Finally, don’t study the day before the exam. Instead, take that day off entirely, and let your mind rest. Eat a few good meals and get to bed on time. You’ll do better on the test if you’re well-rested than if you’re up all night trying to cram.

Your final week of studying for the MCAT might look like this:

Monday: 

Final practice test

Tuesday: 

Review test, revisit weak areas

Wednesday: 

revisit strong areas

Thursday: 

revisit weak areas

Friday: 

Off

Saturday: 

Exam Day

The Day Of The Exam

The Day Of The Exam

When the big day finally rolls around, be sure to eat a good breakfastResearch shows that eating before an exam will help you score better. So, even if you have test anxiety, try to get something down.

Even a simple protein shake can make a world of difference, but if you can, aim for something a bit heartier. Peanut butter on whole-wheat toast or eggs with a side of fruit is more likely to keep you full throughout the exam.

While we’re on the breakfast subject, it’s also good to note that drinking too much coffee could be detrimental. Have your regular cup or two, but don’t overdo it! Excess caffeine will only make you feel jittery and nervous.

Finally, try to arrive at the exam site ten to fifteen minutes early. If you’re stressed because you’re late, you’re almost sure to do more poorly. Studies show that stress and anxiety tend to lower test scores, so arrive early and do your best to stay calm throughout the morning.

Study Tips

study tips

Studying for any exam is a challenge, but studying for the MCAT can feel like a near-insurmountable task. After all, the test covers multiple subjects, is incredibly lengthy, and requires you to draw from several different academic areas at once!

That said, thousands of people take the MCAT every year and score well enough to get into the medical school of their choice. They do this thanks in part to a solid test-prep plan, but there are a few other study tips we’d be remiss not to mention:

  • Learn to deal with distractions.

The exam room may be quiet, but it will still be full of people. If every cough or dropped pen disturbs your thinking, you’re in trouble! To prepare for this, try studying in a coffee shop or a more crowded area of the library.

  • Note that science topics aren’t equal.

Biology and biochem are weighed more heavily on the MCAT than chemistry and physics, so you might want to put more time and effort into mastering them.

  • Don’t be afraid of revising your plan. 

Change your study plan to reflect the results of your most recent practice tests. Don’t stick with the plan you laid out at the beginning of studying if it no longer fits your strengths and weaknesses.

  • Build stamina over time. 

The MCAT usually takes around 7.5 hours to administer. That’s a lot of focusing! If holding your concentration for extended periods is tough, try to lengthen your study sessions, working to focus for longer and longer periods each week.

  • Simulate actual MCAT conditions.  

With your last few practice tests, try to simulate the conditions of the exam exactly. Don’t eat or drink unless you’re on a break, and don’t remove your jacket or get up to grab a sweater if the room changes temperature. You won’t have those comforts during the exam.

  • Focus on comprehension, not memorization. 

The MCAT looks for understanding and rational abilities, not the ability to memorize answers. Keep that in mind while you study, and focus on comprehending the material in full, rather than memorizing exact answers to specific questions.

  • Ask successful students for advice. 

Nothing beats gaining tips and tricks from students who recently took the exam. Bonus points if it’s a good friend who knows where your strengths and weaknesses lie! A friend like that can help you pinpoint focus areas which can make exam prep that much easier.

Final Thoughts

Final Thoughts

Studying for the MCAT in three months will take focus and determination. It also requires organization, which is where having a study schedule is crucial.

Every study schedule is unique to the student, but if you have any questions about creating your personalized plan, leave them in the comments section. We’ll do what we can to help!

An MCAT study schedule will help you stay on track, ensuring you review all of the exam content with a focus on your weakest areas. That, in turn, will help you gain a top-notch score, boosting your chances of acceptance at your choice of medical schools!

1 Month ACT Study Plan

1 Month ACT Study Plan

Without taking the optional 40-minute writing test, the ACT is still 2 hours and 55 minutes long. It is a daunting task to try and cram all the knowledge you need for the test into your brain in just 30 days. That’s why you need to get organized. Take the time to plan out exactly how and when to study for the ACT.

The 1 Month ACT Study Plan How-to Guide

ACT Study Plan

Find out what materials you need to help you study for the ACT, what study methods you should use, and what you need to do each day to keep yourself on track to getting the score you want. In all cases, this will require developing a very detailed plan.

Can You Prepare for the ACT in 1 Month?

Yes, it is possible to prepare for the ACT in 1 month, but it requires planning, dedication, and persistence. It also depends on your baseline and how many more points you need to get to your target score.

The more points you need to add to your baseline to get to your target score, the more time you’ll have to put into studying.

Baseline Score

The first thing you should do is take an ACT practice test to see where you’re at. This will help you plan your study guide by giving you a baseline and an idea of how many points you have to go to get to your target score.

Take the official ACT practice test as if it were the real thing. Find a quiet place to work, set a timer, and do not take breaks longer than what you would be allowed during the ACT. This practice testing format gives you an accurate reading of your current abilities and where you need to go.

Once you finish, you’ll need to figure out your score from the raw data to a scaled number. That’s your baseline, and from there, you can set a target score that will determine how much more studying you have to do.

Target Score

This is the score that you want to get on your ACT. While a perfect ACT score is 36, the average is 21. A good score for the ACT is 21 and above, so aim for something reasonable but attainable.

You’ll also want to look at the college you wish to apply for and see if they have a set ACT score to gain admission. A good rule of thumb is to get into the top 75th percentile of the most demanding school you want to apply for. This way, you’ll be sure to gain entry into all the schools you apply to.

How Much Studying You’ll Need to Do

How Much Studying You’ll Need to Do

How many points you need to gain will determine how many hours you need to put into preparing for the ACT. Here’s an average of how many hours it will take to get to your target score.

  • 0-1 point boost: 10 hours
  • 1-2 point boost: 20 hours
  • 2-4 point boost: 40 hours
  • 4-6 point boost: 80 hours
  • 6-9 point boost: 150+ hours

These are approximations since everyone studies at a different pace, but it’s a good general reference to go by. Since you only have a month to study, it could mean a lot of cramming if you need a big point boost. Make sure you don’t burn yourself out and do poorly when test day comes around.

Be realistic with your goals and do the best you can with the time available. For example, if you desire to boost your points highly, study for a longer period of time before completing another practice test. This will prevent you from wasting precious study time on a lengthy practice test.

What Materials are Needed

What Materials are Needed

If you don’t have an ACT prep book, you’ll want the official prep guides to help you out. Additionally, consider the various websites that can help you with prepping for your ACT. You can even take a self-paced course to help you through the fundamentals of the ACT. We recommend the Best ACT Prep Courses here. An ACT Prep app is also available to help you ace your test.

The following materials have proven very useful to a number of test-takers:

Gather what works best for you and use it to your advantage!

How to Study for the ACT in a Month

How to Study for the ACT in a Month

Not only do you need to have a plan in place on when you’ll study for your ACT, but you also need a plan for how you’re going to study. It does no good reading the guides and not doing practical exercises or tracking your progress.

Use Practice Tests to Track Your Progress

At the beginning of each week, go ahead and take a practice test to see how you’re improving. Not only will it show if your study plan is effective, but it will also prepare you to take the actual test.

Like finding your baseline, you need to make it as close to the actual ACT as possible. Taking the practice test as if it’s the real thing spurs your brain into the correct frame of mind. It puts your brain and body under the same type of stress and pressure that you’ll get on the official test day.

Review Basic Topics in English, Math, and Science

Review Basic Topics

The test focuses on three subjects: English, Math, and Science. The subtopics of these subjects make up different percentages of the entire examination. Familiarizing yourself with these will help your overall performance and pinpoint any topics you aren’t strong on so you can focus on them.

English has four subtopics that cover everything from run-on sentences to idioms to wordiness.

  • Rhetorical skills: 40-55%
  • Sentence structure: 20-25%
  • Punctuation: 10-15%
  • Grammar and usage: 10-15%

Math has six subtopics which mainly cover algebra and geometry.

  • Pre-algebra: 20-25%
  • Plan geometry: 20-25%
  • Coordinate geometry: 15-20%
  • Elementary algebra: 15-20%
  • Intermediate algebra: 15-20%
  • Trigonometry: 5-10%

There isn’t much you need to know for science other than how to read a chart or graph. However, the ACT for science typically has four questions where you can’t deduce the answer from the question itself. The best way to know the answer to these is to brush up on basic biology, chemistry, physics, and science-based math skills.

Focus on Weaker Subjects

Focus on Weaker Subjects

This test is one occasion where you don’t want to play to your strengths. Figure out which subject is your weakest and get the basics down. Take more time to study this subject without distractions, and you will find your points in that category increasing faster than you could imagine.

Focusing on your weaknesses will boost your overall score as it is likely the area where you are losing the most points. By studying your weakest subject first, you can look at it with fresh eyes and an alert mind.

1 Month ACT Study Plan Week by Week

The best way to organize your calendar is to take a practice test at the beginning of each week and score it to know how much you improve from the previous week. Then split your subjects into different days so you can focus on one exclusively.

Our brains don’t do well at multitasking, so focusing on one subject at a time is the best way to store the knowledge you’re learning in your long-term memory banks.

Week 1

week 1

Your first week is all about getting your baseline and seeing where you need to improve. Then go through your calendar and pick days where you can devote several hours of your time to a single ACT subject. Keep those days consistent throughout the week, so it becomes a habit to sit down and study rather than procrastinate or forget.

When you review your test, take the time to go through it and see what you got right and what you didn’t. This will help cement correct answers into your mind as well as showing you opportunities for improvement.

The review of your test should take at least as long as actually taking it, if not more. Don’t be afraid to split taking the test and reviewing into different days.

You should make a detailed list of topics to study so you know what to focus on during your prep times in each subject.

  • Take a baseline practice test
  • Review your test thoroughly
  • Study and prep for each section of the examination, reviewing foundational information first

Week 2

week 2

You should start this week with another full-length practice test, going over your answers once more. Is there anything from your list of things to study you can cross off? Did your score get better? Celebrate the little wins, and don’t get discouraged if nothing seems to be improving. Seeing improvements can take time, after all.

If you’re having trouble answering all the questions, you should also practice test-taking strategies this week so you can nail all of them in one sitting. Remember to take the test like it’s the real thing to get used to the time constraints.

  • Take a full-length practice test
  • Review the test
  • Celebrate the little wins
  • Buckle down and keep studying the fundamentals of each subject

Week 3

week 3

You’re halfway there. You should start getting out of the foundational review and deep-diving into more problematic areas such as functions or idioms.

Start this week the same as all the rest with a full-length practice test and review. Remember that it’s okay to let your brain rest between test-taking and review. Looking at it with fresh eyes and a fresh mind is preferable.

Continue celebrating the small wins as you become more comfortable taking this test and learning the knowledge you need to ace it.

  • Take another full-length practice test
  • Go through a review
  • Celebrate crossing things off your to study list
  • Deep dive into problem subjects that trip you up

Week 4

week 4

It’s the last week of studying. Take a deep breath, and continue studying as much as possible this week. Then allow your mind a couple of days to rest and recharge before your test day.

Whatever you do, do not cram the night before the test. If you still haven’t gotten Idioms yet, frantic cramming won’t help you. In fact, it will probably hurt you because you haven’t given your brain a chance to put it into long-term memory.

Start this week like you’ve done every week so far and take a practice test before reviewing it.

Since this is the last week of reviewing, focus on things you know you can pick up to get those few extra points. Study to perfect your performance on those questions you’re getting right about 75% of the time.

Don’t be afraid to throw in some foundational review and test-taking strategies as well to make sure you have everything cemented into place.

  • Take a final full-length practice test
  • Review what you’re getting right most of the time
  • Perfect those answers for more points
  • Celebrate that it’s almost over
  • Take a couple of days off before the test to let your mind rest
  • Walk-in on test day confident that you’ll nail it

In Summary

summary

When it comes to planning for the ACT, there are many things to take into consideration. You need to know where you’re at, where you want to be, how to study effectively, and have plenty of studying materials and practice tests available.

If you plan on taking the ACT and don’t have time to prep several months in advance, this 1 month ACT study plan will help you succeed. Remember to organize everything, set alarms, so you don’t forget, continue to study, and relax because you got this.

ACT Calculator Policy

ACT Calculator Policy

The ACT is an important standardized test that measures students’ readiness for college. The ACT administrators carefully create and score each question. It has four sections – English, Mathematics, Reading, and Science – each has specific rules to follow. 

For the Mathematics and Science portions of the test, the ACT has a particular policy for calculators. Though you can use a calculator during the math part of the exam, the ACT limits the models and capabilities of the calculators you use. These limits prevent cheating. 

The ACT lays out the rules in a freely-available PDF on the ACT website. There are a few exceptions that you should acknowledge, but the exceptions are primarily for accessibility.

Here’s what you need to know about the ACT calculator policy, including its restrictions and recommendations.

Prohibited Calculators for the ACT

Prohibited Calculators for the ACT

The ACT Calculator Policy is particular about what is and is not allowable during the exam. For the ACT Aspire test in Grades 3-5, you can’t use a calculator at all. For all other versions of the exam, they’re highly restricted and closely monitored.

According to the distributors of the ACT, there are five types of calculators that you cannot use under any circumstances during the exam:

  • Calculator models capable of using a computer algebra system- These calculators offer an unfair advantage due to preset formulas.
  • Any computer, including PDAs- You could use these to access the internet and gain outside resources.
  • Any type of electronic writing pad- Many of these types of machines have access to the internet or a note-taking system.
  • Calculators built into electronic communication devices such as cell phones- These calculators sit within the apps of a device that allows you to communicate and access cheat answers online.
  • Calculators with QWERTY keyboards- Though not directly communication devices, keyboard calculators make it easy to copy down test questions to distribute after the test.

There are a few minor exceptions to these rules. For instance, calculators delivered by ACT proctors that have passed a review for security are allowed. Even if these have QWERTY keyboards, the proctors will collect them at the end of the exam.

One example of an exception to these rules is the Sharp EL 9600. You may use this calculator, despite its pen input.

If a proctor sees that you have a prohibited calculator during the test, they will ask you to leave and scrap your test. There may be further restrictions depending on whether you were using the calculator to cheat.

Specifically Banned Models

Specifically Banned Models

The official ACT Calculator Policy document does directly ban a few models of calculators from the top companies. 

  • Texas Instruments- You cannot use any TI-Nspire CAS, TI-89, or TI-92 models.
  • Hewlett Packard- You can’t use the HP Prime, HP 48GII, or any models beginning with HP 40G, HP 49G, or HP 50G.
  • Casio- You cannot use the fx-CP400, ClassPad 300, Classpad 330, Algebra fx 2.0, or any models beginning with CFX-9970G.

Approved Calculators for the ACT

Approved Calculators for the ACT

For the ACT, you are generally allowed to bring any type of calculator not listed in the categories above. It is the examinee’s responsibility to know whether their calculator will be okay to use during the exam and to make sure that they prepare. 

The test’s administrators suggest putting new batteries in your calculator before the exam. Test the calculator to ensure it works properly before you leave home. 

The administrators also recommend bringing either extra batteries or a backup calculator if your primary device stops working for any reason.

A few brands of calculators don’t quite go against the restrictions listed in the above section but come relatively close. Some borderline models have special regulations to be followed. 

  • You should wipe any programs and documents stored on a calculator before the exam begins. 
  • Do not bring a calculator with paper tape on it. 
  • Calculators should make no noise.
  • If there is an infrared data port on the device, cover it with thick tape (not paper tape).
  • Remove all power cords before the test.

There are exceptions for calculators that function for accessibility, such as those that speak out loud or run with braille. Any accommodations must be authorized in advance by ACT officials.

In the case of a computer test, the examinee may use either a handheld calculator or a preapproved on-screen calculator program. Neither of these should be able to connect to the test directly or be internet enabled.

The Best Calculators for the ACT

The Best Calculators for the ACT

Speaking generally, the calculator you use on the ACT should be one with which you are familiar and one that you are comfortable using, on top of fitting into ACT guidelines. 

The proctors recommend you use a calculator (though you are permitted to take the test without one), as it can improve your speed and prevent small mistakes. 

Here are some of the best options for calculators to use on the ACT.

TI-83 or TI-84

Texas Instruments calculators are classics for standardized testing and schooling in general. They’re compact, simply laid out, and are commonly used, making them a familiar choice. They allow for functions that you’ll see in algebra and geometry that can streamline the process, and there are hundreds of tutorials online for their use.

Casio fx-9750GII

Casio is an excellent option for those who would rather spend slightly less but still want a quality calculator. 

Though the functions of this calculator are somewhat more limited than Texas Instruments’ offerings, it still has a long battery life, charting functions, and clearly displayed graphics. It also includes intuitive formula input, which can reduce your test time significantly.

HP 39GS

Sitting squarely between Casio and Texas Instruments in price is Hewlett Packard (HP). Though more well known for their computers, HP does make a decent line of graphing calculators, and the HP 39GS is one of the best. 

HP offers split-screen functionality and switching functions that can increase your efficiency. Unfortunately, it doesn’t support many higher functions.

Conclusion

conclusion

Knowing which calculators are allowed and prohibited can prevent awkward on-the-day confiscation and may even save your test. 

Be sure to check the updated policy before your testing date to ensure your calculator is within regulations and that you have everything you need to keep it running during the test.

The ACT can be stressful. Make it less so with the right calculator by your side.

The Ultimate Study Guide for ACT English

The Ultimate Study Guide for ACT English

When you have to form a study guide for ACT English, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. There’s a lot of content to cover, and not all of it is straightforward.

Breaking it up into smaller sections will help it become more manageable. Preparedness comes in many forms, and one of those is knowing what to expect. Understanding the format, knowing the content, and being prepared to work on your weak points will also help drive up your average. 

A study guide for ACT English needs to cover these five areas: 

  • Know what to study
  • Practicing test experiences
  • Focusing on weak points
  • Strategies for answering questions
  • Good study habits

What You Need to Know

What You Need to Know

The ACT English section has two sections, Usage and Mechanics, and Rhetorical Skills. Each has three subsections broken into different lengths and percentages.

If you know what to expect on the test in terms of format and content, making a study guide for ACT English tests will be much easier and less stressful. Preparedness starts at understanding what you need to study, including what your strong and weak points are.

Usage and Mechanics

  • Punctuation
  • Grammar and usage
  • Sentence structure

Rhetorical Skills

  • Strategy 
  • Organization
  • Style

Not Tested

  • Spelling
  • Vocabulary

The Usage and Mechanics sections focus on how to craft proper sentences to make grammatical sense.

Punctuation (10-15%)

  • Comma use
  • Period use
  • Apostrophe use
  • Colon use

Take the entire sentence into account to see where the punctuation makes sense.

Grammar and Usage

Grammar and Usage (15-20%)

  • Subject and verb agreement
  • Pronoun and antecedent agreement
  • Modifiers and modified word agreement
  • Idiomatic usage
  • Verb formation
  • Pronoun case
  • Formation of superlative and comparative adjectives and adverbs

Sentence Structure (20-25%)

  • Placement of modifiers
  • Shifts in construction
  • Relationships between and among clauses

Rhetorical Skills often need more study, as these sections require critical thinking and decision making.

Strategy (15-20%)

  • Relevant passages in context
  • Developing topics by adding material that supports or not allowing material that takes away

Organization (10-15%)

  • Organize ideas

Choose effective sentences: 

  • Opening sentences
  • Transitional sentences
  • Closing sentences

Style (15-20%)

  • Select appropriate words for tone
  • Select appropriate sentences for style
  • Manage elements for sentence effectiveness
  • Avoid ambiguity, redundancy, wordiness

Practice Tests

Practice Tests

Often, practice test questions you find on the internet or in a library won’t give you the right idea of what to expect. The format, level of difficulty, and even the content itself might not be an accurate portrayal of a real ACT. 

Therefore, when you’re looking for practice questions, be sure to search for copies of older ACT exams. These exams won’t be in commission anymore, so you won’t have to worry about getting an unauthorized look. What they will do is present the correct format and difficulty level you will see on the real test.

You can find older, official exam questions through your teachers, or ACT prep resources like websites or books.

Discover Your Weak Points

Knowing where your skills are weak can help you determine what to study and how much. Once you’ve obtained a few practice materials, you can easily figure out what kinds of questions stump you.

In doing a practice test, skip the ones you aren’t sure about. Go back to these later and take note of which ones you struggle with the most. 

When you’re rounding up your problem questions, ranking them can give you a better idea of where your skill set is at. Some questions you’re unsure about might be easier than others. Some, you might think are impossible. Rank them from possible to impossible.

For “impossible” questions, ask yourself why they seem impossible. Are you completely lost in what they’re asking of you? If so, trace the question back to the category they refer to (sentence structure, organization, style, etc). Once you know the category your question comes from, you can search that topic in-depth, starting with the basics.

Reviewing the Basics

Reviewing the Basics

The basic ideas behind each category and subcategory are crucial because they always give you a starting point to go back to. The basics will give you a foundation upon which to build, so if you know these backwards and forwards, you can move on to more complex ideas.

Questions you Guess

If you have a list of questions where you don’t know the answer, but you think you could guess, practice more questions with similar formats or content.

If you’re frequently guessing, this could mean you know the basic theory, but after that, it gets a little fuzzy. You don’t have confidence in what you know. Review your notes like building blocks—first the basics, then everything that builds off of it.

If it’s the question wording that’s throwing you off, practice strategies for finding the correct answer. For a multiple-choice question, cross off the answers you know are wrong first. Then you’ll have a better chance of success focusing on what’s left.

If the answer involves trading possible words or phrases with others to make a different sentence, read the sentence aloud with the different words inside to see how it sounds. If it sounds weird, it’s probably not your answer. 

Emphasis on Knowing Rules

However, avoid becoming dependent on your ear. Knowing grammatical rules will do much more for you, especially if no one you know regularly employs them. If you’re not used to hearing proper grammar or sentence structure, it won’t sound correct in a test format.

Test Strategies

Test Strategies

Part of your study guide for ACT English should involve creating test strategies. When taking your practice tests, review them in the same way you would the real thing. That way, when you do sit down at the ACT, you don’t have to get overwhelmed because you’ve practiced your process.

One of the best ways to go through an exam like this is to give it a look over first. See how many questions there are and which ones are multiple-choice, short, long, or otherwise. 

Even if you know the format ahead of time, it’s good to get a thorough look at what you’re about to do. Then there won’t be any surprises, you won’t miss any vital questions, and you can decide how to manage your time.

Once you’ve looked over the exam, decide where you want to start. For any question you don’t have an immediate answer to, skip it and come back later. That way, you can save time by getting the easy questions done first.

In tackling the harder questions, try not to dwell on them too long, or you’ll go overtime. Pick and choose the ones you think you’re capable of doing, and try to get the ones that are worth more

Never leave a high score question blank. Even if you’re not sure about your answer, guessing will give you a chance. If you don’t even try, you definitely won’t get it right.

Studying Tips

Studying Tips

Knowing what you have to study is all very well, but what about how you study? Set up some guidelines and boundaries for yourself and others to follow so you can put your best effort in.

Studying Space

If you try to learn in a noisy environment, it’s not going to work very well.

Try to find a nice quiet place to concentrate. Review your notes where nothing can distract you, reread from the textbook, take some time to do practice questions. If you have a specific studying spot, don’t use it for anything else. 

For instance, if you study in your room, don’t try to play any video games there. The temptation to game instead of concentrating will become a problem, and you’ll spend most of your time struggling to ignore your console.

Studying Schedule

If you can, set up a designated time for your studying. Make a habit of spending half an hour or more looking over your material and focusing on your weaker knowledge points. Doing this at the same time every day will help your focus, so your brain knows it’s time for studying. 

Telling your family about your study time and when you need them to be quiet will also help. You can work together to find a relaxing hour for you to get your work done.

Study with Classmates

Sometimes your peers can explain tricky concepts far better than your teacher can. Not only will you have support reviewing English together, but you can also help each other by comparing previous notes or test scores. 

Conclusion

Conclusion

Setting up a time and place specifically for you to study will help get your brain in review mode. Using resources like your classmates can not only motivate you, it can also help you understand concepts you struggled with in class.

Knowing the format and content of your test is crucial, as is practicing on older official ACTs. You can get used to the style of questions and their difficulty level, so you won’t have any surprises on the day of the exam. Lastly, working through your more shaky understandings and making a test strategy can help you prepare for anything that comes your way.

Have any questions or other tips to share? Leave them in the comments.

How to Study for the ACT

How To Study for the ACT

The ACT (American College Testing) exam is one of the most widely accepted college entrance exams. But if you’ve never taken this test before, you may struggle to prepare for it.

To study for the ACT, you’ll want to access helpful study guides and materials, create a study plan, and time your practice sessions. You may also want to join a study group and enroll in an online ACT preparation course. The right choices for you depend on your personal preferences. 

Let’s explore how to study for the ACT so you can earn the highest possible score!

Use Free Resources

Use Free Resources

Students should first research the study resources available for free. Several reputable online resources could help you learn more about the exam and what to expect before taking the test.

For example, the official ACT website has a helpful ACT Test Day article that can help you prepare to take the exam yourself. This website also has a treasure trove of information regarding the four major test sections and their common questions.

You can also download the Preparing for the ACT Test guide from this website. However, you will need to share your name and email to access this document. Still, this guide includes a full practice test, question examples and explanations, and test-taking strategies. That’s a massive amount of study materials for absolutely no cost!

If you’re a high school student, your guidance counselor or career resource counselor may be able to provide you with additional study materials and guides, free of charge. Be sure to inquire at your school about any available ACT resources. 

Of course, online materials might not always be enough to help you prepare for the ACT. If you’d like multiple practice tests and more in-depth information concerning this exam, you may want to invest in a physical study guide.

Purchase Study Materials

Purchase Study Materials

You can also choose to purchase study materials to help prepare you for your upcoming exam. The Official ACT Prep Guide, for example, is over a thousand pages of information, practice tests, explanations, and scholarship guides. 

You can also purchase digital versions of ACT study guides if you’re hoping to save room on your bookshelf. However, having a physical preparation guide on hand could be beneficial, especially if you’re a tactile learner.

Besides, hard copies tend to be relatively inexpensive, especially when compared to online preparation course costs. However, keep in mind that study guides are often quickly outdated and only valid for the year listed on the cover.

Additionally, the number of full practice tests included in each one varies. You may end up having to retake the same tests multiple times, which isn’t the best way to prepare for the ACT. If possible, consider supplementing your physical study book with an online equivalent.

Take an Online Prep Course

Take an Online Prep Course

If you’re looking to make the best possible investment in ACT study preparation, you may want to enroll in an online prep course. Fortunately, there are several options from which to choose, including slower-paced online courses.

Kaplan offers several ACT prep courses ranging from $99 to more than $600. These prices reflect interactive services, with the most costly courses including personalized online tutoring. 

The Princeton Review also offers ACT prep courses, though these classes are far more expensive than Kaplan’s courses. Still, if you’re looking for the most comprehensive online ACT preparation, you may want to invest in one of these options.

Practice Every Day

Practice might not always make perfect, but it can make better. If you’re unhappy with your practice test scores, it may be time to implement a daily study habit.

There’s an official ACT question-of-the-day that can help get you started, but you can also use a study guide or practice test. Be sure to practice one question from each of the four major sections to ensure a well-rounded study session.

It might also be a good idea to create a daily or weekly study plan. If you’re someone who responds well to schedules and organization, a study plan could be the ideal solution to your ACT studying needs.

Create a Study Plan

Create a Study Plan

If you’re a high schooler preparing for college, there’s a good chance you have a packed schedule. But you must make accommodations for studying to do well in the ACT.

Even if your weeknights are full of homework and extracurricular activities, there’s always time during the weekends to get a few study sessions in. You may need to sacrifice a few hours of free time to study for this exam, but you likely won’t need to spend several months preparing for the ACT.

You should start studying for the ACT approximately two months before you plan to take it. Any more than this can be restrictive, especially if you’re already busy with other activities. Any less than this, and you will feel unprepared on test day.

To create your study plan, you’ll want to determine how much time you should study for. Eight weeks is a great place to start. You’ll then need to decide how many hours per day or week you intend to study. The tricky part is sticking to this plan and remaining consistent about your study habits.

If you are uncertain which test areas are your strongest or weakest, you might also struggle to study effectively. After all, if you’re already skilled with algebraic equations, there’s little sense in spending an extra hour each day studying them! Always focus on the areas that need the most improvement.

Find Your Strengths and Weaknesses

Find Your Strengths and Weaknesses

Are you familiar with the four test types included in the ACT? If you’re not taking the time to focus on these various sections, you might find it challenging to study for the ACT.

You may also miss out on the chance to focus on your areas of weakness. 

Finding your strengths and weaknesses can significantly impact your test-taking experience and final score. To do this, you’ll need to keep track of your practice test section scores.

If you find that your cumulative score keeps dropping due to one or two sections, change your study habits to focus on those areas. 

For example, if you score well in the STEM sections (mathematics and science) but poorly in the ELA sections (English and reading), try spending more time studying the latter. That way, you’re using your time wisely to improve your overall ACT score.

Time Your Practice Sessions

Time Your Practice Sessions

The ACT is a timed test. If you’re not careful, you can easily spend too much time on a single question, losing precious time to answer simpler ones. Timing your practice sessions is a great way to acclimate yourself to the ACT test-taking procedure.

To get started, you’ll need to access or print a full ACT practice test. You’ll then need to make a note of each section’s time limit. For example, the Reading portion is only 35 minutes long, but the Math section is a full hour. 

You can use a stopwatch or your phone to track your time while you complete the practice test. When your time for the session is up, close your test booklet and take a short break. 

Then, reset your timer to the correct number and move onto the next section. Repeat until you’ve finished your practice exam. If you’ve left several questions blank due to poor time management, you may want to embrace a new test-taking strategy.

Learning to skip complex or frustrating questions is a great way to avoid leaving several multiple-choice bubbles blank. Remember, once you have the easier questions answered, you can go back and address the more complex ones.

Join a Study Group

Joining an ACT study group can also be a very helpful idea. You don’t need to own a car or have a ton of free time to become a part of a study group or to start your own. However, it’s best to study with a group dedicated to the exam. While it might seem like a good idea to study with friends, you may, unfortunately, distract each other. 

Varsity Tutors offers a free ACT Prep Class with multiple online discussion areas, allowing you to chat with fellow students and ask questions. Of course, your school or local university might also offer free ACT study groups or classes. You’ll never know until you check!

Final Thoughts

final thoughts

The ACT isn’t as challenging as it initially seems, especially when you know how to prepare for it.

However, if you’re not making full use of your resources, you might struggle during the exam. Using official study guides and resources, taking multiple practice tests, and sticking to a study plan can all assist in making you more prepared for the test.

How to Improve Your ACT Score By 10 Points

How to Improve Your ACT Score By 10 Points

If you need to take the ACT for college or university admissions, you want a great score that puts you in the top percentile. Not happy with your ACT score? Find out how to improve your ACT score by 10 points with these tips, tools, and tricks.

The ACT (American College Testing) is an aptitude test used by many institutes of higher education as a benchmark in measuring students’ abilities for admissions. Do you need to take the ACT to get into college or university? Then you undoubtedly want to get the best score possible.

Have you already taken the ACT or an ACT practice test and aren’t happy with your score? Don’t stress. It’s possible to improve. It simply takes some time, effort, and preparation. This guide explains how to improve your ACT score by 10 points.

10 Tips for How to Improve Your ACT Score by 10 Points

10 tips to Improve Your ACT Score

The ACT covers four primary subject areas, math, reading, English, and science. Each area is given a scaled score from 1 to 36 (36 being the best). These area-specific scores add up to get an average composite score, ranging from 1 to 36.

Students’ scores are ranked according to percentiles, comparing them to the competition. Since the test-takers and their scores change every year, the percentiles change too. For example, in 2016, if you scored a 36 total, this put you in the 99th percentile, meaning you scored better than 99% of test-takers. However, achieving a 36 total in 2020 puts you in the 100th percentile.

The better you score, the better your percentile—and the more impressive your ACT results will be to college and university admissions officers. Read on to find out how to boost your score by as much as ten points.

1. Start Studying Early

Don’t save ACT studying for the last minute. You want to leave plenty of time to master this test’s format, content, and unique style. It isn’t like the usual exams you might take in school. On top of that, the ACT is a high-pressure situation with high stakes.

Many people find that the stress associated with the test—since it can influence college admissions decisions—adds to the difficulty. In short, you want to be as prepared as possible so that this added anxiety doesn’t get to you. As soon as you know your next test date, start studying.

2. Use Your Old Score Report for Guidance

Use Your Old Score Report for Guidance

If you aren’t happy with your last ACT result, you might want to throw it in the garbage. Stop! Your score report contains valuable information that can help you do better on your next test. Make sure you understand how to read your score report and hang on to it.

Check out the detailed results section of your score report and identify the lowest-scoring section (out of the four: math, reading, English, and science). This lets you know where you should focus your energy in the future.

For example, let’s say the science section of the test was your lowest scoring area, while math was your second-lowest scoring area. If you bring up each of those subsection scores by five points, you’ll be able to achieve the ten-point improvement you’re striving for. Focus your energy accordingly.

3. Create a Study Plan

In general, it’s best to leave yourself at least six weeks of space between ACTs. Rushing to retake the test is unlikely to give you the plus-ten-points result you are hoping for. Less than six weeks isn’t enough time to achieve a significant change.

Once you have your next ACT date booked, map out a study plan. Depending on how well you score in each subsection, accommodate a suitable amount of time to study and improve.

For example, if you want to focus on math and science and have seven weeks to prepare, you might concentrate three weeks on math and three weeks on science—and give yourself one extra week to do practice tests. This ensures you aren’t left rushed right before the test.

4. Focus on Improving Your Time Management

Focus on Improving Your Time Management

The ACT is a timed test. It should thus come as no surprise that one of the most challenging elements is simply finishing each section on time. Part of your ACT prep should therefore include time management. It is, thankfully, relatively straightforward to improve your times.

Keep a stopwatch by your side whenever you complete a practice test (or use your phone as a timer). You can check your time regularly to see how well you’re doing in terms of keeping up.

Further, you can start practicing skills that will help you improve your time management on the actual test day. For example, it’s often best to skip tough questions that will take up loads of time. You can always come back to them later. Being able to identify time-wasters is critical.

5. Memorize Essential Rules and Formulas

Part of improving your time management means simply learning how to do things more quickly. There are a few steps you can take to improve your time. For the math and science sections, it’s often helpful to memorize specific basic formulas, for example.

This way, you don’t have to waste time recalling a formula and instead jump directly into problem-solving. Useful math formulas to remember for the ACT include the area of triangles, the slope-intercept formula, the quadratic formula, and trigonometry functions.

6. Improve Your Reading Speed

Improve Your Reading Speed

Even if your reading score was acceptable, improving your reading speed can also be a critical component to tremendous ACT success. Why? The test itself is a written format, and you have to read every question and comprehend it fully to provide an accurate answer.

Slow reading can leave you behind time-wise in any section, be it math or science. There are many ways you can improve your reading, such as learning how to scan a text. This YouTube video provides some great tips on improving your reading speed.

7. Invest in ACT Test Prep Materials

If you’re wondering how to improve your ACT score by 10 points, you’re probably willing to invest some money into the problem. ACT materials are one worthy investment. You can get books, practice tests, and guided tutorials to help you improve.

Many of these materials are readily available on Amazon. Since the ACT evolves annually, make sure to get a recent study guide that corresponds to the year you plan to take the test. You don’t want to work with outdated materials that are no longer relevant.

If you aren’t making the progress you want with ACT prep materials alone, you might also consider getting a tutor. A professional can structure your ACT study plan and guide you through lessons. They can also provide valuable moral support.

8. Practice, Practice, Practice

Practice, Practice, Practice

Don’t just take one practice test before your next ACT. Take as many as you can! Practice tests allow you to hone your new skills and get more comfortable with the general test format. You can also learn new strategies, like figuring out when to skip a question.

After every test, review your total score and your section subscores. Take the time to look at questions that confused you to pinpoint what the issue was. For example, was there a formula you could have known that would have helped? Learning it now may help you in the future.

9. Find Ways to Tackle Your Nerves

After all that preparation, you don’t want to end up doing poorly on your ACT because nerves got to you. This is a high-pressure situation, so it’s understandable to be anxious. However, it’s up to you to figure out how to manage that anxiety to not interfere with your test.

There are many ways to help minimize test anxiety, from self-encouragement to showing up to the testing site early. You can also try on-the-spot exercises to soothe yourself, such as deep breathing or meditation. Take a moment to calm your mind before you start.

10. Follow a Strict Game Plan Before Your Next Test

Follow a Strict Game Plan Before Your Next Test

The night before your ACT, try to relax. Eat a healthy dinner, clear your schedule, and set yourself an early bedtime. You want to be well-rested and alert on test day. If you have trouble falling asleep due to nerves, try taking a warm bath or listening to some relaxing music.

Set out all the supplies you’ll need for the ACT the night before, such as pencils or calculators. You can also save time by setting out the clothes you’re going to wear on test day. This will save you stress and hassle the following day, ensuring you have no distractions.

Finally, eat a healthy breakfast before you head to the test. You may not be hungry if you’re feeling nervous, but you will need food for energy and keep you focused. When you’re trying to improve your ACT score, the last thing you want is to be distracted by a rumbling stomach.

The Final Word on How to Improve Your ACT Score

Your ACT score won’t magically improve overnight without any effort from your side. It’s up to you to identify problem areas and make changes accordingly. With the right study plan and adequate preparation, you can improve your score.

How to CRAM for the ACT Test

How to CRAM for the ACT Test

How to Cram for the ACT Test

When it comes to studying for the ACT, most people need several months to do their best. But if you’ve got less than three weeks to go and you’re feeling under-prepared, there’s no reason to panic. Smart, targeted preparation can help you make the most of your remaining prep time. Keep reading to learn how to cram for the ACT test. The basic steps to cramming for the ACT test are:

  1. Review Test Directions
  2. Take Several Practice Exams
  3. Review English Grammar
  4. Practice Reading
  5. Know Your Math Formulas
  6. Analyze Scientific Writing
  7. Prepare Your Calculator

CRAM for the act

Before the Test

Follow these tips the week or two before the ACT to maximize your study hours.

Review Test Directions

Time is critical on the ACT, so make sure you understand all test directions and how to fill in the bubbles before taking the test. While test instructions may seem like the least of your worries, familiarizing yourself with them beforehand will ensure you don’t waste valuable time on exam day. 

Take Several Practice Exams

The most effective way to cram for the ACT is by taking as many timed practice exams as you can. Practice tests get you used to the rhythm and length of the test. They also teach you how to manage your valuable time on exam day, which will help you feel less anxious. 

Another reason to take practice exams is that they reveal your weaker areas. For example, you may notice after doing a few that your English or math scores are lower than the rest of the subjects. Low scores show you where to focus your efforts.

As you work through the practice exams, go over every wrong answer and take some time to understand why you got it wrong. This process helps you to understand the logic of the exam. 

Review English Grammar

review english grammar

Knowing the rules of English grammar is imperative for ACT success. Go back and review things like subject-verb agreement, punctuation, verb tenses, and parts of speech. While the exam doesn’t require you to explain grammar rules, you do have to understand how to apply them in different contexts. 

Practice Reading

Mimic the exam by critically engaging with challenging material in the weeks and days leading up to the test. Read newspaper articles, difficult books, and academic texts to get more comfortable with advanced content and analyze them. Practice asking questions and making observations, which will help make you more comfortable with this process on exam day. 

Know Your Math Formulas

Whereas the SAT provides you with equations and formulas, the ACT requires test-takers to know these formulas by heart. If you can’t remember a particular formula, you won’t be able to solve the problem, so take time to write down and memorize the most crucial ones. 

Analyze Scientific Writing

Analyze Scientific Writing

The good news about the scientific portion of the test is that it’s not a science test like one you’d take in school. Knowledge of chemistry, biology, or physics isn’t required; instead, you answer the questions solely based on information in the texts provided. 

Brush up your analytical skills by reviewing science passages and identifying elements like variables (independent and dependent), the goal of the experiment, and hypotheses, if provided. 

Prepare Your Calculator

The ACT allows you to have simple programs that can solve functions, so prepare your scientific calculator for test day by downloading the ones you’ll need. Some of the most helpful formulas include the following: 

  • Quadratic formula
  • Distance formula
  • Volume and surface area of a cone
  • Midpoint formula
  • Standard deviation

Not sure how to download programs for your calculator? Check out this guide to learn how. 

A word of caution: the ACT has a strict calculator policy about which programs test takers can use and which calculators are allowed, so make sure you comply before test day. 

The Day Before the Test

The Day Before the Test

What you do the day before the test is less about studying and more about ensuring your body is primed to help your mind do its best. 

Prepare Your Backpack

Make a checklist of everything you’ll need for test day, and gather your things the night before. Aside from your printed ticket to the test center and your ID, make sure you have the following items: 

  • A calculator
  • Two to three pencils
  • A pencil sharpener
  • Snacks
  • A jacket or sweatshirt  

Get Enough Rest

The night before the exam, it may be tempting to stay up late cramming. However, you need to be well-rested to do your best, so go to bed at a reasonable time. 

The Day of the Test

The Day of the Test

Here are some tips to maximize your performance on test day.

Fuel Properly

There’s nothing more distracting while trying to solve math problems than a growling stomach. So be sure to eat a high-energy breakfast with plenty of protein and healthy fats to sustain yourself on test day. You should also get enough food in the days leading up to the exam to keep energy levels high. 

And even if you normally drink coffee, your daily caffeine kick can make you jittery–not to mention, it’s a diuretic. Needing to go to the bathroom during the exam can be distracting and affect your performance, so you may want to forego coffee. 

Don’t Be Afraid to Guess

Unlike other exams, the ACT does not penalize test takers for guessing. If you don’t know the answer to a question, guess! Similarly, if you’re running out of time, fill in the remaining questions with the same letter. 

Take the Test Again Later

It’s possible that even by following these tips, you will still not be as prepared as you could be. The ACT is a complex test that requires you to be familiar with the material and the exam format. It typically takes months of preparation to achieve the best results, and you may have better luck retaking the test later–and following a stricter study program. 

Wrapping Up

Wrapping Up

While it’s essential to give yourself enough time to prepare, the above strategies will help you make the most of limited study time. We hope you found them helpful. Feel free to leave a comment below with any ACT-related study questions. 

SAT vs ACT: Which Test Is Right for You

SAT vs ACT: Which Test Is Right for You?

Colleges and universities use several tools to help them choose the best and brightest students. For example, a student’s standardized test scores can significantly influence their admittance rate.

But what do you know about two of the most widely recognized college entrance exams, the SAT and ACT? If you’re unfamiliar with these exams, you may struggle to earn the highest possible scores.

Fortunately, this guide can help you learn more about both test types and choose the option that best fits your learning style.

SAT Overview

sat overview

The SAT (Scholastic Aptitude Test) is perhaps the most widely recognized college entrance exam in the United States. Millions of students take this test each year, and their scores can significantly influence their college acceptance results.

While the SAT has undergone some major changes over the last few decades, it remains one of the top choices among students and educators to gauge educational aptitude and ability.

What Does the SAT Include?

The SAT consists of three mandatory sections and a fourth optional essay portion. The three primary subjects included in the SAT are:

  • Reading
  • Writing and Language
  • Mathematics

Understanding the types of questions included within these sections is essential to prepare yourself for SAT success. It can also help you decide whether the SAT is the right choice for you and your educational goals.

Reading

reading

The SAT reading portion is 65 minutes long and consists of 52 comprehension-based questions. For this section, you’ll need to skim through several passages.

You’ll then need to answer questions relating to those passages. Thus, reading comprehension and clarity are the two most essential skills tested in this section.

Writing and Language

The SAT writing and language portion includes several passages and 44 multiple-choice questions. However, this section focuses far more heavily on vocabulary, grammar, and sentence structure than comprehension. It also lasts a mere 35 minutes.

Mathematics

The mathematics portion of the SAT can be somewhat overwhelming, especially for high school students that have only taken the most fundamental math courses. That’s because the SAT includes several advanced math topics and related questions.

However, SAT math primarily consists of algebraic functions and equations. There’s also a focus on complex problem-solving skills. Students can use a calculator for some parts of this portion of the SAT but may be asked to stop using their calculator for specific sections.

How Is the SAT Scored?

How Is the SAT Scored

The three SAT sections are regrouped into two main areas to allow for easier scoring. These two sections are:

  1. Mathematics
  2. Read and Writing

Each of these two major groups is worth between 200 and 800 points. As such, a student that performs well on the mathematics portion (earning a score of 700 or more) can still earn a poor cumulative score if they perform poorly on the language-based sections.

Spending an equal amount of time studying both major subject areas could potentially help students boost their overall score and get closer to reaching 1600—A perfect score.

What’s a Good SAT Score?

What's a Good SAT Score

As you might expect, a good score varies from person to person. Each university has its own criteria and admission requirements. Some may only accept students with scores within the 95th percentile. Others may accept students regardless of their SAT scores.

Still, the top universities tend to admit students with SAT scores of 1400 or higher. That’s only 200 points less than a perfect score. As such, students looking to make themselves highly competitive will want to earn the highest possible score on this exam.

How Long Do SAT Scores Last?

Technically, SAT scores last a lifetime. However, in practice, they only last for about five years.

If you take the SAT, wait five years, then apply to a university, you may need to retake the test to gain admittance.

Which Colleges Accept SAT Scores?

Which Colleges Accept SAT Scores

Nearly every college in the United States accepts SAT scores. Naturally, there are a handful of exceptions. But the bulk of US colleges look for and utilize SAT results.

How Much Does It Cost to Take the SAT?

You can expect to spend $55 to register and take the SAT. But it’s worthwhile to check if you qualify for an SAT fee waiver. If you’re eligible, you can take the SAT two times for free!

How to Study for the SAT

Thanks to CollegeBoard’s comprehensive selection of apps, programs, courses, and guides, studying for the SAT has never been easier. There are dozens of resources you can use to prepare yourself for this exam, including:

If you tend to follow an organized schedule, it may be helpful to create a personalized SAT study plan that allows for one hour of study each day. But if your style is a little more relaxed, a question-of-the-day SAT prep app may be the more practical option.

Still, the majority of SAT study materials available online are free. In addition, because millions of students practice for and take this exam each year, there are also hundreds of student-made virtual flashcards and study guides to browse from.

ACT Overview

act overview

The ACT (American College Testing) is a college entrance exam accepted by major universities and colleges throughout the United States, much like the SAT. However, it consists of four primary subjects and features a unique scoring system.

Additionally, the ACT focuses on material covered throughout a typical four-year high school education. As such, you won’t find many advanced math questions on the ACT math portion.

Another significant difference between the ACT and the SAT is question types. The SAT features some grid-in math areas, but the ACT is fully multiple-choice. However, both tests feature an options essay portion.

What Does the ACT Include?

The ACT contains four mandatory subject-based sections:

  1. English
  2. Reading
  3. Mathematics
  4. Science

As mentioned previously, there’s also an optional writing portion. These sections are divided into two major categories: STEM and ELA. The STEM category is the average of your mathematics and science results, while the ELA category focuses on your English and reading scores.

English

english

For many students, the English portion of the ACT is the most challenging one. That’s because it lasts for 45 minutes but includes 75 questions. Students that struggle to master ACT test-taking strategies may flounder in this section.

Still, the English portion primarily focuses on grammar, sentence structure, and conciseness. Brushing up on the basics related to those topics could help you test more comfortably.

Reading

Though the reading test still averages out at more than one question per minute, it only consists of four passages. You’ll have 35 minutes to answer 40 questions relating to those passages, so reading comprehension and critical analysis are vital skills.

Mathematics

The mathematics portion of the ACT consists of 60 questions. This is the longest session of the ACT, lasting a full hour. That’s one question per minute, which can be challenging for some students.

Still, the ACT mathematics portion aims to measure the mastery of high school material, including geometry, algebra, and some trigonometry. As such, students with a basic understanding of high school mathematics may find that this session is relatively simple.

Science

The ACT’s science portion is one of the most unique aspects of the exam, as the SAT does not feature a science-based section.

Students will answer 40 questions in 35 minutes. These questions are based on lengthy passages, charts, and graphs. The challenge here is to interpret the data and correctly answer the multiple-choice questions.

How Is the ACT Scored?

How Is the ACT Scored

Each of the four sections of the ACT earns a score that falls between 1 and 36. These four final scores are averaged together to determine your cumulative ACT score.

However, your college or university may consider the STEM and ELA scores when reviewing your application.

For example, a student looking to gain admittance into a competitive science-focused degree program may need a high ACT STEM score. But a student entering a liberal arts program may be more competitive with a higher ELA average score.

What’s a Good ACT Score?

As with the SAT, a good score varies depending on the school students seek admittance to. The most competitive universities tend to accept students with the highest possible scores. Community colleges may have far more relaxed score criteria.

The highest possible score you could earn on the ACT is 36. However, the average score is far closer to 20. If you’re looking to get accepted into an Ivy League institution, you’ll want to aim for as close to perfect as you possibly can.

How Long Do ACT Scores Last?

ACT scores remain valid for approximately five years. After that point, universities may ask prospective students to retake the test and submit their most recent results. However, some schools offer a CPT (college placement test) to gauge their student’s course readiness.

Which Colleges Accept ACT Scores?

Which Colleges Accept ACT Scores

Nearly every four-year university in the United States accepts ACT scores. Only a handful of schools don’t accept ACT results, and they tend to be the same schools that don’t accept SAT scores.

Be sure to check your preferred university or college’s acceptance requirements before registering for either test.

How Much Does It Cost to Take the ACT?

The ACT costs $85 with the essay portion but only $60 without it. Because the writing portion of the ACT is optional, students may want to go without it. That said, if you’re looking to get accepted into a college with an essay requirement, you’ll want to opt for the whole test.

How to Study for the ACT

Studying for the ACT is much like studying for the SAT. You’ll want to gather up-to-date study materials and begin reviewing them several weeks before your test date. It’s also a great idea to time yourself when taking practice tests to prepare for the timed subject-based sessions.

Unfortunately, ACT preparation materials aren’t nearly as accessible or plentiful as SAT study guides. That said, there are a handful of free or low-cost study materials you can take advantage of to prepare yourself for this test.

If you’re searching for free ACT study materials, you can choose:

  • A half-length test with questions from all significant sections
  • A short ACT pop quiz with a variety of different questions and answers
  • An ACT question-of-the-day for rapid testing

You can also choose to download the official Preparing for the ACT Test study guide. However, to access this guide, you’ll need to provide your name, email address, and country of residence.

In terms of paid materials, there are several Kaplan courses that you could purchase and complete, including a more relaxed self-paced virtual course. Students could also purchase a hard copy study guide, such as The Official ACT Prep Guide.

SAT vs. ACT: Which Test Is Right for You?

Which Test Is Right for You

Now that you’re more familiar with both the SAT and ACT, it’s time to consider which exam might be right for you. To determine which test might help you earn the better scores, it’s crucial to think about your:

  • Testing Style
  • Mastery of Material
  • Personal Preferences

Generally, the SAT is considered the more challenging test. And while both the SAT and the ACT are timed tests, the SAT’s testing sessions can last an hour or more.

If you’re someone who struggles to sit still for long periods, the ACT could be a better choice. But mastery of the material is another factor that test-takers will want to think about. The ACT primarily tests for knowledge gained throughout high school—the SATs for mastery of high school coursework and some college-level material.

If you’re unfamiliar with complex mathematics or college-level reading tasks, you might struggle with the SAT. However, if you’re confident in your mastery of this high-level material, you may prefer the SAT over the ACT.

Lastly, there’s the matter of personal preference. Some schools may offer students a discount on the cost of taking the SAT, but not many do the same for the ACT. Of course, many students are opting to take both tests.

Doing so could help you ensure the best possible score. After all, you can choose the test that yields the better score and submit those results, increasing your chance of getting accepted into your preferred college.

Final Thoughts

final thoughts

The SAT and ACT are college entrance exams that are widely accepted by universities throughout the United States. The right test for you depends on your comfort level and preferences.

The SAT tends to include more college-level questions than the ACT. Additionally, the SAT testing sessions last longer than ACT testing sessions. However, since most schools accept both tests, students may want to consider taking both and choosing the better result.

If you have any questions, be sure to comment below! And remember, the primary difference between the SAT and ACT is the test material. The right option for you depends on your personal preferences.

SAT classes online

Guidelines About Choosing The SAT Vs ACT

What is SAT vs ACT comparison? How are these two tests different from each other, and which are you going to take? Or maybe you are thinking of taking both the SAT and the ACT? There’s actually no saying when it comes to the SAT vs ACT test that one is more superior than the other. So how do you decide about the right standardized admission test that’ll take you to the doors of the colleges of your choice? Here are some tips to guide you.

Consider that admission criterion of the colleges or universities you are targeting. Do they require a certain number of points for either of the SAT or the ACT in order to accept new students? But if they have not specified either or both of these two tests to be part of their requirements, then you can make your own decision about which is best to take. No science has dictated that the ACT is easier than the SAT and vice versa. You just have to take into account the most appropriate format of the test that better suits your strengths. Each of these tests has different structures and varied emphases, and it is a smarter choice to take the standardized exam that feels more familiar to you. The SAT vs ACT scores, whichever is higher should be able to help you gain admission to your chosen colleges.

Check our ACT Practice Tests for English

What Makes The ACT Test Preparation

act practice test

The ACT covers 4 major subjects, and they are English, Math, Reading, and Science. The ACT is a standardized exam that evaluates high school students’ capabilities, readiness and competitiveness to enter college life. Most colleges have standardized test requirements so that they can better determine if student-applicants are worthy to grace their schools with their admissions. It takes 2 hours and 55 minutes (without including breaks) to finish the ACT test.

You can get a score of anything from 1 to 36 points in the ACT. Your scores in the 4 subject areas mentioned above are averaged altogether where you then can determine your composite score. There is an optional writing test in the ACT, and this is designed to gauge your planning and writing skills. It takes 30 minutes to finish the optional ACT writing test and it represents an additional score which is reported separately.

Is writing your weak area? In that case, you should consider skipping the ACT Essay test, unless it is required by the colleges you are considering to study in. Otherwise, if you have strong abilities in writing, taking the ACT Essay test can benefit you. In your ACT test prep, it is important to take ACT practice tests. These test prep resources that are available online or in your local bookstore and library can give you an idea about the “feel” of the ACT test.

Related Topic: ACT Test Introduction, Registration, Dates & Score

What About The SAT Test Preparation?

Whereas in the ACT, your overall educational development is measured, the SAT is designed to gauge your problem-solving and general thinking abilities. There are 2 major sections that comprise the SAT, and they are the Evidence-Based Reading and Writing and the Math topics. The time limit for accomplishing the SAT is 3 hours.

Just like the ACT, you’ll also find that the SAT covers multiple choice questions. However, in the Math section, it is necessary to produce your answers. There is no room for guessing or choosing from a number of choices in this particular aspect of the SAT. In both the ACT and the SAT, you won’t be penalized for your wrong answers. Take SAT practice tests, too, so that you can familiarize yourself with the test. Practice tests in your SAT prep are crucial because they will help you figure out your weak and strong points. With it, you’ll gain an idea of which subject areas you can improve on. See also our Kaplan SAT Prep Review here.

Check our Practice Tests for ACT Math

The Subject Tests Covered By The SAT

SAT online

In the SAT, you likewise have the option to take subject tests. Some schools require applicants to take these subject tests prior to their admission. Otherwise, you may not need to tackle this specific aspect of the SAT, but again, if they represent your strong points, you can boast of your high scores. Scores in the additional Essay test in the ACT and the subject tests in the SAT will be reported,  regardless of whether they are required or not.

If you’re worried that your score might not be that exemplary in the major sections of the SAT, register for and take ample test prep measures in taking the subject tests. They could highlight your skills in various areas such as History, English, Science, Math, and different languages.

Related Topic: SAT Math Practice Test

SAT vs ACT Test? It’s Your Choice, Depending On Various Factors

Despite the varied differences between the SAT and the ACT, both of these standardized tests have the potential to produce an excellent score from you. A large number of students have in fact performed comparably on both the SAT and the ACT tests. Neither should you think that it is a “SAT vs ACT test” dilemma as well. You can take both of these tests if your targeted schools did not specify their requirement for either your SAT or ACT scores. After all, each of these tests measures your capabilities in different ways. Taking both the SAT and the ACT can help you work out in whichever test you’ll score better.

What if you need more time or are short on money? You can start deciding on either to take the SAT or the ACT by taking practice tests. SAT and ACT practice tests are available electronically or in print, and they can be had very affordable. Thus, through these efforts, you can obtain an experience of the tests which are as close to reality. You can then decide on a test that feels more familiar or comfortable to you and you can go for it. Through SAT and ACT practice tests, you can judge your performance which can guide you in making your choice for the real thing, whether it is the SAT or the ACT.

Start reviewing with our helpful contents: Free SAT Reading Practice Tests

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SAT Vs ACT

gre test prep

How To Study For The GRE Effectively – Here’s A Foolproof 8-Week Test Prep Plan

You have to implement an efficient and effective study plan for your GRE test prep if you have more or less 8 weeks to do so. What are some salient factors about how to study for the GRE that you should be mindful of?

Divide Your Study Plan Into Two Parts

gre exam dates

You primarily have to divide your study approach into two parts if you have 2 months to prepare for the GRE. The first month will comprise your study plan wherein you have to be proficient in tackling the types of questions that you will encounter in the test. And considering that they are more tricky, you also have to focus your efforts in dealing with Math and Vocabulary. On the second month of your GRE test prep, you should take time to learn how to answer the questions quickly. In this case, you have to hone your skills by taking timed practice tests. As you go along the way, challenge yourself by answering tougher test items.

You can also visit our review on the Best GRE Prep Course here so you can choose the best for you.

You can get lost in the middle of things when studying for the GED. The antidote to this is to apply an effectual system. Initialize your GED test prep accordingly, so before you get on with it, you have to determine which subjects to contend with first. What you ought to do pertaining to this is to ascertain your academic strengths and weaknesses. By all means, you should target your weak areas while building on where you are good at.

Related Topic: GRE Test Scores, Good, Average and Range of GRE Score

Take A Timed GRE Practice Test

gre exam syllabus

Your step 1 for an effective GRE test prep is to take a timed GRE practice test. Your purpose for doing this is to get your baseline score. It’s like figuring out what your GRE Verbal and Quantitative scores are if you take your test now. This step will help you gain information about your tentative GRE scores along with what subject matters you are good and bad at. You’ll need these details in designing the most suitable GRE study plan for yourself.

What’s so motivating about taking a practice test is that it’ll give you experience about what your final test day is like. You’ll be familiarizing yourself with the format and timing of the actual test. You’ll gain a “feel” about the questions contained in it, consequently providing you with clues about how to ace your test.

You can review your practice test after going through with it. Obtaining access to the explanations for each question, you’ll be able to understand your mistakes and reinforce your strong aspects. According to research, practice tests help test-takers measure their performance and learn about the real test as well.

Take your GRE practice test under conditions that are as similar as possible to the real test day. Make sure that there are no distractions and allocate the same time limit as the actual GRE. That will be 4 hours if you include the Essay test and 3 hours without it. See to it that you have ample time to check and review your work for 1.5 hours on the same day or a day after. You can avail of official GRE practice test from the POWERPREP®  software of the ETS website. ETS is the creating body of the GRE.

See our Best GRE Prep Course here for you to have more information.

Related Topic: GRE Test: Introduction, Subjects, Requirements, Test Dates, GRE Scores & Benefits

Create Your Test Prep Strategy

gre registration

Your step 2 for a GRE study plan that works is to create your test prep strategy. You might be thinking that your test is 2 months away and you still have sufficient time for doing other what-nots. Be wary of procrastinating because the days go by swiftly. Before you know it, your GRE might be one week away! Steer clear of being caught by surprise of your test day.

It is more effective if you study for 5 days a week than cram everything during the (2 days) weekend. Your study time for the GRE is better off at 5 days a week in three 30 minute sessions. Apparently, you have to schedule one and a half hours of study time a day during weekdays. If you’re targeting to improve your vocabulary skills, tag along physical flashcards with you or download them in your smartphone. Get hold of up-to-date and credible GRE study materials online or in your local library to reinforce your knowledge

On the last 4 weeks of the second part of your GRE test prep, plan to take 4 more practice tests. Take 1 practice test one month before your GRE test day, and schedule taking 1 practice test every week following this. Your goal is to keep track of your progress, acclimatize yourself to the real test and develop your mental endurance. Remember to allot 1.5 hours for checking your answers and reading the explanations for them.

Mark your practice test dates in your calendar, and attend to them on time- in the same way, that you are prompt in going to school or work. Consider that your GRE test prep is crucial, and you have to take it seriously.

Related Topic: GRE Practice Tests

Be A Super -Test Taker Who Will Rock The GRE!

gre practice test

Granting that you have taken all your practice tests accordingly, you should be ready to take the GRE. There should be minimal or no jitters on your test day- thanks to the ample practice tests that you have gone through. Be gone, test anxiety! Muster your confidence knowing that you have prepared well for your test and are capable of passing it with flying colors.

How to Fail-Proof Your GED Math Test

How To Fail-Proof Your GED Math Test

Out of the four GED test subjects, GED Math is the subject most feared by test-takers. A study says six out of 10 university students have math anxiety. If your parents are also afraid of math, chances are you’d be afraid of it too, according to the Association for Psychological Science.

If you fear math, this instantly reduces your chance of passing the GED math test. That’s because anxiety affects your working memory, which you need for learning and solving problems, says neurologist and former middle school teacher Dr. Judy Willis. When you feel fear while answering math problems, you’ll have distracting thoughts that uses some of your processing memory. The fear and worry take away some of your brain’s ability to solve math problems.

This is why the first step to fail-proof your GED math test is to get rid of your fear of math.

Check our Free GED Math Practice Test 

Why You’re Afraid of Math

GED Math Test

There are various possible reasons why you fear math:

  1. We’ve been told again and again by our teachers, parents, and peers that math is hard and you started to believe it.
  2. You’ve had a bad experience in the classroom while learning math. Maybe you’ve failed math tests before or you’ve felt humiliated in class for your inability to answer a math problem correctly.
  3. You’ve attached math to pain because you’ve connected it with the negative feelings associated with paying debts or bills.
  4. Traditional methods of teaching math didn’t work for you, so you failed to develop basic math skills and struggled to catch up in class. You couldn’t forget how difficult it has been for you to keep up with the math lessons in class.
  5. You’re learning math in highly competitive environments. You focused way too much on comparing how well you performed at math compared to your peers.
  6. The timed tests made you feel anxious.

No matter what the reason for your fear math is, one thing is clear: it distracts you and decreases your brainpower to solving math problems. If you’re taking the GED math test, it’s your math anxiety that can cause you to fail, not your math skills.

Contrary to popular belief, being a “math person” can only get you so far when studying math. You need to stop saying you’re bad at math. Business Insider confirms by citing a research published in Child Development that the most important factor in improving math ability is hard work and good study habits.

Related Topic: GED 101: 2021 GED Study Guide, GED Classes for GED Exam – 1 Stop GED Programs Guide

Study Tips for GED Math

GED math study tips

If you’ve always been afraid of math, it’s never too late to face that fear and get rid of it by discovering your ability to learn the subject. Yes, math can be learned. Here are tips to study math to prepare for your GED test:

We have GED Math Video Lessons HERE

Check our Math Blueprint Video Course covering every possible topic for GED Math. It includes +100 videos, +2000 practice questions and loads of information.

Let go of negative beliefs about math

GED math guide

Again, it all begins with your attitude towards math. Believe that math can be learned. If you encounter a difficult math problem, it just means you need to work harder and try harder to arrive at the right question. It means you need to understand the principles, instead of merely memorizing them.

Related Topic: Free GED Practice Tests

Study from the bottom up

GED math practice tests

Another thing about math is you need to master the basic skills and concepts before you can move on to the next. For example, you can’t progress to adding or subtracting improper fractions if you don’t understand how fractions work in the first place. You can’t move on to algebra unless you understand pre-algebra concepts like integers, one-step equations, etc. Check out GED Math study guides to know the specific topics covered by the test.

Related Topic: Powerful GED Prep Tips and Material to Survive GED Test Anxiety : USA Test Prep for GED

Practice daily

Math test prep

Take GED math practice tests to test your understanding of concepts you have just learned. By practicing, you will be able to spot your weak areas and strengthen new skills. It will help you remember how to solve particular problems.

Learn more about GED Study Guide

Get help from a tutor or online classes

GED math online classes

Studying math needs more than just memorizing formulas. You need to understand how to apply those formulas and math concepts. Sometimes, reading technical math words from books is not enough to make you understand how they work. This is where online GED classes will help. An instructor will be able to demonstrate how to apply mathematical concepts in a visual way. Through online classes, you’ll also be able to see the practical application of math concepts in real life.

We have Practice Test that you can use: GED Math Practice Test 1

Time yourself when taking practice tests

GED guide

The pressure of taking tests within a limited amount of time is a source of anxiety for math students and GED test-takers. The best way to manage this kind of anxiety is to time yourself when taking practice tests. You’ll be able to check your performance, see where you need to improve and gain confidence in your ability to complete the test within the time limit.

Math is difficult only because you have been repeatedly told and convinced that it is. Go out of your comfort zone and start learning math the right way. Don’t waste your mental energy on worrying about failing the subject. You’ll be amazed to discover that you can learn math and be good at it.

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Watch our Online GED Math Videos covering all topics you will face during the GED Math test
gre test prep

How To Get A High GRE Essay Score: 8 Easy But No-Nonsense Tips

The GRE Essay test refers to the Analytical Writing Assessment section of the exam. The AWA is comprised of two parts, and they are namely the (1) Issue Essay, and (2) the Argument Essay. The time limit for tackling these sections is 30 minutes for each. You have to complete the GRE AWA before proceeding on to the Quantitative and Verbal sections.

Granting that you are excellent in writing content, you shouldn’t be complacent. Your score in the AWA is not predominantly based on content alone. You should also exhibit proficiency in structure and your layout should be cogent. See to it that your essay renders a good flow so that it is easier to follow. Perfecting the AWA requires you have impressive writing and organizational skills.

5 Expert Tips To Follow For A Well-Organized GRE Essay

  1. Avoid using fillers and making your essay too wordy.

GRE

An excellently written GRE essay is straightforward and not too wordy. In this case, you have to steer clear of inserting too many “fillers” that tend to be senseless words and phrases that make your paragraphs look bloated. Create short, snappy and direct-to-the-point paragraphs that state your thought in 4 to 7 sentences. Make an impact when stating your ideas of emphasis. That is, create a strong argument, not a lengthy and meandering essay.

Related Topic: GRE Test Scores, Good, Average and Range of GRE Score

2. Position your thesis in an easy-to-spot location.

gre practice test

Ideally, that’s at the bottom of your introductory paragraph. Consider that your GRE essay is graded in a “holistic” sense, and its readers spend merely two minutes checking it. You thus have to place your thesis in that part of your essay where it can be clearly noticed.

3. Reserve two minutes (at most) to proofread your essay.

gre registration

Doing so means you have to be particular of the flow and rhythm of your essay. Is it smooth and not incongruent or rocky? Improve the structure of your content by adding the most suitable transition words. Check your spelling or grammar, too. Committing a lot of errors in these aspects can downgrade your score.

Related Topic: GRE Test: Introduction, Subjects, Requirements, Test Dates, GRE Scores & Benefits

4. Steer clear of using slang or clichés.

gre test dates 2019

Words such as “cool”, “awesome”, “kinda” and “you know”, among others are major no-no’s to incorporate in your GRE essay. Remember that you should present a formal essay in your GRE AWA. Neither should you use the expressions “I believe”, or “I think”. You must only use first-person pronouns if you are conveying a personal experience to support your thesis.

5. Create each of your paragraphs with a purpose.

gre tests

Again, you should avoid being superfluous when composing your essay. Each of your paragraphs should have a purpose wherein the first one introduces your issue or argument, the next ones (that are the body paragraphs) state your supporting ideas and the final paragraph summarizes or reiterates your main idea. Use befitting transitions for a well-developed content and to guide your readers through to your succeeding points.

3 Tips To Increase Your GRE AWA Score- Earn That Extra Point!

It’s not hard labor to compose an excellent GRE essay. With proper time management, an efficient template, and ample practice, you can score high on this test. The following 3 easy tips can boost your skills up if you want to add an extra .5 or 1 point to your score.

  1. Create a forceful tone.

gre exam dates

Keep away from sounding wishy-washy in your GRE essay. Impose a writing tone that signifies your confidence and expertise on the subject matter. Doing so means you have to avoid using words like “perhaps”, “maybe” or “might be”, to name a few. As part of your test prep, read scholarly and business articles so that you can acclimatize to their style of writing.

Related Topic: GRE Practice Tests

2. Use the third-person point of view.

free gre practice test

Phrases such as “I think” or “I believe” makes you sound less self-assured and are distracting, so avoid using them. The focus of your paragraphs should be on the points that you want to assert. Otherwise, if you are using your personal experience as a support, you can use first-person pronouns

3. Utilize imposing transition words and phrases.

gre sample test

A proficient essay fluently guides the readers through from one paragraph to another. While doing so, the content should be able to hold the thread of its argument. In your test prep, practice writing essays with strong transitions. Use simple ones, including “firstly”, “secondly” and “finally”, etc which are better than not using any at all. As you progress (in your test prep), you can make use of more advanced transitions and mix them up. And as much as possible, avoid using clichés.

With these practical and sensible tips, you can ace your GRE AWA test and actualize your plans of gaining admission to the graduate school of your choice.

How to Beat Math Anxiety on Your GED Test Day

How To Beat Math Anxiety On Your GED Test Day

For many GED test takers, math is the biggest obstacle towards reaching their goal of passing the test. Very people love math and some would even think that you’re either born with math skills or not. Just like in any field, talent can only get you so far. You still need determination and hard work to get the results you’re looking for.

We have GED Math Video Lessons

Is math really that scary? Truth be told, it is not. However, this fear of math may be the factor that’s hindering you from passing the GED test. It is the fear that kills, a saying once said. Math anxiety is very real, it happens when you are so afraid of the math test that you can’t help but feel hopeless, uncertain and so you lose your confidence.  When you feel anxious, you won’t be able to concentrate and all that your preparations for the math test will be thrown out the window.  GED practice test for math

Beating the anxiety is half the battle done in passing the GED math test.

Here are tips to fight off math anxiety on the day of your GED test:

  1. Believe your preparation is enough.

GED test

If you know that you have prepared well for the test, all you have to do is to remind yourself of the fact that you have done all you can to study for your math test. Believe in the quality of your preparations and you will lessen your fears by almost 90 percent. On the other hand, if you know that you have not prepared well, then you will surely feel scared.
Check our Free GED® Classes Online for the GED® Exam

The importance of studying for your GED test to increase your chances of passing can’t be undermined. It is a good idea to enroll in a GED review center and get yourself a reliable math GED Math study guide and math practice sheets because they helped many people pass the GED math test.

Related Topic: 2021 GED Study Guide, GED Classes for GED Exam

Check our Math Blueprint Video Course covering every possible topic for GED Math. It includes +100 videos, +2000 practice questions and loads of information.
  1. Don’t look down on yourself.

GED test prep

Math anxiety often comes from lack of self-confidence that develops from years of low math scores in school. It is a learned fear response to math and can cause problems in tests. Anxiety makes you focus more on your fear and negative thoughts than on studying or on answering the questions. What you have to remember is that if others can do it, so can you. Many people pass the GED test, even those who started with bad grades in school.

If you have conditioned yourself into believing that you are dumb in math, then this is the right time to unlearn that. Here is a way to unlearn your math fear. As you study for your math test, you are bound to answer some questions right and some questions wrong. Now try to forget about your wrong answers and think more about the answers you did right. That does not mean of course that you don’t study to correct those you did wrong, but by remembering about your success, you can slowly build up our confidence and dissolve the lack of confidence that causes anxiety.

Related Topic: Online GED Classes

  1. Recite your positive affirmation.

GED online

A positive affirmation is a short verse that you repeat either verbally or mentally that can help change the way you think and feel about something. Affirmations were introduced in the 1970’s by neuroscientists and have been popular ever since. By mentally or verbally reciting positive affirmations, you will be able to change the way you feel about math. Here is a sample of an affirmation to help you fight math anxiety:

If others can solve math problems, so can I.

I believe my brain has enough power to help me solve math problems.

I am not afraid of math.

Math is not hard, it just needs focus and attention.

I will pass the GED math test because I am well prepared.

Most people who fail in the GED math test did so because their fear and anxiety got the better of them. Don’t make the same mistake. Controlling your fears is half the battle won. Remember that the best antidote to math anxiety is preparation. If you did your best to study for your math GED exams, then all you need to do is believe in yourself.

Related Topics:

Watch our Online GED Math Videos covering all topics you will face during the GED Math test

GED test

Step-by-Step Guide To Taking The GED Test

US citizens who have not finished high school and who want to pursue further education or better employment option can acquire a high school equivalency credential by passing the General Education Development program or GED exams, which are offered in every state in the country. The GED credential is accepted by many companies, colleges, and post-secondary educational institutions as equivalent to a high school diploma.

If you plan to take part in this year’s GED examinations, here are the steps you should follow:

Check out our other Free GED© Practice Tests

Step 1: Check your state requirements.

GED practice tests

Each state has its own requirements and fees for those who want to take the GED exam. However, most states require that applicants be at least 16 years old although there are states that require that the applicant be 18 years old and above and would only allow 16-year-old applicants if they undergo an approval process and acquire an age waiver. States also have different policies with regard to fees and retake policies. Locate a test center nearest you and check the state’s requirements.

Related Topic: 2021 GED Study Guide, GED Classes for GED Exam

Step 2: Prepare for the test.

A solid preparation for the GED test will result in the better chance of passing. Fortunately, there are several resources available for adult learners to study and learn. Check out GED study guides to know what you need to prepare for. There are free GED practice tests and online classes. One of those is the GED Testing Service, which offers free and affordable online tutorials and practice tests. There are also colleges that offer test preparatory classes via their adult education departments.

Related Topic: Why GED Practice Tests – 3 Reasons You Should Take GED Practice Test Now

Step 3: Register online.

GED classes online

To register for the exam, test-takers should visit the official GED website, create their account, and provide the personal information needed. Once they have their account, test-takers can then log in to the website, select the subject tests they want to tackle and choose a testing center.

Related Topic: 3 Common Reasons Why Test-takers Fail GED

Step 4: Take the test.

All four GED test sections would require 7.5 hours to complete, but they are usually taken one at a time. The test is done through a computer. The longest section of the exam would be the language arts test, which takes up to 150 minutes to finish followed by math test, which takes 115 minutes and social studies and science taking 90 minutes each.

Test-takers who are suffering from vision impairment, learning disorders, and handicaps can take advantage of special accommodations, which are available upon request. This special accommodation includes extended test time, braille, stop-the-clock breaks, scribe, and other forms of assistance.

Related Topic: 4 Things You Can Do After Passing the GED

Step 5: Check your score reports.

GED Test

To pass the GED test, examinees must get 145 on each subject. You can get your test score on the same day.

If you fail the test, you only need to retake subjects that you have failed. You can reschedule the test by logging into your MyGED account. The price for retaking the test will automatically be discounted.

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Watch our Online GED Math Videos covering all topics you will face during the GED Math test

GRE

When Is The Best Time To Take The GRE: How To Calculate The Right Test Date

If you’re planning to go to graduate school or take an MBA, one of the primary tasks that you have to do is to take the GRE or the Graduate Record Examination. And if you want to be successful in this endeavor, you should be very prepared. Equip yourself with ample information about the ins and outs of the GRE, and you should do well. What about the right date for taking the GRE? A common dilemma among forthcoming graduate school students is asking “when is the best time to take the GRE?”.

You could say that there are sufficient GRE test dates every year. This definitely is a big plus when it comes to your options. However, you have to consider that it’s not a good idea to just randomly pick any GRE test date without planning. With a bunch of prerogatives, it can be a challenge to know the real answer to the question “When is the best time to take the GRE?”.

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Know The Ins And Outs Of The GRE

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Before you get started in choosing the best GRE test date, be in-the-know. Be aware that the GRE is, for the most part, taken on a computer. Otherwise, if there are no computer-based test centers near your location, then you’ll be required to take such test on paper.

The good news is, you can generally take the GRE on most days of the year because it is a computer-based test. The time duration for taking the test is 3 hours and 45 minutes. If you include the amount of time for the breaks and the filling out of paperwork upon arriving at the test center, the total time that you need to allocate for this academic feat is 4 hours and 30 minutes. Most testing centers offer the GRE twice a day- once in the morning, and another in the afternoon.

Since the validity of your GRE score lasts for 5 years, you can opt to take this admission test a few years before you plan to study in graduate school.

Related Topic: GRE Test: Introduction, Subjects, Requirements, Test Dates, GRE Scores & Benefits

Be Aware Of Your Graduate School Application Deadlines

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Do your research. Taking the GRE at the right time means you have to be informed about when your target schools require to receive your scores. Know the exact deadlines of the schools you are applying to. Then again, it is way better to figure out the earliest deadline of your chosen schools and adjust your GRE test date based on it. Literally, take note of it by writing it gigantically on a piece of paper, encircled and pinned on your wall where you can always see it.

What if you’re not yet sure of which schools are your option? In this case, you can set a deadline for November 15. This date falls as an early deadline for a majority of graduate schools and MBA programs.

Related Topic: GRE Test Scores, Good, Average and Rang of GRE Score

Do The Maths – The Formula For Determining Your GRE Test Date

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From the date of your graduate school application deadline, move backward to determine the best GRE test date for yourself. Technically, you’ll need to prepare for 2 to 3 months in order to obtain decent GRE scores. You thus have to get ready with your test prep 2 to 3 months to take the GRE and catch up with your deadlines.

What about retakes? The rule for GRE retakes is to wait for 21 days to get on with the test again. Most students consider two retakes as enough, so for each retake, you have to add 1 month of preparation. You’ll want to have a liberal amount of leeway to understand your mistakes and be more capable to take the GRE test the next time around.

Make sure that you take the GRE at least three weeks prior to the deadlines of your target schools. You ought to guarantee that you get hold of your scores at the right time.

All things included, you, therefore have you tackle your first GRE take 3 to 4 months earlier than your school deadlines and commence with your test prep 2 to 3 months preceding it.

These are the simple but real answers about when is the best time to take the GRE. Arm yourself with all the necessary information by doing your research and stick to an effective and efficient test prep based on the facts that you have learned.

GED Test

When Is The Best Time To Take the GED Test? Here Are 4 Questions To Guide You

One of the keys to passing the GED test with flying colors is to take it at the right time. When is the best time to take the GED test? The answer is simple: take the test when you’re ready. But when are you ready? The following guidelines can help you:

We have Free GED Social Studies Practice Test HERE

  • Do You Feel Confident About Your Knowledge Of The GED Test Content?

Do you know the coverage of all the GED test subjects and have you prepared for each of the topics? Get a study guide and make a checklist of all the topics you need to study. In addition to knowing the topics, you also have to be familiar with the test structure and the types of questions you might see on the actual test.

Once you’ve covered all the topics and have addressed areas that you find difficult, chances are you are ready to take the test.

Check our Free Online GED Classes: Step-by-Step Prep Program for Adults

  • Do You Get High Scores In Your GED Practice Tests?

When you take GED practice tests, do you get more correct answers than incorrect ones? GED practice tests are crucial in your test prep. They can tell you what your problem areas are so you’d know where to focus your efforts when you study. They help you retain what you reviewed as you apply what you’ve learned. These tests can also predict the likelihood of you passing the test. If you regularly take practice tests and consistently pass them, then it’s a good sign of your GED test readiness.

Otherwise, if you get low scores on certain topics, it’s time to focus on your weak points. You need to work on them.  Numerous and valuable resources are available online for GED practice tests. Be keen on choosing a credible and reliable website to guide you in your test prep.

Related Topic: GED 101: 2021 GED Practice Tests, GED Classes for GED Exam – 1 Stop GED Programs Guide

  • Can You Finish Your GED Practice Tests On Time?

By “on time,” that means you can finish taking your practice test within the time limit for each test subject. Let’s say you’re taking GED practice test for math, can you answer most questions correctly within 90 minutes? That’s because you have 90 minutes to finish the actual GED math test.

Here is the time limit for each GED test subject:

  1. Math: 90 minutes
  2. Reasoning Through Language Arts: 35 minutes
  3. Social Studies: 90 minutes
  4. Science: 90 minutes

When you take GED practice tests, have your timer ready and set them according to the actual GED test subject time limits. You’ll know that you are capable of taking the GED test already if you can stay focused on your test and answer most questions correctly within the time limits.

Related Topic: GED Study Guide

Check our Math Blueprint Video Course covering every possible topic for GED Math. It includes +100 videos, +2000 practice questions and loads of information.
  • Have You Dedicated At Least 6 weeks Of Focused Study Time To GED Test Prep?

Most tests, including SAT and ACT, need at least 6 weeks preparation time. The same goes for the GED test. You need to prepare at least one to two months before taking the test. The best time to prepare for the test is when you don’t have a lot of activities or projects that might interfere with your study time.

Learn more about GED Social Studies Classes Online

Choose The Most Effective Test Prep Method

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There are various test prep methods for the GED test. You can go by the usual route of attending adult classes or you can form a study group or hire a tutor. Otherwise, you can study on your own and at your own schedule with the help of an online study guide. You can look for a tested and proven GED test prep website where you can take practice tests, join online classes and interact with other test takers. Through this learning strategy, you will know what topics would come out in the GED test and you can specifically study for them. This saves you time and effort.

Recent changes in the GED test bode well for test takers. The revisions in the 2014 GED test give better chances for learners to pass it.

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SAT Tests

How To Improve Your SAT Reading Score: 6 Practical Tips And Tricks

It’s quite easier to tackle your study materials for the Writing and Math sections of the SAT. And that’s unlike the Reading topic of the same test. You see, the SAT Reading test is meant to challenge your reading comprehension. The better you can understand the passages in the said test, the higher your score will be. Then again, there are drawbacks because there is a limit to the extent of comprehension that people can handle under time constraints. In this case, you ought to look for ways on how to improve your SAT Reading score.

There are 3 factors that impede learners’ comprehension of a given text in the SAT, and namely, they are: limited time, the passages may be too long, and the topics at hand are dry and boring. The key then on how to improve your SAT Reading score is to implement the most appropriate approach. This means that you should rethink and change the way you deal with the SAT Reading test. Here are some valuable tips pertaining to this.

Start reviewing with our helpful contents: SAT Languages Test

Be An Adept In Linguistic Analysis

SAT practice tests

Every question that you encounter in the SAT Reading test has one correct answer, while the other 3 or 4 answer choices are incorrect. Be very keen because the right answers in the Reading test are as concrete and demonstrable as those in the Math section. There are no gray areas here, which means that the correct answers are lucidly supported by the respective text. Therefore, you have to think legally when choosing an answer wherein every word (in the answer choice) must be correct. It’s like what a detective does where he or she looks for evidence in the passage and treat every answer choice as suspects.

Related Topic: SAT Practice Tests

Evoke A Criterion From Your Mind

This particular tip on how to improve your SAT Reading score needs you to apply the “BOSS method”. Here, you formulate an answer in your mind before reading the answer choices. In the BOSS method, you’ll be forced to understand the correct answer by understanding the question. After formulating an answer conceived in your mind, you’ll be then ready to read the answer choices. Whichever comes close to the touchstone conjured from your wits is thus most likely to be the correct answer. This method takes practice, but with ample test prep, you can be very good at it.

Related Topic: SAT Math Practice Test

Read The Passages In Chunks

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You’ll save more time utilizing the BOSS method if you read the passages in bite sizes. What you should do is to answer the line-cited questions first that refer to certain portions found in the text. Most of the questions in the SAT Reading test refer to particular lines or portions in the passage. Answer these line-cited questions first, which likewise tend to be in order. The broader questions can be skipped or saved for later because you shall have likely read the whole passage by the time you arrive in these items. This method of tackling the Reading test spares you from going back and forth and re-reading the text, which in turn can save you precious time.

Related Topic: SAT Test Dates

Be Wary Of The Time So That You Can Work Efficiently

The SAT Reading test contains 5 passages and 52 questions that you have to accomplish in 65 minutes. You ought to make sure that you’re keeping up with a proper pacing so that you don’t run out of time. Therefore wear a watch, one which is approved by the College Board. Be efficient when answering the questions. You can, for instance, write your answers straight on to the test and take a moment to transfer them to your answer booklet after finishing your tasks for one passage. You then proceed to do the same in the next passage. Doing so prevents you from flipping your test booklet and answer sheet from side to side which can be time-consuming. Start answering the passages that you find easiest and save those that you find difficult for last.

Related Topic: SAT Overview, Registration, SAT Subjects, Test Dates, & Tips To Prepare For High SAT Scores

Counteract The Effects Of Boredom

It’s faster to read books, articles, and letters that you find interesting. But that’s not usually the case in the SAT Reading test. You could anticipate that the passages in the test can be dull or boring, and it can slow you down. How do you overcome this boredom? This matter depends from one person to another, but the following tips may work. Try pretending that the text was written by your favorite actor (or someone you know). Make believe that you really find the text interesting and that it is crucial for you to understand it. Think of an intriguing, tangible or immediate reason to pay attention to the passage, and it has to be more than getting a high score in this section. Revert your thinking to critical reading mode. Focus and be sure that you don’t miss anything. Actively wonder about or question every statement that you come across with.

Check our SAT Reading Practice Tests

Brain Cardio Does The Trick

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And that is to read and read more. It will increase your reading comprehension and writing skills. Review the passages featured in The College Board practice tests. Read about various and pertinent topics during your free time and whenever you can. Expand your attention span and vocabulary by reading materials that you find interesting. More importantly so, read about unfamiliar subjects or authors, and even texts that you haven’t been acquainted with. Accustom yourself to the readings that are typically used by The College Board.

These simple but valuable tips on how to improve your SAT Reading score can come in handy. Incorporate them in your test prep so that you can obtain the best possible results that you want.

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SAT practice tests

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12 ACT Test Frequently Asked Questions

  1. What Is The ACT Test?

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ACT stands for American College Testing. It is recognized nationally as a college entrance examination. High school students take the ACT as part of their college application process. Four subject areas are covered by this exam: English, Mathematics, Reading, and Science. Another aspect of the ACT is the ACT Writing Plus exam, which includes a Writing section. Some colleges require the Writing section for admission. The time duration of the ACT test is 3 hours and 30 minutes (without the Writing section), and 4 hours if the optional Writing test is included.

Start reviewing with our helpful contents: ACT Science Practice Test

  1. Who Makes The ACT?

The creator of the ACT is the ACT.org formerly known as the American College Testing Program. Its headquarters is located in Iowa City, IA. The development of the ACT test is in accordance with the:

  • American Psychological Association, American Educational Research Association, National Council on Measurement in Education & the Standards for Educational and Psychological Testing (1985)
  • Code of Fair Testing Practices in Education, Joint Committee on Testing Practices (1988)
  • Code of Professional Responsibilities in Educational Measurement, National Council on Measurement in Education (1995)

Related Topic: ACT Test Introduction, Registration, Dates & Score

  1. When Can Students Take The ACT?

The ACT test is given nationwide during the same 5 months of a year. These are on the months of February, April, June, October, and December. In some states, the month of September is also included in the scheduled administration of the ACT.

Related Topic: Free ACT Practice Tests for English

  1. When Is The Best Time To Register For The ACT?

No definite time is set to take the ACT. The exam is usually taken by students on the spring semester of their 11th grade. The content of the exam encompasses class materials that are tackled until that time. It is helpful for most students if they have received their ACT scores prior to moving on with their application process. Furthermore, taking the ACT on the 11th grade provides ample time for students to retake it if their earlier score is unsatisfactory.

Related Topic: ACT Registration and Requirements

  1. What Is The ACT Registration Process?

The registration process for the ACT is carried out in three ways. First is online through the Internet which is the most convenient way. You can also ask for paper registration packets from the counselor’s office in your school. Lastly, you can register by phone by calling 319-337-1270 particularly if you have undergone ACT registration in the last two years.

  1. How Much Do I Pay For Taking The ACT?

ACT Test

Without the Writing test, the cost of the ACT is $46.00. If you’re taking it with the optional Writing test, then you’ll have to pay $62.50. If you registered beyond the registration period, you are required to pay an additional $29.50 as late registration fee. It depends on your particular situation wherein other fees may apply.

Related Topic: ACT Practice Test

  1. When Can I View My ACT Scores?

For early viewing, your scores will be available online after about 2 weeks of the exam date. After 4- 7 weeks, paper scores usually arrive at the counselor’s office in your high school. If you have opted to take the Writing test, your score will be mailed after your Writing score has been included in your record.

  1. What If I Get A Low Score In The ACT?

You can choose to have your ACT scores removed from your records. You just need to submit a request letter to have your scores deleted. Include your name and home address in your letter where a form will be sent to you. Return the ACT score deletion form at:

ACT Records

P.O. Box 451

Iowa City, IA 52243-0451

You can retake the ACT for as many times as you wish, but most tutors recommend taking the test up to three times. You can choose to send the score that you want to keep your records to the colleges of your choice.

  1. How Many Times Can I Take (Or Retake) The ACT?

There is no limit to how many times you can take the ACT, but it is not recommended to take it more than three times.  For every time that you take the test, the concerned ACT body keeps a separate record of your particular score. You get to choose which score (from a certain test date) will be sent to your target colleges. At the same time, you can request for more than one score from different test dates to forward to the colleges of your choice.

  1. When Should I Start My ACT Test Prep?

The ACT is an important test for your college admission, that’s why it is recommended that you start preparing for it at the soonest time possible. More preparation brings you better chances to achieve a high score. The summer of your 11>th grade is considered as the best time to get started with your ACT test prep. This is a good time to prepare for the ACT because there are no school activities, projects, homework and other exams that would distract you. At most, your ACT test prep should be carried out no later than the summer before your 12th grade.

Start reviewing with our helpful contents: Free Practice Tests for ACT Math

  1. What Areas Of Math Do I Need To Take Up In School Before I Decide To Take The ACT?

There are 60 math questions included in the ACT Mathematics test and it covers six content areas of the subject, which are pre-algebra along with elementary and intermediate algebra, coordinate and plane geometry as well as trigonometry. It would be best to study these before you take the ACT.

  1. Should I Ask For The Assistance Of An Educational Consultant?

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Depending on your individual talents and needs as a student, an educational consultant will provide you and your family with counsel pertaining to your choices of an educational program. The services offered by an educational consultant vary, and it is based on your decision as a student. However, if your school counselor spends hours counseling you about the admission process, or has undergone workshops and special training, you may not need an educational consultant. The same is true if you have access to information available in a college career center. Other resources that you can approach with regards to the same services are counseling or career departments located in the colleges or universities you are applying to. Ask in advance about how much they charge before getting their services.

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ACT Test

4 Easy And Practical ACT Reading Tips For Slow Readers

The ACT Reading section can go by so fast. Time is of the essence in this test. You’ll come across 40 questions that you have to answer in 35 minutes, which means you have to answer each question in less than a minute. It can be a challenge if you have a problem with your reading speed, so you have to know some practical ACT Reading tips for slow readers.

Be aware of the necessary skills for reading the passages in the ACT Reading test and answering the questions before the clock runs out.

Check our Practice Tests 3 for ACT English 

1. Learn how to analyze.

ACT practice tests

This is the first skill that you have to know in order to cope with the Reading section of the ACT. It doesn’t have anything to do with the speed of your reading, but with pacing. Analyze the questions being asked after the passages.

One of the most effective ACT tips for slow readers is to take a look at the question, try and figure out the answer and proceed on to reading the explanation. Do the same process for every question in the test. Go over the easy and simple questions first. Most students would want to speed up with this process, but you have to analyze each of the questions until you become familiar with them.

Related Topic: ACT Test Introduction, Registration, Dates & Score

2. Get to know the skill of timing.

This is when you become focused on being time-oriented. You’ll be required to read four passages in the Reading section of the ACT test and you need to answer 40 questions in 35 minutes. That gives you less than a minute to respond to every question.

What you should do in this case is to give yourself 8 minutes to read and answer the questions for each of the passages. Make it 4 and 4 to be sure. This means that you need to read a passage for 4 minutes and spend the other 4 minutes answering the questions. You should have consumed 32 minutes by then, which gives you an extra few minutes to go back and work on the questions that you found difficult.

We have Free Practice Tests 3 for ACT Math

3. Speed read and skim, don’t over-read the passages.

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Your skill for speed reading is called for in this step. Four minutes of your time needs to be allocated for skimming. Fast reading is required here because other than familiarizing yourself with the concepts in the passage, you have to answer each question as well.

A lot of reading is necessary because you should be looking at the question and then go back to the passage where you can find the answer. But since the first tip (analyze) has already taught you to become familiar with the questions, you can quickly go over them and speedily look for the answers in the passage.

Focus your time on reading the first paragraph because it tends to contain a lot of information. Then go down to the conclusion or the bottom paragraph. It is just as crucial. After doing these, move back to reading the body paragraphs. You’re actually skimming when you’re doing this. Note that you’ll be able to derive much useful information if you concentrate on reading the first sentence and the last sentence of each paragraph.

Related Topic: ACT Practice Test

4. Do away with the boredom by making your reading fun.

Boredom can make you easily forget what you have just read. That’s why you should find a way to make your reading fun and interesting. It’ll be easy to comprehend if you do so. Make a mental game out of the reading task that you’re doing.

You can, for instance, pretend that you’re a seven-year-old kid playing with your friends, and you’re digging for treasure in your yard. And that your pirate’s chest that’s full of gold is the bunch of information that you need to fill in the right bubbles in your answer sheet. Working up your imagination can make reading fun.
These ACT Reading tips for slow readers are only as good as you expect them to be if you have already practiced your skills by doing ACT Reading practice tests. Take advantage of these materials and include them in your study plan so that you can get rid of test anxiety and tackle the ACT Reading section like a pro!

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ACT Reading

SAT Test

SAT French Subject Test? Here’s What You Should Know

You might be wondering at this point if you’re going to take the SAT French subject test. If you decide to do so, note that it is a great way for you to highlight your proficiency in written French and at the same time demonstrate your inclination to the French language. If you obtain a good score in this subject test, you could be able to complete basic language competency requirements and be exempted from introductory French courses in college.

You will be given 60 minutes to answer 85 multiple-choice questions in the SAT French subject test. Your score could range from 200 to 800 points in this section. How do you get ready for this particular test?

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How To Get Ready For The SAT French Subject Test

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Skills needed for taking the SAT French subject test include the knowledge of French words and how they represent the different parts of speech of the language. You need to be familiar with some basic idioms as well and how they are used in corresponding cultural settings. You should be able to make proper word and expression choices and use them in grammatically-correct sentences.

In one part of the French test, you’ll come across structure and vocabulary questions that are infused in lengthy paragraphs. Your SAT French test prep should also include honing your skills in understanding main topics and supporting ideas and the setting and themes of passages. Selections that you will encounter in the test are derived from historical works, essay, fiction, magazine and newspaper articles along with everyday resources such as tickets, advertisements, forms, and timetables. You can check out our Kaplan SAT Prep Review here.

Related Topic: SAT Test Dates

What Is The Recommended Preparation Time For The SAT French Subject Test?

You should have 3 to 4 years of French language study in high school or its equivalent or at least two years of keen study of the language. Your competence in the French language should have gradually developed over the years. As part of your preparation, you can likewise consult your guidance counselor so you can purchase a practice CD from the College Board. You’ll be using it so that you can study sample listening questions.

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Topics That Are Covered In The SAT French Subject Test

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Vocabulary makes up 30% of the test; the structure comprises 30% to 40%, while reading comprehension encompasses 30% to 40% of the test.

You might be wondering when the right time is to take the French test. You need to consider a few factors. At least two years of robust preparation in the French language is required, but the longer, the better. You can also take the test by the end of the most advanced French language class that you intend to take. While doing such, be sure to balance your placement and admission requirements for college. You could fall short of your anticipated score if you take the French test after skipping a French class for a period of several months.

Are you a senior who’s studying French? If you are strong in the language, you can take the French test just in time for your target colleges to perceive your score. If you are taking the test for placement purposes and not for application intentions, wait to take the test until you have gone further in your course. If you plan to take the French with Listening test, be aware that it is administered only in November. If this is part of your test-taking agenda, be sure to bring a portable CD player and earphones with you.

Related Topic:  SAT Registration

How Is The French Test Different From The French With Listening Test?

In the French test, you’ll merely be dealing with reading. You’ll mainly be reading in the French language and answer subsequent multiple-choice questions. Whereas in the French Listening test, you’ll be listening to a test rendered in the French language and answer multiple-choice questions. As mentioned earlier, the French Listening test is given in November only. Although students have reported that they experience more anxiety when faced with the listening portion, they are still able to do well on the test. Another benefit of taking the French with a Listening test is that it better signifies the language ability of the students and may be more effective for placement endeavors.

You need not fret or be anxious about taking the SAT French subject test. Aside from the fact that you’ve taken the course in high school, you can augment your SAT test prep program with an efficient online SAT study guide that will give you more opportunities to hone your skills through practice tests and equip you with valuable SAT test-taking tips and tricks.

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ACT test

How To Use Your ACT Profile

The ACT.org is well-aware of dilemmas such as these, that’s why they have launched the ACT Profile, which is a free online college and career planning tool. This tool responds to your needs when it comes to your question “What do I do?” in terms of planning for your college education and career later on.

The ACT test will open new doors for you. You may have studied for months to take this test, aiming to get a high score so that you can enroll in the college or university of your choice. After the ACT testing, you can find yourself at a crossroads, starting from where you would pursue higher education to choosing your major and applying for a scholarship.

We have Practice Test that you can use: Practice Tests for ACT Math 

How Does The ACT Profile Work?

ACT Test

The ACT Profile is a mobile resource that takes note of your interests, values, and abilities and matches them to your prospective majors and occupations. The most credible government and private resources are used by the ACT Profile as they provide high-quality information to guide you in your major or occupation choices.

Through the ACT profile app, students can interact with their peers and teachers.  These parties are also able to plan for activities and share resources in an effort to work together to pursue the best education and career options for the future.

Related Topic: ACT Test Introduction, Registration, Dates & Score

The Benefits Of Signing Up For An ACT Profile

In a nutshell, the ACT Profile will help you:

  • Explore your options after high school.
  • Discover your interests and majors that complement your interests, values, and abilities.
  • Discover schools that fit your budget and educational needs.

When you sign up for an account in ACT Profile, it will be yours for life. You can upload photos and videos that highlight your strengths in your account. To make your profile more attractive and viable, you can also build a digital portfolio and feature it there. You can use another app, Pathbrite, to make your ACT Profile look more interesting. Being web-based, Pathbrite can assist you in sharing your portfolio and credentials to the colleges of your choice and your possible employers.

Other than students, parents, and counselors are also free to register and create an account in ACT Profile. To be able to do this, go to actprofile.org and sign up using a computer, a tablet or a smartphone. You then proceed with creating your profile where you are required to respond to self-assessments that will emphasize your unique values, interests, and abilities. As you enter details about yourself, you can get support by accessing interactive major and career maps.

In the ACT Profile, you will be asked to enter your responses to the app’s interest inventory feature. The career section of this tool includes 26 sections, all featured in the Career Map. As you click on a particular career area, you will be presented with a list of careers. Click on a certain career and it will bring you substantial information about the tasks and the training involved, along with the salaries, etc.

You can highlight some majors, schools, careers, and occupations as your “favorites” in your ACT Profile. You can revisit these areas of interest later. When you return, you can check if your areas of interest match your educational plan. Through the ACT Profile tool, you can explore various workable options and save your “favorites” while at the same time share them with fellow students, school admission officers, counselors, and parents, among others who also have an ACT Profile.

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Valuable Features In ACT Profile For Immediate Guidance

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A recent feature that has been added to ACT Profile is the “expanded counselor”. This feature is designed to help counselors use their ACT Profiles to reach out to their students. Counselors can view their students’ insights and selections so they can better help them with their college and career plans.

A host of benefits are offered by the ACT Profile to students, counselors, schools and colleges, parents, school admission officials and employers as they become proficient in using this app. With proper information, guidance and preparation, students can become more motivated to plan for their education and future.

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GED Science Test

6 Quick Tips To Prepare For The GED Science Test

Passing the GED exams can open opportunities for a person who has not completed his high school education. A GED credential, after all, is accepted by most companies in lieu of a high school diploma. And if a GED passer chooses to continue his education in college, his GED credentials are also accepted by most colleges, universities, and institutions in the country. To get his GED credential, however, one of the subjects a GED test-taker has to pass is the GED Science test. The test covers physical science, life science and earth and space science. A person would need a score of 145 in his science test to pass the GED test.

The following tips should help you study for your GED science test effectively:

1. Choose The Right Study Setting

GED study guide

The place where you study for the test could mean the difference between passing and failing. Look for a place that is free from distractions like a library or a study center. You can study in your room as long as you tell your housemates not to distract you during your study schedule. Turn off the electronics and put them as far from you as possible because they can distract you from your tasks – smartphone, TV, radio, laptop, and other gadgets. You can use an MP3 player to play songs if that can help you study better. Also, make sure that the place you are studying in is clean and organized to help you calm down and focus.

Related Topic: GED 101: 2021 GED Study Guide, GED Classes for GED Exam – 1 Stop GED Programs Guide

2. Make A Study Schedule

Set a study schedule and stick to it. The brain learns faster if you feed it with information at the same time every day. Make sure to tell everyone not to bother you during your study time. Schedule your study at the same hour as your test will be. For example, if your test is at 7 am to 2 pm, schedule your study time at the same hours so that you condition your brain to be active during those hours during the exam.

Don’t forget to take breaks, too. Studying without taking breaks can cause a brain burn out and all you have studied that day will be wasted because you would forget them. A good rule is to take 15-minute breaks for every 1 hour of studying.

Related Topic: Free GED Practice Tests

3. Learn Rather Than Memorize

Science is a branch of knowledge that is anchored in facts and concepts, but memorizing these would not be enough. Memorization is not learning. When you memorize the water cycle without understanding the underlying reasons for its existence, for example, you are simply storing a series of words in your brain. The bad thing is that what you have memorized is often stored in the short-term memory of your brain. That means it is easy to forget it what you have memorized.

On the other hand, if you understand why the water becomes vapor (because of sun’s heat) and rises up (because warm gases are lighter than cold gases) and becomes a part of the cloud through condensation (because the cold temperature up there turns the water vapor into liquid water and ice crystals) and finally becomes rain (because they get too heavy), it would make it easy for you to remember. Understand instead of memorizing. A visual way of learning that is available through GED online lessons will help you get a better understanding of concepts.

Visit our website: GED® Science Study Guide

4. Think Like A Scientist

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Scientists are curious people. They try to find the hidden reasons for the natural goings on in the observable universe. If you want to be successful in your science test, you should incorporate the traits of scientists. Try digging up the cause of information you encounter. For example, if you just found out that Mars is called the red planet, try to find out the reason for its reddish tint. Go on try it, you would be surprised. A natural curiosity for the subject will again help you understand science concepts more easily.

TRY  Our GED Science Practice Questions | GED Study Guide

5. Try Out The Formulas

When studying for science tests, you cannot avoid meeting formulas. Most people try to memorize them, but memorizing is not enough. The best way to retain even the most intimidating formulas in physics is by trying to solve them. Not only will you understand the formula better, you have also familiarized yourself with it so it is easier to recall. Take GED practice tests that check your science knowledge and skills.

Our GED®Science Practice test will help you pass faster Check HERE

6. Remember Interesting Information About Things

Humans remember specific information best if it is attached to interesting facts. Using this in your study strategy is a good idea, especially if you do have to memorize some information. Like for instance if you want to memorize the planets in the solar system, you may google interesting facts about each planet. You may be amazed to learn that Jupiter has a hurricane on its surface that’s been going on for thousands of years or that a day on Venus is equal to a year on Earth. How about that Jupiter and other big planets are made almost entirely of gas and almost no solid core? Let us not forget that the former planet Pluto has a huge heart-shaped landmass facing the earth. Now that should make you remember the planets easier.

Don’t get intimidated by the GED Science test. Science may seem difficult to study, but with the right tools and strategy, you can conquer it.

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Watch our Online GED Math Videos covering all topics you will face during the GED Math test

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12 Last-Minute GED Tips Of An Unstoppable Test Prep Warrior

  • You may be feeling anxious as the day of taking your GED test approaches. A little anxiety is not bad–it will keep you on your toes. But all in all, you should be feeling calm, composed and ready for the big day. After all, taking the GED test is an extraordinary feat. Passing it will open new doors of opportunities for you. So what will make your GED test day as superb as it can be?

Consider the following last-minute GED tips.

What To Do One Week Before Taking The GED

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  • Continue with your studying. If your test prep had been well-maintained, you should feel that you know all the information at this point. Carry on with your study habits, even for just 30 minutes a day. Take practice tests or run through some flashcards. Note that you need to keep your brain active so that you’ll be ready for your GED test.
  • Focus on the subjects that you’re struggling in. There may be subjects in the GED test that you don’t particularly like. Thus, you may find it hard to keep up with them. Pay special attention to these topics. The point is for you to feel comfortable with these certain areas in the GED.
  • Get enough sleep. Numerous write-ups about the GED say that learners have to get enough sleep only on the evening of their test. The fact, however, is that it doesn’t work. One cannot easily cram extra hours of sleep in a single night. What is more beneficial is to get enough and well-rested sleep for a few consecutive nights before the day of your test.

Check our GED Reasoning Through Language Arts Guide

What To Do On The Night Before Your GED Test

  • Be calm and relaxed. Keep still so to speak, and steer clear of cramming during this time. According to research, learners can absorb information better by studying consistently, and not by cramming at the last hour. Don’t stress yourself by over studying, but instead focus on doing activities that’ll divert your attention from your test. Try going on a walk, hanging out with a friend or go watch a movie.
  • Pack your bag with the things that you’ll need on your test day. Pack up on the night before your test. Load your backpack with your valid, government-issued photo ID, your optional TI-30XS hand-held calculator, and your snacks. Everything that you need for your test day should be taken care of at this time. Your focus should be solely on your GED test on the next morning. Try to sleep a little bit earlier than you usually do.

Related Topic: GED Study Guide

What To Do On The Day Of Taking Your GED

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  • Eat a nutritious breakfast. Consume your breakfast within 30 minutes after waking up. It will boost your brain as well as your metabolism. Your morning meal actually sets your brain up, signifying that it is time to do some thinking.
  • Bring with you all the things that you need and leave those that are unnecessary behind. Part of the services offered by the GED body is providing test-takers with erasable note boards. You can bring your own calculator, the approved type which is the TI-30XS hand-held calculator. Gadgets and other what-nots that are not allowed in the GED testing room are wallets, cellphones, backpacks, handbags, and keys. You can keep these items in the storage facility of your testing center.
  • Arrive a bit early in your testing center. That’s at least 15 minutes before your test time. You’ll need time for checking in and acquainting yourself to your surroundings. Remember that if you arrive 15 minutes late, you might forfeit your privilege to take your test and lose your testing fee.

Related Topic: Online GED Classes

What To Do While Actually Taking Your GED Test

  • Go through the answer choices first. Your analytical skills will be challenged by the GED test. You must learn how to think critically and select the most appropriate answer choice. Reading the answers first will make it easier to respond to the question because you already have an idea of what it is looking for.
  • Take time to re-read difficult sections. Preferably read them out loud because it will help you tone down on your pacing and allow you to concentrate on every word. You’ll have a deeper understanding of the test content by rereading. As a result, you can comprehend and analyze pertinent information that’ll enable you to answer your test.
  • Be calm and composed mentally and physically pacing yourself. Keep in mind the time limit for every test subject:

Mathematical Reasoning (115 minutes with short breaks between parts)

Reasoning Through Language Arts (150 minutes with 10-minute break between parts 2 and 3, and 45 minutes for the essay test)

Social Studies (70 minutes without breaks)

Science (90 minutes without break)

Be aware of the time that you can allocate for every item in the test. Your pacing should be steady as you move on from one question to the other. Come break time, you can get up and drink some water. Walk around a bit because you’ve been sitting down for an extended time, and this tends to make your brain sleepy. The last thing you would want to happen is for you to feel tired in the middle of your test.

  • Be positive and confident. On the day of your GED test, you’ll obtain the final payoff for all your days and weeks of test prep. Take confidence in the thought that you have prepared well, so focus on the test and know that whatever the outcome, you can always retake the GED test.

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 GED practice test

gre practice test

Should You Take The SAT Essay? Know Its Benefits And Drawbacks

You might be wondering, or are even worried if you should take the SAT essay. After all, it makes the SAT one test longer if you decide to do so. However, there are pros, and there are cons if you choose to take the Essay portion of the SAT.

It was in the 2016 revision of the SAT when the College Board decided to make the Essay test optional. As a test-taker, you could be lost in the prerogative of whether you should undergo it. You may be mulling over if it will make your application in your target colleges stronger. Read on, so you can obtain more ideas pertaining to this matter.

Since its inception, the SAT has always required the Essay test. But when it was overhauled in 2016, the creating body of the SAT- the College Board- has imposed that the Essay test is to become optional from then on-  just like the ACT, another college admission exam wherein the Essay test has always been optional.

What Is The SAT Essay Test?

GRE

The time limit for taking the SAT Essay is 50 minutes. In the test, a passage is given wherein the author takes his/her stance on a particular issue. Your task is to analyze the way that the author has built their argument.

On the overall, the total score for the SAT is 1600. If you choose to take the Essay test, it will be its own section wherein you will be scored from a range of 2 to 8 points.

Your most important consideration on whether you should take the SAT Essay or not is if the schools you plan to gain admission to require it or not. You can get hold of this important information by searching online on Google. Type in the name of the school, along with the keywords “SAT Essay requirement”. You can typically gather this piece of information in the admission webpage of your target school. If any or all of your target schools require a SAT Essay score, then you should take it. Remember that you cannot take the SAT Essay test on its own. If you want to obtain a score for it the next time, you have to retake the whole SAT.

So, should you take the SAT Essay? Look over its benefits and drawbacks to guide you in your decision.

Related Topic: GRE Test Scores, Good, Average and Range of GRE Score

The Benefits Of Getting A SAT Essay Score

  • You are able to meet the requirements of your chosen colleges.

gre test prep

It won’t be a problem for you to meet the requirements of the schools you want to attend if you have a SAT Essay score. Basically, whatever the case may be, you’re covered for all the schools you want to study in. If your chosen school doesn’t require it, you don’t have to worry about it. Especially if you have a number of schools in your list, you’re better safe than sorry if some of them need you to have an Essay score. So, just in case, you should take the SAT Essay test.

Related Topic: GRE Practice Tests

  • Getting a good score can boost your application.

free gre practice test

Although a score in the Essay section of the SAT is not a deciding factor in your college application, it can give you a slight edge in the competition. It will highlight your English and writing skills that can have competitive schools consider your application in their institution.

The Drawbacks of Getting A SAT Essay Score

  • It’s an additional section to study for.

gre tests

Taking the Essay test of the SAT means you’ll have an extra subject and section to study for. It thus means more hard work, particularly of you have tons of study materials to mentally ingest for your SAT test prep already. If you have qualms about staying motivated in your test prep, additional strain in studying for the Essay test could affect your scores in the other sections. You can see our Best SAT Prep Courses here.

  • Your exam will be longer.

gre test dates 2019

The total time of taking your SAT will be longer if it includes the Essay test. You’ll have to spend more time in your testing center for 50 more minutes, notwithstanding the time that you’ll need to get things settled. Instead of merely 3 hours, you’ll, therefore, need to stay in your seat for 4 hours if you plan to take the SAT Essay. This may challenge your focus and stamina, rendering you unable to concentrate and achieve your best score.

Related Topic: GRE Test: Introduction, Subjects, Requirements, Test Dates, GRE Scores & Benefits

  • It is added expense.

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Apparently, you’ll have to pay an extra testing fee if you intend to take the Essay test section of the SAT. Without the Essay test, the SAT testing fee totals  $46, but if you choose to take the Essay test, that’ll cost you another $14, which means you’ll be paying $60 on the overall. Then again, you can be spared from paying the SAT Essay testing fee if you find yourself eligible for a SAT fee waiver.

These are the pros and cons of taking the SAT Essay test. The best way for you to answer the question “should you take the SAT Essay” is to research and determine whether the colleges you want to gain admission to require a SAT Essay score. See to it that you obtain accurate and up-to-date information to avoid blunders that might otherwise cost you precious time and money.

GRE

A Non-Math Genius’ Guide About How To Get A High GRE Math Score

You might be looking for tips about how to get a high GRE Math score. Obtaining such tips is crucial, but you have to consider those that are effective and proven. You’ll need to get hold of the right tips about how to get a high GRE Math score so that you can finally set foot to study in the Graduate School of your dreams.

The following tips about how to get a high GRE Math score are best applied on the GRE practice tests that you’ll be taking in your test prep. You can get hold of credible and up-to-date GRE practice tests from reliable online GRE study guides, including the Powerpreps software from the ETS website or augment it with a trusty test prep resource like TestPrep Toolkit. Here below are the aforementioned tips:

1. Don’t rush when reading the Math word problems.

gre test prep

Just one or a couple of words can make the difference in rendering a correct or wrong answer in a test item. The key when it comes to Math word problems in the GRE is to better understand the principles that belie a question. You, therefore, shouldn’t rush when dealing with the English to Math concepts in the GRE Math test.

Related Topic: GRE Test Scores, Good, Average and Range of GRE Score

2. Be judicious when using the calculator.

gre exam dates

If you can, avoid using the calculator when tackling questions in the GRE Quant section. The fact is that you can actually answer most of the questions in a maximum of 3 minutes sans the use of a calculator. Simple calculations tend to be required in solving many Math test items, and doing so can save you a lot of time.

3. Spend only a maximum of 2 minutes in answering each of the questions.

gre practice test

The time limit for completing the GRE Quantitative Reasoning or Math section is 35 minutes. Twenty questions comprise the whole test. You can accomplish most of the items in a matter of 1 or 2 minutes. Don’t dawdle in a particular question. If it is tricky, guess accordingly and move on to the next number.

4. Consider all of the pertinent information indicated in the Math Comp items.

gre exam syllabus

What are the variables, phrases and key numbers mentioned in a Quant Comp question? Note them in a scratch pad. Refrain from merely scanning the screen and solving the question from then. Be mindful that Quant Comp items are not like Problem Solving questions and they likely do not require any Math to tackle at all. Be strategic in handling questions in this section and reckon why you are given such centered data.

Related Topic: GRE Practice Tests

5. Apply the process of backsolving if the answer choices contain numbers.

gre registration

This is specifically useful if you’re dealing with Problem Solving questions. As you take note of each of the answer choices, plug every one of them in the question. Letters B and D ought to be your starting points. Your first bout of calculations is inclined to be 40% correct, so take the chance.

6. Choose numbers whenever you can.

gre test dates 2018

Substitute vague variables such as “z” with small numbers such as “2” or “5” when solving relevant problems.

7. Use a methodical approach.

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That is, adhere to the methods that you have constantly applied. Questions found in the GRE Quant vary in difficulty. Be wary of the strategies and methods that you have learned and implement them when dealing with tough questions. Perceive difficult items from all angles, and decipher whether you need to apply a traditional Math method or use a more specific approach.

8. Take note of the answer choices early on, especially in the Quant Comps items.

gre tests

The answer choices are constant- they don’t change. Don’t waste your time in re-reading these choices, but instead, take confidence in their phrasing. Every minute counts.

9. Meticulously analyze graphs and tables.

free gre practice test

Be careful when handling Data Interpretation items. Don’t hurry to get on with the problems. Beforehand, thoroughly read the labels, units, titles, and the general trends. In what way are the variables interrelated? As you move on with the presented information, figure out the general conclusions that you can draw. Obtaining a complete understanding of the data can easily lead you to the correct answers.

Related Topic: GRE Test: Introduction, Subjects, Requirements, Test Dates, GRE Scores & Benefits

10. Deconstruct complex figures and tackle them as smaller forms.

gre sample test

In tougher Geometry questions, you’ll typically find hidden circles in squares or triangles along with quadrilaterals. What information can you apply when working out one segment of shape to the other? Solve these items by re-drawing and labelling the figures in a scratch pad.

You may not be a Math genius, but these tips about how to get a high GRE Math score can come in truly handy in boosting your confidence and acing your exam.

GED Test

84-Year-Old Woman’s Life Is Now Complete With Her GED Diploma

“Never give up on your dream”. These are the resolute words of wisdom of Joan Butler Kayser, one of the rare senior citizens in Danbury, Connecticut who has earned her GED diploma. Joan is 84 years old.

Joan had to stop going to high school three months before her graduation. She had to work to support her family’s finances. Her parents brought her into this world and raised her, so she deemed it proper to do so. However, Joan promised her mother that one day, she’s going to earn her degree.

It took time until that came to pass, especially because Joan eventually got married, had five kids and then had 3 grandchildren and soon another 3 great-grandchildren. Seeing graduations, such as that of her grandchildren has made Joan feel that she was missing something. Until the time came when Joan decided to work on a secret project, with her family thinking that it was a mere photo collage or puzzle.

Learn more about 2021 GED Practice Tests, GED Classes for GED Exam

It thus came as an astonishing surprise when 84-year-old Joan announced that she has passed her GED with a 70% or higher rating for all the four subjects. Joan’s daughter, Katheryn Cumming was overjoyed, saying that Joan’s achievement has made her life complete.

Kayser never divulged the fact that she was working on her degree. The only person who knew about it was Carol Thibodeau, her home aid. Carol is a retired teacher who tirelessly researched on how Joan, who happens to have a hearing, visual and mobility difficulties could cope with her test prep and earn her GED diploma. From the months of May until December, Carol administered Joan’s tests on the 4 GED subjects in the latter’s home.

“I haven’t been in a classroom for several decades”, Joan declared. “I doubted that I can pass the tests”, she added. But she was able to surpass the first three tests and made it through the Social Studies test which she considered as her “worst nightmare”.

Check our GED Study Guide

In December, the great news came when Carol handed a wrapped package to Joan. “I thought it was Carol’s picture with her kids and her dog”, she blurted. But Joan cried when she opened it and saw that it was her GED certificate. “Oh my God. I did it”, she exclaimed with tears of joy in her eyes.

Joan couldn’t believe it was happening. Her daughter Katheryn pronounced that her mother had to wait to finally hold her GED diploma in her hand to make sure of her accomplishment. When Joan’s family knew, they were stunned and beaming with pride at the same time. Everyone fell into tears.

The state of Connecticut does not specifically track the ages of residents who acquire their GED diplomas. But according to statistics, it’s quite rare for senior citizens to aim for this feat. According to the state’s Department of Education, 1,040 people aged 60 and above enrolled in GED, ESL, citizenship, national external diploma, and adult high school credit diploma programs in 2018. The largest age group of this population was those between 25 to 44 years old.

Visit our website: GED Social Studies Prep Guide

“We’re so proud of Joan and her achievement. She is indeed a role model and an inspiration to others”, Carol Thibodeau said. Of all the 5 siblings, Joan is the sole to have earned a high school diploma. It has made her feel guilty that she hasn’t kept her promise to her mother that she would graduate.

“I wish my mother were here and saw my GED diploma. She has been my inspiration since I was a young girl”, Joan declared.

Always having instilled the value of education to her children, Joan resolved to not let them think that she was a loser.

“I now feel that I have a very good life, and it’s so overwhelming. My family is fantastic, and I had been given every single dream that I wanted and I am very grateful”, Joan gladly uttered.

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ACT Reviewers

How ACT Reviewers And Guides Help You Boost Your ACT Score

Students who decide to take the ACT test often ask about how to study for the test. While it’s tempting to just head to the library and get every high school science books you can find, that just won’t work.

The most effective ways to study for the test are written in ACT test study guides and reviewers. ACT study guides tell you about the coverage of the test and the ways to go about it. Reviewers and practice tests will give you an idea about the structure of the test and the types of question to expect.

Using ACT study guides and practice tests will bring you closer to having a great ACT score.

How ACT Study Guides Will Help You Ace Each Subject

ACT test

English: ACT reviewers and guides will help ACT test-takers review English components included in the ACT test. The English section contains technical writing skills (punctuation and usage) and concepts of style and organization. This section in the ACT test is an overall evaluation of student’s expertise in the English language.

Mathematics: An ACT test study guide will give students the topics they need to study for the math section. The subject requires students to combine knowledge and skills from all of their years of learning math. Many of the items comprise high school level Math ability, but students will also be asked to recall much easier Math procedures as well as modeling in order to find the correct answer.

Reading: An ACT test guide will help you understand the way this section is organized and the format of the test questions. The ACT Reading test requires more than just knowing the words and acquiring basic meaning from text. Students will be asked recall questions, but they will also need to use analysis and reasoning to produce conclusions beyond the text. Check out our post here for some very helpful ACT reading tips.

Science: ACT test study guide and a reviewer will guide students how should they think about ACT Science and what high-level strategies they can use to answer questions in this section.Students will encounter scientific information as well as data in the ACT Science section, which they can refer to as they answer test questions. Although background information on the topic may help, your ability to reason and analyze is more important.

Writing: The ACT Writing section is optional, but a large number of students choose to take the test to meet college application requirements. ACT test guides and reviewers will help you find out exactly what ACT test scorers will be looking for when they evaluate your performance on this section. These will also inform you about what to expect in this section.

Related Topic: ACT Test Introduction, Registration, Dates & Score

Why You Need An ACT Test Study Guide

ACT test prep

An ACT test study guide can help you in many ways:

  1. Know what you need to study, instead of randomly picking topics to review for the test.
  2. Save time by studying only the topics included in the test.
  3. Gain confidence by becoming familiar with the test structure and the types of questions found in the test.
  4. Increase your chances of passing using effective study strategies.

But with so many ACT test study guides out there, you should look for in a good ACT test study guide. The ideal ACT test study guide will:

  • Provide you with a clear overview of the ACT test, explaining what you will encounter on the test day.
  • Explain how to use the logistics of the ACT test (scheduling, timing, and format) to your advantage.
  • Introduce you to the content of the ACT test before giving you a thorough overview of the different areas the test may ask about.
  • Teach students strategies they can use for each section and on the test as a whole to get the highest possible score.

Related Topic: ACT Test: Should You Aim For A High Score?

ACT Study Guides Can Boost ACT Score

ACT test study guide

Because the ACT score is important for getting into college or university in the US and students are expected to spend a lot of time getting ready for the test, students should get the right advice. If students follow the wrong advice, it might be too late for them to improve their score. It’s important for students to get the best ACT test study guide before deciding on their ACT test prep plan. See also our ACT Practice Test here.

Most other ACT test study guides just list a few pointers without much reasoning about what makes them worth buying. A good ACT test study guide will provide you everything you need to know about the ACT test and help you address your weak areas.

Related Topic: ACT Scores

Who Are ACT Test Guides For?

ACT Test Guides

ACT test study guides are for test-takers who are serious about their ACT test prep. They must be motivated to get a high ACT score and they need to be willing to put in hard work. Getting through these ACT test study guides and reviewers will take dozens of hours because the test itself covers a lot of materials.

Reading ACT test guides and reviewers is the first and easiest step of ACT test prep. Students will need to put in serious work to get the score improvements they want.

ACT test guide and reviewers are also for students who want to improve their ACT test scores by more than 2 points. To make consistent improvements at this level, students need more than just tricks. It is important for students to practice standard English usage, understand math concepts, learn how to interpret scientific data, and answer questions more efficiently.

Related Topics:

5 Reasons You Should Not Be Scared Of Taking The ACT Test

7 Items You Shouldn’t Bring During the ACT Test Day

3 Things You Need To Do On Actual ACT Test Date

3 Reasons Students Fail Their ACT Test And How To Resolve Them

How To Apply For The ACT Test

How Hard Is The ACT Test?

Watch our Online GED Math Videos covering all topics you will face during the GED Math test
Stay-motivated

How To Stay Motivated Studying For The GED

Everyone can get motivated and pumped up about the GED, but staying motivated is hard.
One day you’re all like, I can do this. Look at me, I’m whizzing through practice tests.

More review materials HERE

The GED ain’t got nothing on me.

Then the very next day, you’re all like, ↓ ↓ ↓ ↓ ↓ ↓

I don’t know about this. This GED stuff is hard. I don’t like it.
That’s it, I’m out. Who needs a GED anyway?!

Staying motivated while studying for the GED can be difficult even under ideal situations– even when you have all the time in your hands, all the possible resources, and a quiet place to study. How difficult can it get when you’re working crazy hours, your car is in the shop for repairs, and your life is in general chaos?

Here are some tips to help you stay motivated for the GED, whether you are hoping to go to college or just get a better job. These tips can help you go far inside and outside of the classroom.

Related Topic:  GED 101: 2021 GED Practice Tests, GED Classes for GED Exam – 1 Stop GED Programs Guide

Five tips on how to stay motivated studying for the GED.

1. Set SMART goals and write them down.

The author, entrepreneur and business consultant, Michael Hyatt, suggests that people set SMART Goals.
What makes these goals SMART is that they are: Specific, Measurable, Actionable, Realistic and Time-bound. Michael also suggests that people write down their goals. There are a certain power and intention in writing your goals down. Writing your goals down is the first step in bringing your goals from the imaginary world into the physical world.

Get more goal setting tips from Michael Hyatt here

2. Make a list of reasons you want to accomplish your goal (GET YOUR GED)

Life is crazy and busy, and if you are anything like me you get distracted easily…very easily. It’s easy to lose track of your goals, get blown off course and spend your nights watching an entire season of Orange is the New Black instead of studying.

This is the reason you need to write down all the reasons you want to get your GED, to remind yourself of how important it is. Maybe you want to get a better job and do something you take pride in, or you dropped out of school when you had kids and you want to show to your children the importance of education, or you want to be the first in your family to go to college. Whatever reasons you have, they are important. Write them down in a list by hand and read it often, maybe even make it a daily routine.

Related Topic: Online GED Classes

3. Find Support and Get Help

Even if you think you can get your GED alone, it will be much easier with the support and help of others. Reach out to family and friends. Find a library, adult learning center or community college near you with classes. Try to find a study buddy.

Sometimes, people around you will talk you down. When this happens, the best course of action is to simply ignore them. They are not in control of your life.

If you want to get support, tell the people in your life you know will support you. Tell them why you’re taking the GED. And things get a tough turn to them for support.

If you are looking for some extra support join our Facebook Group HERE.

Related Topic: GED Study Guide

4. Track and Recognize Your Progress

Break down whatever you are studying into smaller parts and stages. To make tracking easier, split huge topics into smaller tasks and mark milestones.

Although tracking your progress is important to stay motivated, you also need to recognize your progress. Tracking and recognizing your progress are different. Tracking is simply taking a note of how far you have come. Recognizing your progress means taking a step back, realizing where you are in your studying, and how much more you have left. Recognizing your progress makes you feel good and want to continue studying. It helps you to keep the ball rolling and gain momentum in your studying.

Related Topic: Free GED Practice Test

5. Reward Yourself

This is a tip that I’m sure all of you can get behind. Rewarding yourself is by far one of the easiest and most effective ways to stay motivated. Once in a while, it’s okay to bribe yourself.


Not feeling much like studying.
Before you study, agree on something to reward yourself with after you study for a certain amount of time.
Then after studying, allow yourself to enjoy the rewards by doing something that you like or buying yourself a small treat.

Visit our website: GED®Science Practice test


I hope that these tips will help you stay motivated through your studying.

Start on tip #2 right now and go HERE and tell us your reasons for getting a GED.

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Watch our Online GED Math Videos covering all topics you will face during the GED Math test

 

Why You Need Help In Preparing For Your ACT Test

Why You Need Help In Preparing For Your ACT Test

If you’re thinking of going to college, then you would probably need help in preparing to take a college admission test like the SAT or the ACT. A good ACT score can help a student get into top colleges and universities, as well as qualify for college scholarships. So, you need to kick off your ACT prep early. This article will give you prep tips to help you prepare for the ACT.

The American College Testing or ACT is a multiple-choice test given five times annually at various locations. The ACT test has an optional essay section. The test is designed to measure the student’s academic achievement in four major curriculum areas: English, Science, Math, and Reading. Materials covered on the four sections of the test correspond to the topics covered in regular high school classes. Numerous colleges and universities in the US use the student’s ACT scores as part of the admission process.

Check our ACT English Practice Tests

Benefits Of ACT Test Preps

ACT test prep Benefits

The ACT test doesn’t test the intelligence of the student and it doesn’t necessarily reflect the student’s high school grades. The ACT is a predictable test and students can prepare for it by taking review classes and answering practice tests.

Preparing for the college admission exam is like studying for any tests Students need to review the test format to become familiar with its content. A good study guide and ACT practice tests will help you:

  • Answer questions on ACT
  • Get great ACT Scores
  • Compare the ACT and the SAT
  • Have the best tips and strategies for the ACT test

The best tip for mastering the ACT test is to start preparing early. In fact, students are recommended to start their ACT test prep the summer between their sophomore and junior year. Many students will then go on to take the ACT test during their junior year and during the fall of their senior year.

Related Topic: ACT Test: What You Need To Know

  1. Take Practice Tests

What would be your score if you take the ACT test today? To find out how you would measure up, take a practice test under conditions that imitate the real ACT testing environment. For instance, shut off your phone and use a timer while taking the practice test.

The practice test score of the students would be their baseline. Students can use their baseline score to help them create a study plan based on what they need to work on. If you think you need to focus on math drills, build up your vocabulary and tame test day jitters – the ACT practice tests also familiarize students with the different sections and directions of the real ACT test so there would be no surprises.

ACT practice tests will help you see your strengths and weaknesses so you can create a targeted action plan for enhancing your score. Students can also follow it up with other test prep books to keep practicing right up to the ACT test day.

  1. Join An ACT Prep Class

If students find it hard to study on their Saturdays off, they might want to consider a class guided by an instructor who will hold them accountable. Test prep classes for the ACT test ranges from small group settings to larger classrooms coached by ACT test experts if students take a prep course via school. Find an environment that’s best for you. You can see our post to help you on studying for the ACT.

Check our ACT Practice Tests 5 for Science

  1. Prep Online

Super busy students may find it hard to schedule an ACT prep class between after-school jobs and their leisure time. However, online ACT test prep lets student prepare for ACT when and where it suits them best, skip ahead or repeat lessons. Online ACT test prep is best for self-starters who prefer to study at their own pace.

  1. Get A Private Tutor

ACT private tutor

If you want a completely customized approach, you can consider preparing for the ACT test with a private tutor. Private tutoring sessions guarantee you will get immediate feedback as well as personalized lessons to your learning style and needs. For instance, if students have mastered sentence completion but need to work on Geometry, their tutor will adjust their ACT prep plan accordingly. Private tutoring sessions are also the most flexible method in terms of scheduling and it is great for students with limited availability or fast-approaching deadlines. Private tutors will meet your convenient time and place.

More review materials: Practice Tests 3 for ACT Math 

  1. Get Good ACT Test Prep Books

ACT test prep books are just like study guides. These will help students know what kind of questions to expect in the actual ACT test and will tell them which section they need the most help with – if any. The ACT test prep books also help students understand what kind of strategy or method they need to follow to score better on the real ACT test.

  1. Relax And Rest Before Test Day

On the day before the real ACT test, get plenty of rest and a good night sleep. Have a healthy breakfast before heading off to the test. Make sure you bring everything you need for the ACT test, such as pencils, calculator, and your ACT admission ticket. Even if you are a fast test taker, use up given time to your advantage.

With all the preparation you have done, you are bound to get the ACT test score you’re aiming for to get into a good college or to apply for a scholarship.

If you want to know more about the ACT, see our post here on the History Of The ACT.

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ACT test Prep

How To Get Good ACT Scores

21 Tips To Get A Good ACT Score

First of all, you may ask, “What’s a good ACT score?”

The best way to answer that question is by understanding why graduating high school students take this standardized test in the first place, to get admitted to their chosen colleges or universities.

While passing the ACT is already an achievement in itself, it may not be enough to get a student to the college of their choice. Even a good score like 29, which is above the national average is not enough if you want to get into an ivy league school.

If you want to enter Princeton, for example, you would need to aim for a score of 32 to increase your chances of ensuring your slot. That’s because more than 75% of test passers scored above 32 based on the data of U.S. News & World Report: National Universities Ranking.

Check our Practice Tests for ACT English

How ACT Scores Are Calculated

ACT scores calculated

While ACT scoring not complicated, it is not straightforward either. In ACT, your raw score is converted into a scaled score for each section. The score scale ranges from 1 to 36. Then your scaled scores for each section are averaged to get your composite ACT score, which ranges from 1 to 36. This may sound confusing for now so it will be explained further below.

Your raw score is the number of questions you answer correctly for each section. This is the most straightforward way to score -no further calculations, no waste of time, just count the correct answers and it’s done. However, using raw scores for ACT brings a little problem. The problem is that ACT test questions are different for each test date. Some test dates may have harder or easier questions. To ensure that scores are within the same standards they scale the scores.

Your raw scores for each section are translated to scale scores. For example, if you correctly answer 9 to 10 questions in the English section, you get a scale score of 5.

Take note however that the raw to scaled score translation may differ for each ACT test date. That is because that adjust the scale based on the difficulty of the ACT test on a certain date.

Related Topic: ACT Test Introduction, Registration, Dates & Score

Composite Score

ACT composite score

Once the scaled scores for each section are calculated, they are averaged to get your composite score, which is also the final score. Needless to say, you have to answer everything right to get the composite score of 36 except in match, which allows for one mistake.

Start reviewing with our helpful contents: Practice Tests for ACT Math

21 Tips to Get the Best ACT Score Possible

While an ACT composite score of 36 may be difficult to achieve, it is definitely the best goal to aim. Here are some easy but effective tips to help you get that elusive score of 36 on your ACT test:

1. Balance studying and leisure activities.

It is easy to think that studying only without giving yourself some downtime is a good way to learn. But that is wrong. You would easily lose your motivation that way. Have some fun too.

2. Don’t let your brain experience a burnout.

Studying too much without giving your brain a rest would result in burnout and when that happens it will be hard to learn anything. Take breaks when studying to give your brain some time to process what you’ve learned.

3. Improve your sleeping habits.

When you study, your brain stores what you read in the short-term memory. Information only gets transferred to the long-term memory when you sleep. So get enough sleep.

4. Take practice tests often.

ACT Practice tests familiarize you with the test structure and improve your skills. It also tells you what you need to improve on.

5. Make a study schedule and stick with it.

The human brain loves familiarity, that is why it learns best when you feed it information at the same time of the day, every day.

6. Eat healthy, brain-boosting foods.

Eat foods to support brain function such as avocados, blueberries, walnuts, and dark chocolate.

7. Use an ACT study guide.

Look for an ACT study guide that gives you an overview of the test and the topics you need to study. You don’t need to study all the topics you have studied in high school, so a study guide will tell you where you should begin and end.

More review materials: ACT Practice Tests 3  for English

The Night Before The Test Preparations:

8. Prepare everything you need for the test the night before.

Make sure that your requirements are ready for the test.

9. Give your brain a rest.

You don’t want your brain to get tired the night before the exam because it needs all the energy it can muster for the difficult test. There is no need to review the day before the exam.

10. Sleep early.

So you can wake up early and have more time to prepare.

11. Write down your thoughts.

Feeling anxious? Let go of the anxiety by writing it down on paper. Writing them down will help release nervous feelings.

Related Topic: ACT Scores

The Day Of The Test:

12. Eat a good breakfast, so that you don’t run out of energy during the test.

A good breakfast should have protein for energy, water for hydration, and carbs to satisfy your hunger.

13. Double check that everything you need is in your bag.

You don’t want to reach the testing venue only to come home because you forgot something.

14. Go to the test site at least 30 minutes before the exam.

This gives you a short time to rest before the test.

15. Relax.

Forget any other problem you have and just focus on the test.

More review materials: ACT Science Practice Test

During The Test:

16. Skim the questions first and take note of the questions you think are easier.

This gives you an idea of which questions are easier and should be answered first.

17. Answer easy questions first.

Read the questions carefully. Once you have answered all the easy questions, go right into answering the harder ones.

18. Among the answer choices for each question, look for the choices that you are sure are not the correct.

Additional Study Tips:

19. Don’t skip English.

Many students skip studying for the English test, thinking that it’s the easiest part. Review grammar rules and usage, punctuation and organization.

20. Improve your reading skills.

There are two things you need to improve here: your comprehension skills and the time it takes for you to read. Practice reading a wide variety of materials to improve both. Summarizing materials that you’ve read will help develop comprehension skills.

21. Master math basics.

You don’t need to memorize formulas, but you need to master the basics of math, like the arithmetic skills (remember PEMDAS?), basic algebra, and geometry.

Related Topics:

Watch our Online GED Math Videos covering all topics you will face during the GED Math test

 ACT Score

ACT

5 Tips On How To Get Good ACT Math Scores

You can be taken off-guard by the ACT test, particularly the Math section. That is if you are not prepared. With all study tips and ACT practice tests out there, how do you get a good ACT Math score?

Don’t Get Overwhelmed

ACT Math

The first thing you need to do to avoid having that overwhelming feeling of fear and anxiety about the ACT Math test is to know what’s in it. Get a good idea of what you’re going to see in the test. You can see our ACT Math Practice Test here.

In the Math section of the ACT, you’ll find 60 questions that you need to answer within 60 minutes. That gives you a minute to answer each question in the test. At the same time, be aware that not all the questions in ACT Math are created equal. The questions also progress in difficulty. Questions #1- #20 are categorized as easy, questions #21- #40 are medium and questions #41-#60 are considered as hard.

The ACT Math test includes higher math topics. These include number and quantity, algebra, functions, geometry, statistics and probability, and also other essential skills that you have learned before eighth grade.

Start reviewing with our helpful contents: ACT Practice Tests 3 for Science

5 Tips On How To Get Good ACT Math Scores

Math Test

  1. Pay attention to the small details.

You have to pay attention to the details. This is important to get a good score on the Math portion of the ACT test. Oftentimes, test-takers say they missed some Math questions because of “stupid mistakes” when in fact they could have easily been prevented in the first place. In these instances, students know how to arrive at the correct answer but failed to get all the details. Sometimes, the student is in a hurry that he failed to mark the correct answer.

ACT Math problems are designed to test your ability to take notice of and interpret every number, word, graphic or symbol in a math problem. Teach yourself how to scan and analyze math questions, particularly the minute details of math signs, decimals, graph and chart components and how story problems are worded. Double check your answers and make sure that you marked the correct ones.

Related Topic: ACT Practice Test

2.Know how to handle multiple-choice questions.

The ACT Math test is composed of multiple-choice questions. You will not be asked to show how you solve math problems. Instead, you will find that the answers to the math problems in the ACT test are right in front of you. You simply have to choose the correct one from among the options. As you prepare for the ACT Math, learn ways to eliminate wrong answers and the different ways the questions would try to confuse you with answers that may seem right but are actually wrong.

A good practice is to always answer the easy questions first, then go back to the difficult ones once you are done.

Check our Practice Tests 1 for ACT English

3. Look for effective ACT Math Prep Materials.

You will find a lot of ACT Math prep materials out there and choose the best one can be tricky. The key here is to look for credible sources online that offer study guides, helpful tutorials, and practice tests. Start with ACT.org.

A study guide will tell you what’s included in the test and what topics you need to review. ACT tutorials will show you how to solve math problems and you can test your skills with ACT practice tests.

4. Limit your use of calculators.

While practicing for ACT Math, try not to use the calculator. In the ACT, you are allowed to use the calculator, but be careful not to waste your time on it. Test and improve your analytical skills by doing mental math and estimation. More often than not, they’ll make you arrive at the right answer instantly. Using the calculator tends to consume more time.

Note as well that writing down some math problems on a piece of paper will improve your accuracy. At the same time, consider that you could easily enter a wrong number in your calculator but it is actually harder to write down an incorrect number. Think carefully whether it is necessary to use the calculator and avoid its use as much as you can.

 Learn more review materials here: Practice Tests 2 for ACT Science

5. Get information about what’s in the Math test and practice, practice, practice.

Be in the know about the topics that you’ll encounter in the Math section of the ACT test. Your goal is to not be overwhelmed by the items that are right in front of you when you’re about to take the test. There are numerous sources of information and practice materials at your disposal. Be resourceful when looking for these.

When you take practice tests, it would be good to start with topics that you find difficult. Start with areas that you need to improve on. Do the easy questions last.

Visit our website: ACT Test Dates for 2021-2022

Review Math Formulas

ACT Math test
Of all the sections in the ACT test, the Math section is the most topic-based. Some problems that you’ll come across within this portion would require your knowledge of specific formulas and techniques. Still, there are also items where you can apply one or more general strategies in order to eliminate wrong answers. You’re going to have to use your pen and paper and your calculator on the rest of the questions. With practice and effective study strategies, you can pass the test and good a good ACT math score.

Don’t just memorize math formulas you’ve learned in high school, but make sure that you know how to use them. Again, watching tutorials is a great way to refresh your memory. This is also the best time to revisit math formulas that you never really understood. If they are covered in the ACT math test, learn how to use these math formulas and answer ACT practice tests to test if you understand their application.

Related Topics:

Watch our Online GED Math Videos covering all topics you will face during the GED Math test

ACT Math Scores

ACT Test Date

3 Things You Need To Do On Actual ACT Test Date

Just as students prepared for what’s on the ACT test, they also will benefit from gearing up for all the logistics of taking the exam. Students must get everything they need gathered and packed away in their bag the day before their ACT test. All of their ACT prep would count for nothing if they didn’t make it to the test or have the proper pencils to answer their test papers. Test-takers will still appreciate having their backpack pre-packed as they are getting ready the morning of their ACT test.

It would be a good idea for students to print a couple copies of their ACT admission ticket, indicating they have a good ACT test prep. Test-takers must not leave this to the last minute, as printers can break or they may rely on school or their local library for printing resources.

You must eat breakfast, bring snacks and drinks, and do any exercises that help to cope with stress. Your physical health can have a huge impact on your ability to answer the test.

Test-takers must not bring their cell phone to the ACT test. Even if they are confident it’s in silent mode, they never know – it’s not worth the risk of having their ACT scores canceled. Students are not allowed to bring their cell phones in the testing room.

As part of students ACT prep, test-takers must make a checklist and double check that they have everything they need before leaving in the morning. By ensuring that you’re well-prepared, you’ll have an easy and relaxing morning as possible before your ACT test and you can focus all your attention on doing your best.

Learn more: ACT Math Test Overview, Content Type And Tips To Score High

  1. Prepare What You Need To Bring.

    ACT test prep

ACT admission ticket.

Students are required to bring the printed ACT admission ticket. The ACT will not accept images of the admission ticket from a cell phone or other devices. To print the admission ticket, you must log into your ACT account.

Photo ID.

The full name of the test-taker should match the name he registered with, and the picture of the test-taker should clearly resemble the picture he uploaded during registration.

Acceptable forms of ID include driver’s license, passport, and current official school ID. If students don’t have any of these, they can also have a school official fill out the ACT Identification Letter Form.

Unacceptable forms of ID include Learner’s permits, credit cards, employee IDs, Social Security cards and birth certificates. Students must have an ID with their admission ticket.

Related Topic: ACT Test Introduction, Registration, Dates & Score

#2 Pencils and an Eraser.

Students are not allowed to use pens, highlighters, liquid paper, mechanical pencils, and any other writing utensils, not even for the ACT Essay section.

Calculator.

Students can use most 4-function, scientific, as well as graphing calculators, but with certain restrictions.

As long as students have their printed admission ticket, calculator, ID, #2 and pencils, they should have no problem making it through their ACT test.

You can also check our post here on What To Bring On the ACT Test Day here.

Related Topic: ACT Test Dates

  1. Arrive At The Test Center Earlier Than Your Test Schedule.

It’s important that test-takers arrive on time to their ACT testing center, as ACT won’t admit latecomers to the test. It would be ideal to arrive at the ACT testing center around 7:30 a.m., or a little earlier if you are worried about logistics like a parking spot. Arriving much earlier could mean you’re not rushing to get in after test-takers have already started to enter the ACT testing center. The sweet spot would be right around 7:30 a.m.

Adding up to preparing the day before the ACT test, students should also familiarize themselves with the route before ACT test day if they are taking the test somewhere other than their usual high school. Students should consider what traffic conditions will be like to prepare for any unexpected delays. Underestimating the time it takes to get to the ACT testing center will be a highly stressful way to kick off your day.

Upon entering the ACT testing center, students must make sure they know where their belongings are supposed to be and they must double check that their cell phone is turned off. The ACT is strict in prohibiting any technology that could make a sound or could possibly record the ACT testing materials, so a mistake like this could result in a test getting canceled.

Start reviewing with our helpful contents:  ACT Scores

  1. Listen To Instructions.

Test-takers must make sure to listen to all the instructions of the proctor and must follow them. The whole process of the actual ACT test is rather rigid, and test-takers need to fill out everything correctly to ensure their ACT test scores don’t get delayed. Also, just as a ringing cell phone, as well as opening and looking at the test booklet before the ACT test officially begins, could result in your ACT scores getting canceled.

The proctor will instruct test-takers when to start the test, so wait for the proctor’s green light before kicking off on your first section. Once you’ve gotten through this process, you will finally start taking the ACT test.

Taking The ACT Test

ACT practice tests

The ACT comprises of four test sections, or five sections if you choose to take the ACT Essay test. The ACT test sections are always in the same order: English, Math, Reading, Science, and the optional Writing. Once you commence the ACT test, it would look like this:

  • Start with the 45-minute ACT English test.
  • When instructed by the proctor, go immediately onto the 60-minute ACT Math test.
  • Take a 5-minute break – have a snack or use the restroom. Return to your desk and complete the next two ACT tests.
  • Tackle the 35-minute ACT Reading test.
  • When instructed, move right onto the 35-minute ACT Science test.
  • If you are not taking the ACT Writing test, gather your things and leave quietly. However, if you will take the Writing section, take a 5-minute break after the Reading and Science tests. After you complete the Writing section, you’ll be all finished with your ACT test!

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ACT study guide

after passing GED

4 Things You Can Do After Passing The GED

If you have passed the GED, congratulations! Passing the GED test means you have the level of knowledge that’s expected from a high school graduate. The passing standards were based on the performance of a national sample of high school grads from 2013, according to the GED Testing Service website.

What can you do with a GED credential? Here are some of the things to explore:

Check our Free GED Practice Tests (2019

       1. Continue your studies.

GED study guide

You can get into a good college or university with a GED credential. Many colleges and universities accept GED recipients. However, take note that most schools have other requirements too apart from your GED diploma. You might need more than just the passing score. This is why it is crucial to study and take GED practice tests, even if you already feel confident in your abilities.

You might need to pass other standardized tests like the SAT or ACT. There are also entrance exams, interview, and the essay that you need to pass.

Thinking of getting a 2-year degree? Community colleges might be a great option for you, too. Community colleges are often more affordable than universities and they usually offer associate degrees and postsecondary certificates, according to U.S. News.

When choosing which course to take, think of subjects that you find exciting or interesting. These are usually the subjects you find easy and fun. Of course, you should also consider other factors that will contribute to your success, such as the entry requirements, accommodation, tuition fees, and other costs.

Related Topic: Online GED Classes

  1. Apply for a job.

There are actually high-paying jobs that you can get with a high school credential. Business Insider lists down some of the highest paying jobs for those who completed high school, including subway operators, postmasters, electrical power-line installers, business operations specialists, media equipment workers, detectives, and many others. Each of these jobs has a yearly minimum salary of $61,000.

  1. Apply for a promotion.

If you are already employed, let your employer know that you passed the GED test and that you want to aim for a higher position in your company. Tell your boss about your long-term plans and how you see yourself contributing to the growth of the business. Demonstrate good attitude and work ethic and volunteer to work on additional tasks to get the management’s attention.

Related Topic: GED vs. High School Diploma: Which One is Right For You?

  1. Write your life goals.

Passing the GED test is a big accomplishment. After this milestone, it puts you in an ideal position to reflect on your life goals. Think of what you want to accomplish next. Look at the big picture. Beyond your career, you also have your relationships, health, and finances to think about. What do you truly desire and want to achieve? Consider what’s important to you, then write down your goals. Make a plan to achieve these goals one step at a time.

Passing the GED opens up doors of opportunities for you. Aside from giving you the chance to pursue further education, get a job or secure a promotion, your GED credential inspires you to stay motivated and improves your self-confidence. Read a GED study guide to increase your chance of passing the test.

Related Topics:

Watch our Online GED Math Videos covering all topics you will face during the GED Math test

 GED classes online

7 Tips to Improve Your Reading Comprehension Skills for GED

7 Tips to Improve Your Reading Comprehension Skills For GED

Reading comprehension is an essential skill that you’d need for the GED Language Arts test. The hard part about tests that involve reading comprehension is it does not depend on facts you memorize, but purely on intelligence and logic.

What is Comprehension Skill?

Comprehension skill is the ability to understand exactly what another person is telling you in writing or through spoken language. Reading comprehension is more difficult than verbal comprehension because when you don’t understand what someone is saying, you can ask him to repeat or clarify what he said. When reading a text, however, the author is often not there and you can’t ask them what they meant.

We have Practice Test that you can use: GED® Reasoning Through Language Arts Practice Tests

How to Improve Your Reading Comprehension Skills

There are ways to improve your comprehension skills fast, which can help you pass your GED Language Arts test and other subjects. After all, math, science, and social studies require a certain degree of reading comprehension, too.

  1. Read slowly.

GED reading

Many people read too fast for their own good. Being a fast reader is good only if you also understand what you are reading. If you don’t, and then your reading is useless. Remember, reading is about learning ideas, not just identifying words. Try reading a book aloud and recording your voice, then play it back and listen to yourself. Do you understand what your recorded voice is saying? If you don’t, then read the text slower this time, record it and listen to it again. Do this until you find the reading speed wherein you can comprehend yourself.

Learn more: GED 101: 2021 GED Practice Tests, GED Classes for GED Exam – 1 Stop GED Programs Guide

  1. Improve your vocabulary.

Sometimes the reason you may not understand a sentence is that there are words that you are not familiar with. Most meticulous readers open their dictionaries to understand a new word, but most people just let it pass,  limiting their understanding of the text. You can improve your vocabulary by having a dictionary nearby when you read a book and using it to check the meaning of unfamiliar words. You can also understand meanings of words using context clues, but we will come to that later.

Related Topic: Free GED Practice Tests

  1. Master grammar.

The reason why English has a strict grammar is precise to aid understanding.  One of the reasons many people are confused when reading a book is because they can’t identify what part of speech a particular word is and how it relates to other words in the sentence. Improving your grammar will improve your comprehension skills automatically.

Related Topic: Online GED Classes

  1. Identify main ideas.

GED reading practice tests

Every text you read is telling you something, that something is the central theme or main idea. The main idea is then followed by an explanation, clarification, proof, or example. Here is an example:

Wearing sunglasses is important if you want to protect your eyes from the harmful UV rays from the sun. UV rays are radiation coming from the sun that will damage your eyes, leading to eye defects. Not all sunglasses have UV ray protection though so when you go out to buy one, be sure to check for the UV protection logo on the lens itself.

In the above paragraph, the main idea is that you have to wear sunglasses. The rest of the paragraphs are just there to explain why you need to wear sunglasses and clarification about the sunglasses you have to buy. Most of the time, the main idea is in the first two sentences of the paragraph, but sometimes it is placed somewhere else.

Related Topic: GED Study Guide

  1. Summarize what you read.

Summarizing what you read helps you measure how much of the text you were reading you understood. If you have a hard time making the summary, then you probably did not comprehend the text very well and you have to read it again.  Summarizing allows you to organize what you have just learned from the text.

More review materials: GED Reasoning through Language Arts

  1. Be a detective with context clues.

Sometimes in your reading, you may come across an unfamiliar word that can confuse you. If there’s no dictionary around, you can use context clues. Here is an example:

Two months ago, John got involved in a vehicular accident and broke a bone in his right leg. After the surgery to repair his broken bone, John could not walk and had to use a wheelchair wherever he went. Thankfully, now his is ambulatory again and does not need the wheelchair anymore.

What does ambulatory mean? The context clue here is that he does not need the wheelchair anymore. Ambulatory means he can walk again. There will be context clues in most of the text you read, so you need to pay attention to these details.

Check our GED Reading Practice Test

  1. Read more.

Finally, the most important way to improve your comprehension skill is reading. Read a wide variety of materials. People who read a lot understand better because every time they read, they are training their brain to comprehend what the author of the text is saying. So read and read a lot and improve your power of comprehension. Remember that comprehension is not only useful for tests like the GED, but for every aspect of your life.

Related Topics:

Watch our Online GED Math Videos covering all topics you will face during the GED Math test

3 Ways The ACT Test Is Used

3 Ways The ACT Test Is Used

Colleges and universities use the ACT test (American College Testing) to get a broad idea of the student’s academic abilities and as a way to compare students in the institution’s applicant pool. Nonetheless, the ACT is a standardized test, which means that the student’s ACT test score can be used to compare him to students in the rest of the country.

It has been said that GPA scores are not standard, but ACT test scores are. Institutions find it hard comparing the student’s GPA to another, but they can simply compare one student’s ACT test performance to another. Colleges and universities use the ACT test because there are substantial differences in curricula, funding, difficulty, and grading among US secondary schools.

In addition to utilizing ACT scores as an easy way to compare students in their applicant pool, colleges and universities also use ACT test scores to determine the aptitude of a student in different academic subjects. An ACT Math Test score of 32 may tell colleges or universities that a student is ready to take on their college program’s higher-level Mathematics, while an ACT test score of 21 might tell institutions that the student may not have the proficiency they need. The ACT test scores of the student let institutions see where he on a broad academic spectrum, and determine if that student would be able to make it at their school. You can check out our ACT Math Practice Test here.

Although the GPA is an important part of the student’s college application, his ACT test score will be closely evaluated and used in more ways than one. This is why ACT test preps are important to increase your chances of scoring higher on the test. If you want to know what’s the ACT prep course is the best for you, see our Best ACT Prep Course here.

We have Practice Test that you can use: ACT English Practice Tests

Why Take the ACT Test?

  • So why take the ACT test? ACT test score can help you get into a good university. And by impressive, it does not mean a test score of 21.
  • The ACT test scores of the students will follow them around. When they apply for their first entry-level job, their ACT test score is going to be on their resume.
  • It can help balance the student’s low GPA. So, if a student flunked  World History for example, and ruined that 4.0, that doesn’t mean he doesn’t have the ability to do well in college. High ACT test scores of a student can show knowledge and skills that his GPA can’t.

Related Topic: ACT Test Introduction, Registration, Dates & Score

  1. ACT Test Score Is Used for Scholarships

ACT test Prep

In most cases, above 30 ACT test score is good for college scholarships. Scoring above 30 point puts a student in the 90th percentile of test-takers, meaning the student has scored better than 90 out of every 100 test-takers. Above 30 points is a great ACT test score, but scholarships can be up for grabs for students scoring in the mid-20s or even lower, which just depends on which scholarships they are applying for. Students may be surprised at how much money they can get for their ACT test scores. Here is a sample of the ACT test score spectrum.

Related Topic: Practice Tests 3 for ACT English 

Scholarships Available for Various ACT Test Scores

ACT ScoreScholarshipAmount Per Year
32+University of Georgia Foundation Fellowship$19,458
31+UM Missoula Presidential Leadership Scholarship$37,492
29+ExxonMobil/LNESC Scholarship$20,000
27+OCCACC Scholarship$20,000
24+Catch a Break! Scholarship Program$40,000
21+CIA Undergraduate Scholarship Program$18,000
20+The Full Impact Foundation Scholarship Award$2,000
18+Hungry to Lead Scholarship$5,500
15+King’s Daughters Health Foundation Health Career Scholarship$2,500
14+The AIEF [American Indian Education Foundation] Undergraduate Scholarship Program$2,000

Nonetheless, your ACT test score isn’t always just one test score. Some college scholarships will need to see certain subsection scores above particular points. For instance, some engineering scholarships require the student’s ACT Science test scores to be in the top ten percentile but do not care about the scores of the student on the ACT English section. This could differ by institution, field, and scholarship.

Related Topic: ACT Registration and Requirements

  1. ACT Test Scores Can Make a Difference In Your Future Job

Some employers would ask their applicants for their ACT test scores, even if the applicant is years out of college. The ACT test prep and the test itself might be hard for you at age 17, but the rewards can still be beneficial for you at age 27 and beyond.

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  1. The ACT test gives you a sense of accomplishment.

ACT study guide

Taking the ACT test is an accomplishment. You will be able to know your own strengths and weaknesses, and achieving your ideal score would boost your confidence.

Bottom Line

The ACT test score of a student doesn’t just matter for his college admission, the test score can acquire higher class placements, good scholarships, as well as a job post-college. This is why you should study as hard as you can for your ACT test.

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ACT Test Is Used

The History of ACT Test

The History Of ACT Test

What is the ACT test? University of Iowa professor, Everett Franklin Lindquist, launched the ACT test in 1959. The ACT test was originally conceived as a competitor to the SAT (Scholastic Aptitude Test, later called the Scholastic Assessment Test), which has been offered since 1901.

The ACT testing was created in response to changing patterns in college attendance in the United States and a desire for an exam that more accurately judges the ability of a student to perform well in college or university. The ACT, which is a non-profit organization, is still based in Iowa City.

The ACT was dubbed American College Testing when Lindquist founded the company, but the company changed its moniker several years ago. The company is called ACT – pronouncing the three letters, A. C. T. The ACT has also expanded their company to include career preparation, adult education, as well as other services.

The first ACT test was in the form: English, Mathematics, Social Studies, and Natural Sciences, and was administered to 75,460 test-takers. The first ACT test lasted 3 hours, with 45 minutes given to each of the four test sections. The ACT test has scores devoted to each test sections on a scale of 0 to 36 (but today it is 1 to 36) and a composite score of the four sections.

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The Addition of Essay Section

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In 1989, ACT replaced the Natural Sciences test to a Science Reasoning section and changed the Social Studies test with a Reading section. Also, ACT added the optional Writing section to the test in 2005. The decision of the College Board to add an essay section on the SAT likely prompted the addition of ACT’s optional Writing section.

Related Topic: ACT Test Introduction, Registration, Dates & Score

2009 Profile Report of ACT Test

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According to the Profile Report of ACT in 2009, the non- profit organization administered the ACT test to 45 percent of the 2009 high school graduating class, which is over 1.4 million students. Also, several states, which include Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan and Colorado, administer the ACT test to high school juniors as part of their mandatory state tests.

All four-year colleges and universities in the United States now accept the students’ ACT scores, making the test an appealing alternative for students who struggle with the SAT test. In 2010, the number of test-takers taking the ACT test surpassed the number of SAT test-takers for the first time.

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Computer-based Version

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In May 2013, ACT made it known that a computer-based version of their test will be made available – kicked off in the spring of 2015 for institutions that administer the ACT test during the school day. The new version of the ACT test will retain the same content as the test’s paper version, which still endures until today.

The computer test version of the ACT, to be administered through the Internet, will optionally include test questions requiring the test-taker to generate his own answers, along with the typical multiple-choice questions.

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Writing Section’s New Format

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In 2015, ACT slightly changed the format of the Writing section. Test-takers are now given 40 minutes to write an essay, and this section is scored out of 36 rather than out of 12. Writing section contains prompts that determine how test-takers interpret huge changes that are happening in the world, kicking off the essay to a broader focal point than previous prompts that emphasized on issues particularly related to high school.

The popularity of the ACT testing increased across the Midwestern states, while SAT still grasps both coasts, which include highly populated states like California and New York. Nonetheless, in the 21st century, the ACT test started to acquire a larger percentage of the testing market, and ACT testing is expanding out of its typical areas of influence.

Possible reasons for this include incidents of SAT’s scoring errors, a growing dissatisfaction with the SAT’s testing method, and a growing number of colleges or universities accepting the ACT test. The ACT has successfully influenced a number of states into requiring their test for all high school seniors.

In February 2017, ACT announced the first summer test date, which will take place in July 2018. The new ACT test date boosts the number of United States national administrations of the ACT testing from six to seven.

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3 Tips to Ace the GED Language Arts Exam

3 Tips To Ace The GED Language Arts Exam

The questions on the GED Language Arts exam focuses on the 3 different skills. You’re expected to be able to use as you read both fiction and nonfiction passages:

  • Ability to read closely
  • Ability to write clearly
  • Ability to edit and understand the use of standard written English in context

We have Practice Test that you can use: GED® Reasoning Through Language Arts Practice Tests

Here are some tips to ace the GED Language Arts exam:

  1. Simulate the test conditions through practice tests

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GED Language Arts exam has two types of materials that you will be expected to read. The first part is informational text, this from the workplace and non-fictional contents. This section makes up 75% of the test questions. The second part is literary text, which constitutes 25% of the test. You are expected to carefully read, analyze, and apply the information.

Take practice tests to get acclimated to the actual exam. Taking practice tests can help you get familiarized with the exam condition and help your mind prepare on how you will answer the test. It’s a good strategy and highly advisable to be part of your review routine. GED Language Arts practice tests can help you simulate the real deal. You can also learn from these and know what’s your weakness. You can use our GED Language Arts practice tests to learn more how you can practice.

Related Topic: GED 101: 2019 GED Practice Tests, GED Classes for GED Exam – 1 Stop GED Programs Guide

  1. Create brain space

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On exam day, make sure to find some time to collect and relax. Don’t over study. Information overload, stress, and overthinking might cause you to blank out at the worst possible moment. If you don’t allow some space in your head, you may forget everything you have reviewed.

Information overload due to too much time spent on reviewing. Your routine should have breathing space to process all the information. Don’t forget to take a break while reviewing!

Make sure to show up for the exam at least 15 minutes earlier than the schedule. Prepare all the required identification and documents at night to avoid cramming.

Figure out your answers ahead and identify how much time you’ll need to complete each section. You can opt to not to follow the exam’s order of questions. But you should answers clearly and make sure you don’t miss anything. Creating a breathing space will allow your brain to calm and not to overthink. It can create a peaceful space in your head and will help you gain clarity during the exam.

And it is important to eat healthy meals beforehand. Maintain a healthy diet! Nothing greasy or heavy.

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  1. Read, read, read

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Before taking the GED Language Arts exam, you must, read, read, and read some more. You can read articles over the Internet or some books in your community library. Reading a lot can help expound your comprehension and understanding. This also gives you more vocabulary and grammar tips! It is advisable to have a variety of topics in your reading list. You can read history books, fiction, non-fiction, and even grammar books as well.

If you are taking the GED Language Arts soon, ensure that you read the texts carefully – the answer is in the text. The best chance that you’ll excel in this section is to become an analytical reader.

Have you taken the GED Language Arts exam recently? Share some tips in the comment section!

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GED Language Arts Exam

ACT Test

8 Useful Tips To Improve Your ACT Science Score

If you want to improve your ACT Science score, the two important skills you need to pay attention to is your reasoning and analytical skills. You need to be able to identify patterns in the data presented in tables, maps, and graphs, as well as your ability to interpret questions rationally, taking into consideration the patterns you have extracted from the data.  Most problems will provide you with more information than you need to answer the ACT Science test questions correctly.

The ACT Science section will not directly test your knowledge of Biology, Chemistry, Physics, or Earth Science. You don’t need to remember every Science concept you’ve learned from school, instead, you must know how to reason as well as solve problems scientifically.

The ACT Science test checks your scientific reading comprehension skill. It checks whether you can analyze and draw conclusions from tables, charts, graphs, and experimental procedures. Similar to the ACT Reading test, the ACT Science test passages will provide almost everything you need.

Start reviewing with our helpful contents: ACT Practice Tests for Science 

Tips To Boost Your ACT Science Test Score:

  1. You Must Get Used To The Passage And Question Types

ACT practice tests

The ACT Science test usually has three types of passages: Conflicting Viewpoints (typically 7 questions), Research Summaries (typically 6 questions) and Data Representation (typically 5 questions). These passages are not in order – test-takers will usually see 3 five-question sections, 3 six-question sections, and 1 seven-question sections, which have appeared on some recent ACT tests.

Related Topic: ACT Test Introduction, Registration, Dates & Score

  1. Stay Calm During The Test

ACT study guide

Don’t worry about not having advanced scientific knowledge. Even though it’s a science test, you don’t need to memorize science concepts. You can still score higher as long as you improve your ability to analyze and interpret scientific problems.

  1. Manage Your Time

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The huge obstacle separating you from your ACT Science test target score is the limited time you are provided to read 7 passages and then answer 40 test questions. The 35 minutes time frame might not be enough for you to finish the test, so you need to speed up if you want to finish the ACT Science test.
Answer the questions systematically. Don’t dwell too long on a passage. Instead, quickly read it. Then get the main point and analyze the figures. This should help you solve the questions being asked.

However, if you think you’re running out of time, you’re probably spending a disproportionate amount of time on difficult test questions. It would be better if you identify the difficult and time-consuming questions, highlight them, and you can come back to them later. If you want to finish the ACT Science test, don’t spend two minutes on a single test question.

Start reviewing with our helpful contents: Practice Tests for ACT Science

  1. Take ACT Science Practice Tests

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One of the most reliable ways to improve your score on the ACT Science test is to answer real ACT Science practice test. Time yourself and try to finish the test in less than 35 minutes. Check your mistakes and understand why you committed those errors. Analyzing your mistakes will help you improve.

More review materials: ACT Practice Test

  1. Get Some Help

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Although the ACT test can be self-studied, several students find that getting some extra help from a tutor or support from fellow students who have taken the test can make a huge difference.

  1. Get Comfortable With Graphs

ACT online classes

In expressing scientific data, the ACT Science test tends to include graphs, charts, as well as other visual tools. In fact, about one-third of the ACT Science test is composed of Data Representation questions. There’s no reason to be terrified with graphs and charts, as they are intended to be a clear and concise way of organizing data.

You can be more comfortable with graphs if you read a lot of scientific publications or research. You can measure your skills in data interpretation by first glancing at the graph to determine what it represents and then read the article to see if your interpretation is correct.
ACT test-takers aren’t expected to be an expert in all science subjects. The ACT Science test covers such a broad range of topics. What is expected is for the students to have the basic skills to analyze, interpret, and solve scientific problems.

Related Topic: ACT Scores

  1. Conduct Scientific Experiments

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If you want to do well on your ACT Science test, it would be better for you if you’re familiar with the scientific method as well as experimental design. Conducting scientific experiments is an ideal way to enhance your science skills for your ACT Science test. Even though the ACT Science test isn’t the ACT Math test, test-takers will still be expected to work with numbers on the exam. Often, scientific experiments will be explained numerically in a graph or table. You can also check out our ACT Math Practice Test here.

  1. Use Extra Time To Check Your Work And Fix Errors

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On your ACT Science Test, you only have 35 minutes to answer the 40 questions. Since you will be going straight to the test questions, you will not be as time-pressured as you are in the ACT Reading section. Thus, use that extra time when you’re finished to go over your answers. Check our post here for some ACT reading tips.

Related Topic: ACT Practice Tests 4 for English

Bottom Line Is:

Getting your goal score on your ACT Science test isn’t as difficult as it seems. You don’t need to be a science expert in order to get the high 20s or even 30s score on your ACT Science test. All you need to do is pay extra attention to the details, watch your time, and take a lot of ACT Science practice tests before your ACT test date.

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5 Highly Successful People Who Took The GED

Most people don’t make it right at the first time. In fact, mistakes often happen during the initial tries. So don’t be afraid to make mistakes as long as you did your best. Very few of them are actually fatal.

This thought applies to high school dropouts as well. It is not the end of the world if you are or were unable to finish high school. If you adopt a positive mindset and take control of your life early on, you will realize that you can do something to change your future.

One of them is by taking the GED, which is a high school equivalency test and credential. Although a GED certificate has a lesser value than a high school diploma, there have been numerous successful people who took it and made it big in life.

Who are some of these celebrities and famous personalities who passed the GED?

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Dave Thomas, founder of Wendy’s

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Dave started to work in the restaurant industry at the early age of 12. His family constantly moved from one location to another, but Dave aimed for a more stable life. At 15, he separated from his parents and sought a part-time job at the Hobby House restaurant in the city of Fort Wayne. After deciding to work full time in the business, he dropped out of high school.

Dave served during the Korean War after which he worked at KFC. His diligence and business intelligence helped turn many of KFC’s failing franchises around. It was in 1969 when he made up his mind to sell his KFC franchise and began his own restaurant business in Columbus, Ohio. His named his restaurant after his daughter Melinda whose nickname was Wendy. Now, Wendy’s is a hugely popular burger chain- the third largest in America. It was only in 1993 when Dave enrolled at the Coconut Creek High School where he chose to earn his GED certificate because he wanted to set a good example for youngsters.

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Michael J. Fox, famous Hollywood actor

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Michael’s father gave him $3,000 to set out and pursue a career in Hollywood at the age of 18. He was close to finishing high school in his native Canada but decided to drop out to go after his dream.

After years of hard work, Michael indeed made his name as a Hollywood actor and got married and had kids. The talented actor made it a priority to take the GED test, and he did so in 1995.

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Richard Carmona, Arizona senator, and former U.S. Surgeon General

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Richard was born in New York and grew up in Harlem. He is of Puerto Rican descent. At the age of 16, he dropped out of Dewitt Clinton high school and joined the U.S. Army in 1967. It was during his time of enlistment in the army when he earned his GED. Following this undertaking, he became a member of the United States Army Special Forces. As a Vietnam veteran, Richard was combat-decorated. While in the Special Forces, he started his career in medicine as a medic.

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Paris Hilton, American TV personality, socialite, model, and businesswoman

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In her bio, it was stated that Paris spent her childhood in palatial houses located in the most expensive neighborhoods in both coasts of the country. Her experience with the educational system was brief where she went to study at Dwight School that was an ultra-exclusive institution. Paris dropped out from the said school and earned her GED certificate afterward.

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Peter Jennings, a popular journalist and sole anchor of ABC News Tonight for over 22 years

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Peter’s father was a prominent radio broadcaster who worked for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. He also pursued a career as the host of “Peter’s People” which was a CBC children’s program.

At the age of 9, Peter entered the broadcasting industry. While his father was attending to one of his assignments, Peter was chosen for the “Peter’s People” gig. His father was allegedly furious at CBC for hiring Peter primarily because he was the son of a broadcaster. While in school, Peter was a bad student but a talented athlete. For him, going to school was tremendously boring. After failing 10th grade, Jennings dropped out of school. He enrolled at Carlton University, but stayed there for only 10 minutes and left the institution. After his unsuccessful attempts at schooling, Peter worked at the Royal Bank of Canada but continued to harbor his dream of becoming a professional broadcaster.

These are five of the most successful GED stories throughout time, and if you look for more, you will find that there are numerous of these hardworking and lucky people who didn’t give up on completing their education as they found their way to wealth and fame. Setting a good example for young and adult learners, they are indeed worth emulating.

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ACT Test

ACT Test Day Requirements To Bring With You On The Exam Day

The key to preventing terrible scenarios on your ACT test day is proper preparation. It’s not just about studying for months, but preparation to ensure everything goes as planned for the test day. Getting stuck on a question is bad, but breaking your pencil in the middle of the test has been just as disastrous. Part of acing the ACT test is knowing and Coso how do you go about with these?

Learn more review materials here: Practice Tests for ACT Science

What To Bring With You On The ACT Test Day

ACT practice tests

  • A printed copy of your admission ticket. Log in to your account on the ACT website where you registered and print out your admission ticket. Only the paper copy of this document is allowed on the ACT test day. Images of this ticket on your mobile phone or other electronic devices will not be accepted.
  • A valid photo ID. The full name and photo on your ID should match what’s on your ACT registration. Which valid IDs can you use on the ACT test day?
  1. Your current school ID
  2. Your driver’s license
  3. Your passport

If you don’t have any of these, have a school official or a notary fill out a downloaded copy of an Official ACT Identification Form. If you took part in the ACT Talent Search, you should prepare a copy of your talent search identification letter.

On the ACT test day, you can’t present Credit cards, birth certificates, employee IDs, Social Security cards and learner’s permits as ID. Personal recognition doesn’t count either, so don’t be complacent. Even if your test administrator is someone you know, you can’t take the test without approved ID. Your admission ticket and valid photo ID are important requirements on the ACT test day.

At least two pieces of #2 pencils and a good quality eraser. Always make sure to have a spare pencil in case the one you’re using breaks. Pens, mechanical pencils, liquid paper, highlighters and other writing accessories are not acceptable, including for the ACT essay test.

See our full post on What To Bring On ACT Test Day here.

  • An approved calculator. Although there are particular limits, the ACT allows 4-function, graphing and scientific calculators for the test. Be aware of the of the limits and uses of the calculator in the ACT.

On the ACT test day, it is vital that you bring with you. Your admission ticket, valid ID, and calculator. These are ACT test requirements that you need to enter your testing room.

Related Topic: ACT (American College Testing) Test Guide – Registration, Test Dates & Scores

Other Things That You Might Need When Taking The ACT Test

ACT study guide

  • Additional #2 pencils and a small, handy pencil sharpener. These are essential backups should mishaps take place while you’re taking the test. They will bring you much-needed convenience if you’re taking the ACT Plus Writing test where you will need to write an essay.
  • Extra calculator batteries. The last thing you would want to happen while taking ACT Math is to have a dead calculator. That’s why you need to bring extra batteries for this test accessory. In fact, it makes sense to put new batteries in your calculator on the day before the ACT test. See to it that your calculator is operating well a day before taking the test as well.
  • Snacks and drinks to replenish you during your breaks. Although eating is not allowed in the testing room, The ACT test schedule includes breaks. Bring nutritious snacks and drinks with you to energize you on this long and important test.
  • A noiseless watch with no audible alarms. This comes in handy because you’ll need to keep track of the time when taking the different sections of the test. Don’t forget about the time limit for every section of the ACT. You need to be aware of the time when taking the ACT test. But this is an optional ACT test requirement, specifically if it distracts you or causes anxiety.

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Prohibited Items In the ACT Testing Room

ACT classes online

With these items packed and ready in your bag for the ACT test day, you should be all set to take this important test. You only need to bring the items mentioned above on the ACT test day. Be aware of the restricted items to bring in the testing center such as:

  • Technologies with recording or communication capabilities. The only technology allowed in the ACT testing room is the calculator. Laptops, cell phones, cameras, and tablets, among others, are not allowed. Security is maximized on the day of the ACT test. Anyone caught cheating will be investigated and reported in the news. Be aware that there were high-profile SAT cheating scandals that ruined some students. Those caught cheating on the ACT test can be expelled from their schools and have their scores canceled. Some were even banned from entering college.
  • Dictionaries, translators, textbooks, notes and any other documents. The only document that’s allowed on your desk is your ACT test booklet. Other reading materials or “cheat sheets” are restricted.
  • Other writing tools, except for #2 pencils.

Related Topic: ACT Math Practice Tests 3

Other Important ACT Test Day Tips

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ACT test prep can start from many months until the test day as well as the night before that schedule. It is just as crucial to study and be prepared for the different test topics and get your gear ready the night before. Pack every necessary item in your backpack the night before the ACT test day. Your backpack should be prepacked as you are all set and ready on the morning of the ACT test.
Have an extra copy of your admission test ticket. A back-up for this requirement could be useful. Prepare this a few days before the test and not during the last minute. Because anything can happen, such as printers breaking and so on.

See also our Best ACT Prep Course here.

Eat a nutritious breakfast. Make sure that you are physically ready for the test. Go on with whatever routine exercises that you do every morning, and don’t forget to pack your snacks and drinks. Your morning on the ACT test day should be stress-free and relaxed. This will help you to be emotionally and mentally ready for your long-awaited feat.

Remember not to bring your cellphone to the testing room. It is not enough to silence your phone because you wouldn’t want to risk having your ACT score canceled. Leave it outside!

Make a checklist and make sure all the ACT test requirements discussed in this article are in your backpack. With everything ready, you can focus all your attention and energy on doing your best so you can ace the ACT test. If you do this right, you can easily gain admission to the higher learning school of your choice.

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ACT Test

3 Reasons Students Score Low On The ACT Test And What To Do About It

It can be disappointing if you’re an achiever in high school but finished with a low score on the ACT test. If this happened to you, you’re not alone. This is a common problem, but there are ways to avoid it. Using effective techniques, you can be smart both in school and on the ACT test. First, you should understand why some intelligent students score low on standardized exams such as the ACT.

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Why Intelligent Students Score Low On The ACT Test

Students Score Low On The ACT Test

There are several reasons why smart students get low ACT scores and if you think you are going down the same path, being knowledgeable about these situations could give you some ideas. You see, standardized tests are different from the tests that you typically take in high school. Here are the reasons behind this problem:

1. Multiple subjects tested

In high school, if you’re going to have a math test, all you have to do is study math. However, in the ACT, you’ll meet math, science, literature and writing in one comprehensive test. That’s why taking the ACT test needs you to study harder. You have to engage in an effective ACT test prep routine, which happens to be more time-consuming and challenging. See our Free ACT Practice Test here.

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2. There is a time limit for every section of the ACT

It’s rigorous to take the ACT test because of the time pressure. Your time for answering the items in every section is limited. You’ll have varying reactions because of this time limit. You might become nervous or anxious. Or you might rush answering because you don’t have much time to answer all the questions in the timed topic divisions.

3. Some questions and answer selections in the test are misleading

That’s right. The ACT test can be tricky, and some answer options can fool you into thinking that you’ve filled in the right bubble in your answer sheet. It’s different from the tests that you take in school, which are usually straightforward.

Expectations for you to get a high ACT score can put too much pressure on you. This standardized test is important. It will help you get high quality and successful college education or in case of failure, the opposite. As a result, you might be pushing yourself too hard, resulting in a low score. Check out the ACT Scores here.

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Different ACT Problem Scenarios

Students Fail Their ACT Test

These are just some reasons students fail their ACT test, even though they are high achievers in school. The different scenarios below explain why:

Scenario #1

Your studying methods may be wrong. Did you prepare well for the ACT test? That is, did you spend enough time studying for it? On the day of the test, you may have had enough time to answer all the questions and you were not anxious. You were optimistic about the results, only to be disappointed by a low score. How come?

It is common for many students to get a low score on a standardized test, although they have studied enough for it. If such is the case for you, you might need to change your strategy for studying for the test. Even if you’re a math whiz in the classroom, it doesn’t always translate to a high ACT math score. Consider that in a standardized test, the math section covers more topics, which requires more skills and knowledge from you. Some questions are also phrased in confusing or misleading ways. This is why you can’t always expect your studying methods in the classroom to get you a high score on the ACT.

The resolution to the first scenario is to change the way you study. This means that in your ACT test prep, you should include familiarization with the topics that will be included and how you’re going to be tested on the ACT. Be aware of the types of questions given in the test and how they are worded.

Take plenty of practice tests, which will familiarize you with the real thing. At the same time, properly review each of your answers, particularly the incorrect ones. You need to be able to have a good grasp of your weak points in the test so you can improve on them.

Visit our website to learn more review materials: Practice Tests 1 for ACT Math

Scenario #2

You may have studied insufficiently for the ACT test because you were overconfident. Sometimes, high achieving students are used to acing tests in school that they think they can do the same on the ACT test. They expect the ACT test to be just as easy.

Consider that the ACT test is a different kind exam. You may become confused in answering the questions if you haven’t been exposed to them before. To measure how knowledgeable you are, the test makers of the ACT have deliberately designed many questions to be misleading and confusing. If you’re clueless about this strategy, you can be tricked easily resulting in a low score.

You can correct this tendency through practice and more practice. Arrange a regular study schedule a few months before taking or retaking the ACT test. Get hold of study guides from Test Prep Toolkit so that you can carry out a program that is most suitable for you. Taking practice tests is a must. Take 3-4 of them online or in your local library. Get used to the type of tests and the questioning strategies that tend to comprise the ACT test. Always take time to review your wrong questions, too, and figure out why you missed them. Knowing your weak points can make you better prepared to take the ACT test with all its peculiarity and intricacies.

You can also see our material for studying for ACT here to help you more on your ACT studies.

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ACT Test Day

7 Items You Shouldn’t Bring During The ACT Test Day

With your requirements packed and ready in your bag for the ACT test day, you should be all set to take this important test. You only need to bring the items mentioned above on the ACT test day, which we outlined in our blog on the 5 important things to bring with you on the exam day:

1. A printed copy of your admission ticket
2. A valid photo ID.
3. At least two #2 pencils and a good-quality eraser.
4. An approved calculator.
5. A noiseless watch with no audible alarms.

Start reviewing with our helpful contents: ACT Scores

Now you need to be aware of the things you are not allowed to bring inside the testing center:

1. Technologies with recording or communication capabilities

ACT test booklet

The only technology allowed in the ACT testing room is the calculator. Laptops, cell phones, cameras, and tablets, among others, are not allowed. Security is maximized on the day of the ACT test. Anyone caught cheating will be investigated.

Cellphones and wearable devices should be switched off. Keep them inside your bag. You will not be allowed to use them even during break times. If you are caught using them during the test, three things might happen:

  • Your score will get canceled.
  • You will be asked to leave.
  • Your device will be taken away from you.

Forget about cheating. Be aware that there were high-profile ACT cheating scandals that ruined some students. Those caught cheating on the ACT test can be expelled from their schools and have their scores canceled. Some were even banned from entering college.

Related Topic: ACT Registration and Requirements

2. Dictionaries, translators, textbooks, notes and any other documents

The only document that’s allowed on your desk is your ACT test booklet. Other reading, review materials or “cheat sheets” are not allowed. Leave all your review materials at home.

3. Other writing tools, except for #2 pencils

You’re not allowed to use bullpens, highlighters, or colored pencils during the test.

4. Food and beverages

You will not be allowed to eat and drink during the test. You’re also not allowed to drink water inside the testing room. Not only can eating and drinking distract you, but just imagine how spilled liquid can ruin your test!

It’s best to eat a full breakfast before the test. Pack some healthy snacks like a chicken sandwich, nuts, and fruits that you can eat during the break. Avoid snacks that will make you feel sleepy or sluggish later on, such as chocolate bars or sweet drinks. If you tend to feel anxious, avoid caffeinated beverages like coffee, tea, or soda. Stick to water.

Visit our website to learn more review materials: ACT Science Practice Tests

5. Correction fluid or tape

ACT Test Day

Want to change your answers? Simply use your eraser. Correction fluid or tape isn’t necessary and you’re not allowed to use them during the ACT test.

6. Cigarettes and other tobacco products

Smoking is prohibited inside the testing room.

7. Smartwatch

If you’re wearing a watch during the test, make sure it’s not a smartwatch. You won’t be allowed to wear that inside the testing room.

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Watch our Online GED Math Videos covering all topics you will face during the GED Math test

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SAT vs ACT, Which One Should You Take?

Decisions, Decisions, Decisions!

Now that you are about to finish high school, you still have one hurdle left before you can move on to college—the college entrance standardized test.  You have three options, fortunately, when it comes to this dilemma: Either you take The SAT, take the ACT or just take them both.

Related Topic: Free ACT Math Practice Tests

Just Blindly Picking One Is A Bad Idea

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You may be asking, why not just pick one and go with it? Well, the truth is you can do that, but it’s a bad idea for the reason that these tests are so different from each other both in format and in focus. In fact, a particular student may do well in SAT and do badly in the ACT or vice versa. If you want to improve your chance of getting a high score, you have to know which of these tests will be the right fit for you.  This article will tackle those differences to help guide you in choosing between ACT and SAT.

Related Topic: SAT Registration

Test Structure

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SAT and ACT  offer mostly the same sections now that SAT has been restructured, but there are still some differences.  They both have a math section, a reading section and both offer language sections ( writing and languages for SAT and  English for ACT). They also now offer optional essay tests that do not affect your main score.

The differences, on the other hand, are few, but important. First, ACT offers a science section while SAT does not. It is important to consider this in choosing between ACT and SAT. If science is your forte, the science section will add significantly to your ACT  score. On the other hand, if you are not very knowledgeable at science, it will drag down your ACT score and thus ACT is a better choice for you.

Another difference lies in the focus of the Math Section.  ACT Math covers more topics than SAT does. While SAT focuses on algebra and data analysis, ACT  covers logarithms, graphs of trig functions, and matrices. Also, many of ACT Math questions deal with geometry and trigonometry. Finally, ACT lets you use calculators for all math questions while SAT only lets you use calculators on some questions.  So, again, if you are good at math, then you’d be okay with both ACT and SAT, but if you are not confident with your math Skills take the SAT.

More review materials: Free Practice Tests for ACT Science 

Number Of Questions And Time To Answer Them

SAT Test

ACT has more questions than the SAT, that is because it has more sections.  SAT also gives more time for answering each question than ACT. So If you don’t like working under extreme pressure, you should look into taking the SAT. Here is the breakdown:

SAT Sections

  •       Reading: 65 mins, 52 Questions
  •       Writing and Language: 35 mins, 44 questions
  •       Math No Calculator: 25 mins, 20 questions
  •       Math Calculator: 55 mins,  38 questions
  •       Essay (optional): 50 mins, 1 essay

ACT Sections

  •       English: 45 mins, 75 questions
  •       Math: 60 mins, 60 questions
  •       Reading: 35 mins, 40 questions
  •       Science: 35 mins, 40 questions
  •       Writing (optional): 40 mins, 1 essay

You may think that hands down, SAT is better because it has fewer questions but more time allotment, but hold your horses for a bit there, because there is an equalizer.  Most people tend to spend a lot of time solving math problems without using a calculator. So that SAT Math section that bans calculators may also take a lot of your time. So unless you are good with mathematics, both tests are equally difficult.

Related Topic: SAT Test Dates

Scoring

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SAT and ACT differ in their scoring systems. First, the total score you can get in SAT ranges from 400- 1600, while in Sat the range is only 1-36. But that is not the only difference, the way scores are calculated are also different.

For ACT, a scale of 1-36 is used for each section. Then your four section scores are averaged and the result is your total score. For the optional ACT writing section, a scale of  2-12 is used in judging your essay. The Essay test question will not count toward your final score.

On the other hand, SAT uses a scale of 200-800 for both the Math and Evidence-based reading and writing sections. And the scaled score for both sections is combined for a total score. As for the SAT optional essay test, you will receive 3 scores for each dimension—reading, writing, and analysis – all of which will range from 2 to 8.

Related Topic: Free English Practice Tests 

Pricing

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ACT and SAT also vary slightly in pricing. ACT charges $46.00 for regular test and $62.50 for the ACT with writing test.  On the other hand SAT charges $47.50 for the regular test and $64 if Essay test is included. These fees do not include additional fees that depend on your specific situation.

So there you have it, these are pretty much the major differences between the SAT and ACT.  Use the information here to decide which test to take based on your skills and talents. Just make sure that you have weighed every pros and cons for each test before deciding to register for one.

No matter which tests you choose or you choose to take both, taking SAT practice tests or ACT practice tests will help you.

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Tips For Reviewing ACT Test

12 Tips For Reviewing Your ACT Test

A few days before your ACT test, you may feel different emotions about it, depending on how prepared you are. But if your ACT test prep has been effective, then you can feel confident about taking the test. You’ll want to be 100% sure, so what last-minute reviewing can you do? Divide your remaining time wisely for your ACT test prep. Your extra effort is bound to pay off with proper time management and smart preparation. See our Best ACT Prep Course here.

Learn more review materials here: Free Practice Tests for ACT Science

Last Minute ACT Test Prep

1. When doing a practice test, analyze your wrong answers

ACT Practice test

Don’t focus only on your scores on the ACT practice test that you’ve taken. Be particular about your mistakes as well. This is the part where you’ll have to consider your weaknesses and improve on your problem areas. Target a specific topic in the test and analyze why you find some questions difficult to answer. For every incorrect answer, understand where you got it wrong and figure out the method that you should have applied to arrive at the right answer.

Related Topic: ACT Test Introduction, Registration, Dates & Score

2. Check your pacing and your timing

ACT test timing

Taking ACT practice tests should give you a sense of how you should pace and handle your time during the test. The key here is for you to be not overwhelmed during the ACT test day as well. The experience of a rigid time pressure should not frazzle you. In your test prep, observe how you feel when answering questions in 30 seconds and 1 minute. How do those short periods of time affect you when reading and answering the questions? This is how it would feel in the real ACT test environment.

We have: Free ACT Math Practice Tests

What To Do On The Day Of The ACT Test

3. Sleep early in the night before the test

Night before ACT test

Have at least 7 to 9 hours of sleep and wake up an hour before you leave for the test. This way, your senses, especially your brain will feel alert when you arrive at your test center.

Related Topic: ACT Registration and Requirements

4. Eat a healthy breakfast

Healthy breakfast before ACT test

Your breakfast should be protein-filled in the morning before you take the ACT test. The foods that you eat should make you feel energetic, not sluggish. Eggs, chicken, and fish are a great source of protein. If you don’t feel like eating your breakfast, you can try munching a handful of nuts or a bar of granola. If you normally drink coffee, do so. Otherwise, don’t force it because coffee can make you feel anxious and nervous if you’re new to it.

We have Practice Test that you can use: ACT English Practice Tests

5. Dress comfortably

Dress comfortably

Dress for ACT success, so to speak, and that means dressing for comfort. Take layers of clothing with you so you won’t be distracted by a too hot or too cold temperature or weather. On the night before the test, pack up everything you need so you won’t forget anything, especially if you’re a bit slow in the morning.

Related Topic: ACT Practice Test

What To Do During The ACT Test

6. Keep your calm and focus on what you are doing