On Tuesday, April 23, juniors will participate in this year’s state mandated ACT test at Lafayette. The test, consisting of all multiple choice questions, will focus majorly on english, mathematics, reading and science.

The English portion of the exam will consist of 75 multiple choice questions that students will be given 45 minutes to complete. Reading will contain 40 questions total and students will be given 35 minutes. 60 questions in 60 minutes derive the Mathematics portion of the test, and finally the Science portion of the ACT will contain 40 questions to be completed in 35 minutes.

The ACT website gives tips for students taking the ACT.  They include to dress comfortably and get plenty of rest beforehand. It also states to remember to bring a printed copy of your ticket, proper identification and snacks only to consume outside of the testing room to the test center.

Some things to remember not to do during the ACT are filling in or writing after the time amount is over for each section, looking back at a section that is already finished, asking or giving help, using a prohibited calculator, sharing calculators with someone else, using an electronic device to give or receive answers, using test aids like highlighters or scratch paper or creating a disturbance in the testing room.

If any of the above rules are broken, the student will be dismissed from the testing room and their test will not be scored.

One thing that students should remember is that mechanical pencils should not be used.  Students should also remember to bring number two pencils with erasers.  If you finish before the time is over, you may check your answers for that section and only that section.

ACTs cause stress and nervousness for many students, including junior Meg Love.

“I am a little nervous about the ACT  mostly because you kind of depend on a good score to be able to go to college,” Love said.

For test preparation, the ACT website has Test Practice Questions available for all.

For more information and more ways to get prepared for this year’s ACT, students can go to the ACT website here: http://www.actstudent.org/testprep/