With the recent announcement that Dartmouth, Brown, Yale are reinstituting standardized tests as a part of their application process, the spotlight has returned to the SAT and the ACT. Both are standardized tests, focusing on essential subjects such as reading, mathematics, and grammar to measure student readiness for college.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, however, taking standardized tests was not feasible for many students, so many colleges made them optional. Almost every university in the country followed this trend, and tests would remain optional across the nation for the next few years, with the exception of MIT reimplementing theirs in 2022. With Dartmouth and Yale bringing back testing to their application, it is predicted that other schools will follow suit in the coming years.

According to Dartmouth University, the reason why they decided to reintroduce test scores as a mandatory part of the admissions process is that they found test scores to be a much better indicator of future academic success than they had previously believed. Furthermore, Jeremiah Quinlan, the Yale Dean of Undergraduate Admissions, also cited that test scores had proved to be a vital component of determining applicant readiness and that they would become mandatory once again.

So, what does this mean for high school students? Even if they do not necessarily want to apply to Dartmouth or Yale, it is important to remember that a good test score is a massive boost when applying to any school.

In that case, what are some good ways to study?

Focus on Specific Sections

The ACT is divided into 4 multiple-choice sections (English, Math, Reading, and Science, in that order) and takes about 175 minutes. Students also have the option to complete a handwritten argumentative essay, however the only colleges in the nation to require the writing section, consisting of a few Western colleges and West Point, so it is definitely not a necessity

The English section focuses on grammar and writing logic, and consists of 75 questions that must be completed in 45 minutes. The Math section features questions ranging from simple algebra to trigonometry, and students get an hour to complete all 60 questions. The Reading section and Science sections are both 40 questions and 35 minutes long, with the former focusing on the student’s reading comprehension of four selected texts and the latter being about interpreting several science experiments and graphs.

By doing practice questions and getting a feel of what kinds of questions are featured in each section, students get a better idea of their individual strengths and weaknesses and what they need to study.

Practice Tests

It is often said that repetition is the best form of practice, and this cannot be more true for the ACT. Prep books normally include several practice tests along with their advice suggestions. The ACT website also has free online tests that students can take, as well as daily questions to get them a good idea of what questions look like on the exam.

“I would definitely recommend using the practice tests available as those helped me prepare for the specific style of questions that are on the real test. I also made sure to hold myself accountable and set aside designated time to study,” Senior Natalie Close said.

It is also important to note that the actual information being tested is not the sole skill being tested. Time management and integrity are also vital components of the exam that can only be perfected through continual practice

Practice Books

The ACT test is on paper, so a good way to get the closest simulation to what the actual exam feels like is by doing paper texts, many of which can be found in practice books. The Official ACT Prep Guide is often praised as the best practice book and this can be ascertained to the fact that it comes from the ACT organization itself. It and many other practice books can be found at bookstores, such as at Barnes & Noble.

“I completed the ACT Prep Guide and the practice tests gave me a good feel for what the actual tests were like in the fall,” OHS Senior Luke Wendling said.


Classes
Lastly, Orono also offers a practice ACT class through their community education program. It is offered throughout the school year and not only focuses on strategies to approach each section of the test, but also to give students a good idea of what they need to practice. Furthermore, classes are offered both digital and in-person.

The sign-up is linked here.