With the turn of the season comes a new level of stress for many high school juniors and seniors. Not only are finals looming, but the December ACT is also fast approaching. Scheduled for December 10th, this is one of the last scholarship eligible testing dates (for 2012 graduates) for many colleges.
  In order to optimize scores on standardized tests, there are several study tips that have proven beneficial. Aside from the obvious getting a good night’s sleep and eating a healthy breakfast, it is suggested that students answer easy questions before the more difficult ones in order to ensure more correct answers.
  The test is made with time in mind; the creators know that most people cannot easily finish each section in the allotted time, thereby causing carelessness by the test taker. This can be avoided by learning the value of pacing. Reading the questions thoroughly and answering them without glancing at the clock every other second will prevent many unneeded mistakes. Taking practice tests can also help.
  Studying for the test is also crucial. Reviewing basic math and English skills, such as formulas or comma “rules”, a few weeks before can be a big help. Though the science and reading portions are more difficult to study, it can still be done. Many websites offer help with studying in all four sections, such as www.sparknotes.com/testprep and www.actstudent.org.