ACT Newsroom & Blog

Summer is a time for fun and relaxation — but it can also lead to the “summer slide,” a loss of academic progress made during the school year. While students deserve a break, staying completely disengaged from learning can make returning to school in the fall more challenging. The good news is students can still have a fun summer while making learning an engaging and flexible part of everyday life.

Here are 10 creative ways to keep learners active all summer long:

1. Read daily – Set a goal of 20-30 minutes or 20-30 pages a day. Let students choose books that interest them—graphic novels, mysteries, biographies, or fantasy—to keep it fun and engaging. Starting a family book club can even spark great conversations with teens.

2. Engage with educational tools and games – Online learning tools can make learning interactive and enjoyable, covering subjects from math to languages to reading. Using the quizMe feature on ACT.org will help students maintain their academic skills and prepare for the ACT in a fun, engaging way.

3. Start a summer journal - Writing regularly helps maintain literacy skills. Students can write about their day and summer adventures or create short stories or poems.

4. Take a hike – Getting out in nature is good for the body and mind. There are plenty of opportunities to learn about plants, insects, animals, ecosystems, and the environment while enjoying the great outdoors.

5. Explore STEM activities - Simple science experiments, coding challenges, or building projects (like LEGO® or DIY craft kits) can sharpen critical thinking and creativity skills.

6. Practice math in real life - Involve students in cooking (measuring ingredients), budgeting (planning a trip), or shopping (calculating discounts) to apply math in everyday situations.

7. Take educational field trips - Museums, zoos, aquariums, and historical sites offer hands-on learning experiences that are both fun and educational.

8. Set learning goals - Create a summer learning plan with small, achievable goals — like finishing a book series, hitting a target ACT score with practice tests, or learning 50 new vocabulary words.

9. Attend or work at a summer camp - Look for camps with academic enrichment, STEM focus, or creative arts. These camps often blend learning with social interaction and fun.

10. Encourage curiosity and questions - Foster a mindset of exploration. Let students research topics they’re curious about, whether it’s space, nature, how things work, or what colleges they want to apply to and visit.

Summer is a time to relax, unwind, and have fun, but weaving in a bit of learning can help students ease back into school with more confidence.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 14, 2025

[IOWA CITY, IA] – More than 100,000 7th-9th grade students from across the country have earned national recognition for their achievements on the PreACT 8/9.

The PreACT Rising Stars program, in its inaugural year, honors students who score in the top half of all U.S. students who take the PreACT 8/9 assessment. That exam provides a preview of the ACT experience, along with a highly reliable prediction of how students might perform on the ACT. The information is critical in helping schools adjust learning plans and demonstrating to students that college could be within reach should they decide to pursue that path.

“More than anything, we want to support conversations between students and their families, educators, and guidance counselors about what’s next after high school, so students feel more secure about their postsecondary options,” said ACT CEO Janet Godwin. “Students who take the PreACT also have the opportunity to share their information with colleges and scholarship agencies, which can increase their chances for early college recruitment and financial support.”

The PreACT Rise Stars program recognizes students at three levels:

• Distinguished Scholars Award, recognizing students who score in the top 5% of test takers.
• Rising Scholars Award, celebrating students who score in the top 6-15% of test takers.
• Early Scholars Award, honoring students who score in the top 16-50% of test takers.