Juniors at Stillwater high school are gearing up for the upcoming ACT on Thursday, with Assistant Principal and test coordinator Ms. Grant overseeing final preparations. 

In preparation for test day, Ms. Grant and principal Mr. Howell encourage students to practice consistently with available resources and prioritize a good night’s sleep before the exam. 

“Arriving well-rested and having eaten a nutritious breakfast can significantly impact performance,” Mr. Howell said.

Mr. Carley, Criminology and Sociology teacher, recommends doing your homework, borrowing an ACT book and reviewing it. He also recommends doing the practice tests and going to the tutoring sessions, which he said are worth the cost.

 “Even if you did not prepare well, get a good night’s sleep, eat a good breakfast, use all the ‘tips and tricks’ while taking the test that will help you,” Carley said.

Lulu Goodfox is a junior who is prepping for the ACT by taking the ACT prep classes.

“I’ve never been more nervous for a test, but it’s okay because whatever happens, happens,” Goodfox said.

Students should bring approved calculators for the Mathematics section. Test-takers are advised to develop time management strategies for each section, as the strict timing requires efficient pacing to complete all questions successfully, Howell said.

Sophomores and seniors will have a virtual day on Thursday to accommodate testing. Howell said the exam should require approximately four hours to complete. The assessment includes timed sections: English (45 minutes, 75 questions), Mathematics (60 minutes, 60 questions), Reading (35 minutes, 40 questions), Science (35 minutes, 40 questions), and an optional Writing Assessment (40 minutes).