The ACT English section can be challenging, but with focused practice and smart strategies, improving your score by 4+ points is entirely within reach. Whether you’re aiming for a higher college admission score or just looking to boost your performance, this guide will walk you through practical steps to help you achieve your target score. Here’s how you can raise your ACT English score and build your confidence along the way.
1. Master the Basics: Grammar and Punctuation Rules
The ACT English section is largely a test of your grammar and punctuation knowledge. While the questions might seem tricky at first, most of them follow a set pattern of rules. The more familiar you are with these, the better your chances of selecting the correct answer.
Key Grammar Areas to Focus On:
- Subject-verb agreement: Ensure that your subject and verb match in number (singular/plural).
- Pronouns: Pay attention to pronoun-antecedent agreement, ensuring pronouns match the nouns they refer to in gender and number.
- Sentence fragments and run-on sentences: These errors pop up frequently in ACT English.
- Punctuation: Comma rules, semicolons, colons, and apostrophes are all heavily tested.
You don’t need to memorize every rule, but mastering the basics will give you a strong foundation to tackle even the trickier questions.
2. Improve Sentence Structure and Clarity
The ACT English section evaluates not just your knowledge of grammar, but also your ability to choose the most effective way to communicate ideas. This means you’ll often face questions about sentence structure, word choice, and overall clarity.
What to Practice:
- Sentence flow: Is the sentence clear and easy to follow? The ACT favors sentences that convey ideas concisely and logically.
- Redundancy: Eliminate unnecessary words or phrases. For example, “absolutely essential” could simply be “essential.”
- Parallel structure: Make sure that lists or comparisons are consistent in form (e.g., “She enjoys hiking, swimming, and reading” instead of “She enjoys hiking, to swim, and reading”).
By practicing improving sentence clarity and structure, you’ll not only avoid common errors but also be able to spot opportunities for stronger sentence choices.
3. Sharpen Your Editing Skills with Rhetorical Questions
While many of the questions in the English section test grammar, a large portion focuses on rhetorical skills. You will need to decide which version of a sentence or passage is the most effective in terms of clarity, tone, and purpose.
Tips for Tackling Rhetorical Questions:
- Context matters: Always consider the passage’s tone and purpose. For example, if the passage is formal, avoid answers that introduce overly casual or colloquial language.
- Look for transitions: A strong passage flows smoothly. Questions might ask you to pick the best transition between sentences or paragraphs.
- Conciseness: Often, the best answer is the shortest and most direct, unless additional details are needed for clarity or context.
4. Practice Time Management
Time is one of the biggest challenges of the ACT English section. You have 45 minutes to answer 75 questions, which means you have an average of just 36 seconds per question. To maximize your performance:
- Move quickly: Don’t linger too long on any one question. If you’re stuck, make your best guess and move on.
- Skip tough questions: If you’re unsure of an answer, don’t waste precious time. Skip it and return to it later if you have time.
- Practice with a timer: When you’re practicing, time yourself to get used to the pacing. By the time test day arrives, you’ll have a better sense of how quickly you need to move through each passage.
5. Take Full-Length Practice Tests
One of the best ways to improve your score is to practice under actual test conditions. Full-length practice tests allow you to:
- Get a feel for the test’s timing and structure.
- Identify patterns in the types of questions you miss most often.
- Build stamina for the real test day.
Reviewing the mistakes you make during practice tests is just as important as taking the test itself. Understand why you missed a question, whether it was due to a lack of knowledge, a rushed decision, or a simple misunderstanding of the question. By doing this, you can avoid similar mistakes in the future.
6. Use The Princeton Review & Official ACT Prep Materials
When studying for the ACT, it’s essential to practice with official materials. While many third-party resources like The Princeton Review’s material can be helpful, official ACT prep books and practice tests also offer the accurate representation of the test. You’ll get a better sense of the specific question types and the level of difficulty you’ll face.
The ACT Guide and practice tests available on the ACT & The Princeton Review website are excellent resources to use for your preparation.
7. Focus on Your Weakest Areas
After taking a few practice tests, you should have a good sense of your strengths and weaknesses. Use this information to focus your studying on the areas where you’re struggling the most. For instance, if you find that you consistently miss questions related to punctuation or sentence structure, dedicate extra time to reviewing those concepts.
Focusing on your weaknesses can have a huge impact on your score. It helps you eliminate low-hanging fruit — areas where you can easily gain points with just a little extra study.
8. Review Mistakes and Track Progress
As you continue practicing, take time to review each test and each mistake you make. Understanding why you got a question wrong is key to improving. Whether it’s a misunderstanding of a rule or a time-management issue, learning from your mistakes will make you better prepared for the real test.
Track your progress over time. If your scores improve steadily on practice tests, you’re on the right track!
9. Stay Calm and Confident on Test Day
The last step is often the most overlooked: stay calm and trust your preparation. On test day, make sure you’ve gotten a good night’s sleep, eaten a healthy breakfast, and arrived at the test center early.
Don’t panic if you come across a challenging question. Stick to the strategies you’ve practiced: move quickly, trust your knowledge, and keep a steady pace throughout the test.
Conclusion:
Improving your ACT English score by 4+ points is a realistic and achievable goal if you follow these strategies. With consistent practice, smart time management, and a focus on your weaknesses, you’ll be well on your way to boosting your score. Remember, it’s not just about studying harder — it’s about studying smarter. Stay focused, stay positive, and watch your score climb!
Good luck!
How The Princeton Review Singapore Can Assist You in Acing the ACT English Section
The Princeton Review Singapore can be a valuable resource to help you excel in the ACT English section. Here are several ways they can assist you:
1. Comprehensive Test Prep Courses
The Princeton Review offers structured test prep courses that specifically focus on the ACT. Their ACT English prep is designed to cover all the essential topics, such as grammar, punctuation, sentence structure, and rhetorical skills. These courses include:
- In-depth content review: You will go over essential grammar rules and writing strategies that are crucial for success in the English section.
- Practice questions: A wide range of practice questions will be provided to familiarize you with the test format and types of questions you will face.
2. Personalized Tutoring
If you prefer one-on-one attention, The Princeton Review offers personalized tutoring services. Tutors can focus on your specific strengths and weaknesses, whether it’s grammar rules, improving sentence structure, or understanding the nuances of punctuation. This individualized approach can help accelerate your learning.
3. Test-Taking Strategies
A key element of acing the ACT English section is having the right test-taking strategies. The Princeton Review teaches students effective time-management techniques, how to tackle each question type, and how to eliminate incorrect answer choices quickly. These strategies will help you improve your accuracy and speed during the exam.
4. ACT English Practice Tests
The Princeton Review provides full-length ACT practice tests that mimic the actual exam. By taking these tests under timed conditions, you can:
- Assess your progress and identify areas that need improvement.
- Become more comfortable with the test’s format and pacing.
- Build your confidence, so you’re ready for the real thing.
5. Score Improvement Assurance
The Princeton Review often offers a score improvement assurance, which means if you don’t see a significant improvement in your score after completing their course, you may be eligible for additional support. This gives you added confidence in the effectiveness of their programs.
6. Interactive Learning Tools
Their programs include interactive tools and resources like mobile apps and online portals, which provide extra practice and on-the-go learning. These tools offer practice questions, quizzes, and explanations of the correct answers, enabling you to learn at your own pace.
7. Expert Instructors
The Princeton Review instructors are highly trained and experienced. Many of them are former test-takers who know the ACT inside and out. Their expertise allows them to provide insights and tips that can give you an edge on test day.
8. Focus on Common ACT English Pitfalls
The English section of the ACT has common traps that many students fall into. The Princeton Review helps you identify and avoid these pitfalls by teaching you how to spot errors in grammar, word choice, and punctuation. This knowledge is invaluable in improving your accuracy on the test.
9. Flexible Learning Options
Whether you prefer classroom settings, online courses, or a combination of both, The Princeton Review offers flexibility in how you can prepare. You can choose the program that best fits your schedule and learning style.
By utilizing these resources from The Princeton Review Singapore, you can build the skills and confidence needed to excel in the ACT English section.