Episode Archive
60 episodes of Chad Cargill's ACT Test Prep since the first episode, which aired on February 13th, 2020.
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58: My Graduation Speech and Challenge to the Class of 2021
April 29th, 2021 | Season 2 | 16 mins 57 secs
act, class of 2021, college, graduation, high school
To the graduates of the Class of 2021, congratulations on your high school accomplishments. Now, I challenge you to live a life that matters.
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57: Live Q&A at the End of an Online Workshop
April 15th, 2021 | Season 2 | 17 mins 29 secs
act, classes, high school, prep, q&a, qualify, scholarships, test
Listen in as students post questions at the end of one of my online workshops. I answer as they are posted, and you can listen to all my answers in this episode.
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56: Why You Should Never Take the 5th Experimental Section of the ACT
April 8th, 2021 | Season 2 | 18 mins 11 secs
5th experimental, high school, prep, qualify, scholarships, test
Most ACT tests now have a 5th experimental section. Most stay and try on this section. In this episode, I explain what this section is and why you should never take it.
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55: Trouble Finishing the Reading Test? This Trick Can Immediately Raise Your Score
April 1st, 2021 | Season 2 | 16 mins 41 secs
act, high school, prep, reading, speed, test
If you find yourself running out of time in reading, many students give up on the last passage. Using this simple tip, students who struggle finishing reading can immediately raise their scores.
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54: Master the Dash and Raise Your English Score Now
March 25th, 2021 | Season 2 | 19 mins 41 secs
act, dash, english, grammar, test prep
Most students pick a dash if it looks good. Many test-takers have no idea the rules for using the dash. A dash is on almost every ACT test you take. In this episode, we'll review the rule for a dash and look at examples how it is used.
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53: 7 Keys to Writing a Winning Scholarship Essay
March 18th, 2021 | Season 2 | 17 mins 54 secs
essay, scholarships
Follow these seven tips, and write a scholarship essay that wins.
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52: 9 Ways to Stay Focused During the ACT Test
March 4th, 2021 | Season 2 | 24 mins 28 secs
act, distractions, focus, high school, prep
Recently, I was asked during a workshop, "How do I stay focused during the ACT test?" In today's episode, I give 9 ways you can stay focused during the test. Let me know which ones of these distractions apply to you and how you handled them.
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51: 2 Important Rule Changes and How You Should Adjust
February 25th, 2021 | Season 2 | 17 mins 24 secs
act, high school, rule change, time, watch
In this episode, we discuss two important rule changes that may affect when you take the ACT and how you keep time during the test.
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Episode 50: Math - What is Tested? A Detailed Look at the July 2020 National ACT Math Test
February 18th, 2021 | Season 2 | 15 mins 46 secs
high school, math, prep, qualify, scholarships, test
Have you ever wondered what percent of the math test is geometry? Or maybe you wonder if certain math topics are tested. In this episode, we go question by question from the July 2020 national ACT test. We look at the concepts tested and break down what percentage of questions are each category.
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Episode 49: Is the ACT Science Test Changing?
February 11th, 2021 | Season 2 | 23 mins 38 secs
high school, prep, qualify, scholarships, science, test
Although the ACT has been virtually the same for the last few decades, there are subtle changes that are important to know. In this episode, we'll discuss some of the changes you'll see in the science section of the test.
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48: What are Zero Level Classes and How to Avoid Them
February 4th, 2021 | Season 2 | 22 mins 17 secs
act, athlete, qualify, remedial, scholarship, zero level
Over $1 billion dollars are spent annually on remedial college classes that don't even count toward a major. In this episode, we take a look at zero level classes. We answer what they are, why you would have to take them, and how to avoid them.
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47: Why GPAs are a Joke!
January 28th, 2021 | Season 2 | 24 mins 59 secs
act, class rank, gpa, unweighted, weighted
GPAs are used for many things like qualifications, scholarships, and even academic championships. Unless analyzed thoroughly and taken into context, they are almost meaningless numbers. Yet, many continue to use GPAs as a comparative measurement. In this episode, I'll tell you why they shouldn't.
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46: QBQ! My #1 Recommended Book with John Miller
January 21st, 2021 | Season 2 | 48 mins 59 secs
book, curriculum, i own it, kristin lindeen, parenting, personal accountability, qbq!, reading
What makes a question an IQ or a QBQ? In today's episode, you'll meet John Miller who is the author of the most impactful book I've read other than the Bible itself. But be warned, this episode may change your life. QBQ! changed mine.
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45: A Look Ahead to 2021
January 14th, 2021 | Season 2 | 30 mins 3 secs
high school, math, ms, prep, qualify, scholarships, test
As we start the new year, we reflect on the challenges of 2020 and turn our focus to a new beginning in 2021.
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Episode 44: How to Determine if You’re a First Instinct Test-Taker
December 10th, 2020 | Season 2 | 22 mins 21 secs
act, first instinct, standardized test, strategy
Are you a first instinct test-taker? Sometimes you're told, "Go with your gut" or "Pick whatever you initially thought was best." Is this true? If so, is it true for everyone? In this episode we dive into the strategy of first instinct test-taking. We'll identify what it is, examine why you would do it, and discuss how you can determine if you should use it.
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Episode 43: How To Do Scholarship Projects That Leave a Legacy with Drew Files
December 3rd, 2020 | Season 2 | 27 mins 12 secs
act, athlete, qualify, scholarship
Drew Files was a great high school softball player at Moore High School in Moore, OK. While in high school, she wanted to use her talent as a way to inspire and help others. She decided to organize a softball game at her high school to raise money for a great cause. This softball game is now an annual event at the high school, making a huge difference for some amazing kids. Drew's legacy lives on through this game. In this episode, Drew shares her story and challenges students to make a difference as she did.