Students from Benton High School, Lafayette High School and Central High School have created public service announcements to let other students know what to expect during a required ACT test slated for later this month.
Benton High School Assistance Principal Michele Thomason said the thought was that it would be better for students to hear the information from their peers.
“You know the kids hear from us all the time telling them what is important,” Thomason said. “So we thought it would be better if their peers kind of spoke about it and kind of got it across to their classmates that this is an opportunity to take the ACT for free.”
The ACT is a college admissions and placement test taken by more than 1.8 million high school graduates every year. However, Thomason said it’s the first time in Missouri that every Junior in the state will be required to take the ACT. The test is scheduled for April 28 for all Juniors in Missouri. Thomason said if a student is sick there is only one make-up day.
“Research has proven that the best time for students to take the ACT would be spring of their Junior year and this is providing a free opportunity for them to take it,” Thomason said.
In order to help other students prepare for the upcoming test, students at all three public high schools in St. Joseph created a spoof video based off of the East Hills Shopping Center Commercial. The videos remind students that the test is free, they will need to bring their student ID, breakfast is included and that phones are not allowed.
“Our kids did the whole thing,” Thomason said. “They filmed it from beginning to end. They put the video pieces together and they decided who was going to do what. They did it in a matter of just a few hours.”
She said students will report to their testing rooms at 7:40 a.m. April 28 and testing starts shortly after.
“Usually students do have to pay for it,” she said. “They’re getting to take a $52 ACT test for free.”