Its official: With the roll out of the Redesigned SAT and the new PreACT, 2016 is
undoubtedly the year of standardized testing. We all know about the PSAT (the SAT’s little brother); in 2016, we will get to meet ACT’s little sibling: the PreACT. Here are some questions answered about the new test:
What is the PreACT?
The PreACT is a new assessment that will provide college and career readiness information to students at younger ages, similar to the PSAT. The test will mimic the official ACT in terms of scoring, skills tested & content.
- It is going to consist of questions from old official ACT tests.
- It will be scored on the same scale (1-36), but it won’t contain the writing section, since it is optional on the official test.
Who will take the PreACT? When is the PreACT?
The test is going to be available to students in the 10th grade through schools and districts who choose to offer the test beginning the Fall of 2016.
Why is the PreACT important?
Test Readiness Indicator – The test is important because it will give you a good indication of what kind of score you’re starting out with. Moreover, it will serve as a wake up call to show you the rigor of the test in realistic testing conditions. You will get a first hand experience with proctors, timed sections, test breaks and all of the other factors that go into your test day experience.
College Opportunities & Scholarship Access – According to ACT, Inc. students who register for the PreACT will be able to opt in, for free, to Educational Opportunity Service (EOS). The service has the ability to make your data available to 1500+ colleges and scholarship/financial aid groups. The same opt-in option is available when you take the official ACT.
How long is the PreACT?
The test will be less than 1 hour and 55 minutes long (it contains fewer questions than the official ACT).
Should I prepare for the PreACT?
YES! Even the official PreACT test makers say you should be prepared. Why? It is a simple answer: think of a test you took unprepared vs. one you took prepared. Which did you feel better about? Going in to a test prepared leads to better performance and reduced anxiety. However, you don’t need to prepare for the PreACT endlessly. It is important to prepare in a targeted manner; find your conceptual weaknesses, learn and work through them and finally test yourself in a timed condition.
Overwhelmed? Don't be. Take it step-by-step. To understand your strengths and weaknesses, take this free diagnostic test. You will instantly be able to view your customized study plan so that you can prepare smarter and more effectively.