How to increase your Test Scores and Knock It Out of the Park

One of my students Matt knocked the ACT score out of the park. This increase in his test score changed his scholarship from good to GREAT! It took effort and you can do it too! Matt specifically mentions the ACT, however the methodology can be applied to the SAT, P-SAT and even APs!

Here’s what I believe bumped up my score:

Taking the ACT 3 times helped me get used to the test format. (*Matt took the SAT and ACT and did better on the ACT. He will supply the college his ACT scores. Matt did not wait until his senior year to start taking the tests, start early. High achieving student should start as early as 7^thgrade. When Matt took the ACT his second time, he got the same test score just like the first time he took the test. The reason his score did not change was because he did not do any prep between the first and second tests. Before he took it a third time, he studied the prep book and videos.)
I went to the same testing center almost every time I’ve taken the ACT or SAT, so I knew where I was driving to and I knew where in the school to go to check in.
Taking the test with people from my school who I am well acquainted with helped relax me before the test. Also talking to them in the morning before the test helped wake me up.
Practice tests from “The Real ACT Prep Guide” book made an authentic test feel where I could time myself and bubble in answers. My improvement in the sections made me more confident in myself. (*Matt reviewed one section from the book areas that he needed to improve in. He reviewed the book 3-4 times a week about 30 minutes each section for two months.*** Use an official Prep Book from CollegeBoard or an official prep book from ACT. Using a prep book from another company or unofficial book will not produce the same results.)
Snack for the break. I felt a significant difference on the second half of the ACT when I didn’t have a snack the second time I took it than when I did have a snack the third time. (*Being distracted because of grumbling hunger can cost you points)
Lay everything out that I was bringing for the test the night before. (Pencils, ID, admission ticket, calculator, snack, etc.)
Getting up at 6:00 AM gave me more time to wake up. (Go to bed earlier the night before.
English (1st section) strategy: Mouth the sentences and try each possibility to mentally hear which sounds correct. (Straight from Dr. Beasley’s test strategies, how to beat the test.)
Math (2nd section) strategy: Know all formulas and don’t spend more than a minute on a question.
Critical Reading (3rd section) strategy: I find it easier to read the passage and underline key information and not have to look back at the passage when answering the questions. Time is incredibly limited for reading. (*Again straight from Dr. Beasley’s test strategies, how to beat the test.)
Science (4th section) strategy: Look at the question first then answer it using the graphs and possibly skim any paragraph information.

-Matt A. Class of 2013

Numbers 5 through 11 are straight from Dr. Beasley’s test prep videos. Review the Test Prep strategies on AZCollegePlanning.com.

Take a real live test for practice, review the videos, review an official prep book, retake. Matt took two months reviewing and studying the official prep book. [Starting review the week before or worse the night before will not produce the results you want.]

A great test score is within your grasp if you implement these ideas.

You can do it! You can craft and create a great score.