How Parents Can Help Students Study for the ACT Test

Parents can help their teens do well on the ACT by becoming involved with the ACT study. While some education companies would love for parents to believe that the only way to help is by buying their services, the truth is that you don't need to pay out hundreds of dollars to them. Parents can use personal ways to help their student have a great ACT score.

The four categories of the ACT is reading, English, math and science. As a parent, you will know which needs more work than the others, but don't ignore any of them. An optional category is writing, which is required by some colleges. The best idea is to work on the weakest category first.

There is a few ACT study guide books that can be useful in strengthening these areas, but having a reliable study partner will make sure that those books don't just sit gathering dust on a shelf. As a study partner, you should quiz, correct, and notice where the teen seems to be having the most problem. When you see the problem areas, then you can help your child research and work in that area. For example, if chemistry is a shortcoming then pull out the periodic table, learn more about acids and bases, chemicals and their uses and so forth.

Parents should make use of technology where possible. An iPod can hold audio books for study away from the home. A cell phone can receive little facts and trivia either from you or an automated service. A cell phone can also be used to remind the teen that it is time to study and not time to play.

Parents can use rewards as a way to keep the teen interested in studying for the ACT. For example, have an envelope with event tickets or money inside. Put a couple quiz questions on it and only give it to the student after the student answers correctly. Choose two difficult questions though that would probably have to be researched in order to get the reward.

However, the most important part of a parent helping their child study for the ACT is to give them unconditional support through the studies, the day of the test and the day the test results come in. While the ACT is an important test, it is never more important than the child's state of mind. Many people have anxiety over this test because they don't want to let their parents down. Some are also worried that their life will be nothing if the test score isn't the best. Some children even find the pressure of performing well to be so overwhelming that they consider or try to commit suicide.

One way of making the pressure not so bad is to joke around while studying to keep the mood light. Another is to not talk only about the impending test but to talk about everything that is going on in life. Talk about school, news, family, friends, the newest movie you've seen or the music that they like to listen to. Anything except staying totally focused on the ACT test.

So parents can help their student study and do well on the ACT without paying for expensive ACT education services. So save your money, be close to your child and give them the money you saved as a good test score present!