How To Help Your Child Have A Realistic ACT Or SAT Study Schedule

If your child is in high school, the chances are you have both thought about or discussed the ACT exam. This entrance exam is crucial for anyone wanting to get into college, and it covers a wide range of subjects, from English to Math to general reading comprehension.

Naturally, you want your teenager to do as well as their potential allows, which means creating a study schedule they actually stick to. Here’s how to ensure the one you lay out is realistic.

Find a Reputable College Prep Course

Unless you know the ACT inside and out yourself, the chances are you’ll need to find a dedicated organization for college prep if you want your child to be guided in the right direction. If you’re looking for ACT prep in Minneapolis, search for one that has 1 on 1 college planning and ACT test prep. A customized testing strategy is best here, as that means bending around your child’s schedule. Your child will be in touch with teachers with expertise who can track their progress and provide valuable feedback. It’s the best way to get on the right track.

Have Your Child Take the ACT Practice Test

Always have your teen take the ACT practice test first before creating a dedicated schedule. This allows you to understand exactly where your child is when it comes to preparedness. It means you’ll have a better idea of how much they need to study (and in which areas).

Come Up With Target Study Hours

>Next, decide, along with your child, how many hours they should dedicate to ACT prep. There are many variables here. If you have several years before your kid needs to take the exam, even a couple of hours a week can be enough. However, if the ACT exam is looming, you might want to dedicate 20 hours or more to study. <

Schedule 45-minute Study Sessions

You don’t want your child to feel overwhelmed during each study session. So, make them only 45 minutes at a time, with each one dedicated to only one subject area, whether that’s English, Math, or Science. This gives you enough time to get into the subject without your child growing too weary.

Keep a Study Log

Be fastidious about keeping notes related to the study schedule. This should include:

When you study
Any setbacks you face along the way
Practice test scores

It’s a simple but effective way of monitoring how your child is doing and is always worth referring to.

Always Include Rest Days

Even if you need to create a pretty intense study schedule because of a looming ACT test, you should still include some days off. So, your child may study Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday, but be allowed to kick back a little on Tuesday and Thursday. That way, you pace the study and allow your child to rest from time to time, which is important for their mental and brain health. Good luck!

image from Wikimedia

p.s. Related posts:

How To Write a Great College Application Essay

The Top 7 Things for You to Teach Your Senior to Prep for College

7 Tips on How to Motivate Yourself When Studying at Home

The Beginners Guide to Writing College Essays

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