ACT Writing Test Tips for Students with Writer Block is a blog post that is set to help ACT test candidates achieve their aim or goal in their ACT test. The ACT writing test can be a challenging task, most especially for students who struggle seriously with writer’s block. We are set to provide expert tips and ways of overcoming writer’s block to be able to achieve a high score on the ACT writing test.
Writer’s block is a common occurrence or event where students find it difficult to generate ideas, think critically and logically, organize their thoughts together, and write coherently. This is not just an ordinary phenomenon but it certainly has a cause. It is caused by factors such as anxiety, fear, and stress and these are mainly environmental, psychological, and social factors.
It is sometimes a common occurrence because almost thirty percent of people pass through this. This challenge can be overcome with constant practice, preparation before tests and examinations, and looking for the best strategies to learn for quick grasping and understanding.
ACT Writing Test Tips For Students With Writers Block
1. Practice, Practice, Practice: Regular writing practice can help you develop your writing skills and build confidence.
2. Brainstorming Techniques: Use techniques like mind mapping, freewriting, and listing to generate ideas.
3. Create an Outline: Organize your thoughts and structure your essay with a clear outline.
4. Take Breaks: Take short breaks to refresh your mind and avoid burnout.
5. Seek Inspiration: Read sample essays, articles, and books to spark your creativity.
6. Get Feedback: Join a study group or seek feedback from teachers or mentors.
7. Stay Calm and Focused: Use relaxation techniques like deep breathing, meditation, or yoga to manage stress and anxiety.
These ACT Writing Test Tips For Students With Writers Block, if well implemented, will help students overcome this usual occurrence of forgetfulness and poor organization of thoughts and ideas during tests. These tips are reserved for students with writer’s block issues and can be implemented in a situation that concerns examinations.
Students can also include these additional strategies such as using transitional phrases and connecting words to link ideas when studying. In most cases, it is suggested that students should use phrases that are easy to remember while some use tools like songs, voice notes, and flashcards to remember what they have studied.
It is also considered useful for students to use very clear and concise language that they can understand and that conveys the message well rather than using ambiguous words. Using ambiguous words in learning can lead to students forgetting easily what they have learned.
ACT Writing Test Tips For Students With Writers Block On Test Day
Proper planning they say prevents poor performance. Students who have this common issue of writer’s block should follow these tips to prepare well before the main date of the test.
- A paper printed format of your registration and admission slip which serves as your ticket into the test hall. Remember, this slip should have been printed out on the day of registration.
- An identity card that bears your photograph identification such as your student card or international passport.
- A calculator that is acceptable such as a scientific calculator. Note that digital and some modern calculators that have other features are not accepted because they can be termed examination malpractice.
- A well-sharpened HB pencil, an eraser, and a pencil sharpener.
- The candidates are also allowed to come into the hall with a wristwatch, i.e. one that makes no alarm sound.
Nowadays, it is a kneejerk reaction to grab your cell phone when you have a free moment, but do not do that while you take the ACT—even during the break in the middle of the exam. Doing so will result in immediate dismissal, and your phone might be confiscated.
According to ACT rules, any electronic device (other than the approved calculator and a basic wristwatch) must be off and out of sight from the moment you enter the test room until the exam is over. That includes headphones, fitness bands, and smartwatches—any device that can be used to connect to the Internet, record things, or communicate.
Keep in mind that you also won’t be able to consume snacks or drinks—even water—while you are taking the test, but you can do so during the break. (There is a break after the first two tests, and if you are taking the writing test, you will have a second break before that.)
Basic Rules to Keep in Mind
It is unlikely that the ACT will be your first standardized test, so you’re probably well aware of the basic rules—no talking to fellow test takers and no cheating. Make sure that you’re also familiar with these other, less obvious guidelines for taking the ACT
- You can not skip ahead or return to a different test or test section in your test booklet or answer sheet, even if you’re trying to erase a stray mark.Your calculator may be on your desk only during the math test, and you cannot share a calculator with someone else.
- In most cases, you would not be allowed to use scrap paper. (For certain sections, the test administrator may hand out special scrap paper for you to use.)
- Even during the break and after the exam, you are not allowed to discuss any of the content you encountered on the exam.
- Make sure all of your electronic devices are turned off—if any alarms sound during the exam, you will be dismissed.
Can Study Improve Your ACT score?
Yes, study is the best thing to embrace that can improve your ACT score. Some students choose simply to walk into the hall on test day without any preparation, while others must have spent much time studying.
This means that if you plan to study for the ACT by using only flashcards or drills, your score may not significantly improve. For instance, there is no list of ACT vocabulary words to master, although knowing more words can not hurt.
However, there are many concepts that you need to know, and the creators of the ACT have made those concepts public. If you didn’t grasp them in school, now is the time to nail them down.
In some cases, you may not have been taught certain skills or your instructors may have simply mentioned them in passing. This may be especially true of less-common writing and grammar rules that appear on the English test. In these cases, of course, studying in advance is crucial and could have a big impact on your score.
This also applies to the math and science tests—if you don’t know a certain math formula or scientific concept, you’ll be stuck on the exam. Targeting these gaps in your knowledge and filling them in should have a direct effect on your score.
Remove Any Obstacles to a High Score
This leads us to another important way that preparation can help your score. Unlike on other exams, on the ACT there are no tricks for “psyching out” the answers to questions even if you don’t know the material. You actually have to know the concepts that appear on the test. This means that to get the highest score possible, you need to remove any barrier to showing what you know.
One barrier is working slowly and not finishing the exam; an unanswered question is just as harmful to your score as an incorrect answer—both count as zero. Since there are no point deductions for wrong answers, it makes the most sense to try to answer all questions.
Before test day, make sure that you fully understand the format of each section of the exam and that you have taken at least one practice test. Even though you can’t predict the content of the questions, you’ll be comfortable with how they’re presented and worded—which means you will be able to focus all of your time on showing your knowledge and finding the correct answers.
