On Tuesday, Mar. 11, Solon High School will be administering the Pre-ACT for sophomores and the ACT for juniors, while freshmen and seniors have the day off. As exam day approaches, Mrs. Fitch, head of the English department, Ms. Poderzay, math teacher, and Ms. Stevenson, science teacher, offer some tips on how to prepare for the ACT.
Q: Why is the ACT so important?
Fitch: Because so many universities in so many years have used it as an entrance exam to gauge their selection process, we want to make sure our students are prepared to make choices from as many universities as possible. We’d like them to score well so they’d have that opportunity.
Poderzay: The ACT is an important piece of your college application. Many colleges use it to assess your academic readiness and compare applicants. A strong score can open doors to scholarships, honors programs and even college admissions. Some schools may not require it, but a good score can still set you apart and give you more options.
Stevenson: It gives a standardized evaluation no matter what high school you went to. Sometimes GPAs between different high schools are hard to compare, because of the rigor of a course and the college admissions office aren’t able to evaluate every single course in every single high school in the US. An A in a Biology class in one school can be different to an A in a biology class in another school. It also helps colleges know your knowledge level at each of those courses.
Q: How should students study for the Pre-ACT and ACT?
Fitch: All our junior classes have practice built into the class, so we do provide a lot of support here at Solon High School through our English classes. Additionally, there are several classes outside Solon High School in which you could look at practice books available from CollegeBoard and apps and there are practice tests online now.
Poderzay: Studying for the ACT can make a big difference in your score and thus can impact your future opportunities, e.g, higher scores can lead to better scholarships. It will show colleges that you’re serious about your education. Plus, doing well on the ACT can boost your confidence. A little effort now can pay off in a big way later.
Stevenson: Practice questions, and a lot of it is getting the timing. They have the coursework or will have by the time they’ve taken the ACT, so that should be reviewed if they’ve been going through the coursework as they should.
Q: How should students balance studying for the ACT with their personal life?
Fitch: We want students to do well, but we don’t want the ACT to be so stressful that it’s the only thing that they are focusing on and I’m a firm believer in the fact that you could over prepare and cram for something. So I think that doing a little practice on a weekend or maybe on a weeknight and then seeing friends and having fun. The more balanced you are, the better. I think everything will go [well] in your life.
Poderzay: Balancing ACT prep (any prep, really) with your personal life is all about time management. Set a realistic study schedule–maybe 30-45 minutes a few times a week–so that you don’t feel overwhelmed. Use resources like practice tests like Numworks, study guides and online tools efficiently. Take breaks, stay active, and don’t forget to enjoy downtime with friends and family. Studying in small, consistent chunks is more effective than cramming. Find a routine that works for you.
Stevenson: I would recommend a few minutes each day to do a couple of practice problems. With students, I’ve suggested in the past that on a day where you have more [free] days, do a timed test. Not the whole thing, but go do the math part this week on Saturday, and on Sunday do the English. Next week, do the science section. Over two to three weeks, you’ve taken the whole thing and you can score it, evaluate where your weaknesses are, work on that for another week or two, and try the timed test again.
Q: Is there anything you would like to add?
Stevenson: As far as preparing and knowing if you’re ready or not, all that knowledge is all in there. You have it all and it’s all about pulling it out at the right time to take the test to perform well. Gaining confidence with that and doing practice sections is good, but cramming and stressing the night before is not good. When you get close enough to the night of the test, you just need a good night’s sleep and a breakfast the next morning. Trust the process. Trust you’ve done all that work. Don’t hang so much on it or else you won’t be able to perform your best. You would be putting a lot of pressure on yourself.
For further practice with the ACT, the ACT website offers practice tests and a “Question of the Day.”
