How to Prepare for the ACT Writing Test

Kimberly Lifton and Susan Knoppow, writing coaches with in Huntington Woods, offer these tips to students taking the ACT test this weekend.

The next ACT is just around the corner. Whether you signed up for the April 9 or 10 exam, or you plan to wait till June or later, we’ve put together some tips to help take the edge off.

We know many of you work with tutors and read books full of tips; have you practiced writing? You can prepare for the ACT writing test.

Tip 1: Understand the exam: The ACT writing test requires you to take a position and support it with examples in a clear, focused manner. This is not a creative writing exam; it is an opportunity to show that you can organize your thoughts and express yourself on paper.

Tip 2: Keep up with current events: Read the newspaper, listen to news analysis, and discuss pertinent issues with family and friends. Debate both sides, regardless of your position.

Tip 3: Identify the thesis: Find the thesis in each article or analysis. Write it down. How would you defend that thesis? What is the counter-argument? How would you defend it?

Tip 4: Use your resources: There is no shortage of books, websites and other resources with information about the ACT. The official ACT website has great information about the writing test. Check it out.

Tip 5: Practice: Every day, take a sample prompt from the ACT website, a book or a friend, then practice dividing up the allotted time. Include time to review the prompt, outline your thoughts, write your response and review your writing.

Tip 6: Write clearly: Use a variety of sentence styles; mix it up with simple, complex and compound sentences. Semicolons are great if you know how to use them correctly; improper use will cost you points. Write in first or third person, using words you can define and spell. If you are not sure how to use a word, don’t test it here!

Tip 7: Consider the big picture: Extrapolate from the essay topic to broader societal issues. (e.g., An open school lunch policy allows students to go home for lunch; it also teaches high school students to take responsibility for their actions.)

Tip 8: Practice, practice, practice: The more you practice, the more at ease you will feel. You can do this! The task may seem challenging, but with a bit of preparation, you will be ready for any prompt at all.

Saturday, April 9 Test Sites

Ann Arbor
Washtenaw Community College
Concordia University

Bloomfield Hills
Lahser High School
Brother Rice High School

Brighton
Brighton High School

Dearborn
Edsel Ford High School, Dearborn
Annapolis High School, Dearborn Heights

Detroit
Kettering High School
Cass Tech High School
Western International High School
Pershing High School
University of Detroit Jesuit High School
Northwestern High School
Southeastern HS of Technology
Mumford High School
Central High School
Frederick Douglass Academy

Dexter
Dexter High School

Fraser
Richards Junior High

Grosse Point Woods
Grosse Pointe North

Hamtramck
Hamtramck High School

Holly
Holly High School

Livonia
Clarencevill e High School

Novi
Detroit Catholic Central

Pontiac
Notre Dame Preparatory
Pontiac High School

Rochester
Oakland University
Rochester College

Royal Oak
Royal Oak High School

Southfield
Southfield Christian

Troy
Troy High School

Waterford
Our Lady of the Lakes High School

Sunday, April 10 Test Sites

West Bloomfield
Frankel Jewish Academy

Bloomfield Hills
Cranbrook/Kingswood