Can you smell the shavings from freshly sharpened pencils? Can you already hear the ring of the alarm? Eyes bleary from late-night cramming are already dreading the words, “Stop. Put your pencils down.”
It’s coming. The ACT is breathing right down the necks of high school juniors.
Every junior in Michigan is summoned to take the standardized test in March—an experience many of them are not looking forward to—and seniors who are retaking the test can chose between upcoming test dates of October 22 and December 10. The approaching testing has brought stress to many Southfield High students
Though it is too late to register for the October date, students have until November 4 to register for the December testing. The test is also offered February 11, and statewide, all 11th graders will take the exam on March 6.
Junior Brittany Walker, who says she has not yet started preparation for the ACT, says is worried that lack of preparation may negatively impact her results. “I’m kind of nervous. I think I might have to take (a practice) one before we actually take it.”
Senior Charles Hamilton expresses mutual feelings. He aspires to attend Michigan State University next fall and hopes by retaking the test in December he will get qualifying scores. “I’m just hoping I can get the score I need. I don’t want to take it again.”
To ensure success, Hamilton is taking an ACT preparation course. His course is administered through Campbell Academic Services, in a program called ‘ACES’. Hamilton hopes this course will help him achieve the higher score he needs.
Many other companies also offer ACT preparation classes. These include:
• Princeton Review (which also offers free local ACT practice tests (http://www.princetonreview.com/)
• Kaplan (
http://www.kaplan.com/pages/defalut.aspx),
• Cambridge (
http://www.cambridgeed.com/).
Some students say they are not intimidated by the test. Junior Shadee Walton says he is confident in his ability. “I’m a good test-taker,” he says. Walton speaks from experience, too. He says he has already taken the test three times.
Walton possesses high goals for himself. “To tell you the truth, I really want to get a 36. I feel like if I aim high, I won’t fall so low.”
This goal will be a challenge for Walton. The highest score attainable on the ACT is a 36, a rare score for test-takers.
According to www.act.org/newsroom, the 2011 national average ACT composite score is a 21.1, and the Michigan average is slightly lower, coming in at an even 20.
Senior Lamar Ragland is among the scholars aiming for a high score when he retakes the test in October. His advice?
“Be prepared, do your thing, do your best.”