Hi, I'm Carson, Head ACT Coach at Boosted Brains
I’ve scored a 36 on the last dozen or so practice (and real) ACT tests that I’ve taken.
But I wasn't always able to do this
I was a straight-A student in high school, with ambitions to attend an elite college. But the first time I took the ACT, I was humbled very quickly. The English section tested grammar rules I hadn't thought about in years, the math section asked questions I couldn't even understand, and the reading/science sections left me with almost no time to even think.
As I walked out of the testing center, my dreams of attending a top school were shattered
Even though I somehow ended up with a very respectable score of 31 on that test, I wasn't satisfied with how I felt.
This score would barely put me on the border of being accepted at an ivy league school.
And I knew I could do better
If you've read my Bizarre ACT Math Tip, then you know that I spent 30-40 hours over the following weeks brushing up on algebra, geometry, and statistics. But I spent EVEN MORE countless hours studying grammar rules, reading passages, and tackling science problems. (psst...here's a secret: if you haven't read my Bizarre ACT Math Tip, download it for free by clicking that tiny button down below.)
I re-learned loads of information from the first few years of high school, and armed with extreme confidence from hundreds of study hours, I scheduled a realistic practice test.
And what was the result?
My score didn't even budge.
After well over one hundred hours of studying, I had nothing to show for it.
My English score went up a few points, but I actually went backwards on some of the other sections, so my composite score was still a 31.
I was clearly missing something
And this wake-up call led me to stumble upon the key that unlocked my perfect 36
Real ACT Practice Questions
Again, I spent many hundreds of hours studying—this time poring over tests that the ACT had administered in the past.
And I started recognizing patterns
There are only so many different ways that the ACT can ask a question about the same subject. And once I realized this, I started putting each question into a "bucket" with other similar questions. I dove into every real ACT I could find from the past three years.
When I had categorized every single question on a dozen real, full-length ACTs, I came up with only a handful of buckets for each section.
Again, I spent many hundreds of hours studying—this time poring over tests that the ACT had administered in the past.
And I started recognizing patterns
There are only so many different ways that the ACT can ask a question about the same subject. And once I realized this, I started putting each question into a "bucket" with other similar questions. I dove into every real ACT I could find from the past three years.
When I had categorized every single question on a dozen real, full-length ACTs, I came up with only a handful of buckets for each section.
All I had to do now was create a method to solve each bucket
I was finally on to something useful. No longer wasting my time learning subjects that didn't matter, I renewed my focus.
This is where my willingness to spend hundreds of hours studying finally paid off
After a few more weeks of preparation, I had created the most efficient method to answer every type of question that the ACT had asked in the past three years.
And shortly after implementing these methods, I scored my perfect 36
My friends and their parents took notice
And asked me if I could help with their ACT preparation. And thus, the puzzle pieces began to form what would eventually become Boosted Brains. Since then I have worked with thousands of students
on the most important test of their lives.
The ACT has the power to change the trajectory of a student's whole life. Here's how it changed mine:
I was able to use my score to:
- Gain admission to multiple top 5 schools
- Earn substantial academic scholarship offers
- Receive Division I athletic offers (even though I wasn't the best athlete)
- Gain bragging rights for scoring higher than my older brother
It also helped me land a well-paying job in investment banking—believe it or not,
your future employer will ask about your ACT score.
So whether you have the noble goal of earning scholarships to pay for college or you’re just aiming for bragging rights,
the ACT is an incredibly important test.
Fortunately, I'm here to help you reach your ACT goals.
All along my path, I've helped other students achieve their ACT goals. I started with my friends and peers in high school but didn't stop when I attended the University of Chicago. I provided ACT and SAT coaching to local high school students (mostly through volunteer work) while continuing to hone my methods and learn new quirks about these standardized tests. Even after graduating and working inhumane hours in investment banking, I still found time for the occasional ACT student.
I soon realized that the corporate world was not for me, and I returned full-time to my passion of coaching students through this pivotal test. All in all, I've spent
tens of thousands of hours coaching students for the ACT.
It's safe to say that I know a thing or two about this test.
If you want to join these students and get the most out of your ACT score, you're in the right place. Start by checking out the roadmap that I laid out showcasing step by step how to improve your ACT score. One of my students just used this roadmap to increase her score from a 22 to a 30. Click the button below to see how you can get a similar outcome.
Here are a few families who have worked with me
To take their ACT scores to the next level
If you want to see how it works, click here!
What Do Families Love About Boosted Brains?
Ava W.
Original ACT: 22
Final ACT: 30
I always did well in school but struggled with standardized tests. Carson showed me why you shouldn't study for the ACT like a normal high school test. Because I took his class, I improved my score by 8 points and earned almost $90,000 in scholarships!
Morgan H.
Original ACT: 26
Final ACT: 32
I had originally taken an SAT prep course, but the class was generic and I barely increased my score. After consulting with Carson, I decided to switch to the ACT and immediately saw myself improving. Carson made ACT classes entertaining and the videos were helpful and very easy to watch!
