PreACT Lab, One Month In

I created the PreACT Lab as a small, student-led study group for District 30 eighth graders preparing for the PreACT. The goal was not simply to take more practice tests, but to help the students understand why answers were right or wrong, recognize recurring incorrect grammar and reading patterns, and improve their pacing under timed conditions.

Session 1: Baseline & Diagnosis | Sept. 5

We began with a timed English practice test for comparison, followed by group correction and discussion. The group compared answers and identified the types of questions they were missing most often. This created a baseline and showed where the group needed more work, especially in punctuation, sentence structure, grammar, transitions, and rhetorical skills.

Session 2: English Strategies + Reading | Sept. 12

Instead of another ordinary test, the boys worked through 50 English questions organized by grammar category, using PrepExpert strategies. They reviewed punctuation, modifiers, pronouns, parallelism, verbs, transitions, organization, and rhetorical skills. Reading strategies were also introduced, including identifying the main idea, using evidence for inference questions, and approaching questions efficiently. The group completed the planned work in about 1 hour 50 minutes, even finishing roughly 10 minutes early.

Session 3: Timed Practice + Error Analysis | Sept. 19

We all returned to timed English practice: 40 questions in 30 minutes, matching the PreACT pace. Instead of treating the score as the only result, we reviewed missed questions and connected each mistake back to a grammar or reasoning rule. This session reinforced the idea that we should be finding an explanation as to why it is that answer rather than just saying “it sounds right.”

Session 4: Pacing & Application | Sept. 26

The final session combined timed English and Reading practice. A major goal was pacing: 30 minutes for 40 English questions equals about 45 seconds per question. By the final session, everyone was able to finish within the allotted time and had a much clearer sense of what 45 seconds per question actually feels like. That was more meaningful progress compared to the first practices, when completing everything on time was difficult. Even if we had to wake up at 9 or 11 AM, everyone was still excited to attend every meeting.

Session 5: Online ACT Practice & Continued Collaboration | Oct. 3

After completing the four in-person PreACT Lab sessions, I organized an additional online session for the group to complete an ACT practice test together. The goal was to keep the study group going beyond the formal sessions, continue building pacing and test-taking stamina, and give the students another opportunity to review both of the difficult English and Reading sections together afterward.

Hopefully this month-long weekend club was helpful to everyone who attended, though we will see if it was effective or not after the scores are released for our October 7th/8th PreACT for placement in high school.