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Junior year has many things in store for its students, with the ACT test arguably being the most stressful event of them all.
The ACT test is an educational and career planning tool based on the curriculum taught in schools, and assesses students’ academic readiness for college. It is an entrance exam used by most colleges and universities in order to help them make decisions regarding admission to their programs. The main idea of the ACT is to provide colleges with one common specification that can be used to compare all applicants.
The ACT has four sections: English, Reading, Math, and Science, as well as an optional 40-minute writing test. Students earn one ACT score, ranging from 1-36, on each subtest and a composite ACT score, which is an average of these four subtests.
While there is a lot of pressure placed on students to get a high ACT score, the high school administration is working to prepare them the best they possibly can.
“Research will tell you that the more practice you have on the test, the better you’ll do,” said principal Nan Ault.
With this in mind, NS juniors will now be taking the ACT Diagnostic test. This test will not only provide students with practice and a better understanding of the format of the actual ACT, but will diagnose weak areas as well.
Once students have taken the diagnostic test and the results are carefully examined, they will be placed in flex periods that focus on the areas in which they struggled. For example, students will be assigned to a science based flex if they have a difficult time interpreting graphs, charts, or reading data.
Along with getting help on the sections where they suffered, students will also be given testing strategies to assist them when taking the ACT, since it is a timed test.
“It’s kind of your ability to maneuver your way through some really complicated questions,” said Ault. “It’s not even necessarily about the content, but about how you take the test.”
With this, there are many students who are concerned about not performing well under pressure. While they may understand the content of the test, they just aren’t good test takers.
Although taking the diagnostic test will be beneficial, there have been challenges in administering it. Because the ACT Prep program the high school is using is new, the administration doesn’t have any experience to draw from. However, they are hopeful that everything will run smoothly.
Another expected challenge is getting the students to take the diagnostic test seriously. The resources to help in getting the best score possible on the ACT are available, and students need to take advantage of them.
The diagnostic test is mandatory for juniors, so that they will be able to see where they are at college preparation-wise and discover what subjects they need to put more effort into studying.
The administration is counting on this new diagnostic test to be a great step forward, and hope that it will show the students of what they are capable. It will be a good exposure for students and, in a safe setting, will show them what they can expect on the ACT.
“Kids need to know that they can [go to college],” said Ault. “They need to know that it’s a possibility, and sometimes they’re just not thinking that way.”
While many students believe the diagnostic test and the assigned flexes will be helpful, they are frustrated with the fact that they must stay after school for hours in order to take it. With involvement in extracurricular activities, jobs, and personal matters to take into account, it is understandable why students don’t feel like they have the time after school to take the test.
