On Saturday, February 8, some ILS students, and students around the nation, will be taking the ACT. While seniors might be scheduled to sit for the exam, it’s mostly juniors at this point for the test.

The ACT is a standardized test used for college admissions in the United States. It is currently administered by ACT, a nonprofit organization of the same name. The ACT test covers four academic skill areas: English, mathematics, reading, and science reasoning. It also offers an optional direct writing test.

In addition to the ACT, the SAT is also a standardized test widely used for college admissions in the United States. Both of these exams can be stressful experiences for the students taking them.

ILS offers a vast amount of information regarding SAT/ACT prep. Starting in November, students have been testing for the SAT and ACT. The most stressful time of the year has come, and students are overwhelmed with studying and test prep. 

There are many different studying outlets to get information for free, instead of paying thousands of dollars for a tutor. The ACT consists of four major sections; math, reading, English, and science. 

Depending on the college of your choice, there are many colleges that do not require the ACT score. Students that struggle in science prefer the SAT instead. Also, some students prefer taking the ACT because they find that the math potion is a lot easier than the SAT. 

Khan Academy is an effective and free way of studying for the ACT. The app is designed to create lessons, videos and practice tests for the SAT/ACT. All students have to do is input their recent PSAT scores, and the app then rearranges the information and targets the most challenging parts. Khan academy is free of charge, and is extremely effective in boosting test scores. 

As an alternative, there are places students go for tutoring. Students chose between one-on-one, or a group class. The tutor will teach the student strategies to use during the exam. 

You can take the ACT up to 12 times. However, guidance counselors recommend to take it at least three times, which will give you the opportunity to be able to “super-set” your test score. According to The Washington Post, there are about 180 colleges that do not require an ACT/SAT score. This varies in certain states, but most colleges require the SAT score. 

“Taking ACTs are stressful and shouldn’t be allowed due to the fact that it messes with teenagers mental health. Although, I prefer the ACT because it’s easier,” said junior Jimena Vazquez. 

“I feel that a student’s score on a test is not an accurate representation of their intelligence and it shouldn’t be used by colleges to determine acceptance,” said junior class president Sofia Farres. 

“I ordered the Princeton Review SAT Review book, and I’ve been doing it four times a week for at least an hour in a half after homework. Every time I get a notification on khan academy, I do 30 minutes,” said junior Lourdes Nieto Ramos. 

Students feel pressured to strive for the best score. This is why it is such a stressful time for students. ILS teachers also provide guidance when taking the ACT, and push their students to reach for their goal. 

In addition to the February 8th exam, the ACT will be offered on April 4th. The SAT will be offered on both March 14th and May 2nd.