ACT Prep Backfiring

Posted by Barbara Pytel Jun 20, 2008

It is assumed that "better" students prep for the ACT. They buy the official ACT study guide or take the expensive prep classes from Sylvan or Kaplan. Which students are declining in performance?

A Study

The lead author of from High School to the Future: ACT Preparation--Too Much, Too Late, Elaine Allensworth, states that the study revealed three problems:

• too much classroom time was devoted to preparing for the ACT
• attention was diverted away from analytical and problem-solving skills
• test preparation that most teachers use is inferior

Ms. Allensworth stated, "The ACT is not designed for instruction."

The Best Prep

According to Ed Colby, a spokesman for the Iowa-based ACT Inc., "ACT prep is learning the material you're being taught in your classes." Taking class time to teach the ACT is backfiring because students are taking less time to learn the concepts on the test.

Recommendations

• Schools should make sure students are use real practice tests under real conditions instead of teachers teaching random information.
• Schools should teach students to better understand the connection between their studies and the real world.
• Move ACT test prep outside of school hours leaving time for academics between 8-3.

Source: Education Week, June 4, 2008

Related article: College Entrance Scores Down,, ACT Scores Falling