Juniors can take a free ACT prep course this year.

Principal Brian Wiskur thinks the prep courses were too costly in the past.

“We’ve been charging students a lot,  and I wanted to do this for them,” Wiskur said.

The prep course teaches students the test-taking skills they need for the ACT.

This is the third year of the courses, which consist of eight, two-hour sessions.

In the past couple years, there was an estimation of about 100 students who took the prep course in hopes of doing well on their ACT.

This year, the classes on Wednesdays from 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. ( 2:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Jan. 18) or Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. (Classes on Jan. 14 and Jan. 28 have been moved to Jan. 9 and Jan. 23, respectively.)

Everyone must attend the session on Dec. 3 from 12 a.m. to 4 p.m. to take the baseline ACT test. The practice test is being used to show improvements brought forth by the course.

Students are expected to improve two to three points on their ACT due to the prep course.

Brianna Finley is a junior who has a tutor for the ACT and is taking the free course.

“I have really high expectations for myself in the future, including where I attend college,” Finley said, “so i feel it is necessary to prepare myself as much as possible for such a pivotal test like the ACT so when the actual test day arrives it will be like second nature.”

Materials and snacks will be provided for those who attend the course.

For students that cannot attend the prep courses, the school provides information about practice ACTs that cost anywhere from $40 to $60.

Junior Alysa Figgins is taking the opportunity to do the prep course.

“I think that it will help me pace myself and brush up on the subjects for the ACT,” Figgins said.