ACT Bootcamp: Is it Worth the Steep Price?

Skill Sharpening//Coronado students take advantage of this opportunity to increase their ACT scores. Tutors Across America’s ACT Bootcamp prepares students in just one weekend, building essential skills for the important test. (Photo by Audrey Hamatake) 

$400 — the controversial starting price of the Tutors Across America-founded ACT Bootcamp. The program is a short yet rigorous course designed to prepare students for the ACT. For many high school students, the ACT is one of the most important tests they’ll ever take. Many colleges in the U.S. evaluate scores during their admission process; therefore, the proper preparation for it is vital. The camp realistically prepares students with pro tips and tricks, boosting their chances of success. Many of the tutors who work with the program advertise a 3-7 point increase, which is relatively appealing in the eyes of students. While the bootcamp itself isn’t many students’ ideal way to spend their free time, the benefits are strong and make a weekend of misery all worthwhile. 

“It’s helpful because it gives you information that you would not get otherwise,” Dylan Richardson, 12, said. “I’ve taken advantage of the boot camp three times already.” 

The benefits of this ACT bootcamp go beyond just content review and strategy planning. This specific program focuses on test-taking strategies and pacing through practice exams. Many Coronado students who attended this bootcamp reported dramatic point increases; some scores skyrocketed from the tens all the way up to the twenties. I myself participated in the rigorous 20-hour bootcamp – and my score also increased drastically from a 19 to a 25 by the end of the weekend. The instructors of the camps are directed to inform you of the tips and tricks the ACT will present. It is an important test that requires a lot of preparation and effort, but with this program, a little help from a caffeinated drink, and some good company, anyone can succeed. Some factors of the ACT test-taking experience that the instructors specifically

target and stress the importance of are timing, logic, and organization. By combining structure and skill improvement, students often walk away feeling more confident for their big day. 

When provoked, many kids overwhelmingly suggested positive thoughts on the program. A Coronado student who participated in the ACT bootcamp this August shared her first-hand opinion. 

“It’s not all about the content,” Olivia Larson, 11, explains. “It’s about loopholes and shortcuts. The ACT is daunting and intimidating, but it is really not a trick if you’re aware of what to expect. The majority of the test itself is based on apparent thinking.”

Skill Sharpening//Coronado students take advantage of this opportunity to increase their ACT scores. Tutors Across America’s ACT Bootcamp prepares students in just one weekend, building essential skills for the important test. (Photo by Audrey Hamatake)