In preparing for the ACT, I heard one thing above all else– the ACT is a faster-paced test with easier questions. Intrigued, I took my first practice test. English, mathematics, reading and science each nearly had more than 1 question for each minute they gave you, with English nearly having 2 questions per minute! I struggled to adjust to the new format and left what must have been 20 questions blank. And the science section was entirely new to me. Over time, though, I adjusted to the quicker pace. Most questions needed a quick check and were good to go compared to SAT questions, which often involved nearly-right answers in reading and many steps in math. I figured out that Science was kind of like reading with data, and I scored consistently higher on practice. Come test day, I felt very confident going in. The test experience was very much like the SAT, what with quiet scribbles on papers stretching from the early morning into the afternoon. After finishing the last question, feeling like I had just run a marathon, I felt very good. Later, I found out that I got a 36!
