Exams

See below for the following college exams that will be administered here at MCA this year:

College Admissions Exams for Juniors:

(Of course, you can also sign up for these exams using their respective websites if you would like to re-take them at another time)

ACT - This is one of the major college admissions exams. Only 11th graders will take this exam here at MCA for FREE as part of the state testing program--no need to sign-up.

SAT - Another major college admissions exam. Sign-up and registration fee will be announced for those who would like to take it here at MCA. Fee waivers may be available--contact if you are in need.
CLT The Classic Learning Test covers the English, mathematical, and critical reasoning skills received in a classical education. There are also scholarships available from the many great partner colleges. All 11th graders will be taking this here at MCA for FREE--no need to sign-up.

Practice Exam for Sophomores:

Pre-ACT - This is simply a FREE practice test for the ACT. All 10th graders will take this exam here at MCA--no need to sign-up.

test prep Information

Should I take both the ACT and the SAT?

If you are planning on applying to 4-year colleges and scholarships, my recommendation is to take both.

Colleges accept either test, and you could be doing yourself a favor to "get a feel" for both tests to see which one you perform better on.

THEN, decide which you felt better about and scored higher on and plan to prep for a re-take of that one in the Summer or Fall if you feel it's necessary based on your college ambitions. You may not need to re-take it if your score is average or above for the colleges on your list.

SuperScoring: Most colleges will look at the highest scores for each individual test section even if you send scores from multiple tests with your application. They will put two test dates together to calculate the highest possible overall score.

Ok, so how should I prep?

Books: The old-fashioned way is to buy a prep book at Barnes & Noble or Amazon and work through it!

There are many that you can choose from, BUT make sure it is as current as possible!

The exams change from time to time, and old books may not contain the same types of questions.

Set aside time during the week or maybe Saturday morning to work through problems and take practice exams. Consider choosing an accountability partner to keep each other on pace!

Online: SAT and ACT prep courses are available online. Free practice is available on various sites.

SAT: KHAN ACADEMY partnered with CollegeBoard on FREE prep program
ACT: Many prep resources are available through the ACT website and others. We have used these resources in the past: Chegg, Varsity Tutors, Union Test Prep, PowerScore, ACT.org, Kaplan, and PrepFactory
CLT: Free Practice is available on their site and a Prep Book can be purchased!
Paid Option: If you would prefer to purchase an SAT or ACT Prep program. Some students have enjoyed Prep Scholar. There are many other online prep programs for purchase, but I wanted to pass this along in case you are interested.

At school: Be on the lookout for announcements about prep sessions with Mr. Rezzo as we get closer to the ACT test date. In years past, we have shared helpful tips and advice for each section and offered designated time during lunch for practice questions.

What about the CLT?

Students can earn admission and scholarships at great partner colleges that focus on forming the whole person in college. (Some examples include: Baylor, Belmont Abbey, University of Dallas, Grove City, High Point, Hillsdale, Hope College, Liberty, Montreat, Patrick Henry, The King's College (NYC), Union University, Wheaton, Wingate, etc.)

This exam is only 2 hours, administered electronically, and students receive same-day results, making it the shortest college entrance exam compared to the ACT and SAT, and it is also more aligned with the classical model of education that you are experiencing here at MCA and will experience at many classical liberal arts college programs across the country.

Students can instantly share scores with an unlimited number of colleges and universities for free. In addition to the great colleges that accept the CLT, you can still send your score report as supplemental application material to other colleges showing a good measure of the classical education you have achieved at MCA.

timing

TIMING

When you practice for these exams, you should try timing yourself as you go through practice sections to make sure that you are aware of the speed you will need on the test. Remember, it is in your best interest to make an educated guess if you are unsure. You do NOT lose points for getting a question wrong, you only gain points for getting a question right. In other words, don't leave any bubbles blank if you are in a crunch for time and need to rush through some of the last few questions.

ACT TIME BREAKDOWN PER SECTION

English Section: 75 questions. 45 minutes. 36 seconds per question.
Math Section: 60 questions. 60 minutes. 60 seconds per question.
Reading Section: 40 questions. 35 minutes. 52 seconds per question.*
Science Section: 40 questions. 35 minutes. 52 seconds per question.*

*Keep in mind that the science and reading sections also include passages that take time to properly read, so that must be factored in with the amount of time that goes into answering those questions.

SAT TIME BREAKDOWN PER SECTION

Reading Section: 52 Questions. 65 minutes. 75 seconds per question*
Writing and Language Section: 44 Questions. 35 minutes. 48 seconds per question.
Math (No Calculator) Section: 20 questions. 25 minutes. 75 seconds per question
Math (Calculator) Section: 38 Questions. 55 minutes. 87 seconds per question.

*Keep in mind that the reading section also includes passages that take time to properly read, so that must be factored in with the amount of time that goes into answering those questions.

CLT TIME BREAKDOWN PER SECTION

Verbal Reasoning section: 40 Questions. 40 minutes. 1 minute per question.*
Grammar/Writing section: 40 questions. 35 minutes. 52.5 seconds per question.
Quantitative Reasoning section: 40 Minutes. 45 minutes. 67.5 seconds per question.

*Keep in mind that the Verbal Reasoning section also includes passages that take time to properly read, so that must be factored in with the amount of time that goes into answering those questions.

act Strategy videos

See below for helpful strategies and videos for the ACT, but the key to success is familiarizing yourself with the test through PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE! You are invited to use my classroom during lunch in February if you need a quiet place to work through this or have any questions--just let me know.

1. ENGLISH (45 minutes, 75 Questions) Measures your understanding of English, production of writing, and knowledge of language skills.

10 Tips for ACT English