Should I take ACT prep classes?

Deciding whether or not to take ACT prep classes is an individual decision, and like most decisions, has both pros and cons. Since the ACT (American College Testing) is an important part of getting into college, it absolutely makes sense to study for the test. However, the question at hand is not whether or not to study, but are test prep classes your best option?

Since this is very individualized, there are probably a few things students should ask themselves to determine whether or not a class is their best choice.

• Have you taken a sample test?
• How did you perform on a sample test?
• Do you learn best in a classroom setting?
• Do you feel instructor-led studying is how you learn the best?
• Can you trust yourself to do independent study for ACT prep?
• Are you easily distracted when during self-study sessions?
• Are you good at taking standardized tests or do you have testing anxiety?

It is a good idea to take sample or practice ACT tests, not just to help you decide how much improvement you’d like to see, but also it will increase familiarity with the testing format, subject matter, and time limits involved. As the ACT tests multiple subjects, taking a sample or practice test can indicate which subjects or areas where you need the most improvement.

ACT test prep classes are a good idea.

If the answer to the questions pertaining to classroom settings and instructor-led learning is yes, then you are probably someone who would be best suited for taking ACT prep classes. There are online ACT test prep classes if you are a student who is comfortable with online classroom settings. Many times, websites that offer classes will also have some free practice or study materials for you to check out with no obligations.

If you feel that online classes are not the best for your learning style, check with your school counselor, local library, or community college to inquire about locally held test prep classes held in a traditional classroom format.

Self-study ACT test prep is enough.

If your practice test results were good to excellent, you may choose to only do self-studying to be sure that when you take the actual ACT test that your results are what you are anticipating. Since you will not know the exact questions being asked, it’s recommended that you do study even if your practice results were great.

As mentioned previously, practice test results can indicate which subjects are strong and which are weak. Students will want to study all of them but concentrate more on areas where their scores need the most improvement. Taking another practice test later, even if only in the areas you wish to strengthen your score, is a good idea to see how much your study sessions have helped you and where you stand as far as needing to further improvement.

There is a wide variety of cheap or even free online tools for students to use to study in order to score well on the ACT. There are apps for your phone or tablet which make studying portable and easy as well as downloadable and printable content from various websites. You can find online quizzes or sign up for weekly emails or even a question of the day. If you have trouble finding resources for studying independently, you can always ask your school counselor or advisor for suggestions.

If you found this helpful and would like to check out more resources from OnlineCollegePlan, feel free to visit our SAT and ACT prep guide. If you feel like online college might be in your future, check out our Top 100 Best Online Colleges.