Tuesday, April 6, 2010

ACT is Saturday...Last Minute Advice for Students

The ACT is THIS SATURDAY!

Hopefully you have been preparing with some of the tools provided for you (see previous articles on standardized testing). Here are some additional tips in advance of test day:


Gather your materials now and have them ready
…don’t be on a last minute search on your way out the door Saturday morning!
ACT admission ticket
• picture id (driver’s license is best)
• several sharpened #2 pencils with erasers
• calculator that meets ACT allowances (good to bring 2 devices, just in case)
• a watch with no alarm (room supervisor you will announce start, 5 minutes, and end, but a personal watch will allow you to pace yourself better)
• clothing layers (make sure you can easily and quietly shed a layer if you are too warm or add a layer if the room is too cold)
• Kleenex (it may not be available in the testing room and even if it is, you will lose valuable testing time getting up to get Kleenex)

Make Friday a “stay in” night. Relax, veg, go to bed early.
SET YOUR ALARM. Set several alarms if you need to. You cannot be late to the ACT!

Have a really
good for you breakfast on Saturday morning. You will not test well on an empty stomach…and loud growls may disturb those testing around you!

Some testing locations have a place for you to purchase food and drink, but don’t rely on it. And there may be lines if vending machines are available to you. So, it is suggested that you
bring a drink and a small snack with you to enjoy during your break after the math section. Make sure they are in closed containers and in a closed bag/backpack/purse, as you will not be permitted to have them on your testing desk. You must store them underneath your seat during testing.

Use the restroom before entering your testing room
. You do not get a break until after the second test. You are allowed to leave the room during testing, but…you must take your ID with you to re-enter and you lose all of the time you are gone. You do not get to make it up.

A favorite college professor always passed around a basket of
hard candy peppermints
before a test and his students swore it helped calm them down and stimulated their brains. It is worth a shot for you, too!

Remember…ACT on the ACT, SIT on the SAT. Simply, answer every question on the ACT; you gain credit for correct answers and are not penalized for incorrect responses, so it is worth it to guess. You will be given a cue of “5 minutes remaining” for each test, so use that time to fill in any missing bubbles.

If you
skip any questions, be careful to also skip on the answer sheet. Be very careful about this!
FAQ page on ACT website.

GOOD LUCK!
Remember that this is one test, one Saturday morning, and you can take it again. The test score is just one component of your college application process and does not define you. Just do your BEST!

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