ACT Test Prep: Why Starting Early Makes All the Difference
Junior year of high school often feels like a pressure cooker. Between AP classes, varsity sports, driver's ed, and the looming question of "What comes next?", students are stretched thin. Then, the ACT arrives. For many families, this test becomes the tipping point—the moment when manageable stress turns into overwhelming anxiety.
But it doesn't have to be this way.
The secret to conquering the ACT isn't just about how you study; it's about when you start. While many students wait until the spring of their junior year to crack open a prep book, the most successful test-takers often begin much earlier. Starting early changes the dynamic entirely. It transforms the ACT from a frantic sprint into a paced, manageable marathon.
Here is why getting a head start on ACT prep is the smartest investment you can make in your child's college future, and how Educational Resources helps families navigate this crucial timeline.
Reducing the Junior Year Pressure Cooker
The traditional timeline suggests taking the ACT for the first time in the spring of 11th grade. The problem? That is often the busiest, most academically rigorous semester of a student's high school career.
By shifting the timeline forward—starting prep in the summer before junior year or even the spring of sophomore year—you remove a massive weight from your child's shoulders. Early preparation allows students to:
Spread out the workload: Instead of cramming three hours of tutoring into a Tuesday night before a chemistry final, early starters can do 30 minutes of practice a few times a week.
Build confidence gradually: There is nothing worse than walking into a test center feeling unprepared. Early prep gives students time to see their scores improve on practice tests long before the real thing, building a reservoir of confidence.
Create a safety net: If a student starts early and achieves their goal score in the fall of junior year, they are done. They can spend the rest of the year focusing on grades and extracurriculars while their peers are stressing about Saturday test dates.
Building Foundational Skills, Not Just Test Tricks
You cannot build a house on a shaky foundation. The ACT doesn't just test how well you can bubble in answers; it tests fundamental skills in grammar, algebra, reading comprehension, and data analysis.
When students cram for the test two weeks before the date, they are relying on short-term memory and "test tricks." While these might yield a small bump in scores, they rarely lead to significant, lasting improvement.
Starting early allows Educational Resources to focus on skill-building.
Math Gaps: If a student struggles with geometry, we have time to reteach those concepts thoroughly, rather than just teaching them how to guess on geometry questions.
Reading Stamina: The ACT requires intense focus. Early prep acts like athletic training, slowly building the mental endurance needed to read four long passages without losing concentration.
Grammar Mechanics: We can take the time to actually teach the rules of punctuation, turning a student's "gut feeling" into grammatical certainty.
This approach doesn't just help with the ACT; it makes them better students in their high school classes, too.
The Power of the "Test-Retake" Cycle
Rarely does a student hit their peak score on the first try. In fact, most students take the ACT two or three times. Starting early maximizes the value of these retakes.
Consider two students:
Student A waits until April of junior year. They get a score they aren't happy with. Now they only have the June and July dates left before college applications start filling up their schedule in the fall. The pressure is immense.
Student B takes their first test in September or December of junior year. If they don't hit their goal, they have months to analyze their score report, target their weak areas with specific tutoring, and try again in February or April without panic.
Time is the ultimate luxury in test prep. It allows for mistakes, course corrections, and steady growth.
How Educational Resources Supports the Early Starter
At Educational Resources, we specialize in long-term strategic planning for standardized tests. We don't believe in one-size-fits-all timelines. Whether your child is a sophomore looking to get a baseline or a rising junior ready to work, we have a support system in place.
1. Diagnostic Testing
The journey begins with a diagnostic test. This provides a clear, data-driven picture of where your student stands today. It highlights strengths to leverage and weaknesses to target, allowing us to build a custom roadmap for the months ahead.
2. Personalized Pacing
For early starters, our one-on-one tutoring is often the perfect fit. Because there is no immediate deadline, tutors can move at the student's natural pace. If they master the English section quickly but need three weeks to really understand trigonometry, we have the flexibility to adjust the curriculum instantly.
3. Structured Group or One-on-One Tutoring
For students who want a more defined schedule, our group and one-on-one tutoring sessions offer a comprehensive overview of the test. Taking these sessions early provides a solid framework. Students learn the format and the major strategies, giving them a toolkit they can practice independently over several months.
4. Continuous Feedback
We utilize proctored practice tests throughout the process. For early starters, these are crucial checkpoints. They show us if the student is retaining information and help us pivot strategies if something isn't working—long before an official score is on the line.
Don't Wait for the Panic
The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago; the second-best time is now. The same logic applies to ACT prep. Waiting until the last minute adds unnecessary stress to an already stressful time in your child's life.
By starting early, you give your student the gifts of time, confidence, and the opportunity to reach their highest potential.
Let us help you map out a low-stress, high-impact plan for your child's ACT success.
About the Author: Lindsay O’Brien
Lindsay O'Brien is the active Executive Director of Educational Resources in Louisville, KY. Previously, she spent over 10 years as a teacher before transitioning to tutoring and standardized test preparation.