Skip to the content
  • About Us
    • Our Story
    • Join Our Team
    • Contact Us
  • Tests
    • ACT
    • SAT
    • ACT Aspire
    • WorkKeys
    • End of Course
    • TSIA2
  • Programs
    • MasteryPrep Curriculum
    • MasteryPrep Boot Camps
    • TruScore Testing & Analysis
    • Professional Development
    • The College Playbook
    • Blended Learning Solutions
    • Texas CCMR Headquarters
    • Summer Programs
    • Florida Concordant Camp
  • Partnerships
    • COE Summer Programs
    • COE Parent Portal
  • Blog
  • Customer Resources
    • MasteryPrep Ready Platform
    • TruScore Online + Study Hall
    • MasteryPrep Events FAQs
    • Ebooks
    • ACT Mastery Teacher Resources
Menu
  • About Us
    • Our Story
    • Join Our Team
    • Contact Us
  • Tests
    • ACT
    • SAT
    • ACT Aspire
    • WorkKeys
    • End of Course
    • TSIA2
  • Programs
    • MasteryPrep Curriculum
    • MasteryPrep Boot Camps
    • TruScore Testing & Analysis
    • Professional Development
    • The College Playbook
    • Blended Learning Solutions
    • Texas CCMR Headquarters
    • Summer Programs
    • Florida Concordant Camp
  • Partnerships
    • COE Summer Programs
    • COE Parent Portal
  • Blog
  • Customer Resources
    • MasteryPrep Ready Platform
    • TruScore Online + Study Hall
    • MasteryPrep Events FAQs
    • Ebooks
    • ACT Mastery Teacher Resources
  • 855-922-8773

The Secret to ACT Pacing

  • February 5, 2018

Mini-tests can be a powerful tool to develop student time-management skills. While one full-length ACT at the outset of a prep class can be very beneficial, it does not leave much room for coaching. By the end of the test, students are exhausted. They don’t remember what happened or what they were thinking at the beginning of the test. It’s an assessment, not a coaching opportunity.

On top of test fatigue, full-length tests also tend to reinforce whatever attitude students bring to the test. If they believe they are “bad” at the ACT and trying is pointless, then they will struggle the entire time to get questions right on a long test, and by the end, they will have only confirmed their original belief. This is, of course, extremely discouraging.

Much better for our purposes of test prep is the mini-test: a small segment timed exactly at the pace you want your students to achieve, with coaching immediately afterward on relevant test-taking techniques, time management, and content. A mini-test allows you to remediate immediately, thus building up confidence instead of breaking it down. It closes the feedback loop that is all too often left wide open in ACT prep .

Here’s How It Works

What: A mini-test is a portion of a full-length ACT test section. For example, a mini-test might be one Science passage and the seven questions that go with it.

How: Administer the mini-test under timed conditions. If students are new to mini-testing, you should provide verbal cues to help students understand whether they are on track. (Example: “Two minutes have passed. You should be on question 3.” or “Your time is halfway up. You should be halfway through the questions.”)

A best practice is to gradually reduce the verbal cues until students keep the correct pace without any cues at all. Students should complete the mini-tests using the following paces:

English: 8 minutes per mini-test
Math: 1 minute per question
Reading: 8 minutes per mini-test
Science: 5 minutes per mini-test

Practice makes permanent, so it is essential that students participate in the mini-tests the same way they want to perform on the ACT. They should apply all of the strategies they have learned. They should imagine they are actually in an ACT testing environment.

Resources:

English-Mini-Test-1

Math-Mini-Test-1

Reading-Mini-Test-1

Science-Mini-Test-1

Used correctly, mini-tests can pave the road to better time management and better scores.

Like this article?

Share on Facebook
Share on Twitter
Share on Linkdin
Share on Pinterest

Leave a comment

Recent Posts
  • Kentucky School Sees ACT Composite Surge 2.5 Points
  • LA District Sees ACT Scores Improve
  • BRYC Improves ACT Scores, College Readiness for Under-Resourced Students
  • Experiencing a Test Score Freefall after the Pandemic? You’re Not Alone.
  • MasteryPrep Resources Enrich Baton Rouge School’s Mission
  • MasteryPrep Sponsors TRIO LASAP Alumni Reception
  • MasteryPrep Implemented into Texas District’s College, Career Readiness Resources
  • App State GEAR UP Preps More Than 15,000 Students
  • Piedmont High Prioritizes College and Career Readiness
  • Texas School District Invests in MasteryPrep Resources
mastery_prep_RGB_White_Stroke-200x49
Facebook-f Instagram Twitter Linkedin

Tests:

  • ACT
  • SAT/PSAT
  • ACT Aspire
  • End of Course
  • WorkKeys
  • TSIA2
  • ACT
  • SAT/PSAT
  • ACT Aspire
  • End of Course
  • WorkKeys
  • TSIA2

Programs:

  • MasteryPrep Curriculum
  • Boot Camps
  • Professional Development
  • Practice Testing & Analysis
  • MasteryPrep Curriculum
  • Boot Camps
  • Professional Development
  • Practice Testing & Analysis

Contact:

EMAIL: [email protected]
PHONE: 855-922-8773
FAX: 225-306-8211
Love our materials? Want to help make our materials even better? Send your comments, corrections, suggestions to [email protected]

View our Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2018 MasteryPrep. All Rights Reserved.

ACT® is the registered trademark of ACT Inc. ACT® Aspire™ is the registered trademark of ACT Aspire, LLC. WorkKeys® is the registered trademark of ACT Inc. Ring Publications LLC has no affiliation with, and is not approved or endorsed by, ACT Inc or ACT Aspire, LLC.

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.

View our Cookie Policy