The ACT is a test that students take to help them get recognized by colleges for scholarships. It also opens students up to various colleges that look for high ACT scores.
Juniors and seniors at Fair Grove High School are eligible to take the ACT. The students are allowed to take the test up to 12 times to improve their score.
Stephanie Dunham (12) stated, “My first time taking the ACT I really struggled in the English section, then my second time I improved by seven points in that section. I also did better on the Science section. Although, I struggled in the math section because I wasn’t super familiar with the Geometry material because I haven’t taken that class since freshman year.”
Amber Clemens (11) has not yet taken the ACT however, she has been preparing for the ACT. “I have not taken the ACT yet. I am planning on taking it sometime this year. A few ways that I am preparing for it is by taking practice ACT tests. I am also practicing the things that I have been told are going to be on the ACT. I have been practicing geometry, english, algebra, and I have been looking into trigonometry,” explained Clemens.
Fair Grove offers a course that prepares students for the ACT test. The class is called ACT Prep and it is led by Darci Friberg, a consumer science teacher at Fair Grove High School. “In an ACT prep class, students are in a safe environment to practice everything that will be covered on the ACT. Prep has been shown to help raise test scores if students put in the necessary work,” stated Friberg. The class shows students what might be on the actual test once they take it.
ACT scores do more than just help students get into colleges. It can also help them get scholarships. Friberg added, “An ACT score is one factor that colleges look at when deciding whether or not to admit a student, but students can earn scholarships based on their ACT score and GPA. Higher score equals more free money!”\
ACT might seem like a scary test to a lot of underclassmen who do not know what the test is. Dunham said, “When concerning the ACT I would tell underclassmen to not stress yourself out about it so much. Definitely be prepared but also the instructors really aren’t as strict and intimidating as we’re told. Truthfully they are just teachers the same as any other just from a different school. I’ve only ever had good experiences with my proctors.”
“What I would tell younger students is to not stress too much about your first score. It would be great if you scored a high enough score where you wouldn’t have to take the ACT again. I see the first test score as a great way to see what you know and what you need to work on,” said Clemens.
Throughout the year there are many opportunities to take the ACT. The dates are as follows: December 10, February 11, April 15, June 10, and July 15.
