ACT (American College Testing) is a standardized test for admission into colleges in the United States. It calculates a student’s proficiency in four topics: English, Math, Reading, and Science. The ACT can stimulate a range of emotions in students, from apprehension and tension to determination and motivation. Some students may feel devastated and stressed by the pressure to perform well. Others may consider it an opportunity to showcase their academic capabilities and stand out in college admissions. ACT is an essential test for high school students who plan to apply for college, as their ACT scores can influence their likelihood of getting admitted and acquiring scholarships. Andrew Pickell (11), Jackson Brock (12), Maria Chavez (12), and Addison Stunkard (12) tell about their journey taking the ACT.

Students take the ACT to obtain admission to colleges and scholarships in the United States. The result of taking it several times or just once can boost confidence to know what you’ve struggled with, and what you know best. This can give students the courage to discuss and prepare for the next ACT exam like prep classes.

“I’ve taken it twice before freshman and sophomore year. The first time I took the ACT I didn’t do anything [just] to see what my base level knowledge was, I [felt] pretty good about it. The second time I did some timing strategies but [I] didn’t do much studying [so] it went down because I didn’t focus much [either] but I [still] feel pretty good about the ACT,” Pickell said.

“I’ve taken it three times and honestly I’m a little disappointed by my scores. I’m currently in ACT prep [but] they have helped me increase my score last time when I took it in March,” Chavez said.

Sometimes sections may be challenging while others are not. Time is a big constraint on the ACT which can cause students to stress out. 

“I’ve always liked taking my time on things so I have always struggled with time on [ACT]. [Personally,] for English and Reading I think it’s a little quick. I think the English and Reading [are] challenging especially [the Reading section] just because [I’m a] slower [reader] to comprehend text and stuff. The 35 minutes for 40 questions is quick when doing reading,” Brock said.

“I feel like it’s pretty sufficient for most but there is a time constraint for everyone so it did get kind of busy at the end. [Personally] I found the science section more challenging. I think it’s just because it’s at the very end of the testing so you’re kind of done with it,” Stunkard said.

The ACT determines how well you can deal with stress and how well you can manage answering questions within the time limit.

“Honestly, I do not think it’s fair how the timing is a big thing like it determines your score. I feel like if I had more time I would definitely have a higher score [and] it [is] definitely more difficult just because of the timing,” Chavez said.

“In some ways yes [and] in some ways no, I think the ACT is [just] how fast you can do it, test-taking strategies, and actually knowing the material. It’s about the same [to a standardized test], I took the practice ACT [and they look similar] in difficult levels,” Brock said.

Knowing some tips before taking the ACT can be helpful and unlock many more possibilities for colleges with-in the United States.

“Definitely, study and learn how to pace yourself for sure but I feel like pacing yourself is one of the key moments when taking the ACT. [Also,] there is a great podcast on Spotify covering some key elements of the ACT, and there are also ACT books you can look at in the library,” Stunkard said.

“Work on timing, ‘cause it’s not the most complicated. [There are not many difficult] questions, it’s just about how you approach the test as a whole for timing because it’s very quick. There are websites you can use that basically target your needs based on a diagnostic test. There is a website called Magoosh that my family uses and it really helps. The ACT prep courses are really good, Mrs. Renker and other ACT prep teachers give you a lot of good tips that help with your timing [and] how to approach a question,” Pickell said. 

In the end, an ACT test can evoke different emotions in students, and it’s crucial for high school students who plan to apply for college. Adequate preparation and timing strategies are essential for success in the ACT. Future students can benefit from various resources, such as online websites and practice tests to improve their proficiency and score better on the test.