Students in grades 6, 7, 8, and 12 will not report to school tomorrow, Tuesday, March 14.
All students in grades 9, 10, and 11 will have a half-day of school for testing. Students should arrive by 7:50 a.m. and report to their testing rooms. Grades 9 and 10 will take the Pre-ACT. Students in grade 11 will take the official ACT test. All testing will be done at 11:50 a.m. and students should be picked up at that time.
As you would expect, CVCA students are encouraged to do their best and to use good test-taking strategies, especially because many colleges attach significant scholarship dollars to strong ACT scores. Also, a student’s odds of acceptance at selective universities rise with good ACT performance. So to get the most out of this test, here are a couple of tips:
- SLEEP! The brain thinks best after a full night’s sleep. Aim for at least eight hours the night before.
- EAT RIGHT! If a healthy breakfast (lots of protein) is possible on test morning, students will benefit from the boost to mental energy and concentration. (On the flip side, sugary energy drinks or candy will tend to crash energy levels and concentration during the test.)
- PRACTICE CALM BREATHING! Remember, calm minds tend to think more clearly (and powerfully) than stressed-out brains. If a student tends to “freeze up” during high-stakes tests, perhaps getting fixated on answers he or she doesn’t know or feeling panic about what might happen if the test goes poorly, it’s possible to reset the brain to a calmer setting. The student can use slow and measured breathing, long inhales and exhales for 30 seconds or so. This can clear and refocus the anxious test-taker’s mind.
- BE FULLY PREPARED to take the test. Students should bring sharpened #2 pencils (non-mechanical) and their graphing calculators for the test.