OVERALL TEST TACTICS:



OVERALL TEST TACTICS:

1. Learn the section directions now. Use the time saved during the test to work on questions.

2. Answer easy questions first. Mark skipped questions in your exam book so you can quickly return to them later.

3. Guess...if you can eliminate at least one choice.

4. You can write in the test book: cross out wrong answers; do scratch work.

5. Avoid stray marks on the answer sheet. A machine scores your test and can't distinguish between a correct answer and a careless doodle.

6. Easy questions usually precede hard ones.

7. Mark only one answer per question.

8. Skip any question if you haven't the faintest idea about the answer. You don't lose points.

9. Keep checking that you are placing your answer in the correct section and number on the answer sheet.

10. Don't spend too much time on any one question. You should spend only seconds on the easiest questions, and hesitate to spend more than 1-2 minutes on even the hardest ones.

11. Practice, practice, practice!

12. Remember that the ACT consists of a series of small, timed, mini-tests. Keep track of the time you're allotted for each one and how much time remains.

13. Bring a watch to the test center. You can't be guaranteed that there'll be a working clock there.

14. Don't change an answer unless you're sure you made an error.

15. Read the words in the question carefully. Be sure to answer the question asked and not the question you recall from a practice test.

16. Know the Question Types to Expect on the ACT * 19 analogies * 19 sentence completion * 40 reading comprehension * 35 math multiple-choices * 15 quantitative comparisons * 10 student-produced responses

SPECIFIC SECTIONAL STRATEGIES

English, Reading, and Science Reasoning Sections:

1. Review English grammar and usage, as well as punctuation, parts of speech, sentence structure, and word parts.

2. Don't rush your selection. Consider all the answers to make the best choice.

3. Use the context of nearby words to figure out unknown words.

4. Pace yourself. You have roughly (actually slightly less than) 1/2 minute for each question.

5. Examine each underlined portion with care. 

It will suggest what is being sought from you by its context in the passage that the question refers to.

6. Choose the best answer possible, using the process of elimination to narrow your choices.

7. After you've made your choice, mentally substitute your answer into the underlined portion to see if it seems correct.

8. If you don't know the meaning a word, try to recall if you've ever heard it in an expression. 

The context of the expression may suggest the meaning of the word.

9. Beware of obvious answers! They may be there only to mislead you.

10. You should base your answers to the questions solely on what is stated or implied in the passages.

11. Carefully read any introductory text.

12. Skip questions you don't know. Return to them after answering other easier questions.

13. First and last sentences of each paragraph are critical.

14. Read the passages before reading the questions.

15. Don't waste time memorizing details.

MATH Section - STANDARD MULTIPLE CHOICE:

1. Read the question well. Be sure to select the best answer for the variable, value, or expression that is requested!

2. Learn in advance all of the critical definitions, formulas, and concepts that appear in common questions.

3. Remember to use the test booklet for scratch work, as well as for marking up any diagrams/graphs.

4. Early questions in this section are easier. Spend less time on them.

5. Don't get carried away with detailed calculations. Look for a trick or a shortcut if the question seems time consuming.

6. When a question contains a weird symbol, just substitute the accompanying definition when figuring out the best answer choice.

MATH Section - QUANTITATIVE COMPARISONS:

1. Don't ever guess at Choice E. There are only four choices!

2. Always consider values that are fractional (between 0 and 1), zero, negative, or non-integer.

3. Factor out, then cancel, any common expressions or quantities in both Columns A and B. Remember that you are just trying to make relative comparisons.

4. Questions are simpler and should take less time than the Standard Multiple Choice. Look closely. The answer is often apparent without any calculations.

5. Write on any diagrams to help clarify any values, angles, sides, etc.

6. Compare; don't solve!

7. Simplify one or both sides whenever possible before comparing.

English Test

45 minutes, 75 questions

|Content |Proportion |# of |

| |of Test |Question |

|Punctuation |.13 |10 |

|Basic Grammar and Usage |.16 |12 |

|Sentence Structure |.24 |18 |

|Strategy |.16 |12 |

|Organization |.15 |11 |

|Style |.16 |12 |

|Total |1.00 |75 |

All of the questions on the ACT are multiple-choice questions. You'll have four answers to choose from, except in the Mathematics Test, where you'll have five. On odd-numbered questions, the answers are labeled (A) through (D); on even-numbered questions, they're labeled (F) through (J). This labeling system has the advantage of helping you keep track of which question you are working on. After you pick the best answer, you'll mark your choice on the separate answer sheet by using a pencil to darken the appropriate oval next to the number for that question. This produces an answer sheet that can be scored a machine.

When you get the ACT booklet, you'll also get the answer sheet. Remember, your marked answer sheets will be read by machines. The machine doesn't think. It calculates your scores by what your marks look like, not by what you really meant.

Fill in your chosen ovals correctly, completely and boldly as required, so there can be no mistake about which one you chose. It'll be too sad if you knew the correct answer but didn't mark it right.

You should develop a good habit of regularly checking the number of the question and the number on the answer sheet every few questions. Check them carefully every time you skip a question. If you knew the correct answers but filled them in wrong places, that would be even sadder.

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First, for each of the tests, your raw score is calculated. Your raw score is simply the number of questions you answer correctly.

The raw score is then converted into a scale score. There is a scale score for each test: English, Mathematics, Reading, and Science Reasoning, ranging from 1 to 36. The system of converting a raw score into a scale score varies slightly from one test battery to another, since the test forms vary slightly in difficulty. If you get a slightly harder ACT, the score conversion table for your exam will be a little easier. You'll be able to get a couple more questions wrong while still earning the same scale score. The test-makers have an elaborate system based on statistical theories for figuring out exactly how much they need to compensate for slightly harder or easier test forms. The idea is to make any given score represent the same level of difficulty no matter when or where the test is given.

Next to each scaled score is a percentile ranking. Percentile ranking refers to the percentage of people who performed better or worse than you did on the test. For instance, a percentile ranking of 87 indicates that 86% of the people who took the test scored lower than you did, and 13% scored higher. (86 + 13 +1 (you) = 100%)

You'll also receive subscores for particular subcategories on three of the tests. In English, you'll receive subscores in usage/mechanics and rhetorical skills; in Mathematics, you'll receive subscores in pre-algebra/elementary algebra, algebra/coordinate geometry, and plane/geometry/trigonometry; and in Reading, you'll receive subscores in social studies/natural sciences and prose fiction/humanities. There's no subscore in the Science Reasoning test. The subscores are reported on a scale of 1 to 18. They are also reported as percentiles. The subcategories may be of some marginal use to colleges; they are much more useful to you if you decide to take the test again, as a way to pinpoint your strengths arid weaknesses.

Finally, at the bottom of the page, you will find a composite score -- one overall number that summarizes how you did on the ACT. This is an average of what you received on the four main sections, and is the most important score for most test-takers. The composite score is used by most colleges and universities in the admissions process

|Introduction |

|The ACT (American College Testing Assessment) is one of the two major standardized college entrance tests taken in the United States |

|today, (the SAT I is the other). The ACT is an all-multiple-choice test given five times a year. Standardized tests like ACT are designed |

|to allow college admissions officers to judge all students by a common measuring stick. In addition, Admissions officers use these scores |

|as a way to predict academic performance in the first year of college. |

|The ACT Assessment, tests knowledge in four subject areas: English, Reading, Math, and Science Reasoning. Unlike the SAT, the ACT is not |

|an aptitude test. The questions on the ACT are related directly to the material students have learned in high school. The ACT includes 215|

|multiple-choice questions. It lasts three and a half hours (including breaks-actual testing time is two hours and 55 minutes. ACT-takers |

|actually receive 12 separate scores on the ACT: 1 composite, 4 subject scores, and 7 sub scores. However the composite – or scaled – score|

|is the most important. It ranges from 1-36. Nearly half of all test takers fall in the 17-23 range. On the ACT, unlike with the SAT, there|

|is no penalty for guessing. So ACT takers should fill in an answer for every question, even if they have no idea of what the correct |

|answer is. |

| |

| |

| The ACT Test Structure  |

|Category |

|Description |

|Focus Area & No of Questions in Each Area |

| |

|English Test |

|45 minutes, 75 questions |

|Consists of five passages of nonfiction prose. Each passage contains 15 questions. |

|Punctuation (10), Basic Grammar and Usage (12), Sentence Structure (18), Strategy (12), Organization (11), and Style (12) |

| |

|Math Test |

|60 minutes, 60 questions |

|In this section, knowledge is tested of the basic facts and skills taught in most high school math programs. |

|Pre-Algebra (14), Elementary Algebra (10), Intermediate Algebra (9), Coordinate Geometry (9), Plane Geometry (14), and Trigonometry (4) |

| |

|Reading Test |

|35 minutes, 40 questions |

|Includes four passages; one being a fictional narrative, while others being nonfiction discussion of topics from varied fields as the |

|natural sciences, social science, and the humanities. |

|Pose Fiction (10), Humanities (10), Natural Science (10) and Social Studies (10) |

| |

|Science Reasoning Test |

|35 minutes, 40 questions |

|Includes seven passages containing data presentation by means of graphs, tables, charts, or diagrams. Descriptions of experimental studies|

|and their results, and presentations of differing theories or hypotheses relating to a specific scientific query. |

|Data Representation (15), Research Summaries (18), and Conflicting Viewpoints (7) |

|Note: Contents of Science Reasoning Test include: Biology, Earth/Space Science, Chemistry, and Physics. |

| |

| General Tips and Strategies |

|1.       There is no penalty for guessing, so ACT takers should fill in an answer for every question |

|2.       Know the directions and answer sheet ahead of time |

|3.       Read carefully and thoroughly. Avoid careless mistakes |

|4.       Answer easier questions first, and harder questions later |

|5.       Check answer sheet regularly |

|6.       Develop a strategy for guessing |

|Section: English |

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|Don't jump on the questions right away. Skim the paragraph for a few seconds, and then start working on the questions |

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|Brevity is the soul of wit. The best way to write something is the shortest correct way of writing it |

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|Be on the lookout for subject-verb and noun-pronoun agreement |

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|Be on the lookout for sentence fragments, incorrect sentence structure, verbosity and inappropriate use of phrases and idioms |

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|Develop the habit of occasionally checking your progress through the test |

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|Section:  Math |

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|Use your calculator only when you need to |

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|Understand and analyze the problem before crunching numbers |

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|Look for patterns and shortcuts in any given question |

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|Think before working on each problem, use common sense to verify your answer choice |

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| Section: Reading  |

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|Do not get caught in the specific details of the passage |

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|Answer general questions before detail questions |

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|Always refer to the passage before choosing an answer |

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|Mentally outline all major points covered in non-fiction passages, take notes if necessary to find answers quickly |

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|Concentrate on paragraph opening and closing |

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|For fiction passages pay attention to the story and the characters |

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|Answer the easy questions for each passage first. Skip the tough ones and come back to them later |

| |

| Section: Science  |

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|Start by scanning the passage. Read the passage or look at the data presentation quickly, just to get a rough idea of what it is all about|

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|In order to comprehend graphs and tables quickly concentrate on nature of data being presented, units of measurement, relationship among |

|variables and perceive trends and pattern in the data |

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|If the answers are numerical, use estimation to save time |

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|Focus on the questions that require analyzing data from just a single table or graph |

| |

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