Taking the ACT soon? Use this guide to prepare for the exam!
Aarti Kumar July 20, 2019 Resources/Tips
Every year, millions of high school sophomores, juniors and seniors sign up to take the ACT, a standardized test equivalent to the SAT. In college admissions, the ACT is reported to any college that you are applying to and is considered throughout the acceptance process. Although your ACT score is definitely not a make or break part of your application, having a high score can only help you. So today, we will cover how to achieve the score you want!
As the ACT is an extremely popular standardized test, there is definitely an abundance of test preparation materials. For prep books, check out the official ACT prep book to prepare for the ACT. Prep books are beneficial because of the practice they offer. A picture of the Official ACT prep book can be found below. You can find these prep books at local bookstores, online, and even at local libraries.
However, there are also practice resources and tests that can be found online, such as on the official ACT website. Although all of the practice resources and tests found online are not official, it can only be beneficial to utilize these resources since you will be able to practice time management and the subject areas will be relatively the same.
However, if you are unable to afford prep books- do not feel discouraged! You can find prep books that you can check out at local libraries and beyond that, there are free resources available to help you.
Another great resource to use is Khan Academy, which has free practice questions for both the ACT and SAT. On the website, there are many helpful lectures on topics that you may need a refresher on as well as practice multiple choice questions on each section. And the best part is that it is all free! Another site that you can use while preparing is Varsity Tutors, which has hundreds of practice questions all in a flashcard format. It has questions on every section, and is a completely free resource.
To find more resources, google the ACT user handbook, which lists resources that teachers should give to students when they are preparing for the test. As a result, there are a large variety of resources and many are completely free.
Before we delve deeper into how to prepare for the ACT, let’s discuss what’s on it!
What is on the Act?
English- 75 multiple choice questions in 45 minutes. Tests grammar, punctuation, and sentence structure.
Math- 60 multiple choice questions in 60 minutes. Topics are algebra 1 and 2, geometry, and trigonometry.
Reading- 40 multiple choice questions in 35 minutes. 4 passages ranging from prose fiction, social studies, humanities and natural sciences.
Science- 40 multiple choice questions in 35 minutes. The questions are on science-based passages presented with graphs, charts, tables and research summaries.
Writing- Writing test is optional. 1 essay in 40 minutes.
As you can see, much of the ACT is what we have already learned in school, but another aspect of the ACT is the time limit for each section, which is important to keep in mind.
Probably the most common mistake that students make on the ACT is not having effective time management skills on each section. On the ACT there are more straightforward questions rather than the complex ones that are featured on the SAT. As such, the key is to have proper time management, which you can work on by taking more practice tests so that you can go through the questions at a faster pace.
A lot of people also do not end up having enough stamina for the later sections of the ACT, such as the writing and science sections. Since the ACT is so long and requires concentration for long periods of time, it is important that you save your energy for these later sections since they will also count towards your score equally. By taking practice tests before your actual ACT test, you will feel much more prepared for the test.
How can you prepare for the test?
Mindset: before you even start your test preparation, remember that you are capable of achieving your desired test score. Go into test preparation with a positive mindset and know that you can accomplish anything that you set your mind to. Furthermore, do not compare your test preparation with others. Go at your own pace and know that you are just as competent and capable as anyone you know!
Diagnostic tests: Make sure to take a diagnostic test before starting your ACT studying session to cover which areas you need the most help on. This will allow for targeted studying. Based on your diagnostic test score, create a study plan. In your study plan, you should prioritize sections you are the weakest at so that you can see the most improvement in your score. You should aim to study for a minimum of 30-35 minutes each day and a couple of hours during the weekend. Also, make sure to include study breaks in your study plan! You will easily burn out if you do not give yourself breaks to replenish.
Content Review: review any content that you are unsure on and make sure to complete the drills at the end of every chapter. You can use Khan Academy, YouTube, Prep Books, and your past coursework to review content.
Practice, practice, practice! The key to acing the ACT is time management. The more you practice, the faster you will get at solving problems on the ACT exam.
Practice tests: before officially taking the ACT, take a minimum of 3-4 practice tests to practice time allocation, test taking strategies and the most efficient ways to solve each type of problem.
Get rest before the test! Cramming does not do anyone any good. Before the test, give yourself a day to relax so that you feel replenished before going into the exam!
By preparing for the ACT, you are taking active steps to prepare for your future! We believe in you.
Like what you see on our blog? Apply to be a STEMTeen staff writer/editor at: https://www.stemteen.org/apply-now
Commentaires