Although the SAT underwent a redesign a few years ago, since then ACT prep has gained greater popularity as the standardized college admissions test in the United States.

More people take the ACT than the SAT in today’s world and that makes ACT prep essential for every college hopeful.

Origins of ACT

Many people have heard of the ACT, but the meaning of those letters has become lost since the test began in 1959 through the efforts of Professor Everett Franklin Lindquist from the University of Iowa.

He started the ACT because he was unhappy with the SAT and the way it tested the innate capacity to learn and a student’s intelligence instead of testing what a student learned in school.

At that time, the SAT was more popular in northeastern schools and not nationwide and Lindquist felt that public institutions and additional schools across the United States should accept such a standardized test.

To that end, Lindquist founded the American College Testing Program and created the American College Test (ACT) to incorporate testing in Math, Social Studies, Natural Sciences and English. The original and current ACT test results represent a composite score, but ACT organizations no longer refer to it as the American College Test and simply call it the ACT.

Understanding ACT prep

There are various forms of ACT prep and SAT prep, the best one for each student depends on their specific style of learning. Students can study on their own with online materials and/or ACT prep books or manuals or they can enroll in an ACT prep course taught by instructors who scored well on the test. ACT preparation, helps students gain familiarity with the format of the ACT and the materials covered in the test.

ACT preparation introduces them to the Math, Science, English, Essay and Reading sections and the amount of time they have for each section. During ACT prep, student complete practice tests and sections to become familiar with the types and phrasing of ACT questions so there aren’t any surprises during the actual test. ACT prep teaches students proven strategies that help them improve their standardized test understanding and performance.

Some of these strategies include:

• Working backward on multiple choice math problems to determine the correct choice if they don’t know it
• Using the process of elimination to remove answers they know are incorrect, improving odds of choosing the correct answer

The varying forms of ACT prep including online materials, class setting and book study all help students become better standardized test takers and enable them to achieve their best possible ACT score. The continuous practice tests and questions of ACT preparation help students learn effective problem-solving strategies as their familiarity with the ACT increases. When a student achieves a good score on the ACT, it can give them a competitive edge as they prepare for college.

Benefits of ACT prep

Students who plan to take the ACT benefit from taking at least one practice test prior to the spring of their sophomore year in high school so they become familiar with the type and phrasing of questions.

There are numerous benefits of ACT prep including:

#1 Creating competitive candidate – Although a perfect ACT score doesn’t guarantee admission into a top university, good test scores can keep them out of the rejection pile. Admissions rates at top universities are at some of their lowest in history and students who receive an ACT score that falls in the average range of their target school has greater potential for admission consideration.

#2 Proper preparation- Successful students prepare themselves for any test with proper studying and the ACT test requires that type of preparation. Utilizing test prep resources, studying and taking practice ACT tests helps students improve their score and avoid college rejection.

#3 Varying curriculum in schools- The course load of every student and the curriculum of every school varies. ACT prep gives students the ability to understand and master materials and concepts they may lack familiarity with, which can improve scores.

#4 Familiarization with tests- Taking one or more practice ACT test under actual test conditions helps students gain familiarity with the test and can help improve their scores. Focusing on areas they may struggle with and using proven test-taking techniques can raise scores and those higher scores give students better odds of acceptance in schools they may have thought were out of their reach.

ACT prep tips

Although ACT prep can help a student perform better, it’s important to avoid spending too much time on test prep, as a perfect score doesn’t ensure admission into their chosen school. Admission’s officers look for students who demonstrate a balance of good grades, strong admissions essays, participation in extracurricular activities and additional factors. It’s vital for students to do the best they can on the ACT, but they also need to spend time on other application components.

A student should take enough practice tests under timed conditions to help them understand the pacing, work required for the questions and sections that require further study.

Importance of ACT scores for college and beyond

Scoring well on the ACT helps a student gain a competitive edge for college admission, improve qualifications for merit-based scholarships and financial aid and can benefit future job opportunities.

#5 College opportunities- The debate continues on whether or not standardized tests adequately measure a student’s ability. However, the fact remains that many college admissions officers don’t have the time or resources to look through and read every applicant’s essays and high school transcript, which means they usually look at ACT and/or SAT scores first. This makes ACT prep extremely important for a student who wants to achieve their best possible score for placement on their college application.

#6 Worthwhile, investment- Various scholarships and merit-based financial aid base part of their award on a student’s ACT or SAT scores so the money invested in ACT prep is a worthwhile investment in any student’s future.

#7 Employer requirement of test scores- In today’s competitive job market, many businesses require that applications submit SAT and/or ACT scores along with their cover letter and resume. Despite the fact that there’s no proven correlation between higher standardized test scores and workplace performance, some companies place great value on these scores.

ACT prep has the additional benefits of showing students how adequate preparation for any of life’s challenges can improve their ability to adjust to change, work on improving any weaknesses and utilize their strengths to get further ahead. These life skills will prove invaluable whatever path they choose.

Every student with college aspirations can benefit from ACT prep, as the scores, they receive on the ACT can play a determining role in their college, financial and employment future. No matter what type of ACT preparation or SAT prep the student chooses, it gives them the tools and techniques required to perform well under actual test conditions and it shows them what areas require further study so they can prepare well in advance of taking the ACT.

Maintaining balance in their high school career with extracurricular activities, good grades and positive teacher interaction factors into the college admissions process, but getting the student’s application within view of an admission’s officer may require the extra nudge of good scores on the ACT and/or SAT.