Frequently Asked Questions
(Please note: These are our personal opinions based on our experiences. Other tutors may have different philosophies or viewpoints).
When should my son or daughter take the ACT for the first time?
The test is only offered 7 times each year (September, October, December, February, April, June, July). So, the first step is to consider your child’s personal schedule. In other words, determine if there are months or certain times that would be best to avoid -- when he or she is involved in a primary sport, a fine arts production, a heavy work schedule, etc. Ideally, your child should take the test in the Fall of Junior Year (September, October, or December) and, if possible, again in February just for more experience prior to the April test.
How can I best help my student prepare for the next tests once completing your course?
ACT will allow you to purchase the student's scores and test booklet from certain tests. The tests available for purchase are:
December, April, and June
If you sign up to test on one of these dates, it would be wise to purchase your child's test packet and score sheet. Then, this information can be used to pinpoint specific areas needing focus.
Almost all juniors take the April test.
There are 2 reasons for this:
1) The student’s own school is usually a testing site; thus, he or she has a “home court advantage” which can help reduce anxiety. You can expect all the other testing dates to be at alternate locations.
2) By April, your child will have had almost another full year of math, English, and science. So, his or her knowledge base has increased in those content areas.
What about June?
The June test generally takes place a week or two after school is out for summer vacation. Depending on your child, this can be a good time because other academic requirements don’t interfere with an in-depth preparation for the test. However, some students feel ‘burnt out’ at the end of the semester making it difficult for them to concentrate. Extra-curricular activities may interfere as well.
After June—are there any other opportunities?
ACT has just added July as one more testing date option. It is perfectly acceptable to take the ACT one more time in September of a student’s Senior Year. Beyond the September testing date, the college application process is generally well underway. So, it is advised to have a ‘final score’ accomplished by the September test.
Should my child take the test “cold”?
Our thought is -- No. Why would you spend the time and money on taking the test without having your son or daughter go into it knowing what to expect? We recommend taking our 8 Week Course prior to the testing date. Then, your child at least has a base of knowledge and skills to perform at his or best level on that date. If you are not satisfied with the scores, your son or daughter can use our materials as a reference to prepare more thoroughly for the next test(s).
How often should my son or daughter take the ACT?
It seems as though most schools are recommending at least twice, if not three times. We concur.
Do you tutor for the SAT or only ACT?
Our Small Group Sessions are for ACT Preparation only; however, SAT Preparation may be an option with our One-to-One Tutoring
- The rumor that the SAT will be replacing the ACT is a complete falsehood. The current rumor about the SAT was started because Illinois gives one free test to all public school students. The state recently chose the SAT over the ACT because SAT offered a less expensive option for the state budget.
- Colleges throughout the country accept both standardized tests. The SAT is not required, or even particularly liked, by colleges.
- The SAT was recently revamped. Revamping a test means they are still trying to interpret the data from the results. The SAT will not have the ability to do that for quite some time. Many colleges would rather get an ACT score that has been tried and tested over many years.
- Both the Math and Verbal portions of the SAT are particularly difficult for students to demonstrate their capability of applying what they have learned. Students who can score fairly well on the ACT Math and English oftentimes do not do so on the SAT. The ACT lends itself to multiple levels of problem solving and is based on application of knowledge; whereas, the SAT tends to directly measure knowledge.