What are the advantages of the ACT Pacing Watch?
http://www.testingtimers.com/product/act-pacing-watch/
Exactly what information does it offer?
Is it useful for SAT and AP tests or just ACT? Are no other watches allowed during the test or just this watch? Is it distracting in anyway?
Clearly, when it says ACT, it is exclusive of any other tests except for the ACT. Ergo, it’s for the ACT only.
Go to Amazon and check the reviews. You’ll get your answers there.
Be wary of this watch, many proctors will not allow it. Even though it does not beep.
I think it is an OK tool for practice, although any timer will do.
We bought the watch from Amazon and my son has used it for the ACT. It has helped him to keep pace on each of the sections and was well worth the $.
Proctors will try to take away these ACT watches during the test because they don’t realize the watch doesn’t make sound nor does calculations.
If a proctor tries to take it away, tell him
Those three comply with the watch requirements listed on the ACT ticket and website. And keep the watch on your wrist because technically you can’t have anything on your desk other than your test, Scantron, pencils, and calculator (in Math).
If the proctor is still a pain in the —, insist on seeing a supervisor. Hopefully none of this occurs in the middle of a section.
@mmk2015 is right. Proctors will not know about these watches and try to take them away.
I found it a HUGE help, esp. on the reading section. I believe it raised by ACT score by many points. The best $50 I spent!
I would have expected people on the forums here to be all about the ACT stop watch. Very confusing. Do you all also believe ACT proctors check calculators for programs? I never heard of one in my region who does, so maybe proctors who don’t care about calculators don’t care about the wtach
@fbislife Proctors don’t check calculators for programs. You can use programs if you want, I don’t think that’s against the rules.
@outlooker but the watch is an issue? what exactly is the problem with the ACT watch?
@fbislife the watch shouldn’t be an issue.
Would you recommend the watch? Some people in this thread were speaking really negatively about it
Definitely recommend the watch. But read post #4 above. Be aware of what might happen and how to defend yourself.
… I don’t understand why you couldn’t just use a regular watch, honestly.
@peytonmg Yes I agree, I’m not following what is so special or dangerous about the watch. Is it like a stopwatch that is programmed to tell count the minutes down for each section?
The watch counts down during each section. It tells you exactly how much time you have left. Unless you’re Stephen Hawking, it’s pretty tough under pressure to keep track of how much time you have left during in a section using a regular watch that shows 9:31am.
There are little dashes around the border of the display of the watch that tell you on what question you should be on at any given moment. A regular watch doesn’t help pace you like that.
The watch is extremely helpful for Reading where every second is precious. It splits the 35 mins equally for each section.
Using a regular watch on the ACT is like using a pair of basketball sneakers to play football while everyone else is using cleats. Pretty foolish.
@mmk2015 This watch sounds excellent! However, technically, an electronic watch is not allowed?
The watch is great, and does help with timing. No doubt. Unfortunately, the proctors are not familiar with the watch and, in my experience, will take them away more often than not. If you bring it, you must bring the documentation that comes with the watch. At a minimum, it is an excellent practice tool. A timer will also work. The key here is TIMING yourself in practice. The ACT Rewards speed and accuracy.
@HereToHelpYou Is the documentation found in the ACT Rule Book or with the watch from amazon?
The watch is made by a company called Testing Timers. You can find the documentation you need to take to the test center here. http://www.testingtimers.com/testing-timers/product-details/