BY CLAUDIA TOVAR, Editor

Juniors across the nation will take the ACT on Apr. 23. Many have been making preparations since early in the year, and a few have been preparing for more than a year.

“I have taken a lot practice ones and also have taken an official one too,” junior Hayley Contorno said.

The ACT’s median test scores are predictive of student success in relevant college courses. The ACT has long, defined college and career readiness as the acquisition of the knowledge and skills a student needs to enroll and succeed in credit-bearing, first-year courses at a postsecondary institution (such as a two or four-year college, trade school or technical school) without the need for remediation.

“The ACT, in a way, is a huge stressor because it determines your college readiness and what college you get into. But for the most part, I don’t seem so worried,” junior Lanie Callaghan said.

Earlier, in November, students took a practice test. However, this test did not include a written portion, one some schools require for acceptance into certain programs.

Juniors have had the availability to tutors during “Smart Start” Thursdays and also after school. Others have also taken practice ACTs to enhance their preparation and intelligence for the testing. Some students do take advantage of the extra help, and they seem prepared for the actual test.

To others, like junior Kayley Martens, the studying and preparation can be stressful.

“Having to take them can be stressful because I have homework and an after-school sport, so having to study for the ACTs on top of that is hard,” Martens said.