One of best unknown ACT® tips is that you need to spend some time preparing your supplies, in addition to yourself, for the exam. Too often, students are left scrambling on the morning of the test to find everything that you need to bring to your exam. Doing this a while before the test is one of the best ACT® preparation strategies, because it will help you to relax because you know that you have everything that you need. Forgetting an essential on the day of your test could actually cancel out any previous ACT® preparation that you might have completed, because you could have too much anxiety or even be prevented from taking the test if you forget something you need. Feel free to add your own essentials, but here is a basic list of everything you need to bring to the testing facility on the day of your test.
1. Remember your identification. If you have a school ID, remember to put it in your bag to make sure that you will be allowed into the testing space. It’s also a good idea to bring a driver’s license if you have one or another form of identification, just in case. Sometimes schools want extra identification to ensure honesty. Pay attention to your school’s rules and advice about this. It’s always better to have more than you need than not enough!
2. Don’t forget your calculator. Your testing facility may have extras, but don’t count on it. Bring a second calculator if you have one to use in case yours or someone else’s device breaks. It is also a good idea to bring extra batteries compatible with your device in case the batteries run out. This could also save someone else if their calculator dies, making you the hero of the ACT®!
3. Classic school supplies are important too. It might sound like common sense, but make sure you have enough pencils and pens to complete the test, even if several were to break or run out of ink. Ask your principal or someone else to make an announcement to your grade about what students should bring to the exam, like any extra rulers or other supplies. Having the right kind of pen or pencil can also be an issue, as sometimes, the answer sheets only scan a certain kind of ink.
4. Bring any last-minute preparation materials. If you have been using anything like flashcards as ACT® preparation, bring them to the testing facility as a last-minute refresher of what you have been working on. You could also make a list of ACT® tips to read over right before the test begins, but make sure to put it away so the moderators don’t think you are up to something.
5. Don’t forget some fuel for yourself. Taking a standardized test is a long and hard process, so bringing some food to keep your energy up is a good idea. This might not be mentioned in any other ACT® tips that you have read, but it can end up being the difference between a good score and a great score. While your school might tell you not to bring anything into the testing facility, make sure to have something to eat in case you start to feel faint.
If you remember to bring these items, you should be relatively prepared to take and be successful on the ACT®. All the ACT® tips and ACT® preparation in the world won’t help you if you forget something you need to be able to take the test! However, with a little extra time and preparation, you can help yourself relax and do your best on the exam. Good luck!
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Photo by Sage Ross (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
