The
ACT is the most common college entrance exam for colleges and universities in
the Midwest. If you’re a high school junior who is planning to go to college,
you should consider taking the test sometime in the next calendar year. The ACT
tests students on the material they’ve learned through the end of their junior
year in high school, so it’s a good idea to take the ACT at the end of your
junior year or the beginning of your senior year: April and June are two of the
most popular test dates for the ACT. Most students take the test twice, and you
always have the opportunity to update your test scores if you retake the test
after you’ve already applied for admission. Sometimes a one or two-point
difference on the test can make a big difference in scholarship money!
The
biggest problem that students have with the ACT has to do with the timing of
the test. The ACT has four sections: English, Reading, Math, and Science, and
students have about 45 minutes for each section of the test, with a short break
in between. Even though 45 minutes sounds like a long time for each section,
the time goes by quickly! Sometimes students will get halfway through the
questions and then realize that they only have a few minutes left. It’s
important to make sure you’re using your time wisely for each section of the
ACT.
In
order to get used to the timing of the test, completing a few practice tests
can help significantly. Websites like actstudent.org, number2.com, chegg.com,
and collegeboard.org offer test prep resources and practice tests free of
charge. Taking a few practice tests will help you feel comfortable with the
material and the time limits, and will help you feel confident on test day!
Visit
ACT.org to register for the test online. When you register for the test, you
have the option to select several different schools to which you’d like to send
your test scores. Make sure to include all of the schools that you’re
considering, so that they can see your test scores. If you’ve already applied
for admission, make sure that the schools you’ve applied to have received your
ACT scores so that your application can be complete.
The
night before the test, make sure to get a good night’s rest, and eat a healthy
breakfast the morning of the test. We know you’ll do great!
Susan Dickinson
ICAN Coralville Center
Susan Dickinson
ICAN Coralville Center
