By: Jordan Frantz

Juniors at Bellbrook High School will be taking the ACT on Tuesday, February 27. The ACT is a four section multiple choice test that scores out of 36 points. Several colleges use the score to determine both admission and scholarships.

The test has 215 multiple choice questions that take a total of 2 hours and 55 minutes to complete. You are given a point for every question that you get right, and are not deducted points for getting any wrong. The four sections include Math, Reading, Science, and English. All of these are individually scored out of 36. The final mean score is determined through all four sections, added together and divided by four. 

The sections are administered in this order: The English section is 75 questions and 45 minutes. The Math section is 60 questions in 60 minutes. The Reading section is 40 questions and 35 minutes. The Science section is 40 questions in 35 minutes. There is a 10 minute break after the Math section.

The ACT can seem daunting, but there are many tips and tricks to help set you up for success. 

Tips! 

• Gather everything you need the night before the test. This will help you feel prepared and unrushed. You need some type of ID with your name and picture, and a charged Chromebook as this year’s test is online.  
• Get plenty of sleep and rest the night before, followed by a nutritious breakfast. Begin hydrating 24 hours before the exam so your brain has the fluids it needs to function. Don’t drink large amounts of caffeine on the day of the exam.
• Always keep a positive attitude. If you don’t know the question, keep calm and relax. Move on positively to the next. 
• Always have backup material. Bring your Chromebook charger!
• If you are running out of time, guess! Guessing doesn’t harm you. Make sure you always guess the same letter because it increases the chance of getting a few right. 

Study Tips!

• Review the criteria that is on the test. Focus on the sections you know will appear. For example, review what is mainly in each section. 
• Take a practice test like the one found here. See the results, and from there learn your strengths and weaknesses and focus on those sections. 
• Practice your speed. Try to do problems and time yourself. Learn time efficiency. 
• Learn the test. Study the sections, how it is prepared, and what to expect. Learn the instructions and practice close reading. 

Tips are a great way to set you up for success. But never forget how much knowledge you already have. The ACT can seem daunting, but you are prepared and so many people believe in you. Take it one question at a time. 

A final tip! For the English section of the ACT, you can refresh your mind and memory using the website below. https://www.grammarbook.com/interactive_quizzes_exercises.asp

You got this!