ACT assessment
I took the ACT this past Saturday, and I'd like to tell you about my experiences. While the questions on the ACT are definitely not very difficult, the test can actually be quiet testing. Testing of my patience that is. I definitely would have liked more time to complete my test. What is the purpose of timed tests anyways? With just 5 or 10 more minutes for each section on the ACT, I guarantee my score would be several points better. Timed tests are LAME.
Why do we have to have timed tests? I understand that there needs to be a standardized time for everyone to take the test sometimes, but why is it so short? Get this. On the ACT, you have 30 minutes to complete 40 questions. On the reading section, this wasn't too much of an obstacle, as all you had to do was read a short passage and ask straightforward questions about the context. However, on the Science and Reasoning section it is a little more difficult to move at this pace. Each series of questions consists of several charts, graphs, and tables with paragraphs of text to boot. It is quite impossible to read all this data, then the question, and then go back to the charts to find the answer. I figured this out after about the first set of questions and so I didn't read the data before the questions. I still was quite pressed for time.
Now, I am no dummy. If I had problems with this, there are countless others who had similar troubles. I noticed, however, that many of the students in my testing room seemed to be finished with their tests comfortably before the time expired. My conclusion of this is that these students either A) Guessed or rushed through at least several of the questions. Or B) Are smarter than me. Now, since we all know that option B is quite improbable, the only feasible option is that they had the same problems as me.
It is my belief that the ACT Testmakers should reconsider the amount of time they allow on the test. I also cut my English and Mathematics times quite closely. If I do not receive an outstanding score the only reason is the time allotment. Since when is intelligence a race? If given the proper amount of time, I believe I could achieve near 100% on the ACT. If only.
Why do we have to have timed tests? I understand that there needs to be a standardized time for everyone to take the test sometimes, but why is it so short? Get this. On the ACT, you have 30 minutes to complete 40 questions. On the reading section, this wasn't too much of an obstacle, as all you had to do was read a short passage and ask straightforward questions about the context. However, on the Science and Reasoning section it is a little more difficult to move at this pace. Each series of questions consists of several charts, graphs, and tables with paragraphs of text to boot. It is quite impossible to read all this data, then the question, and then go back to the charts to find the answer. I figured this out after about the first set of questions and so I didn't read the data before the questions. I still was quite pressed for time.
Now, I am no dummy. If I had problems with this, there are countless others who had similar troubles. I noticed, however, that many of the students in my testing room seemed to be finished with their tests comfortably before the time expired. My conclusion of this is that these students either A) Guessed or rushed through at least several of the questions. Or B) Are smarter than me. Now, since we all know that option B is quite improbable, the only feasible option is that they had the same problems as me.
It is my belief that the ACT Testmakers should reconsider the amount of time they allow on the test. I also cut my English and Mathematics times quite closely. If I do not receive an outstanding score the only reason is the time allotment. Since when is intelligence a race? If given the proper amount of time, I believe I could achieve near 100% on the ACT. If only.
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