Eugene High School targets improving ACT scores

EUGENE, Mo. - The ACT is getting extra attention at Eugene High School this school year.

ACT-style questions have been added to daily math classrooms and other subjects use them on a weekly basis, said Sonya Forck. The material is the same as would be covered in class anyway, she said.

"I teach eighth-grade algebra, so in addition to daily ACT-style questions, I incorporate several ACT questions from released and retired ACT tests into each chapter assessment," Forck said. "I don't call it "ACT practice' because they don't need to really worry about where the test questions come from."

The goal is familiarity.

"Hopefully, exposure to these types of questions on a daily basis will help them be better prepared when they do take the actual tests, because it isn't new," Forck said.

That is phase one.

Last month, all juniors were given the ACT practice test, prior to the official ACT testing date. Forck explained the idea is to give students a feel for the formal test setting with timed answers.

The October practice will give the school a baseline score to compare to in the future, she said. Throughout the year, additional practice tests will be incorporated.

The third phase is adding the John Baylor program, approximately 12 lessons on how to better prepare for and take the ACT test.

"Our final assessment of the program will be the April ACT, state-mandated test," Forck said.

Some area schools have used the Baylor program, and others have used Focus on Learning to prepare students for the ACT, she said.

All schools Forck has talked to which are using an ACT preparation program have seen positive results, she said.

"Will it work?" Forck asked. "I don't know; we will have to wait and see.

"If we can get our students to raise their scores even a point, that is success, in my opinion."