An ACT Weekend Boot Camp was held at Shadow Ridge High School for juniors who want to perform their best on the upcoming ACT on February 24. The camp took place in Room 200 over three days, beginning Friday, January 23, from 4:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. On the first day, students completed a full-length ACT practice test covering all sections.
The boot camp continued on Saturday, January 24 and Sunday, January 25, from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. During Saturday and Sunday, students practiced learning tips for the different ACT sections and, after reviewing the material, and completed sections of a practice test. Students were given a class outline with ACT strategies and were required to bring a Chromebook, pencil, and a calculator for testing. The boot camp can help students improve their ACT scores by 3 to 7 points, which can boost their chances for college admissions and scholarships.
During the weekend, many students had a positive experience attending the ACT Weekend Boot Camp. The practice tests and strategy lessons helped students feel more prepared for the upcoming test. Students also noticed improvements in their practice scores after completing the boot camp.
“I definitely thought it was worth it and it helped me a bunch,” Taylor Metcalf, junior states. “I feel like it was taught very well. I definitely believe I will do way better on the ACT now that I took the practice boot camp. Plus it already shows how much my practice scores have improved.”
Warren Peterson, a tutor from Tutors Across America, was Shadow’s ACT tutor for the weekend, teaching what the ACT expects, sharing tips and tricks for each section, and giving advice on common mistakes and effective strategies to improve scores.
“The most common mistake I see is students not preparing at all,” Peterson states. “Take some practice tests and go over all of your mistakes until you understand them, and you will be unstoppable. My most useful tip is don’t leave a single question blank, even if you have to guess for some questions. Use your time wisely; if a question is going to take a long time, skip it and come back to it if you have extra time at the end.”
Overall, the ACT Weekend Boot Camp at Shadow provided students with valuable practice, strategies, and confidence for the upcoming ACT. According to Tutors Across America, high school consists of about 4,400 hours of learning, yet a single three-hour test can play a major role in earning college scholarships. Attending the boot camp allowed students to use their time effectively and prepare for the official ACT.
