Scoring High on the ACT Test: Use All Your Senses to Study

Getting a high score on the ACT test is critical to getting into the college of your choice and winning scholarships to be able to afford it. Finding enough time to study for the ACT is not easy, so the time you do have is precious and should be used to its maximum effectiveness. Simply sitting and reading textbooks is the least effective way to study, and frustration trying to remember what you studied can cause Test Anxiety and poor test performance.

There is Good News:

The more of your senses that you can involve in studying, the easier it will be to retain what you are learning and the more interesting and less boring studying will be! There are several ways that we learn, and the more of these ways that we incorporate into our studying, the more we will learn and retain.

Don't Just Read... Listen!

The way that the overwhelming majority of education is set up today involves you just reading words on a page. This is sad, because "seeing" the information just uses one of your senses. It is so much better to see AND hear the information. This goes for everybody - the more we both see and hear, the more we will retain.

However, it is even more critical for some people, who are what is referred to as "Auditory Learners." These people take in information best when they are hearing it. This kind of person says "just tell me and I'll remember" and doesn't want you to draw them a map to give them directions. (Those that want a map or diagram are called "Visual Learners.") The auditory person remembers all the lyrics to a song, because they HEARD them. They can 'pick up' a language just by listening. And these people have the toughest time learning and retaining information by just reading.

How Do I Study by Listening?

The easiest way is to always read aloud. Believe it or not, this helps you learn and retain in THREE ways. First, you are seeing, second, you are hearing and third, you are "doing" by reading aloud with your mouth. By reading aloud, you are "doing" in that you are more actively involved in the studying.

Another Great Idea

In addition to merely reading aloud, you can take a video course on the ACT, where you will be reading along in your study guide while hearing and seeing the teacher on the screen. One such course is the College Exam Tutor course, which is divided into 20 minute video lessons. College Exam Tutor also has a Daily 60 Second Video Tip that you can subscribe to and get in your email inbox every day, so that you get a daily reminder to keep on track for studying. One of the best ways to eliminate Test Anxiety, build confidence, and get a great ACT Test Score is by studying a little bit every day.