Should I Take the July ACT, or Wait Until Fall? What's the Best Summer Prep Strategy?

Okay, it's June and I’ve received several questions about whether to take the July ACT! As someone who's been helping students nail the ACT and SAT for over 18 years, let me give you some criteria on making this decision.

Take the July test if you:

• Have been actively prepping for at least 4-6 weeks (not just "thinking about it")
• Are a rising senior needing scores for early applications
• Your practice scores are within 2-3 points of your target

Wait for fall if you:

• Just started thinking about test prep this week (seriously, don't rush it!)
• You're a rising junior with plenty of time (the ACT is also changing for the paper test in September, so I recommend holding off)
• Haven't finished Algebra 2 and Geometry yet
• You want My Answer Key (formerly Test Information Release) feedback to guide your prep (available for September, December and February test dates)
• Your summer is packed with travel, camps, or other commitments

Summer is honestly the BEST time for test prep because you're not juggling five other classes. But you need a real strategy, not just "I'll study sometime."

For Rising Seniors:

Time to get serious! Aim for 6-8 hours of focused prep per week. Spend 70% of your time on your weakest areas (even if they're boring), and plan to test again in August, September, or October.

For Rising Juniors:

You have more breathing room. Focus on building a solid foundation with 3-5 hours weekly. Consider taking your first official test in fall when you're more mathematically ready.

The Strategy That Actually Works:

1. Take a diagnostic test to see where you really stand
2. Identify your biggest weakness and tackle it first
3. Create a consistent daily routine (trust me, 30 minutes daily beats 3 hours on Sunday)
4. Practice test every 2-3 weeks to track progress
5. Actually enjoy summer too - burned out students don't improve!

Our Top-Recommended Resources

Start Here (Free!):

• FREE 10-Page ACT Prep Guide - Download this first for a solid foundation
• Official practice tests from ACT.org 
• Check out our article here on scheduling your ACT exams.

Level Up Your Prep:

• UniversityReady ACT Prep Course - Includes 16-week comprehensive course, 4-week crash courses, AND live study sessions for the 4 Wednesdays leading up to each exam date.
• Barron's ACT 36 - My go-to strategy book (thin and not intimidating!)

Special Section for Homeschool Families

Homeschoolers, you have some unique advantages here that you should leverage!

Since you control your academic calendar, you might be ready for testing earlier than traditional students. Use this! Test when YOU'RE ready, not when the school calendar dictates.

• Plan intensive prep periods around family vacations
• Use co-op breaks strategically for focused study
• Take advantage of flexible daily schedules for optimal study times

Strong test scores can really validate your homeschool transcript for colleges. Consider testing earlier to demonstrate academic readiness.

• Our Homeschool High School Resource Guide includes testing timeline recommendations
• Join our Facebook community for homeschool-specific tips and support

Whether you test in June or wait for fall, having a strategic plan is what matters. Random, sporadic studying doesn't move the needle.

Feeling overwhelmed about creating your summer strategy? Schedule a FREE 30-minute consultation with me to create a personalized timeline that actually makes sense for your family's situation. Also join our Facebook community for homeschool-specific tips and support.

What's your testing plan? Drop your questions in the comments.