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ACT/SAT

"The best preparation...is having a good solid foundation in school and working your hardest in class."

Like it or not, college entrance exams play a very important part in the whole college entrance experience. There are two college entrance exams - the SAT and the ACT. Deciding which one to take is something that should be researched and discussed with your counselor.

Much is made of prep courses. The best preparation for entrance exams is having a good solid foundation in school and working your hardest in class. Aside from that, the best thing a student can do to help him or herself is not to go into a test cold. Understand what it looks like, know what the time allowed feels like and feel as comfortable as possible. With that in mind, students should take a few practice tests under conditions that are as similar to the test as possible. Each test is given Saturday mornings at 8AM - so get up one Saturday and take a full (almost 4 hour) practice test. See what it is like, how tired you get, and how hard it is to concentrate. It is strongly recommended students buy an ACT or SAT practice book from a bookstore that has a few, full practice tests in them.

The school does help students do prep work for these tests. Math and English teachers include prep work in their everyday lessons. We also offer prep sessions each semester for students to prepare for the ACT. Students at ACHS take practice tests which will give the students a good prediction of what they would score on the actual ACT or SAT. The PSAT test not only serves as a practice test, but is also used as the National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. We believe this program of giving students exposure to these tests at various levels has helped our students achieve well.

We recommend students taking the ACT their junior year (typically by the December test date). Sophomores are welcome to take the ACT but we encourage them to wait until the second semester of their sophomore year. This allows them to gain more knowledge from their classes. 

Our school CEEB code for applications/testing information is

170-089

ACT vs SAT: White test should I take?

general overview

COMPARISON CHART

ACT website (registration, test prep, and other information)

Fees for 2022-2023: $63 (no writing) and $88 (with writing)—Fee waivers are available to those who qualify. Please see your counselor for a fee waiver form.

Do I need the ACT w/writing? Some colleges require the writing portion of the ACT. Make sure you do your research to know if your potential school(s) require the writing portion for admission. Kansas colleges do not require the writing portion for admission

ACT information and FAQs

2024-25 ACT test dates

 
Test date Registration deadline Late registration deadline
September 14, 2024
August 9, 2024
September 6, 2024
October 26, 2024
September 20, 2024
October 18, 2024
December 14, 2024
November 8, 2024
December 6, 2024
February 8, 2025
January 3, 2025
January 31, 2025
April 5, 2025
February 28, 202
March 28, 2025
June 14, 2025
May 9, 2025
June 6, 2025
July 12, 2025*
June 6, 2025
July 4, 2025

***There is a Test Information Release Service (TIR) available to purchase for the December, April, and June test dates. The cost is $30, and students will receive a copy of the test booklet, a list of the answers and answer key. This is a great tool to use to help study for future tests because they are able to review the actual test questions from the test. Students are able to purchase this when they are registering for the test on the ACT website. 

In addition to these opportunities, The ACT will be given to all ACHS Juniors who would like to take it for free in the last week of February 2025. 

ACHS juniors are automatically signed up unless they opt out of taking the test.

Test-prep information/opportunities

Wichita State University ACT Prep Workshops

Click HERE to learn more. 

Online test-prep links