How To Best Approach ACT Preparation
Getting into a quality college is one of the best things that you can do to prepare for a great future. Part of that involves getting a good score on your standardized tests. While many schools still require applicants to take the SAT and submit their scores, the ACT is becoming increasingly standard. To test well you must take the right steps during your ACT preparation, and of course part of that is knowing what the right steps are.
One of the best things that you can do to prepare yourself for college testing is to do well in school. Not only does this mean that you should work to get good grades, but to also take the most challenging courses that you can. This will give you a strong foundation to work with when the time for testing approaches.
Taking the pre-ACT yearly can also do a great deal to help you prepare. It does not impact your score when it comes time to take the actual ACT, but it gives you insight into what you can expect from the test. You can begin to take this as early as 7th grade, and you may even have the opportunity to take it for free if you are selected by organizations looking for emerging talent in public schools. Typically schools will highly recommend this by sophmore year, but taking it sooner than that will help you to prepare even better for the real thing in the future.
As the spring of your junior year in high school approaches you will want to begin studying for this test. There are many resources that are completely dedicated to ACT preparation. This can come in the form of computer software, books and even tutoring sessions offered by organizations. Starting your preparation as early as 6 months before you will be taking the actual test is ideal.
The key is to find the best manner, or combination of options, that will work to help you best learn. Many people find that using a software program or ACT book in combination with tutoring is ideal. The books or software can give you the opportunity to study on your own, while the tutoring can help you with areas in which you struggle. It can also be beneficial when it comes to the writing portion of the test, which is impossible to evaluate your performance on your own. Those that specialize in tutoring understand what the procedure is for scoring the writing portion and can help you to refine your skills to perform at the highest level possible.
The ACT is one of the most important tests that you can take in your lifetime. By taking the time to study and prepare, you can reduce the anxiety that many test takers feel. This will go a long way towards ensuring that you do your very best. However, do remember that if you do not perform as well as you hoped, you do have the opportunity to evaluate your preparation and give it another go.