High-dollar ACT prep goes online for free

Tips and training for the ACT exam can cost $100 an hour with a tutor.

ACT tutor Katie Halcrow says that most students can raise their score by 5 points by using them.

“For students who can afford to pay for test prep, it makes a significant difference in their scores,” she said.

After years of helping students prepare for the test, she has launched a non-profit called “Power Up Prep” and has put all her material online for free.  It’s material that is so valuable that a few schools around the metro are starting to use it in their classrooms. 

At Kennedy High School in Bloomington, they use it in their AVID program, a class geared toward first-generation college students.

“After all the tips and resources, I felt confident,” said Kennedy High School Junior Davaughn Lane.

There is talk of expanding the program at Kennedy High School, but Halcrow hopes it won’t stop there.

“I want to create equity.  I want students who can’t afford to pay for tutoring to still have access to it and improve their scores and feel confident,” she said.

For more information on Power Up Prep, click here.