ACT Test: A Parent’s Guide to Getting a High Score on the ACT Test

Many parents ask me what they can do to help their students score higher on the ACT, and many of them are doing the wrong things, which can be discouraging. However, they are at least asking and can get the right information.

There are two categories of tips that I give parents on how to help their students score high on the ACT test. What to do and what not to do.

What not to do:

First of all, don’t unintentionally put pressure on your student with well-intentioned but misguided tactics. Spending a lot of money on tutoring or an ACT prep course may seem like the right thing to do, but that only puts more pressure on the student to make sure the money is not wasted. They need a confidence boost, not fear of the escalating consequences of failure.

The other thing is not to nag. Many students plan to study and then when their parents remind them, they choose not to study because they feel compelled. Sometimes the best parents can do is nothing; let them take the test the first time and get it wrong, and then they’ll respond better to some kind suggestions.

What to do to help your student score high on the ACT test

The things you want to do are provide support, but in a way that builds trust. A quiet and reassuring “I know you’ll do well” goes a long way to reducing test anxiety that can cause students to struggle on tests.

Also, involve your student in selecting an ACT prep course that is simple and non-intimidating. If it is too long or too expensive, they will simply feel more pressure to perform and anxiety about how they will complete the course.

Sometimes it is a better idea for them to complete two shorter ACT prep courses, because after the first short course, they can see results and opt for a second. It is much easier to climb a mountain thinking step by step. Faced with a 10-week, 20-hour course, few students are enthusiastic.