ACT Preparedness Checklist

"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.]