As we all know, the ACT is incredibly stressful and nearly impossible to finish. Whose idea was it to make a 4 to 5 hour long test, in which no one can finish. Rhetorically speaking of course because you occasionally come across the master minds who finish the whole test without missing a single point, achieving a score of 36. However, this is extremely rare. So then there's me, waltzing in with my sweatpants and glasses making myself as comfortable as I can be just to realize how slow I am at test taking. Every test I take I am always the last one and trust me I realize this because it makes me nervous and anxious to finish the test, which also results in me filling in wrong answers. My peers all know this is true because even during the multiple choice tests I am constantly the last one to turn in the wrong answers. The ACT truly made me realize how slow I am when the supervisor yells out "5 more minutes!" and I've only answered a little more then half of the questions. Settling with a score of 23, I know it's not too great, so I hope this Saturday that will change. Of course, this means I have to swiftly go through each section whilst carefully answering each question with great thought and wisdom.
Each section is different when it comes to how much time you have and how many questions you need to answer. My personal opinion is that the Reading section is by far the most difficult for me. As ironic as it may seem, just hear me out. Like our cold multiple choice tests, the ACT requires you to read multiple short stories, followed by a series of questions pertaining to the story you just read. However, unlike the 2 stories, 10 questions each, and the whole class period like in our AP class, the ACT has 4 stories, 10 questions each, and 35 minutes! Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe there are 5 other questions littered in the Reading section making it 45 questions in 35 minutes. I believe that this is the predicament. So how does any human being plan on finishing this section? I know, I myself, have never finished this section yet and probably won't any time soon. Sorry Mrs. Wood, but it is just not happening.
The science section is almost nothing like any science I have ever learned. The ACT provides you with multiple pictures followed by a series of questions referring to those pictures. In the questions, it makes you look at all of the pictures, compare the pictures and the "possible outcomes," and makes you predict the answer yourself, There is no biology, anatomy, or even chemistry which I know all quite well, because it's what I've learned. I can't recall a time where I've second guessed myself more than the science section of the ACT. Once again, you have a shortened period of time to answer more questions then you have minutes, making you panic and basically hallucinate. How many times you freak out during a test definitely determines your future, obviously.
The ACT is also full of surprises. I say this of course because throughout the years of high school, my resentment for math has increased to the highest level. However, once I finally got back my test scores, after waiting about a month, I realized my highest score was in math. With a slight idea of what I want to go to college for, math plays a minuscule part in my future. Science, however, is an enormous part, especially for nursing. So once I realized that science was my lowest I was pretty upset. Not only with myself but with the ACT because if it actually tested me on science related subjects I would've done exceptionally better.
The writing portion (if you take it) just adds onto the pressure of taking the ACT. You sit there with your fabulous #2 pencil and realize you have no idea how to explain and describe what they are asking you to write about. Then you sit and wonder how you won't sound mindless to the mystical creatures that grade you ACT who, most likely, just sit there and laugh at you and your writings.
Overall, the ACT has brought nothing but anxiety and sadness to me and my Saturdays. If you have taken it then you can relate to me and my problems concerning this monstrosity of a test. I don't understand how taking a test that basically sets you up for failure gets to determine your future. What concerns me the most is that college professors will look at my 23 and will instantly turn me down. So hopefully I will be able to conquer the ACT on Saturday resulting in a score of 25 or higher, to prove to all the high school and college professors that I'm not an illiterate football player like everyone seems to label me as.
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