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No new content. The night before is for sleep, not for cramming. Cramming the night before hurts more than helps — your brain consolidates what you've already learned during sleep.
Get to bed early. An extra hour of sleep is worth more than an extra hour of practice at this point.
Lay out tomorrow. Clothes, ID, snacks, a water bottle, two sharpened pencils (if needed), and the directions to the testing room. One less decision in the morning.
Eat breakfast. Protein and complex carbs (eggs + toast, oatmeal, yogurt + fruit). Avoid sugar bombs that crash mid-test.
Arrive 15-20 minutes early. Check in, find your seat, sit down. Use the bathroom even if you don't think you need to.
Don't quiz yourself in the parking lot. If you don't know it now, you won't learn it in 5 minutes. Last-minute quizzing triggers anxiety. Listen to a song you like instead.
Four timed sections (~2.5 hours): English 35 min · Math 45 min · Reading 40 min · Science 35 min. Each section is timed on its own — when a section ends you move on and can't go back, so finish what you're on and keep moving.
Roughly a minute per question. If one takes much longer, guess your best, mark it for review, and move on. No penalty for wrong answers — empty answers cost more than wrong ones.
Two passes. Pass 1: every question you can solve quickly. Pass 2: come back to the hard ones with the time you have.
Always answer. Even pure guesses raise your score. Don't leave anything blank.
Reading: Read the question stem before the passage. Underline (mentally) what the question is asking. Pick the answer with the most direct support in the text.
Math: A calculator is allowed — the online test has an on-screen one — but don't lean on it; estimating first is faster. Translate words to equations. Plug in answer choices when stuck. Watch out for sign errors and "off by one" answers.
Eliminate before guessing. Even ruling out one wrong answer raises your guess from 25% to 33%. Two? 50%.
30 seconds is fine. Close your eyes, breathe in for 4, hold for 4, out for 6. Three rounds. The clock is fine losing a few seconds; your brain needs them more.
Skip the question. If a question is making you spiral, mark it and move on. Come back when your brain is settled.
You've practiced this. The mocks you took felt like a real test because they were a real test. You've already been here.
The PreACT 9 is administered in English only. (The old HSAT, through the 2025-26 cycle, was offered in six languages — that option is gone.)
ESL/EL supports may be available. Students designated English Learners may qualify for accommodations such as extra time or an approved word-to-word bilingual glossary, depending on CPS and ACT policy.
How to request. CPS students: contact your current school's testing coordinator. Non-CPS students: contact the CPS Office of Access & Enrollment. Make this request well before the October test date, and get confirmation in writing.
One last thing.
You will not feel ready. No one feels ready. This is normal. Walk in anyway. The kids who get into the schools they want are the kids who showed up. Show up.