Earlier this year, the school spent a day preparing for the ACT by taking the CERT test. This test is connected to several study resources including videos explaining missed questions, quizzes allowing extra study, and lessons teaching useful concepts. In response to a survey of BJHS students who have taken the ACT, many students had different perspectives on the usefulness of the CERT test as well as how accurate it is as a comparison with the real ACT. While some students found the feedback, tools, and quizzes CERT provides to be helpful, others were disappointed, preferring the study materials provided by ACT. However, one student expressed that the CERT test was pretty accurate to the ACT. Another student mentioned that the CERT felt less stressful than the ACT. In addition to the CERT test, there are lots of ways to prepare for the ACT. In the same survey, students gave recommendations to students planning on taking the ACT:
- Get really REALLY good rest the day before the test.
- Don’t stress yourself out too much because the ACT can be taken as many times as you want!
- Consistency in practicing things that will be on the ACT is key. If you can learn what the ACT is going to throw at you, you can be prepared and know how to approach each question. DON’T TRY AND CRAM STUDY THE NIGHT BEFORE. On the day of, eat a good breakfast and clear your mind of everything except the test. Then just lock in and remember what you studied for 4 hours
- Don’t panic and study early
- Learn the rules for what each subject follows, science is mainly just graphs, english is looking out for specific errors in grammar / spelling and punctuation, reading is all about articles and wording, and the math portion isn’t hard, they just word out each problem insanely weirdly.
- Personally, I say spend your time studying the math section.
- Stay calm, and make sure to study at least before.
- study everyday
- I would say to be consistent with studying but also learn that ACT rewrites the same exact questions but in a different way every time and it’s not as hard if you don’t get it in your head that “this is for school I have to do good or I will fail” and just do it and not stress.
- Please please please review any material you have! That stuff is always useful. Don’t procrastinate and I suggest taking the ACT Prep course that the school offers. You may be able to slack off in that class and still get a good grade but the website that you use in there is so useful when studying. You can raise your grade significantly if you really dedicate yourself.
- I would say not to stress too hard about it. Know how your brain works pacing wise (for example knowing if you should read the passage or the questions first on the reading section) and evaluate from there.
- Study, Study study. Get Books. Stay Concentrated. Take tutoring.
- Don’t stress
- Honestly, it’s overwhelming to try and study everything, so just choose the category that you’re the weakest in and study the most for that. It made sure that I did really good in at least one section.
Overall, it seems as if most of these ACT takers are suggesting that a lot of what influences how you do on the test is your mental state. Studying is important. Making sure you understand how the test works is important. Regardless, it is also important to make sure you are rested, fed, and focused so you can do your best.
