Juniors were given the opportunity to take the ACT for free at Olathe West on Tuesday, Feb 27.

The testing took place on the third floor, making it closed off to the remaining students not taking the test and staff members not proctoring it. 

“I think it’s awesome that they have the ACT in the building here,” ACT proctor and Technology Education Department Chair Kevin Hulsen said. “Because it allows every single junior here to take the test at no cost to them, versus the $100+ fees that they would charge them to take it outside the school.”

Each school year, ninth, 10th and 11th graders take the practice ACT test at school to gauge where students stand, also allowing current juniors to go into the test knowing what to expect and how it works. 

“I think the practice test was huge to give the kids a little idea of what they would score on the real one,” Hulsen said. “But this is the real deal so this gives them a chance to see where they end up on the score that’s gonna be used for their secondary application.”

The practice test was also held at the school, so students taking the opportunity to test at school will be able to have a level of familiarity with the testing environment.

“I think it [testing at school] makes everything easier and more comfortable,” junior Allison Allstatt said. 

The third floor being closed off adjusts the rest of the grade levels with classes there with many classes being moved to other rooms on the first or second floor and even some in the library. 

“I think it’s awesome for kids to get to test their understanding of all things general knowledge and their core courses that they take in high school,” Hulsen said. “And it also gives them a really good baseline for where they are going when they go to college.”

The ACT day doesn’t only adjust the location of classes, but the schedule for the week. Wednesday block classes will replace Tuesday, while Thursday block will be moved to Wednesday due to the upcoming eighth grade transition day.