The ACT test, one of the biggest factors for college admittance and scholarships, is being

given at FHN, among many test sites, on Dec. 14 at 8 a.m. The test has four required sections and one optional section. Each student must partake in the English, reading, math, and science portions, but an essay-writing portion is also available.

“I think I’m going to do the best on the English because I have an A in that class and that was what I did the best on last time,” senior Rima Patel said.

A test of this size and length does not come with just one study guide, but several studying resources from weekly classes to online quizzes, which are available to everyone. Guidance Department Chair Lisa Woodrum is in charge of assisting students in preparing for the ACT and can provide materials students may need for studying, such as a Study Island course and practice test booklets.

“I hand out the ACT Study Island information and Mrs. Johnson assigns the prep work,” Woodrum said. “Students can log on whenever and participate in practice tests or just work on specific skills.”

Another way to get ready for the ACT is to enroll in FHN’s ACT Prep class, taught by Dawn Jones and Pam Stratton. The class is one semester long, but broken up by nine weeks. For the first nine weeks, Jones will help students with English, reading, and writing, and for the last nine weeks, Stratton helps with math and science.

“Although this is the first year for it, I think the class is helpful to students,” Woodrum said. “When we get the December test results back, hopefully they will be higher.”

Students should keep logical goals, a two- or three-point jump, according to Woodrum, each time they take the test, and they should begin testing in their junior year of high school.

“I’ve taken the ACT every year since seventh grade,” senior Kaitlin Eifert said. “My highest score is a 29 but I’d really love to get a 30 this time.”