When Should a Student Begin Preparing for the ACT?
For most students, the ideal time to begin focused ACT preparation is the spring of sophomore year or the summer before junior year.
The Ideal Starting Point
Do not let the school-administered ACT determine your student’s timeline.
Most students wait until the spring of junior year to begin thinking seriously about the ACT because that is when their school administers their first official test.
Unfortunately, waiting that long leaves far less time to pursue a major score increase before college and scholarship deadlines.
Why Start Before Junior Year?
Four advantages most families miss.
There are many benefits to preparing early, but these four matter most.
Stand out on the PSAT
Very few students complete serious test preparation before the junior-year PSAT. ACT preparation strengthens many of the same grammar, reading, math, pacing, and reasoning skills, giving your student an opportunity to stand out, pursue National Merit recognition, and potentially attract college attention earlier.
Unlock dual enrollment
Many dual-enrollment programs require students to reach certain ACT composite or section scores before participating. Earning those scores early allows students to use opportunities that may otherwise pass before they qualify.
Strengthen Governor’s School applications
Governor’s School programs are offered in more than half of the states and can be highly competitive. A strong ACT score compared with a student’s peers can help that student stand out when applying.
Create time for a major increase
Most importantly, beginning before junior year leaves enough time to test, analyze weaknesses, prepare, retest, and adjust the plan—creating time to pursue almost any increase a student could want.
A Common Objection
“But they haven’t taken all the classes yet.”
The ACT is closer to a middle-school skills test than a junior-year knowledge test. Everything tested on English has generally been introduced by the end of eighth grade; students need to master grammar, punctuation, sentence structure, organization, and clarity—not wait for another high-school English class. Reading does not test outside knowledge; students already know how to read, and greater speed and comprehension come primarily from reading more. The optional Science section mostly tests whether students can interpret charts, experiments, and evidence. Math is the section most affected by later coursework, but students can begin with arithmetic, pre-algebra, Algebra I, and the other sections while adding Geometry and Algebra II concepts as they learn them.
By the end of sophomore year, most students have completed enough coursework to pursue a very strong overall score.
What Starting Early Really Means
It does not mean years of intensive preparation.
We are not recommending that every freshman spend four years preparing for the ACT.
A freshman can simply take one realistic Mock ACT to become familiar with the test and identify major foundational weaknesses. That exposes the student to the material they need to learn so they can make sure to learn it as they move through school.
Then, in the spring or summer of sophomore year, the student should complete one intensive 13-week program. After that, the student might complete a small amount of weekly preparation during the three to six weeks before each subsequent ACT.
Most students can achieve their goal score before junior year ends. Some will even achieve a 34 or above before junior year begins.
The Best ACT Timeline
Start with exposure, prepare intensively once, and then refine.
Establish a baseline
Take one realistic Mock ACT and identify foundational weaknesses.
Complete intensive preparation
Complete an intensive ACT preparation program designed to add around five points to the student’s score.
Refine until the goal is reached
Use weekly preparation during the three to six weeks before each test and pursue an additional one or two points per attempt until the desired score is achieved.
Find the Right Starting Point
Begin with a realistic Mock ACT.
One baseline test can reveal where your student stands, identify the skills that need attention, and help your family build the right timeline.
