A Strategic Guide to Transitioning from SAT to ACT for Illinois Schools

As Illinois schools make the significant shift from the SAT to the ACT, educators across the state are navigating the challenges of adjusting their instruction and preparing students for success. Recently, Horizon Education hosted a webinar led by James Fleming, our Vice President, aimed at equipping teachers with the essential strategies to smoothly transition their students to the ACT. Here’s a recap of the key insights shared during the session.

Understanding the ACT: What’s Different?

For many Illinois educators, the ACT is not entirely unfamiliar territory. However, the return to ACT testing requires a new focus on specific test structures and strategies that differ significantly from the SAT. The ACT consists of five sections: English, Math, Reading, Science, and an optional Writing section. One of the biggest adjustments is the increase in the number of questions—215 for the ACT, compared to just 98 for the SAT. This longer format emphasizes the need for strong pacing skills, particularly as the ACT is often more time-pressured than the SAT.

Pacing and Time Management

One of the most crucial elements of ACT preparation is helping students manage their time effectively. For example, the ACT English section consists of 75 questions to be answered in 45 minutes—meaning students have an average of just 36 seconds per question. This requires quick decision-making, especially on grammar and punctuation questions, which can often be answered in seconds. More complex questions, such as those involving paragraph organization, may require more time and should be approached strategically.

Teaching to the Test: Balancing Standards and Strategy

While teaching to the test is not always viewed positively, aligning classroom instruction with the skills needed for ACT success can be done authentically. For example, in the Math section, integrating essential skills—where problems combine multiple areas of math—can mirror the ACT’s approach to challenging students. Rather than focusing solely on single-topic questions, teachers might incorporate problems that require students to apply algebra, geometry, and trigonometry in tandem.

Similarly, for the Reading section, students benefit from practicing with ACT-like passages and question types. Understanding the structure of the test—such as the order of passage types (Prose Fiction, Social Science, Humanities, Natural Science)—and recognizing repetitive question stems can help students anticipate the cognitive tasks required of them.

Specific Strategies by Subject

• English: Focus on recognizing question types and managing time efficiently. Encourage students to identify “time suck” questions, like those requiring paragraph reorganization, and to move quickly through simpler grammar questions.
• Math: Teach students to prioritize easy and medium-difficulty questions, especially in the earlier parts of the section. Integrating multiple mathematical skills into single problems during instruction can also better prepare students for the ACT’s demands.
• Reading: Encourage students to read passages thoroughly but efficiently the first time to avoid having to revisit the text repeatedly. Understanding common question stems can also streamline their approach to the reading section.
• Science: The science section is more about interpreting data and understanding research summaries than recalling scientific facts. Teaching students to “skim it to win it”—by quickly identifying the main ideas before diving into questions—can save valuable time.

Supporting All Students: Tips for Challenged Test Takers

Recognizing that not all students will approach the ACT with the same level of readiness, Horizon Education suggests tailored strategies for those who may struggle:

• English & Reading: Encourage struggling students to “shop” for questions or passages they feel more confident about and guess on the rest. This can help maximize their score by focusing on areas where they can be more accurate.
• Math: Teach students the “cut and run” strategy—knowing when to abandon a difficult question after a certain time to avoid wasting valuable minutes.
• Science: Similar to reading, students should be taught to focus on passages that play to their strengths, guessing on others to preserve time and energy.

Final Thoughts

The transition from the SAT to the ACT is significant, but with the right strategies and a focus on authentic instruction that builds on both content knowledge and test-taking skills, Illinois educators can help their students succeed. By incorporating these approaches into everyday teaching, schools can ensure that students are not just prepared for the test but are also developing the critical thinking and problem-solving skills they need for future success.

For schools and districts looking for additional resources, Horizon Education offers comprehensive ACT preparation materials (coursework and benchmark assessments) that align with the strategies discussed in this webinar. By combining rigorous instruction with test-specific strategies, we aim to equip every student with the tools they need to excel.