The October ACT is quickly approaching!

If your student is a senior, you know that there are only a few opportunities left for your student to reach their score goal before applications are due.

To make the most of these last few test dates, here are 3 most important things your student should focus on leading up to next Saturday’s test.

Sleep 😴

This is one of the most overlooked aspects of test preparation but it is absolutely critical. If your student is exhausted, there is no way for them to perform their best no matter how great their test preparation is. This means a consistent bed time and a consistent wake time - ideally this will fit neatly into the schedule for Saturday’s test as well. If they need to do some extra sleeping or work around other commitments, naps are fantastic! Make sure the nap is not longer than 20-25 minutes to eliminate grogginess. The good news though is that the 20 minute blocks can be stacked - just set an alarm.

Focused preparation 🎯

For the ACT test itself, students should work on practicing problems from previous practice tests they have taken. This will remind them of content mistakes as well as help them practice ACT test strategies. Even if it’s only a few problems, they should practice under timed conditions. On the ACT pacing is a key component so make sure your student is using the minutes/question for the kinds of problems they are working (for example, math problems are timed at 1 minute/question). This timing should be applied that strictly to their practice work.

Finalize logistics 📋

You can help your student make mental space for focusing on the test itself by helping them finalize everything that can be decided or prepared ahead of time. This could include what time they should go to bed, what will they wear on test day, what time should they get up, what are the directions to the test center, what electronics need to be charged and whether they have a photo ID with them. These tiny things add up and can take up a surprising amount of mental space. Handling them now will help your student focus on their preparation for the test itself.

Helping your student focus on these tactics this week will help them create space to be well prepared to take the ACT this week.