Understanding the ACT Exam
Every year, many students dread the various college entrance exams used by a variety of schools in gauging their applicants’ abilities. One of these exams is the ACT exam. Read on to know more about this and for some preparation tips for the ACT exam.
What is the ACT?
According to ACT Student:
The ACT (No Writing) consists of four multiple-choice tests: English, Mathematics, Reading, and Science. The ACT Plus Writing includes the four multiple-choice tests and a Writing Test.
For this article, we’ll be focusing on the ACT (No Writing) exam. As a standardized exam, this test aims to gauge a high school student’s capability to do college-level schoolwork and educational development in general.
The ACT exam consists of several parts:
English - 75 questions – 45 minutes – Measures standard written English and rhetorical skills.
Mathematics – 60 questions – 60 minutes – Measures mathematical skills students have typically acquired in courses taken up to the beginning of grade 12.
Reading – 40 questions – 35 minutes – Measures reading comprehension.
Science – 40 questions – 35 minutes – Measures the interpretation, analysis, evaluation, reasoning, and problem-solving skills required in the natural sciences.
Optional Writing Test – 1 prompt – 30 minutes – Measures writing skills emphasized in high school English classes and in entry-level college composition courses.
Because the ACT exam consists of several parts, you have to review these subjects in order to prepare yourself for the ACT exam. Give yourself enough time when reviewing these subjects. Fortunately, there are many test questions to be found online.
The following are other tips worth keeping in mind:
Get plenty of rest the night before test day.
Dress comfortably. Some test centers are warmer or cooler on weekends than during the week. Consider dressing in layers, so you’ll be comfortable no matter what the room conditions are.
Aside from reviewing, you should also prep yourself up the day before the actual exam. Because this can get stressful, make sure that you get plenty of sleep the night before. Thinking too much about the exam will just cause additional stress, so try to take a break during review sessions and make sure you get lots of rest.
Edu in Review also suggests the following:
.Snacks and Water – Although you aren’t allowed to eat or drink while the test is taking place, there are small breaks between sections, giving you time to not only stretch, but also a little time to munch! Keeping your metabolism up will help you stay awake and alert so that you will be able to address each question to the best of your ability!
Keeping your energy up is very important as you take the ACT exam. Take advantage of the breaks in-between so as to keep your focus on the exam. Bring healthy snacks such as crackers or fruit juice for that added energy.