How much prep for ACT?

[Shelly in VA]

Ds (a junior this year) is taking the SAT on Saturday, and he has prepped for it by taking weekly full-length practice exams for the past 4-6 weeks. He hasn't done any prep for the ACT yet, but I am thinking that he could take it April 12 without a problem. Is that a bad approach? It seems like the ACT is more based on the knowledge he has accrued up to this point, with not as much test specific prep needed. My thinking is that the SAT prep he has done won't hurt him on the ACT, and this would still give him time to do a few practice tests. If he really needs more time, it isn't a problem for him to wait until June to take it, but I'd kind of like to just get all of this done and move on. :001_smile:

 

Thanks for any input you all can give me!

 

 

[PinkyandtheBrains.]

It might be useful to have him at least review what the differences in the two tests are to plan a strategy.

[Barbara H]

I think students benefit as much from prep for the ACT as they do the SAT. I don't really buy the big distinction that the ACT is less affected by preparation. While the ACT has less tricky questions, many students find they are more likely to run out of time on the ACT so learning pacing is an issue.  The science section is a bit of a wildcard too. I've seen enough students who have had scores change significantly with prep on the science section that I no longer even put a lot of stock in the predictive powers of the first score a student gets on a practice test in science.

[Shelly in VA]

Thanks for the input. To clarify, I'm not suggesting that ds won't prep for the ACT, just wondering if 4 weeks is enough prep time.

[Hoggirl]

Thanks for the input. To clarify, I'm not suggesting that ds won't prep for the ACT, just wondering if 4 weeks is enough prep time.

I think so, especially since he has already built up quite a bit of stamina in prepping for the SAT. Here is what I would do (time all parts exactly as they will be on the test). Please note that, yes, I am BOSSY! But this approach worked quite well for ds. ;)

 

Buy the big red book (Real ACT prep guide or something like that). It has five released exams.

Week 1: Do one test only, one section at a time (one per day), and one essay. Go over mistakes.

Week 2: Do two tests, two sections at a time - Monday: English and Math, Tuesday: Reading and

Science. Wednesday: do an essay. Repeat sequence with another test - go over

all mistakes.

Week 3: Do one full test straight through. Timed. Take a ten minute break after two sections and

before the essay.

Week 3 or 4: Get up early on the Saturday morning exactly one week before the Saturday you will

test. Get dressed. Eat a good breakfast (we have a "testing breakfast" in our household.

Same menu for all standardized tests). Take the last test straight through simulating

testing conditions as much as possible.

Don't do anything the last six days before the actual test other than to lay out the calculator, pencils, and admission ticket the Friday night before.

 

Throughout the four weeks if you start noticing a certain type of question that is continually missed (say, Geometry or misplaced modifiers), spend some time brushing up on content.

 

Good luck!

[Shelly in VA]

THANK YOU!!!

[mom31257]

Dd is using the REAL ACT Prep book right now to take it on the 12th. It didn't take her very long to get through the introduction sections (about a week), and she's doing a practice test each week. If her actual test scores come out like the practice book tests, which are actual past tests, she'll be very happy! 

[Hoggirl]

My husband thinks he was the first one to discover that!

Ha ha! I would just say, "Great minds think alike!"

[Hot Lava Mama]

 Eat a good breakfast (we have a "testing breakfast" in our household.

Same menu for all standardized tests).

 

And this breakfast consists of _____________________?  Please fill in the blank!

:)

Hot Lava Mama

[Hoggirl]

And this breakfast consists of _____________________? Please fill in the blank!

:)

Hot Lava Mama

Ha ha! I don't think it's anything magical! :) It's always waffles, link sausage, and milk. If he enjoyed it (but he doesn't), I would put peanut butter on the waffles in addition to the syrup just to amp up the protein a bit more.

 

I think it's a mindset thing. Probably now more for me than him! He *kind of* rolls his eyes when I say that I will be fixing the testing breakfast on a standardized test day, but, he kinda grins at the same time. After three ACTs (one was for a talent search in grade 7 when he was 12), two PSAT/NMSQTs, one SAT, 3 SAT Subject Tests, and 4 AP exams (5 more coming in May), it's easy to see how the notion has worn off a bit!

 

Gosh - that's a lot of standardized testing, isn't it? And that doesn't even count yearly standardized Iowa testing that he had to do per our state's homeschool laws. I probably started the testing breakfast in 3rd grade!!!

[Shelly in VA]

Eat a good breakfast (we have a "testing breakfast" in our household.

Same menu for all standardized tests). 

 

Although we don't have a "testing breakfast" in our home, we do traditionally have a "testing dinner" the night before any standardized test (or equivalent). It started a number of years ago, when I told the kids the night before testing that we were having salmon because it was "brain food," and that stuck with them. They started to request it the night before big academic endeavors. Even as teens, they will try to pretend that any meal is fine, but they'll ask what we're having for dinner, and then they will casually mention that, you know, it doesn't really matter, but it's fine if we're having something like salmon, since it's brain food and all...  :laugh:

 

I agree that to a large extent it's a mindset thing. Great to have something like that to give a little extra confidence boost!

[1Togo]

We prepped for both the ACT and the SAT by taking complete exams on Saturday mornings with simulated conditions; i.e. breakfast, clothing, calculator, time, etc.  Fwiw, I think prepping is essential, but I am not sure what to think about the practice test scores.  One dc did not score especially high on the practice tests but did very well on the actual tests (one time only for each).  Another dc made perfect or close to perfect scores on all of the practice tests (over and over and over), but didn't get those results on the actual tests.

[Shelly in VA]

We prepped for both the ACT and the SAT by taking complete exams on Saturday mornings with simulated conditions; i.e. breakfast, clothing, calculator, time, etc.  Fwiw, I think prepping is essential, but I am not sure what to think about the practice test scores.  One dc did not score especially high on the practice tests but did very well on the actual tests (one time only for each).  Another dc made perfect or close to perfect scores on all of the practice tests (over and over and over), but didn't get those results on the actual tests.

 

Interesting. Funny thing, ds scored consistently higher on his practice SAT tests than the actual test on the critical reading section; the difference was measurable at nearly 100 points. But he scored lower on the practice ACT than the actual test. Not sure how to analyze that! :huh:

[Shelly in VA]

I think so, especially since he has already built up quite a bit of stamina in prepping for the SAT. Here is what I would do (time all parts exactly as they will be on the test). Please note that, yes, I am BOSSY! But this approach worked quite well for ds. ;)

 

Buy the big red book (Real ACT prep guide or something like that). It has five released exams.

Week 1: Do one test only, one section at a time (one per day), and one essay. Go over mistakes.

Week 2: Do two tests, two sections at a time - Monday: English and Math, Tuesday: Reading and

Science. Wednesday: do an essay. Repeat sequence with another test - go over

all mistakes.

Week 3: Do one full test straight through. Timed. Take a ten minute break after two sections and

before the essay.

Week 3 or 4: Get up early on the Saturday morning exactly one week before the Saturday you will

test. Get dressed. Eat a good breakfast (we have a "testing breakfast" in our household.

Same menu for all standardized tests). Take the last test straight through simulating

testing conditions as much as possible.

Don't do anything the last six days before the actual test other than to lay out the calculator, pencils, and admission ticket the Friday night before.

 

Throughout the four weeks if you start noticing a certain type of question that is continually missed (say, Geometry or misplaced modifiers), spend some time brushing up on content.

 

Good luck!

 

:hurray: Virtual THANK  YOU for your test prep plan! This is exactly what I had ds follow to prep, and he just got his score today. I knew he was well prepared, and I expected/hoped for a strong score, but he exceeded our expectations. Brag alert - he actually got a 36 on the test.

 

I feel like a huge amount of credit goes to you and your prep plan. Thank you so much!! If I could write a letter of recommendation for you, I would. ;)

[mom31257]

:hurray: Virtual THANK YOU for your test prep plan! This is exactly what I had ds follow to prep, and he just got his score today. I knew he was well prepared, and I expected/hoped for a strong score, but he exceeded our expectations. Brag alert - he actually got a 36 on the test.

 

I feel like a huge amount of credit goes to you and your prep plan. Thank you so much!! If I could write a letter of recommendation for you, I would. ;)

Congratulations to your ds! That is awesome. Did he take it the 12th and get his score today? Dd took it the 12th, and we are anxious!

[littlemommy]

Congratulations!!!!

[Ohdanigirl]

I think so, especially since he has already built up quite a bit of stamina in prepping for the SAT. Here is what I would do (time all parts exactly as they will be on the test). Please note that, yes, I am BOSSY! But this approach worked quite well for ds. ;)

 

Buy the big red book (Real ACT prep guide or something like that). It has five released exams.

Week 1: Do one test only, one section at a time (one per day), and one essay. Go over mistakes.

Week 2: Do two tests, two sections at a time - Monday: English and Math, Tuesday: Reading and

Science. Wednesday: do an essay. Repeat sequence with another test - go over

all mistakes.

Week 3: Do one full test straight through. Timed. Take a ten minute break after two sections and

before the essay.

Week 3 or 4: Get up early on the Saturday morning exactly one week before the Saturday you will

test. Get dressed. Eat a good breakfast (we have a "testing breakfast" in our household.

Same menu for all standardized tests). Take the last test straight through simulating

testing conditions as much as possible.

Don't do anything the last six days before the actual test other than to lay out the calculator, pencils, and admission ticket the Friday night before.

 

Throughout the four weeks if you start noticing a certain type of question that is continually missed (say, Geometry or misplaced modifiers), spend some time brushing up on content.

 

Good luck!

Did you also have them prep for the SAT this way, or did your DC only take the ACT?

[Hoggirl]

:hurray: Virtual THANK YOU for your test prep plan! This is exactly what I had ds follow to prep, and he just got his score today. I knew he was well prepared, and I expected/hoped for a strong score, but he exceeded our expectations. Brag alert - he actually got a 36 on the test.

 

I feel like a huge amount of credit goes to you and your prep plan. Thank you so much!! If I could write a letter of recommendation for you, I would. ;)

Yay!!! That's fantastic!!! Congratulations! Ha ha! I hardly think I deserve *any* credit, but I am glad that you feel like my structured approach was helpful. Even if a kid is a good/experienced test taker, I think easing into a new test is the best way to go. Starting out with (or only doing) full-length tests is just too much and can lead to discouragement, imo.

 

Very happy for your ds! Congrats, again.

 

ETA: Gotta ask - what was your "testing breakfast"? ;)

[mom31257]

We looked and dd's scores are up. She made a 33! She needed to make a 32 or higher to get a full, four year tuition scholarship to the school of her choice! 

[Hoggirl]

Did you also have them prep for the SAT this way, or did your DC only take the ACT?

Yes. Same method.

 

We started out just doing one section at a time. Then doing a couple sections at a time, etc, in order to build stamina. Because the SAT is structured differently with sections that are shorter, I had ds do some test prep that consisted of three or four sections grouped together. I honestly cannot remember whether ds did one or two tests all the way straight through. Probably only one. I was trying to keep it low pressure.

 

Ds's charter school requires 10th graders to take the PSAT. He scored well above our state's cut-off for National Merit Semi-Finalist his *sophomore* year, so I was hopeful he would do as well his junior year when it counted. For purposes of National Merit, you can use a SAT score from anytime in October of your sophomore year until December of your senior year as your qualifying score to advance to National Merit Finalist. DS only took the SAT one time which was in January of his sophomore year. I kept it low-pressure, just stating our goal was to get 2,000 so if he did do as well his junior year on the PSAT, he would already have the necessary qualifying score on the SAT. He scored significantly above the 2,000 mark, and he did qualify for National Merit from his junior year PSAT score - the one that counts. This worked out GREAT for us because he already had that qualifying SAT score under his belt, and he never took it again!

 

One thing to keep in mind is that the SAT offers different challenges because you jump between topics. You have to be able to shift gears from math, to writing, to reading, etc. My "combos" of sections were always varied. Sometimes one of each, sometimes not. He never knew what sections he was going to get or in what order. Sometimes I would do two critical readings back-to-back. On the ACT, once you are finished with math, you are finished with math - not true with the SAT. Also, with the SAT the essay comes first, with the ACT the essay comes last.

 

I think I started the whole stamina-building method because ds took that first ACT when he was 12 years old for Duke TIP. I knew that trying to prep with a four+ hour test was going to be way too much to start off with, and I wanted his first testing experience to be positive and not intimidating for him. So we eased into it. But I think this is helpful for any age/experience level.

 

One thing to note about my ds - he was pretty accelerated in math. This VERY much helped to get standardized testing out of the way early. Here was his testing path:

 

February of 7th grade - ACT for Duke TIP

February of 9th grade - ACT (this really would have been 8th grade, but he grade-skipped when he

enrolled at the charter school halfway through 8th grade - thus this

was actually the next year)

October of 10th grade - practice PSAT

January of 10th grade - SAT

May of 10th grade - SAT II Math (right before his AP BC Calculus exam)

October of 11th grade - ACT - it was ds's choice to take this one more time.

October of 11th grade - official PSAT

May of 11th grade - SAT II Chemistry (right before his AP Chemistry exam)

October of 12th grade - SAT II Literature

 

He would have been completely finished with standardized testing by spring of his junior year had he not applied to Georgetown which wanted three Subject Tests. This was SO incredibly helpful during the college applications cycle. Tons of his friends were taking their ACTs just "one more time" (or more!) during the fall of their senior year. Or taking two or three SAT II's at a time. It was so nice to have all that testing out of the way. And, really if he had not been applying to schools that wanted SAT II's, he would have been finished with standardized testing in the fall of his junior year.

 

But, since he did apply to schools that wanted SAT II's, I am also glad we started early so we could stagger them out. They are only an hour each and all MC, but doing them one at a time instead of two or three at a time made them less stressful.

 

Wow. That was a much longer answer than you wanted, wasn't it?? Lol!

 

Homeschoolers have such an advantage because they can accelerate their kids in certain areas. My ds had a natural math bent, so we worked ahead significantly. He was also working one grade ahead in grammar with Rod & Staff. No doubt that being accelerated in these two subjects enabled him to get through his standardized testing earlier in the game than most. If he hadn't had a natural aptitude for math, I wouldn't have pushed him, though.

 

Hope this is helpful!

[Shelly in VA]

Did you also have them prep for the SAT this way, or did your DC only take the ACT?

 

Ds took both the SAT (March) and the ACT (April). He actually prepped more for the SAT, and worked probably 4 or 5 full-length practice tests on Saturday mornings, but he spread that out over ~3 months instead of just the month before the test. He used a few things for his SAT prep: the "Big Blue Book" (http://www.amazon.com/The-Official-SAT-Study-Guide/dp/0874478529) along with these sites:

 

http://blog.pwnthesat.com

http://perfectscoreproject.com

http://thecriticalreader.com

 

Something that I think was really important for my dc (I also have an older daughter at a 4-year college right now, and I do think her strong test scores were a factor in the merit $ she was awarded) was that after taking a practice test, they would spend some time going over the questions they had missed a few days later until they understood why they missed them and why the right answer was right. Also, other than when they were taking full-length practice tests, I told them it was better to spend 30 min/day every day on test prep instead of big blocks of time just once/week.

 

I feel like they prepped well, and for us, it was great to be happy with the scores so that they didn't feel the need to retake the tests multiple times over the jr/sr years for admissions. 

 

Hope that helps! Good luck with your test prep efforts there!!

[Shelly in VA]

ETA: Gotta ask - what was your "testing breakfast"? ;)

 

Ds is on a nuts-seeds-fruit breakfast kick right now; drives me crazy, and makes me REALLY NERVOUS on test mornings!  :toetap05: So I made sure to give him salmon for dinner the night before.  :D

[Shelly in VA]

He would have been completely finished with standardized testing by spring of his junior year had he not applied to Georgetown which wanted three Subject Tests. This was SO incredibly helpful during the college applications cycle. Tons of his friends were taking their ACTs just "one more time" (or more!) during the fall of their senior year. Or taking two or three SAT II's at a time. It was so nice to have all that testing out of the way. And, really if he had not been applying to schools that wanted SAT II's, he would have been finished with standardized testing in the fall of his junior year.

 

But, since he did apply to schools that wanted SAT II's, I am also glad we started early so we could stagger them out. They are only an hour each and all MC, but doing them one at a time instead of two or three at a time made them less stressful.

 

Similar experience here. My oldest dd had taken four SAT II's by May of her junior year, and ds will have taken three or maybe four (not sure yet what he'll take in June!) by about the same time. For us, it was nice to be able to spend time focusing just on the applications and essays, which were more time consuming than I had anticipated. If we had needed to do anything, it would have "just" been a subject test or two fall of senior year, which wouldn't add too much stress to things.