When should students start taking the ACT?
Great question!! And like all questions related to college, the BEST answer is…. it depends. :) But you want more specifics, I know. So, here is some solid information for your consideration. Learn the things you need to know and then make the best decision for your situation.
When should kids start to take the ACT, for real? Again, the answer, no matter what anyone else says, is.... it depends. (That's literally my answer to *every* question!) It depends on your student. It depends on their ultimate goals, in terms of schools and scores. It depends on your student's knowledge and abilities, and it depends on their levels of test anxiety.
Aren't most schools test-optional these days, anyhow? This is such a valid but complicated question. Many schools are test-optional. Many say they are test-optional, but that "if you have good scores, you should submit them"- which basically defeats the point of them being optional, right? It *is* possible to apply to college without test scores and to get in to many of them. It is also possible to get an advantage from a high score. So, there's no clear answer. If a student CAN get a good score, they probably should try for it, at least. It keeps options open. Very very few schools are "test blind" which means they don't want test scores from ANY applicant. I can count those schools on my two hands.
When do I (Miss Kristie, test prep person) start my own kids taking the ACT? My own kids started in June after sophomore year. Here's why. Do they know everything they need to know to max out their scores at this point? No, they don't. And - is it important that they start this soon? No, it's not. And those are two of the main reasons I do it. :) If I have them wait until mid-junior year to start taking it, they have a shorter runway to build their test skills and to work through the anxiety. In fact, the closer they get to the end of their junior year, the more the anxiety builds, as the time frame for maxing their score shrinks ever smaller. I prefer to have them start taking it when there is NOT the pressure to hit their highest score. The June test is right after school lets out, so all information is fresh in their heads. They are post-finals and most sports seasons, so their time is not crunched like it is during the school year. To me, it's a good time to get that foundation built, and we'll move forward from that. (By the way, sophomores DO know enough to max out their scores on English, Reading, and Science! It's only the Math section that contains concepts they haven't reached yet.)
Do colleges see these scores? Nope. I do not send test scores to any colleges from this - or ANY - test date. None. Many schools will let kids self-report their test scores on their applications, and then only require official score reports when they want to enroll. Some schools do require official score reports at application time, and I'll just send those score reports later, when they're needed. By not listing any receiving colleges, kids know that if this score isn't a good one, no one needs to know. That alleviates a great deal of the pressure on them.
One more thing. There is a unique thing you can order at registration time, and it's called a Test Information Release (TIR). This is only offered 3 times per year: April, June, and December. So for sophomores, they won't have a chance to get this again until mid-way through junior year. The TIR costs extra at registration...something like $20-30. What this means is that after scores are released, your student will ALSO get a detailed report from ACT.
Ace that ACT!
The TIR shows students where they are missing points and helps them map a path to success!
They will get a pdf copy of the actual test they took.
They will get a copy of the answer key.
And they will get a copy of all the answers they put for every question on the test.
This is SO HELPFUL. Kids can see what they put and what the right answer was for every question on the test. This is the single most effective way to RAISE scores on future tests! Otherwise, you just get a score like... 24. What does that even mean? And how can you improve it? The TIR gives you the answers...literally. So that's another reason I'm a fan of the June test.
Should my student prep for this first test? Another great and totally valid question. The answer is... it depends. :) Sorry! Some kids like to take it cold: just walk in and take it and see where they are, without preparing at all. That's a valid approach! But, for some kids, that's too terrifying. They'd rather know what's coming and how to feel and be successful, even in their first try. Also, a totally valid approach. Personally, I believe that knowledge is power, and the more kids know, the better they feel... and the better they feel, the better they do. But not every kid is the same, and you have to make the best choices to support your student, the best way you can!
Now what? Consider all of this. Talk to your student and consider what your timeline should look like. ACTs tend to be offered each year in February, April, June, July, September, October, and December. Many schools across the country offer a free school-day ACT to their students in March or April of their junior year. Be sure to include that one in your timeline if your district participates in this program.
Sales-y stuff: Savvy Strategies does have a self-paced online video course to help students prepare for the ACT! One of our online-only students this year raised her ACT Composite score 5 points!! More information on that can be found here.
Succeed together!
Get a group of 5 or more together and make a class of your own!
Last thing! I would run a live online ACT (or SAT) prep class for a group of at least 5 students. If your student would like to get some friends together and have a private class with me, just for them, contact me through this site! Sometimes it's easier to do something like this with your friends...although sometimes it's easier to do it with people you don't know. As always, it depends on your student. But, if you're interested in a small group, let me know!
I'm always happy to answer your questions! This college admissions process is complicated, competitive, and confusing. Don't be lost. I've got the maps. :)
~ Kristie