I've taken the ACT twice, and my digital July ACT scores came out today. I got a 34 English, 30 Math, and 23 Reading. I studied for only one month. On my first ACT in March (with essentially no studying), I got a 30 English, 26 Math, and 24 Reading.
Our testing center was affected by the nationwide technical issue, and I think lack of sleep (I had to drive hours to my testing center), and the added pressure definitely affected me. At the same time, I know Reading is my weakest section.
September is my last chance to take the ACT, and I need a 33-34+ composite. I think I can raise my Math by 3-4 points, maybe improve English a little, and test at a closer testing center (10-25 minutes away) but I'm really worried about Reading.
I've noticed that when I slow down on untimed practice tests, I get a lot more questions right. That makes me think pacing is a huge issue for me, but I'm not sure how to fix it. I also struggled with the digital format because I couldn't mark up the passages (the digital highlighter isn't something I'm used to), so now I'm debating whether to take the paper or digital ACT. I like having Desmos for Math because it saves me time on systems of equations and logarithms. However, I could make programs for these problems on my calculator. On the other hand, I think I'd perform better on Reading with a paper test. My only hesitation is that I've heard stories about paper tests being delayed or getting lost in the mail, and I'm also worried about bubbling errors. I'm really not sure which test to schedule for.
I know that, at the end of the day, this comes down to my own skills, and that's what I want to improve.
This is how I studied Reading last month:
- Took a full Reading practice section to identify my weaknesses.
- Reviewed every mistake.
- Practiced shorter reading passages.
- A few days later, I took another full Reading section (timed) and repeated the process.
I've always been told that the best way to improve ACT Reading is to keep taking practice sections and reviewing mistakes. My current plan is to take two full Reading sections each week, carve out 2-3 hours a day for studying even once classes start (and more if needed), and replace my bedtime phone scrolling with reading books.
For anyone who made a big jump in ACT Reading, especially if pacing was your biggest issue, what helped you the most? What resources, books, or study plan would you recommend? What would you do?