As a high school student who has taken the ACT nine times, I understand how hopeless you can feel after taking your first ACT. My first one I received a 17 and was devastated. It made me sick to hear about students who took the test the first time and made a 32. I had to realize that my mind was not made like that; the ACT was not something I could breeze through. I had to buckle down and put hours into practicing and tutoring.

Studying for the ACT can be overwhelming, but learning how the test works can help you feel more comfortable when you are testing. The more you practice the better you will test. Whether you realize it or not the ACT is repetitive; it might not be the same numbers or words, but the same type problems are recycled over and over.

I gradually raised my score, but like most students I got stuck and received the same score of a 23. I realize that tutoring is not easy or financially possible for everyone, but view tutoring as an investment that can help you receive more scholarship money. My parents spent about $400 for a month of tutoring sessions at Southern College Prep  before my last ACT. Because of the tutoring sessions I raised my score from a 23 to a 26 and was able to have my entire out of state tuition waved plus an academic scholarship. For an investment of $400 my parents will save a total of $46,752 on my college education.

Take every opportunity to take the ACT. Don’t give up just because you didn’t do well. That attitude will get you nowhere. If you focus and put effort into testing, you will see improvement. I went from a 17 to a 26 in 9 tests, and I still think I could improve if I took another one. If you are feeling stuck and see no improvement, consider tutoring and look at the Horizon Point’s ACT Tips and Tricks page and find what strategy works best for you.