ACT Prep: Incredible Tips

Skills for cracking crucial college admission exams like the ACT can be taught to even

the most test-phobic person. Nobody is a natural born test taker. ACT prep and

training for success with other college tests requires preparation, planning and

patience. With the proper program, you should be able to gain the tools necessary

to ace the ACT and set yourself on the road to academic excellence.

Individual vs. Group Help

The first thing to ask yourself when considering a tutoring program is "what is the

ideal the test prep environment for me?" For most students, one on one tutoring is

far more effective than instruction in a crowded classroom full of students

competing for attention. Individual study plans that boost strengths and work on

weak areas is possible only in an environment where you are able to get the

maximum amount of guidance, along with a personally designed study plan.

A personal tutor can create an ACT prep program that works for your and that

doesn't waste time on subjects that you have already mastered. Private tutors can

also skip areas where you are advanced, and leave out subject matter that is unlikely

to be useful to you on your upcoming tests. Most group classes don't have this kind

of flexibility in the curriculum that they cover.

Going over unnecessary subject areas, or waiting for slower students to catch up,

can be a waste of time for you and is also a big waste of money. On the other hand,

with subject matter where you need extra assistance, you might be left behind. Only

a personal teacher and test coach can make sure that a course of study is

completely compatible with your needs.

Test Anxiety

One of the most important things to know about prepping for the ACT, or any other

important college exam, is something that nobody ever talks about––fear of test

taking itself. How often have you made straight A's on take-home assignments and

then did poorly on a pop quiz? You know that it's not lack of intelligence. You may

just be afflicted with test taking anxiety.

Understanding how to take tests is as important a skill as mastering the material.

Group classes sometimes address test taking strategies, but they stop at giving

practical tips like scanning and discarding or intelligent elimination. These skills are

very valuable for ACT prep, but you may need something more to overcome intense

agitation around exams.

Concentrated coaching from personal tutors can greatly help you out if you have

serious test trauma and test phobia. With the support and encouragement of a

trusted tutor, you can tackle the ACT, and other important exams, with more

confidence and less apprehension. Taking practice exams and understanding ahead

of time the exact format of the test will increase speed and comprehension and help

prevent you from becoming paralyzed or confused at test time. Fluency and ease

with the process will increase scores and lead to less suffering around exam time.

Tutoring: An Investment That Will Pay Off

The skills of confidence and courage cannot be taught in a large classroom setting.

Your investment in individual tutoring will not only help you when it comes to

college tests, but it will also lay a foundation for future success in your college

career and in your life. Self-assurance and a belief in yourself can't be acquired in an

impersonal classroom. Individual achievement and self-esteem however, can be

fostered by positive experiences with personalized education. Only a private tutor

with the right training, and lots of patience, can give you this vital building block for

success in test-taking and beyond.