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ACT Preparedness Checklist

6/13/2014

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"What Do I Need for the ACT Please Halp!"

Taking the ACT is stressful, and there's a ton to remember while preparing for it. To help you out, I've compiled an easy-to-follow, no-nonsense checklist that'll make sure you're on top of everything for it.

(At Least) One Month Before

  • Sign up for an account on actstudent.org.
  • Complete the student profile and aptitude questions.
  • Register for the upcoming ACT exam. It costs $36.50 for the ACT sans Writing and $52.50 for the ACT with Writing.
  • Upload a photo of yourself for your admission ticket.
  • Add up to four colleges to receive your scores for free. Extras cost money!
  • Clear your calendar that day until 1:00 PM.
  • Get an approved calculator and learn how to use it. (I recommend the TI-84.)
  • Begin studying and taking practice tests.
  • Review English grammar/usage rules and practice your math skills.
  • (Sign up for a few tutoring sessions with Kav Kid!)

One Week Before

  • Print out your admission ticket.
  • Take one final practice test to target your studying.
  • If you haven't seen algebra I or geometry in a while, review it.
  • Verify that you have transportation and an open calendar that day.

The Night Before

  • Eat a balanced dinner with no junk food (upset stomach = bad day).
  • Pack a testing kit in a ziptop bag with the following:
  • 1. Your admission ticket
  • 2. Four sharpened #2 pencils (no mechanical)
  • 3. A large eraser
  • 4. A calculator + extra batteries
  • 5. A photo ID (license, school ID, passport, whatever)
  • 6. A water bottle and a light snack (you can't eat these in the testing room, but they'll be nice to have on your break)
  • 7. A watch without an alarm or any other sounds
  • Double check that you have your admission ticket and photo ID! You can't enter the testing facility without them!
  • Don't cram!
  • Seriously, don't cram!
  • Go to bed relatively early (but don't break your regular schedule too much).

The Morning Of

  • Wake up by 6:30 the latest. If you wake up much later, you'll be groggy and potentially late.
  • Eat breakfast! Even if it's just an apple, have something good.
  • Grab your testing kit (with admission ticket and photo ID!).
  • Put on your watch.
  • Get to the testing facility by 7:30. Check in.
  • Take the test! Use your watch to pace yourself.
  • On your break, use the restroom, get a drink, and have a snack.

Lastly, don't worry! You've prepared, and you are ready! (A little nerves are good, though, because moderate levels of cortisol, or your stress hormone, actually improve performance on memory tasks [Wood, S. E., Wood, E.G., & Boyd D. (2013). Mastering the world of psychology (5th ed). Houston, TX: Pearson.])

Good luck!


[This post was first written 2014-06-13 and last updated 2014-07-06.]
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    Hey! I'm Nolan Kav.! AKA Kav Kid! I'm an undergrad at the University of Michigan, and I have SURVIVED grade school, high school, the tests, and college admissions. This blog is here to help you survive them, too.

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