The Test for Your Future

The ACT test will be taken throughout the year by upperclassmen at high schools across the country, including Fair Grove. The ACT is optional, but it is recommended in order to receive potential college scholarships. 

Most schools in the United States offer the ACT test so that students have the opportunity to get a scholarship to a college that offers it. Students try their best to score well on the test, as it can help determine the course of their future. 

Students realize the seriousness of the test and will sometimes take the ACT another time if their score isn’t as high as they had hoped. Alex Kepes, a senior at Fair Grove High School said, “The more you familiarize yourself with the test, the better you become. I am planning on taking a few practice tests to help me relax on the actual test day.” 

Ayden Teaster, a junior at Fair Grove High School, is taking the ACT for the first time this year and recognizes how the score will affect him later in life as well. Teaster says, “The main thing that the ACT is going to affect will be how colleges view me and my chances of getting into a college or getting good scholarships. It is especially important now that schools are shifting focus from grades and more onto standardized test scores.”

But what happens when you just never find enough time to actually sit down and study for this major test? Most students have at least one activity that they are in, whether it is in school or outside of it. This makes it difficult for students whose schedules are always so full  that there is never a moment to breathe. 

Cooper Zumwalt, another senior attending Fair Grove High School, explained, “Extracurricular activities limit my study time drastically. Almost every single time I’ve taken it, I’ve only been able to study the night before due to how jam-packed my schedule is.” This seems to hold true for most students that are planning on taking the ACT but also have a tight schedule. 

The test is not about memorizing the right answers, it is more about how much time you are taking to work hard for the score you are hoping for. Alex Kepes says, “The ACT is not meant to test knowledge. Its purpose is to see how hard you will work to get the result you want. Those who are incredibly smart and put in very little effort do poorly on the ACT, while those who put in time and effort will yield much better results.” 

The ACT is completely optional but many people recommend it because it could save you thousands of dollars on college.