Making Prep Time a Part of ACT Registration

This week we are looking at the consideration that should be made for how much prep time a student has before taking an ACT.  The last few weeks, we have been looking at when a student should sign up for an offering of the ACT based on different considerations.  There is time and money that goes into taking this test, and my opinion (especially as a parent) is that a student should choose a time to take the test when they can perform their best to not waste that time and money.  Making sure that a student has some prep time is one of the best ways to help a student perform their best on the test.

I usually recommend a good 6-8 weeks of focused prep-time before taking the test.  This ensures that enough skills are reviewed or introduced and practiced.  I’m a firm believer that cramming for a test is not good.  I want students to learn the math skills that they will need for the ACT as well as in their math classes and for their future academic and professional careers.  We do not always have enough time in ACT prep to go into full details on subjects, but getting the basic skills down is a huge help.

If a student has recently taken the ACT and done preparation before that test, they may not need the full 6-8 weeks prep time if they are signing up for the very next offering.  They can continue along with “light” preparation, such as offered with my 5-A-Days Basic Skills Review, and then pick back up with working practice questions and reviewing any topics giving them issues over the 2 weeks leading up to the test.  But all in all, preparation will always help.

If a student signs up for a test offering, but isn’t able to start on prep in the 6-8 week period, all is not lost.  Even if a student can only work in a few weeks of prep, they should do it!  Working practice questions, reviewing formulas and keywords, and reviewing the general format of the test will benefit the student.  Maybe the student will do well on that test, but if they need to test again, they can plan to put in more practice.

If a student looks at an ACT offering and reviews the time period leading up to that test and knows that they will be very busy with extracurricular activities, like for example sports, a dance team, a drama club, or some other activity like this, and that it will be very difficult to focus on preparing for this test offering, it may be better to register for another time period and let this one pass.

One must also consider if the student is running up on a last chance deadline for a scholarship or some other reason that an ACT score is needed.  Choices have to be made, and sometimes proper planning ahead can help to try to work everything in.  As we have said before, the benefits and costs of preparing and doing well on the test have to be looked at along with other time constraints.

Plan ahead when picking a date for the ACT.  Get some prep time on the schedule, preferably 6-8 weeks.  Then take the test.  When a student goes in confident, without being loaded down with alot going on, they are more than likely to do their best.  Hopefully a good score, maybe a goal reaching score, will reflect that hard work that was put in during preparation.