Actually the max score is 36. But to improve your score, don’t panic about the time. Just get through the questions as quickly as possible and if a question is too hard, skip it (and go back to it later) so that you can answer all the easy questions correctly. I agree with the others – read the questions first before the passage so you know what you’re looking for. That way you won’t have to reread the passage at all.

And you said you didn’t practice beforehand so you should definitely take a timed practice test before you take the ACT again. Just get a prep book (like the Real ACT Prep Book or Kaplan) and time yourself. That way you will know what to expect and how to pace yourself.

Last tip: if you don’t make it through all the questions and there are like 10 seconds left, just guess on the last few because then at least you have a chance of getting them right and there is no penalty for guessing on the ACT.

During the reading section, read the questions first, to determine what information you will need to focus on before you start reading the passage. After a quick once-over of the questions, begin reading the passage, referring back to answer questions from time to time.

The worst thing you can do during a test is to get nervous. Remember, a test is a “picture” of your academic abilities. If it were taken on a different day, under different circumstances, you might score differently. Don’t place too much pressure on yourself. You will do your personal best when you allow yourself to realize that whatever you do will be a reflection of your best possible performance on that day.

Other test-taking strategies:

1. Read all options for a multiple-choice question before choosing the BEST one. Remember, you are choosing the BEST possible answer given. It may not be the answer that you think is “right”, but it will be the best choice among the ones given.

2. On written essay responses, make sure that you proofread for spelling and grammar. You are being assessed on content and usage.

3. Pace yourself. Expect to spend about 1-2 minutes per question. If you get stumped on a single question, skip it, and come back to it at the end of that section. Just mark the answer sheet, so that you don’t mess up the sequence of your answers.

4. Don’t cram for the SAT or ACT (or any other standardized tests like these). These tests are not meant to assess your strengths with any particular content, but to determine how well you comprehend and work with ideas. You will be using the same skills that you use every day when learning new material in school.

Good luck on your tests.

nicely for my area for me, the ACT grow to be plenty less difficult. Even without prep, I have been given a score of 32/36. ACT continues to be to no longer boot known, yet to exceptionally much all faculties, ACT= SAT. there is not any distinction between the two assessments. additionally, the technological know-how factor for ACT slightly calls so which you will have any expertise of sciences. maximum of it particularly is displaying you a lab and their consequences, and that they ask you questions approximately it. (that’s incredibly like examining comprehension yet with technological know-how.) confident, the mathematics does contain trig, so it particularly is ultimate in case you end pre-calc first. And the grammar and examining comprehension is plenty less difficult for the ACT. additionally, for the ACT you do not get penalized for answering a question incorrect. fairly, you earnings factors for each question you answer wisely. And the essay is non-compulsory (however i do advise writing one for the reason that maximum faculties require it.) So i might advise you’re taking the ACT. yet there is not any injury in taking the two the SAT and the ACT! i think of you may desire to take a prepare SAT and ACT attempt. and spot which one you do extra advantageous in in the previous you’re making a sort! 🙂

When I take reading comprehension tests, I always read the questions first then go back into the passage to look for the answers. I also circle the answers in the test booklet and go back and fill in the bubble sheet to save time.

there are certain strategies to that.. like they make the questions in a specific order so that if you do this and this, you will find the answer by the time you finish doing this.

i would seriously get some strategy guides/ prep books. there are way too many strategies out there to help. even like princeton review, barrons, kaplan, basic ones are helpful.