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The student news site of Atlantic High School

AHSneedle

The student news site of Atlantic High School

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Students take the ACT

By Monica Witzman and Lillie Zablocki

On Saturday, Oct. 27, juniors and seniors from AHS and surrounding areas took the ACT. Testing began at 8 a.m. at Atlantic High School. Counselor Craig Fredin administered the testing. According to Fredin, approximately 60-66 students from Atlantic, Elk Horn, Adair, CAM, and Griswold took the ACT this weekend. Last weekend was the last chance for seniors to take the tests because most colleges require students’ scores before Christmas, Fredin said.

Nick Barry and Tanner Lovell were two AHS students who took the ACT last weekend. “I think I did well because it all seemed pretty easy – except for the science,” said Barry.  Both Barry and Lovell expected the test to be a lot harder than it actually was. Lovell believes he benefited from taking the ACT. “It will hopefully give me the score I need to go into the college I want,” Lovell said. Sophomore Harison Richter said he will take the ACT next year so he can get into college.

According to Fredin, taking the ACT is crucial for college entrance. It is a primary method of getting into school. Students are allowed to take the test as many times as they feel necessary, but it is important to prep in between. Atlantic administers testing five different times per year. The state average in Iowa is a score of 22-23. Iowa is ranked number 14 for state average. A perfect score on the ACT is a 36.

Prior to testing, students are required to set up accounts on the ACT website and register for their testing date before the deadline. Students then receive a testing ticket. Students are required to bring this ticket with them to testing, along with their photo ID, for security purposes.

Most colleges have certain requirements for the ACT. Admissions counselor Betsy Winter from the University of Iowa said the school primarily looks at students ACT scores, grade-point average, and class rank when accepting students. According to Winter, if a student scores a 27 or higher on the test in addition to a GPA of 3.8 or higher, the student is automatically qualified to receive the Iowa Scholar’s Award, a merit-based scholarship of $2,000.

According to Fredin, private schools also offer financial aid to adequate scores. For example, a student scoring a 28 may receive a $5,000 scholarship.  The next upcoming testing dates are December 8, 2012, and February 9, 2013.

To register for the ACT, visit www.act.org.

Sophomore Harison Richter will be taking the ACT next year.

Juniors Tanner Lovell and Nick Barry both took the ACT Saturday, Oct. 27.
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