On September 24, all freshmen, sophomores, and juniors will be testing in preparation for the ACT. Seniors will arrive at 11:20am. All periods will be 21 minutes.

The state made the testing mandatory this year because the schools were given an advance notice. The testing has to be completed within a certain window of time, and September 24 was the best day regarding the school’s schedule, Eric Hamilton, assistant principal of curriculum and instruction, said.

The freshmen will be taking the EXPLORE test, which prepares students for the ACT, helps students choose their high school classes, and choose a career direction, according to the ACT organization’s website.  Each report tells the student how he or she did on the EXPLORE tests and how his or her scores compare to those of other students across the nation. It contains information about your educational and career plans, interests, high school coursework plans, and the amount of help the student may need in each section (reading, english, science, math).

The sophomore will take the PLAN test. . It is a guidance resource that helps students measure their current academic development, explore career options, and make plans for the remaining years of high school and beyond, according to the ACT organization’s website. The test also provides students with an estimated score of how the student will perform on the ACT.

The juniors will take a retired ACT test that day. The student will receive results that include an overall composite score, a composite score for each of the four areas of the exam (reading, english, math, and science), and an item analysis of correct and incorrect answers.

“I don’t mind having a testing day,” Catherine Miller, junior, said. “I think all the standardized tests are similar, whether it’s the Explore test, PLAN, PSAT, or retired ACT tests. I think it’s great everyone has a chance to take this practice test because I have definitely seen improvement in my scores throughout the years.”