ACT Success
by Mike Copple
Students planning to attend a 4-year college or university will need to take the ACT (American College Test). If your child is planning to attend a community college, vocational /technical training or enter the work force they do not need to take the ACT. The cost of the ACT is $32.00 and students can have scores sent to three schools. A high score can lead to scholarship money, so preparation is critical.
Earlier this semester seminar teachers met individually with all
juniors and seniors to survey them about when they would be testing
and how they planned to prepare. These results were used to
schedule students into practice test and help sessions.
Just like everything else, practice leads to high achievement. The
first thing students need to do to improve ACT scores is take a
solid college prep curriculum. The ACT English and Reading tests
cover language usage and reading skills. The Math section covers
Algebra, Geometry and even some Trig. The Science section covers
all science areas including some Chemistry and Physics. If your
student has not taken the classes to prepare for the ACT they
probably will not score well.
PLHS also makes the PLAN test available to sophomores. This is a
pre-ACT using the same formula as the "real" ACT. The PLAN test is
not required before taking the ACT. The results of this test help
students know where they have areas of weaknesses, or strengths! In
an effort to increase performance on the ACT, PLHS provides many
opportunities to help students prepare for the test for students to
take advantage of.
- On-line preparation. PLHS has a subscription to the on-line ACT preparation program (www.actonlineprep.com ). In order to gain access, students stop by the counselor’s office and pick up their log in information. Please do not purchase access to this site, as the school has already paid for a group/school subscription. This site allows students to practice tests with real ACT test questions, practice essays for the new optional ACT Writing Test (not required for Kansas schools), a comprehensive content review for each of the ACT's four required tests—English, Math, Reading, and Science, a diagnostic test and personalized Study Path, and not to forget, access anywhere, anytime because it is Internet based. Students can take the test multiple times and could then ask their teachers for assistance in areas needing help.
- Timed paper and pencil practice test. Ms. Snyder has set up sessions during seminar for students to take ACT practice tests. This will be timed, just like the actual ACT. We hope this opportunity will give students a true “feel” for how timing will affect their performance on the test. Students will need to check announcements to find the dates of these practice tests.
- Review sessions with classroom teachers. Students will have the opportunity to review the practice tests they have taken with PLHS teachers. This will allow students to ask questions regarding their mistakes on the practice tests. Hopefully students will have a better understanding of the tested material.
Registration is completed online. Juniors commonly take the ACT during the April and June test dates. The registration dates and testing dates are listed below.
| ACT Test Dates | Registration Date | |
| 10/24/2009 | 9/18/2009 | |
| 12/12/2009 | 11/6/2009 | |
| 2/6/2010 | 1/5/2010 | |
| 4/10/2010 | 3/5/2010 | |
| 6/12/2010 | 5/7/2010 |
