Juniors– the ACT and MME are quickly approaching, and you’re probably feeling a bit anxious. That is normal. These tests are pretty important, after all, and it’s good to do your best the first time around so you’re not stuck paying money to retake them (though that’s always a good option, because you never know how high you can push your score!). So, while you’re freaking out about how you’re going to possibly make it through three days of testing, keep these tips in mind and just relax. It’s only a big deal if you make it one.
First of all- you’re ready; your teachers have been giving you ACT prep. If you took it seriously, you should know what kind of things to expect on the test. If you don’t know what to expect, there are tons of practice ACT’s on the ACT website ( actstudent.org and go to test prep). Also, you’ve taken a million tests throughout your life! While this may be an important one, it’s still just a test.
It is actually difficult to study for the ACT. This test isn’t necessarily testing you on your knowledge of the subject, but how well (and quickly) you can read and interpret something, problem solve, etc. So studying your math notes might help, but it won’t fully prepare you for the test. It’s best to do some timed practice tests online so you can get the gist of what’s expected of you.
Even though time is running out, I’m urging you not to stress out. You should take a few hours a day to prepare, but don’t overwhelm yourself. Worrying about the test too much will just make you nervous and most likely affect how you test.
The best advice I can give is to study a little each day, know what the test is expecting of you, and SLEEP. That’s right, sleep. DO NOT STAY UP ALL NIGHT CRAMMING YOUR STUDY SESSION THE DAY BEFORE THE TEST. That is the worst thing you can do. It is actually better for you to sacrifice a few extra hours of studying for extra sleep. It is scientifically proven that people perfrom better in the morning after a good night’s sleep, and actually do better in school when they’ve slept more instead of staying up all night studying. When you’re up late studying, your brain is tired and won’t retain much information…so you’d wake up tired in the morning, and still forget everything you reviewed! With a good night’s sleep your brain is sharper when you wake up and able to perform more efficiently. If it comes down to it, sleep.
All in all, study a little each day until the test, get a lot of rest, and eat a good, healthy breakfast each morning of your testing. Also, relax! If you think positively about the test, you’ll have a better testing experience. Don’t freak out; you’ve been preparing for this test since the first day you’ve walked through those doors.
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