Preparing for the ACT this Fall

The fall season is upon us, and everyone is getting into their back to school routines.  There are usually many activities going on in high schools during the fall, so it is a good idea to get plans in place for math test prep before the weeks slip by us.  Here are 5 things to do for your students this fall season to help them prepare for the ACT, specifically the math section.

1. Make upcoming ACT test offering dates known to your students AND parents.  Students are going to need advance notice so they will register before the deadline. Point them to ACT.org, and they’ll find everything they need for dates and locations.  Little reminders along the way would be great.  Grab a FREE copy of my Important Dates Bookmarks to hand out!

2. Review math topics/prep with them.  If you are teaching a math class with your students, they are getting the topics you are presenting now, and that is great!  But most of the time, students need reminders of skills they were presented earlier in their academic careers.  Don’t be surprised if these small reviews increase performance in your class as well!  If you don’t have much time in your class for this review, I have quite alot of videos that students can watch outside of class. 

3. Go over the setup of the math section of the test.  ACT puts out practice material on their site each year.  It includes some information about each section, along with a practice test.  This is a great resource for you and students.  For a video walkthrough, I have an older video that still contains relevant details you may want to use.

4. Encourage students to research and determine this fall’s goals for the test.  Students need to think about what their goals are for after high school.  If college is included, they should be checking to see what ACT scores are needed for admission and merit scholarships.  This will help them determine their goals and how much prep time they need to commit to for success.

5. Have some fun prep activities available! Not everyone loves math and test prep, so I have tried to make a few resources that are a little different from the ordinary. You can plan to have a “test prep Friday” or give extra credit for these.  My Back to School, Fall Activities Themed, Halloween Themed, and Thanksgiving Themed worksheets will meet them here in this season and provide practice questions that will help get them ready.

Your schedule is jammed packed, I know, but helping students reach their ACT goals for college admission and scholarship opportunities is so beneficial to students and families!  Incorporating a few of these suggestions this fall can make a difference!