The ACT is both a marathon AND a sprint – it’s a long test (around 3 hours) that you have to move through very quickly. You have less than one minute per question on the ACT – and as little as 36 seconds per question on the English section of the test – which is why a lot of students find ACT time management to be the biggest challenge.
So how can you tackle the ACT without running out of time?
Answer the easiest questions first.
The easiest questions will give you the biggest bang for your buck. There’s no reason you have to do the questions in the order the test makers present them.
For instance, on the Reading section, flip through the section quickly to identify the passages you think will be the easiest for you to tackle. For example, maybe science is your jam – start your reading section with the Natural Science passage instead of whichever passage actually comes first in the test booklet. The same applies to the English and Science sections – go for the passages you think you can read through and absorb the most quickly. On the Math section, tackle the questions in order; on your first pass, only tackle those questions that you immediately know how to solve and skip those questions that you’re not quite sure about.
When you take each question in order, you risk wasting time on hard questions that you may or may not answer correctly, which means you might run out of time before you get to some of the easier questions that you definitely would have gotten right. Using this method, you make sure that you get to all of the easiest questions – the ones you know you’ll get right – and if you do run out of time, any questions you didn’t get to will be the questions that you’re less likely to get right anyway.
A warning: This method requires that you skip around, so you’ll have to be super careful not to make any mistakes on your bubble sheet. The more you practice this method, the better you’ll get at bubbling your answers quickly and accurately.
Wear a good, old-fashioned watch.
The proctor should make a few remaining time announcements, but it’s a lot more helpful if you know how much time you have as you work through the test. You’re not allowed to have digital timers, phones, smartwatches, or watches with alarms – but you’re definitely allowed to wear an old-fashioned, boring watch with no bells and whistles.
Take note of the starting time for each section and keep an eye on your remaining time as you work through the section. Consider breaking each section down to keep your pacing steady. So, for example, on the Reading section, give yourself just 8 minutes per passage. After 8 minutes, go to the next passage, whether you’re done yet or not, and at the end, you’ll still have about 3 minutes left to go back and answer any questions you didn’t get to.
Lots of timed practice.
The more you practice, the better your ACT time management. Every time you do practice sections or practice tests, time yourself. Take note of the kinds of questions that are time-suckers for you. Maybe you find that the lengthier word problems on the Math section take up the biggest chunk of your time. By knowing this, you know that you should save these problems for last when you take the test, and you can focus your practice on speeding up your word problem skills.
Leave yourself 30 seconds to guess on the remaining questions.
There is no guessing penalty on the ACT, so you shouldn’t leave any questions blank. A completely random guess gives you a one in four chance of getting the question right – a blank question is always going to be wrong. Give yourself about 30 seconds at the end of each section to guess on any questions you’ve left blank. If you can eliminate any answer choices without spending more than a couple of seconds on the question, that’s great – every answer choice you eliminate improves your chances of guessing correctly.
Focus prep efforts on high-yield items.
Certain topics are always going to come up on every test. For example, on the English section, there are always going to be about 10 punctuation questions. If you know your punctuation rules inside and out, these 10 questions will always be quick and easy to answer. Items that reliably appear on every ACT and that are a little less complex to master are high-yield items – they’ll give you a good return on your test prep investment.
Know your calculator.
The calculator is supposed to be a tool that helps you to succeed on the math section, but if you’re using a brand new calculator, you risk wasting more time trying to figure out how to get the calculator to do what you want than the calculator will actually save you. A key to ACT time management is to be sure that you do several practice math sections with the same calculator you’ll use on test day, and make your that your chosen calculator meets the ACT’s calculator policies.
Know what to expect.
If you already know all of the directions on the test, the layout of each section, and the types of questions you can expect to see on each section, you’ll save yourself precious seconds by being able to skip reading the directions on test day and by being able to better anticipate which questions you can answer the most quickly and which ones are going to take up a little more time. The best way to accomplish this is to practice, practice, practice! And remember that timed practice is always more valuable than untimed practice.
Be sure to check out our YouTube video too, where one of our educational gurus gives our Top 3 Time Management Tips for the ACT.
Now that you have an understanding of time management, could you use some specific test prep advice? Check out our post on ACT study tips.
High School Planning: Your Road to Success
COLLEGE ADMISSIONSHigh school planning is a must if you’re looking for a competitive edge when applying to college. Ask yourself, “What do the most successful high school students have in common?” They plan ahead.
Early in your high school career, you should plan out how you want the rest of high school to go. Which classes do you want take in which semesters? Do you plan to play a sport? If so, when will the seasonal demands be the heaviest? What other extracurricular activities do you plan to participate in, and how much time will they take up? By planning ahead, you offer yourself your best chance for admission to a top college.
Planning Courses
First, know your graduation requirements. Then figure out which courses you have to take each semester in order to meet graduation requirements. You’ll typically have two or three free class periods each semester – how will you fill them? Will you take four years of a language? Are there elective AP classes you can take? Does your school offer electives that suit your intended major? Is there a dual enrollment program with a local college?
By planning ahead, you’ll have a clearer picture of how heavy of an academic load you’ll face each semester. You’ll ensure that you hit all of your graduation requirements while making the most of your elective periods.
This is only a plan – it’s not written in stone. Maybe a class becomes unavailable or your obligation get too heavy. Don’t worry. If you change your mind, you can always change your mind!
Athletics
Student athletes have to be particularly careful about planning ahead because sports tend to be seasonal. For several months each year, you’ll need to dedicate huge amounts of time to practice and games or meets. This will necessarily impact things like how much time you can spend on test prep, whether you’ll have time for a big AP course load, or how many other extracurricular activities you can afford to take on.
There are always ways to plan around athletic commitments. For example, a basketball player should plan to avoid most other extracurricular activities during basketball season and hold off on test prep until after the season ends.
Extracurricular Activities
It can be tough to balance athletics and extracurricular activities, especially if you overload on activities – and contrary to popular belief, overloading on activities isn’t actually helpful in college admissions. Colleges prefer to see what we call “well-angled” students over “well-rounded” students. In other words, it’s better to focus on developing a particular set of skills or interests than it is to spread yourself wide and thin.
We recommend that students use 9th and 10th grade to explore extracurricular opportunities – dip your toes in as many extracurricular activities as you’d like to see what fits. By 11th grade, you should narrow your focus to just a few of the activities that you’re most passionate about, and by 12th grade, you should be seeking leadership opportunities in those activities.
High School Planning Help
High school is a balancing act – striking the right balance between good grades, rigorous courses, test prep, and extracurricular activities requires plenty of planning! With over 25 years of experience helping students getting accepted into their dream college, 宝博体育 can help with you too. Learn more about our College Roadmap service, and contact your local 宝博体育 center today!
宝博体育 Education Campbell now serving the community
CENTERS宝博体育 Education Campbell is now open! Our newest center in Campbell, CA, is now open and ready to provide students with the expert help they need to succeed! For over 20 years, we’ve been working with students on their journey towards attending the school of their dreams. We’re bringing our test prep, tutoring, and college admissions counseling services to Campbell to produce the great results tens of thousands of our students see across the country.
宝博体育 Education Campbell Stands Out from the Rest
What sets 宝博体育 Education apart from other tutoring centers? You’ll be impressed.
Start Today with 宝博体育
At 宝博体育 Education, we offer K-12 tutoring programs; test prep for the SAT, ACT, PSAT, AP exams; and college counseling services. We’re here to help get you into the school of your dreams. Our expert tutors are ready to create a custom study plan for you, so stop by 宝博体育 Education of Campbell on E. Hamilton Ave. today, or call us.
Four Reasons to Take the Summer SAT or ACT
TEST PREPFor decades, the SAT and the ACT have only been offered during the school year. Starting in 2017, the College Board began offering an August SAT date. Now, starting in 2018, the ACT is offering a July testing date. These summer SAT or ACT test dates offer some pretty great advantages to certain students.
Rising seniors can get an extra chance for a last minute test score boost.
For a long time, the earliest test dates on tap were the September ACT and the October SAT. Seniors hoping for one last chance to improve their test scores before college applications came due could only twiddle their thumbs until the fall months. By the time those test dates rolled around, school was in full swing. This meant time for some last minute test prep was limited. That’s no longer the case! These summer test dates offer rising seniors a last chance to boost their test scores. Plus, there’s no worrying that their score reports won’t come in time to meet even the earliest of early application deadlines.
A new option that avoids conflicts with AP exams and spring finals.
A lot of juniors take the ACT or the SAT for the first time in the spring. If their scores aren’t what they hoped for, the only chance for a score improvement before the fall test dates were traditionally May or June. Unfortunately, most students face AP exams and/or final exams in these months. Throwing the SAT or ACT on top of the many other high stakes tests can be a bit too much. The addition of the summer test dates means that students have one more option for that in-between test date.
Get testing out of the way before the school year starts.
The old September to June testing schedule aligned too closely with the school year for most students. There were few, if any, options for taking the ACT or SAT working around the demands of the school year. The addition of the July ACT and the August SAT lets students get their testing out of the way while school is out, making the testing process just a bit less stressful.
Summer SAT or ACT test prep will be even more effective.
We’ve often argued that summer is one of the best times for test prep because you can really focus on boosting your ACT or SAT scores without having to worry about balancing schoolwork and test prep work. The one downside to summer test prep has long been that there’s inevitably a gap between the end of summer (and therefore the end of summer test prep) and the actual test date – and that gap can lead to a decline in scores. These summer test dates make summer test prep all the more effective by eliminating this gap!
宝博体育 Education is offering 4-week intensive SAT and ACT Camps to help students maximize their test scores this summer. Many of our centers offer dedicated start dates to help students prepare for these summer test dates. Contact your local 宝博体育 Education center today to learn more!
ACT Time Management: 7 Tips You Should Follow
ACT, TEST PREPThe ACT is both a marathon AND a sprint – it’s a long test (around 3 hours) that you have to move through very quickly. You have less than one minute per question on the ACT – and as little as 36 seconds per question on the English section of the test – which is why a lot of students find ACT time management to be the biggest challenge.
So how can you tackle the ACT without running out of time?
Answer the easiest questions first.
The easiest questions will give you the biggest bang for your buck. There’s no reason you have to do the questions in the order the test makers present them.
For instance, on the Reading section, flip through the section quickly to identify the passages you think will be the easiest for you to tackle. For example, maybe science is your jam – start your reading section with the Natural Science passage instead of whichever passage actually comes first in the test booklet. The same applies to the English and Science sections – go for the passages you think you can read through and absorb the most quickly. On the Math section, tackle the questions in order; on your first pass, only tackle those questions that you immediately know how to solve and skip those questions that you’re not quite sure about.
When you take each question in order, you risk wasting time on hard questions that you may or may not answer correctly, which means you might run out of time before you get to some of the easier questions that you definitely would have gotten right. Using this method, you make sure that you get to all of the easiest questions – the ones you know you’ll get right – and if you do run out of time, any questions you didn’t get to will be the questions that you’re less likely to get right anyway.
A warning: This method requires that you skip around, so you’ll have to be super careful not to make any mistakes on your bubble sheet. The more you practice this method, the better you’ll get at bubbling your answers quickly and accurately.
Wear a good, old-fashioned watch.
The proctor should make a few remaining time announcements, but it’s a lot more helpful if you know how much time you have as you work through the test. You’re not allowed to have digital timers, phones, smartwatches, or watches with alarms – but you’re definitely allowed to wear an old-fashioned, boring watch with no bells and whistles.
Take note of the starting time for each section and keep an eye on your remaining time as you work through the section. Consider breaking each section down to keep your pacing steady. So, for example, on the Reading section, give yourself just 8 minutes per passage. After 8 minutes, go to the next passage, whether you’re done yet or not, and at the end, you’ll still have about 3 minutes left to go back and answer any questions you didn’t get to.
Lots of timed practice.
The more you practice, the better your ACT time management. Every time you do practice sections or practice tests, time yourself. Take note of the kinds of questions that are time-suckers for you. Maybe you find that the lengthier word problems on the Math section take up the biggest chunk of your time. By knowing this, you know that you should save these problems for last when you take the test, and you can focus your practice on speeding up your word problem skills.
Leave yourself 30 seconds to guess on the remaining questions.
There is no guessing penalty on the ACT, so you shouldn’t leave any questions blank. A completely random guess gives you a one in four chance of getting the question right – a blank question is always going to be wrong. Give yourself about 30 seconds at the end of each section to guess on any questions you’ve left blank. If you can eliminate any answer choices without spending more than a couple of seconds on the question, that’s great – every answer choice you eliminate improves your chances of guessing correctly.
Focus prep efforts on high-yield items.
Certain topics are always going to come up on every test. For example, on the English section, there are always going to be about 10 punctuation questions. If you know your punctuation rules inside and out, these 10 questions will always be quick and easy to answer. Items that reliably appear on every ACT and that are a little less complex to master are high-yield items – they’ll give you a good return on your test prep investment.
Know your calculator.
The calculator is supposed to be a tool that helps you to succeed on the math section, but if you’re using a brand new calculator, you risk wasting more time trying to figure out how to get the calculator to do what you want than the calculator will actually save you. A key to ACT time management is to be sure that you do several practice math sections with the same calculator you’ll use on test day, and make your that your chosen calculator meets the ACT’s calculator policies.
Know what to expect.
If you already know all of the directions on the test, the layout of each section, and the types of questions you can expect to see on each section, you’ll save yourself precious seconds by being able to skip reading the directions on test day and by being able to better anticipate which questions you can answer the most quickly and which ones are going to take up a little more time. The best way to accomplish this is to practice, practice, practice! And remember that timed practice is always more valuable than untimed practice.
Be sure to check out our YouTube video too, where one of our educational gurus gives our Top 3 Time Management Tips for the ACT.
Now that you have an understanding of time management, could you use some specific test prep advice? Check out our post on ACT study tips.
Record-Low Admission Rates at Top Colleges
COLLEGE ADMISSIONSEach spring, colleges begin to announce their admission rates for the incoming freshman class. For the past several years, these announcements have followed a downward trend with rates dipping lower and lower. This year is proving to be no exception. As admission rates at top colleges are announced for the class of 2022, many headlines include the phrase “record low.” All of the Ivy League schools with the exception of Yale reached record low admission rates this year. Stanford topped the list at 4.6%. They held the title of lowest admission rate last year and beat its own record by admitting .3% less of applicants.
Some of the early data at top ranked colleges
This year’s admissions season
Here are some fun – or not so fun – facts about this year’s admissions thus far:
What should I do with this info?
We don’t share such information just to depress you. These numbers can offer some useful information, too:
College admission counseling is important. Many students rely on their public school counselors for college guidance, but the average public school counselor is responsible for nearly 500 students – there’s just not enough time to provide every student with the detailed and customized advice necessary to navigate the path to a top tier college. Use every resource available to you in order to make sure you’re doing everything you can to improve your chances of admission to your dream college. You can get started by taking advantage of a free college admissions consultation from 宝博体育.
National College Decision Day – Is That Your Final Choice?
COLLEGE ADMISSIONSMay 1 is a little known holiday called National College Decision Day. This is the deadline by which most students are required to have submitted their deposits to their chosen colleges.
Hopefully, you worked really hard and got some great college admissions advice, so now you’ve got several colleges to choose from. For some students, this decision is a no-brainer – if you got into a school you know you want to attend, your decision might be simple.
For others, the decision is a bit more difficult – how do you pick between multiple similar schools?
Regardless, of which camp you fall into, you should consider your final choice carefully. Even if you got into your dream school, you should take some time to explore all of your options. This is a huge decision, so you should make your choice carefully.
Here is our advice to help you make a confident college decision:
Visit the Campuses Again
Whether you’ve already visited the campuses at the schools at which you’ve been admitted, now’s a great time for another campus visit. When you know a spot on campus is yours for the taking, the school looks a bit different. This new perspective can make you see a potential college in an entirely new light, so take this last opportunity to check out your options in person.
Compare Financial Aid Awards
A particularly generous financial aid package might make a school that was lower down on your list just a bit more attractive. When you’re comparing financial aid awards, make sure to consider both out of pocket costs and loan amounts.
Examine the College Websites
Really dig through the college websites to learn as much as you can about each school. What’s life like outside the classroom? What kinds of classes could you take at one college versus another? Which colleges have the coolest amenities, the most impressive staff, or the best internship opportunities?
Make a Pro/Con Chart
Once you’ve narrowed down your choices, make a pro/con chart. List all of the pros and all of the cons for each school. Visualizing your options like this might make your decision a bit easier.
Submit Everything On Time
Once you make your choice, submit your deposit and your paperwork on time! Nothing will derail your college career like losing your spot because of a paperwork glitch.
Spring Final Exam Prep
TEST PREPNo More Teachers, No More Books…But First, Finals
In many parts of the country, students have just weeks to go before summer break – which also means that there are mere weeks before final exams.
We’ve rounded up some of our best study tips from past posts to help with your Spring final exam prep, so you can hit finals week fully prepared.
If you’re worried about your finals or if your final exam scores might make a big difference to your overall grade, don’t hesitate to look for help. Your teachers will be more than happy to explain concepts you don’t understand, student study groups can be invaluable, and 宝博体育 Education’s experts are always ready to lend a helping hand! Don’t feel like you have to get ready for finals alone – contact your local 宝博体育 Education center to find out how our expert teachers can help you make the most of your final exams.
Summer Plans Yet? There’s Still Time for a Killer Summer!
MISCELLANEOUSSpring is in the air, which means summer is just around the corner!
For college bound high school students, summer break offers a lot of unique opportunities. Sure, you could spend your days lazing by the pool and working on your tan. You could also use the time building up a stronger college application. (Better yet, do both – you deserve a little rest and relaxation, after all.)
What if your summer plans are nonexistent? Isn’t it too late to make plans now?
Nope!
While a lot of summer programs have application deadlines that have already passed, you still have plenty of options.
Pre-College Programs
Several renowned colleges still have applications open for their pre-college summer programs, including:
If you’re interested in programs like these, definitely don’t wait to apply – the application deadlines are right around the corner!
Travel
Interested in combining education and travel? 宝博体育 Education has partnered with Oxbridge Academic Programs to offer 7th-12th grade students with opportunities to study abroad. These programs combine the excitement of travel and the value of learning. Oxbridge Academic programs take place at some of the world’s most renowned universities in culturally rich cities. Students have the ability to earn course credits while gaining valuable travel experiences. Contact your local 宝博体育 Education center today to learn more about the opportunities available through Oxbridge Academic Programs.
Test Prep
It can be tough to balance school, homework, extracurricular activities, and test prep during the school year. Make sure you’re putting these school-free weeks to good use to boost your chances for college admission. Why not use summer break to focus your efforts on SAT or ACT prep so that you can really maximize your scores? Or you can choose to set up your own rigorous self-study schedule or enroll in a summer test prep program. This summer, 宝博体育 Education is offering 40-hour SAT or ACT Boot Camps designed to help boost your SAT or ACT scores in just four short weeks. Contact your local 宝博体育 Education center to learn more about these limited time programs.
Volunteer Work
Gaining admission at your dream college requires more than good grades and test scores. Colleges seek students who will develop into leaders who will work to enrich their communities. You can show colleges that you’re invested in making the world around you better by engaging in volunteer work. There are plenty of resources to help you find great volunteer opportunities, but if you’re not already involved in service organizations like National Honor Society, contact your local 宝博体育 Education center.
宝博体育 Education has partnered with Lion’s Heart, one of only 12 nationally recognized leadership organizations that offer the President’s Volunteer Service Award, to provide students with great volunteering opportunities. Lion’s Heart links student volunteers with hand-picked local volunteer opportunities based on each student’s passions and interests, and provides a platform where students can track their hours, leadership positions, and awards to build a volunteer portfolio to submit to colleges. Contact your local 宝博体育 Education center to learn more, and be sure to mention 宝博体育 when enrolling at Lion’s Heart.
No matter how you choose to use your summer break, make sure you use it wisely!
宝博体育 Education Manhasset is open and serving the community
CENTERS宝博体育 Education Manahasset is now open! Our newest center in Manhasset, NY, is now open and ready to provide students with the expert help they need to succeed! For over 20 years, we’ve been working with students on their journey towards attending the school of their dreams. We’re bringing our test prep, tutoring, and college admissions counseling services to the Manhasset community to produce the great results tens of thousands of our students see across the country.
宝博体育 Education Manhasset Stands Out from the Rest
What sets 宝博体育 Education apart from other tutoring centers? You’ll be impressed.
Start Today with 宝博体育
At 宝博体育 Education, we offer K-12 tutoring programs; test prep for the SAT, ACT, PSAT, AP exams; and college counseling services. We’re here to help get you into the school of your dreams. Our expert tutors are ready to create a custom study plan for you, so stop by 宝博体育 Education of Mahasset on Northern Blvd. today, or call us.