Across PHS, students prepare for the upcoming ACT on April 15 by taking prep courses, reading tips and tricks, or simply hoping for the best. 

Previously, students across the state took the SAT as the state test until this year, when it was changed to the ACT.

Giselle Hanson, who teaches the math ACT prep class, encourages students to look at sample ACT problems to really get a feel for it. On the test, she recommends eliminating answers and plugging them into the equation. She also explained that “when it was the SAT instead of the ACT, students saw a 50-point increase from taking the prep class and studying” (about 2 points on the ACT scale). 

Liz Sheehan, who teaches the “everything but math” ACT prep class, said, “The state switched to the ACT because it is cheaper because students now don’t have to take a separate science test.” She encourages students who are underclassmen to take the class once they are juniors.

Some students are taking the SAT in addition to the ACT and are studying in different ways. 

Tyler Moi, a junior, has already taken the SAT. He said that he prefers the SAT “due to the shorter passages, which made time management a lot easier.” 

He prepared for the SAT by using Khan Academy, amongst other online practice tests. He recommends that students take the SAT if they are slower readers, but if they are fast readers, to should stick with the ACT.

Junior Andre Faber plans on taking both the SAT and ACT. He is preparing for the ACT by going to the after-school sessions at PHS as well as taking online courses. Faber doesn’t mind the change to the ACT and actually prefers it over the SAT. He feels confident going into both tests.

Junior Patrick Bergl prefers the SAT due to it not having the science section. He is focusing more on the SAT by using online resources and prep books. 

Students vary in how they study for tests; however, the most important thing for students is to prepare themselves and keep on studying.