ACT Prep

By Meagan Broussard

The ACT, a standardized test which all juniors are required to take. It is used as an entrance exam for most colleges and universities, meaning it is used to make decisions on student admissions. The ACT for Capital High students is being held at the Fairgrounds on April 2nd, its closing in fast! So, it’s imperative that juniors of Capital High School prepare sufficiently. To help students with this venture; tips, tricks, and strategies have been compiled in this article.

First, nothing is better than straight up studying:

There are multiple ways to study for the ACT, so you’re sure to find one that’s right for you. ACT preparation books, practice tests, flashcards, study guides, watching (educational) YouTube videos and of course, revising on your daily classes, are all good ways to go.

The sooner you start, the better. While it’s too late now, it is recommended to start studying/preparing 3 months before the test date, so hopefully you’ve already started!

Here in Helena, there are several opportunities to take practice tests. The Lewis and Clark Library offers 3 free practice tests that students will need to register for, the first two have already passed, however the next one takes place on March 31st. These tests are scored, so you can see what you should be working on before the big day. The library also hosts ACT study groups, so be sure to check out the Lewis and Clark Library website to see if there is a study group date that’s convenient for you!

Studying is done in several ways, but doing what works for you is best. So, whether or not you study alone, whether you study at home or at Starbucks, or whether or not you eat while you study , always stick to what helps you be the most efficient! Check out our article on study tips on the Paw Print website: https://www.pawprintchs.com/blog/horoscope-study-tips!

Secondly, the day before the test is crucial, so here are some tips on how to prepare the day/night before:

Drink lots of water, although you should be doing this everyday.

Get more than enough sleep; 8-10 hours is suggested for teens.

Do. Not. Try. to. Cram. Statistics say that this can actually make you do worse. Try watching some Netflix instead, or taking a relaxing bath/shower.

Make sure your alarm is set for the next morning!

If it helps, make a game plan for the next day. Go over directions to your testing center, set times that you want to get to the test center, and plan out your test taking strategies, etc! Plan out whatever you are stressing about (other than the test).

Lastly, there are tons of ACT tips out there, so do your own research or attend a class that offers tips and tricks, but a few favorite tips and tricks are below:

Keep calm, take deep breaths before the test and whenever you get stressed throughout.

Skim through the part of the test you are currently taking and do the easy questions first. Then go back through and do the ‘medium’ or slightly harder questions. Then move to the harder questions last.

If you run out of time, choose one letter and mark that letter on all of your unanswered questions, it’s bound to show up sometime. This is statistically better than choosing letters at random.

Good luck on your test, keep your head up and get to studyin