The ACT is next week for Juniors at Lakeville South. To inform some future ACT-takers, Alice and I decided to get some input from those who are about to take the test, those who have already taken the test, and Ms. Hedin.
Alice interviewed some juniors to determine their thoughts about the ACT. She asked how students were feeling about the ACT, and it sounds like juniors are not too worried about the test. For prep, juniors have been using ACT prep books or just “free-balling” it to see how it goes and hope for the best. The reason juniors are taking the ACT mainly hinges around doing well on future college applications for senior year. Students state that they want their ACT score to help with academic scholarships and to see what subjects they need to improve on for the following year.
For seniors, I asked them how they studied, and most people stated that they did not study for it (do not take this as a reason not to study.) For those who wish to study to try to ace it the first time, seniors recommend ACT prep books to gauge the types of questions they have to offer. The biggest thing to keep in mind is timing. One senior recommends doing practice tests and keeping yourself in check to ensure that when you take the exam, you do not run out of time. Seniors overall say that juniors should not be stressed as it is just like any other standardized test with multiple subjects.
Ms. Hedin used to teach an ACT prep course here at South, so I asked her what she recommends students to do in preparation for the test. The main takeaway from what she said was that you need to get strategies to effectively take the test. You need to manage your time and familiarize yourself with the format of the test, as you are not going to learn everything on the test in a week. She says that people should take practice tests created by the ACT and go through and do questions to find out the reason behind why an answer is right or wrong.
Now, many people know that the ACT is the junior year test, but what is it, and what is it actually for? To answer the first question, The ACT, according to The Princeton Review, is “a multiple-choice, pencil-and-paper test.” (This year, it is digital.) The Princeton Review breaks down what the ACT consists of: English, math, reading, science, and an optional writing section. Without the writing section, the test is 2 hours and 55 minutes long; with it, it is an additional 40 minutes longer. The highest score that you can get on the test is a 36, and the average is a 21. At Lakeville South High School, the average is a 27 according to Niche.
What is the ACT actually for? According to the ACT website, the test “give[s] colleges and universities an idea of how prepared you are for college-level work.” The score itself can show your strengths in the 4 subjects and can help your admission to college. Although many universities and colleges require the ACT, there has been a shift in those requirements that mainly occurred during COVID. As of 2025, FairTest notes that “more than 80% of U.S. four-year colleges and universities will not require applicants for fall 2025 admissions to submit ACT/SAT scores.” This shift should not mean that you do not take the ACT, since The Princeton Review Board recommends that it is still a good idea to take it. Without your ACT score, there is “greater weight … given to other aspects of your application such as your transcript, essay, extracurricular[s] and letters of recommendation.” Though there has been a change in the requirements for some schools, your score on the ACT can be beneficial for you, and not only admissions-wise. The Princeton Review Board says that higher ACT scores can “increase a student’s desirability in the eyes of financial aid officers and consequently increase the size of the aid package that student is offered”, even giving more opportunities for merit scholarships!
Those who are in line to take the ACT should try their best to study, but remember; even if you do not get the score you hope for, you can retake it until you reach your full potential!
