Everyone’s nervous and scared for the upcoming test that determines their future and if they get into the college or university they want to attend. There are ways to calm down, but there is only one that can simulate the test anxiety and the actual time crunch of the ACT. The Pre-ACT’s are used by students and school districts to help prepare for the statewide tests.
Practice ACT’s started during the 1980’s when the College Board started selling old SAT and ACT tests to students. They were for students who wanted to prepare themselves for the tests to increase their score.
Today, some schools require all freshmen, sophomores and juniors to take the Pre-ACT. The practice tests help students learn the ACT and get a baseline score for where their knowledge is at currently.
“It helped me the most by getting a baseline of what I needed to do, ” Senior Grant Ely said. “If I was lower than what I wanted, it helped me prepare.”
Alton High School takes the Pre-ACT twice in a school year. The first attempt is in August at the beginning of the school year and the second one is in January after the start of second semester. Last year was the first year that Alton took the Pre-ACT for the first time in eight years.
Reasons that schools are now implementing these practice tests for their students is simple but hard to achieve without the test. They give students an example of where their score is at, what to expect on the test and where their strengths and weaknesses are at currently.
“I think it may help them prepare mentally, not feel as nervous,” Assistant Principal of the Guidance Department, Dr. Jordan Anderson said. “They can get an idea of where their score might be.”
The practice test can also help students prepare mentally for the ACT. Since the two tests look so similar to each other, they can help students reflect on the past practice test that they took and help them see two problems that look similar. This can help bring down students’ stress and anxiety.
The Pre-ACT can give very insightful feedback that some students may need. If a student is particularly struggling in a certain subject, they get instant results for that certain subject. This can help increase score, reduce anxiety, and help them get into the college of their choice.
Students can better prepare themselves leading up to the ACT and SAT by taking timed reading, science and mathematics assessments. This year, ACT testing in Illinois is on March 24 but students can register for earlier or later dates if needed.
