Photo Courtesy of Tiana Arroyo
The ACT, American College Testing, was established in 1959 and is “the leading college and career readiness test in the US,” according to the ACT Newsroom. It also measures what students have learned in school to prepare them for their first-year college coursework.
“That means you’re going to face a lot of challenging material, and your ACT® can play a big role in whether or not you get into the college of your choice. Therefore, you need to know how to study for the ACT® to ensure you get the best score possible to open up those college opportunities,” The Albert Team said.
When it comes to preparing for the ACT, taking a practice test to see where your score for each subject lies is one of the first steps to getting the best score possible.
“This may seem like we’re jumping a little ahead of the game, but by taking a practice test right away, you’ll be able to see where you are struggling and where you’ve already got the information down. A practice test will help you locate those weaknesses,” The Albert Team said.
After the practice test, you will be able to see what areas you’re weak in. After this, you can plan accordingly to help yourself for the ACT.
“Now that you’ve taken the practice test you’ll be able to see what your weak areas are and make a plan to address them thoroughly before test day. If you can identify why you struggled on the ACT® in a subject you’re typically good at, that can boost your score significantly when you address it,” The Albert Team said.
Next, you can make a study schedule that is best fit for you.
“Your study schedule needs to be easy to follow and realistic. Set aside 20-40 minutes each day to study a small portion of the test. You’ll actually be able to retain more information and you’ll be more likely to stick to the schedule. For longer study sessions, be sure to take a break every hour to stretch and refocus,” The Albert Team said.
Since the ACT is time-limited, completing each section promptly is “one of the greatest challenges students face on test day” according to The Albert Team.
“Make sure you’re familiar with the test day schedule, and are practicing with this time limit in mind. It’s great to take it slower when you’re first learning or reviewing the material, but beyond that point, you want to be conscious of how long each question is taking you,” The Albert Team said.
Even if you don’t do your best, you can retake the ACT up to 12 times, but on average, it takes students 2-3 times to achieve their testing goals. Outside of the one free test you get to take your junior year of high school, any additional testing will cost $35 and is offered on certain Saturdays throughout the year.
“Don’t get discouraged, and remember that even if you fall a little short of your score goals, the ACT® doesn’t define you or your college decision. It is only one part of your profile as an applicant, and there are a ton of great colleges out there for a wide range of ACT® scores. Study hard, give your best effort, and when in doubt, guess!” The Albert Team said.
