Does the ACT try to trick you?

If you skip around with your guesses, you're probably not guessing randomly, which means you're more likely to fall prey to the ACT's traps. The test will try to trick you with answer choices that seem more likely to be correct at first glance but are purposely placed there to ensnare unwitting students.

What is the trick to the ACT?

Forget the right answer—find the wrong ones.

Multiple-choice tests offer one great advantage: They provide the correct answer right there on the page. ACT hides the correct answer behind wrong ones, but when you cross off just one or two wrong answers, the correct answer can become more obvious.

Does ACT penalize wrong answers?

Myth 1: You get penalized for filling in wrong answers. There is no penalty for guessing on the ACT. Never, ever, ever, leave any answers blank. You have a 25% chance of getting the question right if you guess.

Why is the ACT so hard for me?

1 Strict Time Constraints. The structure of the ACT makes it difficult for some test-takers. Consider the English section. You'll get just 45 minutes to answer 75 questions, meaning you'll need to answer a question every 36 seconds to complete the section in time.

What is the most common answer on ACT?

For most of the ACT, there is no “best” letter to guess. Except… at the end of the Math section — then there is a best letter to guess on the ACT. Most people (and tutors) tell students that, if they have no idea on a question, to just guess answer choice “C” — the middle answer on most multiple choice tests.

ACT Tips & Tricks that ACTUALLY work (minimal studying) in 2024

Is a 14 good or bad on the ACT?

Each section has a test score range of 1-36: Below Average Score Range: 1-16. Average Score Range: 17-24. Above Average Score Range: 25-36.

Why is C always the answer?

I'm sure you've heard this at some point “if you don't know the answer, always guess C. because it's the most common correct option”. That's just a myth, and generally there are no most common answers on multiple choice tests.

Is it OK to not take the ACT?

The SAT and ACT may be optional for you to take, depending on what colleges you decide to apply to. When building your college list, be sure to take note of which schools do and don't require test scores so you know what to expect when it's time to apply.

Is a 21 on ACT bad?

Is 21 a good ACT score? A 21 ACT score puts you right at the national average, making you eligible to apply to a number of schools. It offers you a slight competitive edge, but won't make you competitive for most selective schools.

Is it easy to get a 27 on the ACT?

A 27 ACT score puts you at the 85th percentile, meaning you scored higher than 85% of test takers.

Can retaking the ACT hurt you?

You can take the ACT up to 12 times, and many students end up taking the test between 2-3 times before applying to college. Most colleges are neutral about multiple scores. Many students, in fact, make score improvements by retaking the ACT. Give yourself time to improve before you begin filling out applications.

Is it better to guess or skip on the ACT?

Guessing on the ACT, SAT, or PSAT does two things: it increases your odds of getting a correct answer, and it makes strategic use of your time by letting you focus your energy (and time) on questions that you know how to do.

Is C usually the correct answer?

So, ultimately, guessing C (or any letter!) will give you the correct answer only a statistical 25% of the time (20% on the math section). Which means it's NOT true that choosing C will give you a better rate of success than choosing any other letter for your blind guessing.

How do you outsmart the ACT?

Is a 13 bad for the ACT?

Scores below a 15 on the ACT are considered low at just about any four-year college. You can overcome low scores with a great GPA or an outstanding college application. But even if you're accepted, the school may ask you to take some remedial courses before enrolling.

Is a 28 bad on ACT?

With a score of 28, you are in the 91st percentile of all test takers. More likely than not, with a score of 28, you'll often be in or near the commonly accepted range at highly selective colleges. The exception may be the Ivy League where the score required may be higher than 30 on average.

Is a 27 bad on the ACT?

Let's first answer your question – Is 27 a good ACT score? Yes, it is. With a 27 ACT score, you can get into very good schools. It equals 85%, which is quite higher than the average score, so, if you have got a 27 ACT, good job!

Has anyone gotten a 1 on the ACT?

The absolute minimum ACT score you can get is a 1, although this is very unlikely to happen. You might be more worried about getting a score high enough to get into college.

What's the lowest ACT score to get into college?

What is the lowest ACT score a college will accept? In general, many US colleges and universities accept applicants with 16 or 17 ACT scores. In fact, an ACT score of 16 or lower is accepted by 33 schools. On the other hand, an ACT score of 17 or lower is accepted by 58 schools.

Does ACT affect GPA?

The simple answer is yes, a high SAT/ACT score can make up for a low GPA. Because your Academic Index is based on grades and test scores, a strong performance on the SAT or ACT can buoy a disappointing GPA.

Is the SAT or ACT easier?

The SAT is not harder than the ACT. Both tests vary slightly in terms of subjects covered and structure. These variations can affect each test-taker differently, making one exam more challenging than the other. Taking full-length practice tests of each type can help you determine which may be best suited for you.

Can the ACT mess up scores?

The College Board (SAT) and the ACT both use computerized scoring processes, which is why there is so much emphasis on filling in those ovals completely with a dark pencil. But, occasionally the machines make a mistake, or a student loses track on the answer sheet and fills in a row of answers in the wrong spots.

Is it better to leave questions blank on the ACT?

If you can't eliminate even one of the multiple choice answers as being wrong, it is better to leave a blank question on your test form than to randomly guess. Blank answers are neutral. They do not count towards or against your score.

Should I guess on the SAT or leave it blank?

Remember, there's no SAT guessing penalty. You should always answer all questions, even if you need to guess. Educated guessing gives you the best chance of achieving a higher SAT score when you get stuck.

Is your first answer always right?

It turns out that people tend to stick with their first answers – a phenomenon that is called the first instinct fallacy (1). Now, given that this is labelled a fallacy already tells you what the better choice would have been: Revising your first answers!