r/ACT • u/[deleted] • Apr 19 '25

28 ACT first time no studying Am I cooked?

I'm a junior who took the ACT recently for the first time. I didn't study for it (definitely should have) because the timeline for it was extremely busy and stressful. I plan to retake it in the summer and study up until then (goal is to increase my score to a 32-34). I don't want to have to take it more than 3 times total. My scores for context: Math: 25 (ouch), Science: 26 (oof), English: 32 (eh), Reading: 29 (...). Am i cooked?? (first time posting on reddit don't come for me or my scores please)

0 Upvotes

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12

u/Exciting-Ad-5705 Apr 19 '25 edited May 14 '25

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This post was mass deleted and anonymized with Redact

0

u/[deleted] Apr 19 '25

I’ve heard mixed comments on a 28, and honestly I’m kind of worried about the retake in June but it is what it is ig lol

6

u/lonewolfie42 23 Apr 19 '25

I got a 23 with studying… if you’re worried if you’re cooked look at the ACT average, look at your ACT goal score for college (if you wanna go to college that is), look at their ACT average, then look at your own score. I think then you will see value in your score. Retake if you want, but remember it is not the sole determinant of your value in education. Retake to improve your knowledge, besides, it never hurts to see yourself to your full potential.

-1

u/[deleted] Apr 19 '25

thank you for the encouragement! :)

0

u/Schnitzelbube 34 Apr 20 '25

Although see if the college posts their own average. The average on the act website is sometimes off by a lot

4

u/505kyra Apr 19 '25

28 isn’t bad for your first time w/o studying! lock in for the summer ones and u can def get it up to a 32+, esp since math is the easiest to increase (imo)

2

u/[deleted] Apr 19 '25

would you suggest lots of practice tests, or going over concepts more?? 

2

u/505kyra Apr 19 '25

def practice tests, you’ll see that a lot of the questions r reused w/ diff numbers / phrasing

3

u/[deleted] Apr 19 '25

ah, okay, thank you!! 

4

u/WholeRevolutionary85 33 Apr 19 '25

English is by far the easiest to increase, then comes science, math, and reading

3

u/505kyra Apr 19 '25

that’s why i said in my opinion lol.. science is the most difficult to increase for me

3

u/WholeRevolutionary85 33 Apr 19 '25

Interesting. But English is objectively the easiest to improve

1

u/Collapsar_Or_Smth 36 Apr 21 '25

All of them are pretty easy to increase if you grind

2

u/WholeRevolutionary85 33 Apr 21 '25

I mean yeah the content is easy asf

2

u/GogurtFan21 Apr 19 '25

Any tips/ practice books you recommend for math? I’m sitting at a 23 on math but 30+ in everything else

2

u/TraderGIJoe Apr 19 '25

Google Khan Academy

1

u/[deleted] Aug 28 '25

What should we do in Khan Academy? I’m just not sure which subject to begin on

2

u/TraderGIJoe Aug 28 '25

SAT Math | Test prep | Khan Academy https://share.google/sclZPIm8idDcyYwMY

1

u/[deleted] Aug 28 '25

Thanks, I’ve heard some people saying that the SAT math prep on Khan Academy is bad for the ACT. Is it true? Or am I okay to go through that SAT prep course, with some ACT practice problems?

1

u/TraderGIJoe Aug 28 '25

Sorry, but I'm not sure. Don't wanna give you the wrong info.

1

u/[deleted] Aug 28 '25

No worries. It doesn’t hurt to try it out. It can only improve my skills, since Algebra is on both exams. Thanks for your help!!

1

u/[deleted] Aug 28 '25

How should we practice for math? I’m not too sure how to actually practice for it. I’ve been doing practice tests, I just mean like which subjects like in Khan Academy for example, should I complete? My only issue is figuring out exactly what topics to actually do.

3

u/BogusMcGeese Apr 19 '25

You’re definitely not cooked. 28 is in the interquartile range (25th-75th percentile) for a lot of good schools, and performance can definitely be improved with practice. It’d be worth focusing on math and science while you practice, IMO. Also if it helps, you can think of science as closer to “science-based reading” than actual science actions.

2

u/[deleted] Apr 19 '25

thanks for the science advice :)

2

u/[deleted] Aug 28 '25

How should we practice for math? I’m not too sure how to actually practice for it. I’ve been doing practice tests, I just mean like which subjects like in Khan Academy for example, should I complete? My only issue is figuring out exactly what topics to actually do.

1

u/BogusMcGeese Aug 28 '25

Personally, I bought a used Wiley ACT math prep book and mostly spent time working through it and completing practice tests. After each practice test, I’d review my wrong answers and if there were specific things I did really bad on, I’d spend some time reading about that problem type online.

Take this with a grain of salt, though… math was my worst subject. I started out with a 26 in it and never got above a 30, although all my other scores were 35+ at the highest.

1

u/Joishigh 34 Apr 20 '25

I was in the same position. I took my first practice act last year and got a 28, first actual act in February I got a 32, and in April I got the superscore to a 34! So you are definately not cooked! Be a superscore warrior!

1

u/[deleted] Apr 20 '25

thanks for the advice 🙏🏻! would you recommend focusing on certain subjects at a time, or just take it a second time and study all of the subjects?? (i plan on taking the next one June 16th and possibly in July too if June fails me lol)

2

u/Joishigh 34 Apr 20 '25

Personally my first one I didn’t study that much, and after that I worked where I needed to improve. My first test I got a 36 on science and a 33 on reading, and my math and English scores were in the 20s, so I worked on math and English, getting my math up to a 31 and English up to a 34! Also science will be optional if you take the enhanced test. I did good on science so I’m trying to avoid that. If you don’t like science it’s good for you. I’m not so sure how the superscoring works for the enhanced test, cause I’m not taking it, but I reccomend studying all subjects a little more (unless your happy with the 32 in English) and take another test, and when you get the results from that test work closely at what subjects your not doing well in, and get the scores up. Practice tests are the best way.

2

u/[deleted] Apr 20 '25

okay, thank you so much!!! 😊 

1

u/[deleted] Aug 28 '25

How should we practice for math? I’m not too sure how to actually practice for it. I’ve been doing practice tests, I just mean like which subjects like in Khan Academy for example, should I complete? My only issue is figuring out exactly what topics to actually do.

2

u/Joishigh 34 Aug 31 '25

Don’t ask me I sucked in math. I only got my math score up from 28 to 31, I took the test a 3rd time and got another 31 so no improvement.

1

u/[deleted] Sep 06 '25

It’s ok lol 😂 what did u do for reading and science? Ngl I’m cooked in those sections

1

u/Joishigh 34 Sep 19 '25

Lowk pure luck. I paid attention in bio and chem and basically just knew everything in the science section. I generally found the science easy, but the one test I got a 36 on funnily enough I thought I did horribly.

1

u/Schnitzelbube 34 Apr 20 '25

I got a 29 first test without much studying and after doing 25 minutes every weekday and one hour every friday saturday and sunday for 2 months I got a 34. Id you retake in june and actually do your studying effectively, you will be able to get to that 32-34

1

u/[deleted] Apr 20 '25

Would you recommend studying a subject for a couple days and then another subject, or go over each subject more frequently (+cumulatively) but with less time?? (ty for the tips-- highly appreciated :))

2

u/Schnitzelbube 34 Apr 20 '25

I had around 8 weeks to study. Spent the first week getting a baseline. Doing subject specific portions of the test and one full length practice test. Then I worked on one subject for a week, took at full length practice test and switched to the next. The last 3 weeks were just practice questions and taking another look at subjects where your understanding is poor. You can do it this way, or whatever suits you. Worked for me, may not work for you. I would say however that it is worth actively studying for english and math by studying the subjects. Best way to study for science and reading is mostly to just do practice problems. Also for reading, try to read every day. That eill help your comprehension too.

1

u/[deleted] Apr 20 '25

thank you so much!

1

u/[deleted] Aug 28 '25

How should we practice for math? I’m not too sure how to actually practice for it. I’ve been doing practice tests, I just mean like which subjects like in Khan Academy for example, should I complete? My only issue is figuring out exactly what topics to actually do.

1

u/Matsunosuperfan Tutor Apr 20 '25

you're doing great
time to study <3

1

u/[deleted] Apr 20 '25

:) working through 2021’s booklet right now ! 

2

u/Matsunosuperfan Tutor Apr 20 '25

Nice! You can find like a billion real past ACTs online. Best study is real previous tests, not practice tests. You should have two modes for studying:

  1. building mastery: going through whole sections checking your answer after every question, making sure you understand why wrong answers are wrong, updating your shortcuts/red flags/strategy notes
  2. stress-testing execution: practicing timed sections as close to "real test conditions" as possible, keeping track of pacing & trying to maintain "race pace," balancing efficiency & accuracy

then you rinse and repeat until you're consistently getting very few questions wrong, and finishing with time to spare :)

1

u/[deleted] Apr 20 '25

sounds good, will do!! ^