MPHS ACT STRATEGY/STUDY GUIDE 2011



MPHS ACT STRATEGY/STUDY GUIDE 2011

From Mr. Colson

• I got the ones with URLs by Googling “ACT tips”. Try it!

• Check out the ACT site for practice questions. Try the other ones if you need more

• Don’t forget to study the PSAE packet of booklets that you got in Division.

From Mr. Gronholm

ACT Survival Guide – Strategies, Hints, Tips, and Advice

ACT Basics

The test is divided into five subject exams:

• English – 45 minutes, 75 questions that cover grammar, punctuation, and writing style

• Math – 60 minutes, 60 questions that cover pre-algebra, algebra, geometry, and trigonometry

• Reading – 35 minutes, 40 questions that are covered in four reading passages: social science, natural science, humanities, and prose fiction.

• Science – 35 minutes, 40 questions that cover figure interpretation, pattern analysis, and scientific reasoning.

• Writing test (note: the writing test is optional, but should be taken): 30 minutes to answer one prompt.

ACT Strategies

• Answer every question!!! The ACT does NOT penalize for guessing.

• Budget your time well. The ACT allows you an average of 9 minutes per reading passage to read the passage and answer the questions.

• To increase your reading fluency, read silently for at least 30 minutes each night. This increases your stamina and will help you finish the exam in time.

• For the Writing exam: Make sure you use a prewriting strategy to organize your thoughts. This will save you valuable time later.

• Use your pencil as a WEAPON!! Mark the test – highlight Main idea!

Hints and Tips

• The ACT asks you to find the BEST answer. Often times you will see more than one correct answer. Make sure to select the BEST answer. This can be done by reading each answer thoroughly.

• The ACT likes answers to be clear and concise (short and sweet). Avoid the lengthy, wordy answers.

• If you see an answer choice of “OMIT this section,” select it as your answer and move on to the next question. “OMIT” answers are right 93% of the time.

• If you find yourself running out of time and need to guess, select a letter and bubble in the remaining questions. “C” is no more statistically correct than any other selection.

Advice

Whenever you take a standardized test, make sure to do the following:

• Get a good night’s sleep the two nights before the test

• Eat a carbohydrate-loaded dinner the night before (Ex: pasta). Follow that up with a healthy breakfast the morning of the exam. Don’t eat too large of a breakfast (you don’t want to be tired). Avoid fast food, caffeine, and energy drinks!

• Make sure you have all materials you will need for the exam: id, number 2 pencils, and a graphing calculator

• If you find yourself getting tired during the exam, quietly stand up and stretch. Finally, relax. You have prepared for the exam. Be confident!

Miguel de Cervantes, “To be prepared is half the victory.”

From testprep (ACT)

English Test Description

The English test is a 75-question, 45-minute test, covering:

|Usage/Mechanics |Rhetorical Skills |

|punctuation |strategy |

|grammar and usage |organization |

|sentence structure |style |

[pic]Spelling, vocabulary, and rote recall of rules of grammar aren't tested.

The test consists of five prose passages, each one accompanied by multiple-choice test questions. Different passage types are included to provide variety.

Some questions refer to underlined portions of the passage and offer several alternatives to the underlined portion. You must decide which choice is most appropriate in the context of the passage.

Some questions ask about an underlined portion, a section of the passage, or the passage as a whole. You must decide which choice best answers the question posed.

Many questions include "NO CHANGE" to the underlined portion or the passage as one of the choices.

The questions are numbered consecutively. Each question number corresponds to an underlined portion in the passage or to a box located in the passage.

Mathematics Test Description

The ACT Mathematics Test is a 60-question, 60-minute test designed to measure the mathematical skills students have typically acquired in courses taken by the end of 11th grade.

The test presents multiple-choice questions that require you to use reasoning skills to solve practical problems in mathematics.

You need knowledge of basic formulas and computational skills to answer the problems, but you aren't required to know complex formulas and perform extensive computation.

[pic]You may use a calculator on the Mathematics Test. If you use a prohibited calculator, you will be dismissed and your answer document will not be scored. You are not required to use a calculator. All the problems can be solved without a calculator.

Reading Test Description

The Reading Test is a 40-question, 35-minute test that measures your reading comprehension. You're asked to read four passages and answer questions that show your understanding of:

• what is directly stated

• statements with implied meanings

Specifically, questions will ask you to use referring and reasoning skills to:

• determine main ideas

• locate and interpret significant details

• understand sequences of events

• make comparisons

• comprehend cause-effect relationships

• determine the meaning of context-dependent words, phrases, and statements

• draw generalizations

• analyze the author's or narrator's voice and method

The test comprises four prose passages that are representative of the level and kind of reading required in first-year college courses; passages on topics in social studies, natural sciences, prose fiction, and the humanities are included.

[pic]Each passage is accompanied by a set of multiple-choice test questions. These questions do not test the rote recall of facts from outside the passage, isolated vocabulary items, or rules of formal logic. Instead, the test focuses on the complementary and supportive skills that readers must use in studying written materials across a range of subject areas.

Science Test Description

The Science Test is a 40-question, 35-minute test that measures the skills required in the natural sciences: interpretation, analysis, evaluation, reasoning, and problem solving.

You are not permitted to use a calculator on the Science Test..

[pic]The test assumes that students are in the process of taking the core science course of study (three years or more) that will prepare them for college-level work and have completed a course in Earth science and/or physical science and a course in biology.

The test presents seven sets of scientific information, each followed by a number of multiple-choice test questions. The scientific information is presented in one of three different formats:

• data representation (graphs, tables, and other schematic forms)

• research summaries (descriptions of one or more related experiments)

• conflicting viewpoints (expressions of several related hypotheses or views that are inconsistent with one another)

The questions require you to:

• recognize and understand the basic features of, and concepts related to, the provided information

• examine critically the relationship between the information provided and the conclusions drawn or hypotheses developed

• generalize from given information and draw conclusions, gain new information, or make predictions

Writing Test Description

The Writing Test is a 30-minute essay test that measures your writing skills—specifically those writing skills emphasized in high school English classes and in entry-level college composition courses.

The test consists of one writing prompt that will define an issue and describe two points of view on that issue. You are asked to respond to a question about your position on the issue described in the writing prompt. In doing so, you may adopt one or the other of the perspectives described in the prompt, or you may present a different point of view on the issue. Your score will not be affected by the point of view you take on the issue.

Tips for Taking the ACT

• Carefully read the instructions on the cover of the test booklet.

• Read the directions for each test carefully.

• Read each question carefully.

• Pace yourself—don't spend too much time on a single passage or question.

• Pay attention to the announcement of five minutes remaining on each test.

• Use a soft lead No. 2 pencil with a good eraser. Do not use a mechanical pencil or ink pen; if you do, your answer document cannot be scored accurately.

• Answer the easy questions first, then go back and answer the more difficult ones if you have time remaining on that test.

• On difficult questions, eliminate as many incorrect answers as you can, then make an educated guess among those remaining.

• Answer every question. Your scores on the multiple-choice tests are based on the number of questions you answer correctly. There is no penalty for guessing.

• If you complete a test before time is called, recheck your work on that test.

• Mark your answers properly. Erase any mark completely and cleanly without smudging.

• Do not mark or alter any ovals on a test or continue writing the essay after time has been called. If you do, you will be dismissed and your answer document will not be scored.

Tips for the ACT Writing Test

• Carefully read the instructions on the cover of the test booklet.

• Do some planning before writing the essay; you will be instructed to do your prewriting in your Writing Test booklet. You can refer to these notes as you write the essay on the lined pages in your answer folder.

• Do not skip lines and do not write in the margins. Write your essay legibly, in English.

o Carefully consider the prompt and make sure you understand the question it asks—reread it if you aren't sure.

o Decide how you want to answer the question in the prompt.

o Then jot down your ideas on the topic: this might simply be a list of ideas, reasons, and examples that you will use to explain your point of view on the issue.

o Write down what you think others might say in opposition to your point of view and think about how you would refute their arguments.

o Think of how best to organize your ideas.

• At the beginning of your essay, make sure readers will see that you understand the issue.

• Explain your point of view in a clear and logical way.

• If possible, discuss the issue in a broader context or evaluate the implications or complications of the issue.

• Address what others might say to refute your point of view and present a counterargument.

• Use specific examples.

• Vary the structure of your sentences, and use varied and precise word choices.

• Make logical relationships clear by using transitional words and phrases.

• Stay focused on the topic.

• End with a strong conclusion that summarizes or reinforces your position.

• If there is time, do a final check of the essay when it is finished.

o Correct any mistakes in grammar, usage, punctuation, and spelling.

o If you find any words that are hard to read, recopy them so your readers can read them easily.

o Make any corrections and revisions neatly, between the lines (but not in the margins).

From act/act-tips.htm (Oakwood Publishing Company)

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. Understand the scoring! You get a point for a right answer. There is no deduction for omitted answers or for wrong answers. However, filling in each question with even a guess is better than leaving the answer grid blank.

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

11. 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.

12. Practice, practice, practice!

13. 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.

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

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

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

17. 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.

From acttips.htm (Study Guide Zone)

Many students preparing for college will need to take the ACT exam. The following information gives general tips for taking the exam along with specific help for each test section. One of the most vital things to remember when taking the ACT is to pace yourself. With the large amount of text to read and questions to answer, it is important not to spend too much time on any one question. On the other hand, if you race through the test, you could make mistakes that you normally would not make.

Read the directions for each test. Only the math section asks for the 'correct' answer. The rest of the sections ask for the 'best' answer. Therefore, you need to read all the answers before selecting one. Do not select the first correct answer you see. Another tip is to answer the easy questions first. This way you won't spend too much time on a question you might get wrong anyway. Answer the questions you know, and then come back to the ones you skipped.

Be sure to answer every question. You are not penalized for any wrong answers. Even if you have to guess, make sure that every circle is filled in before the end of the test. If you happen to finish early, go back and check your work. Make sure you only change answers from the current section. You are not allowed to mark or change answers from other sections.

The ACT exam has four sections: English, math, reading, and science. When taking the English section, consider the writing style used for each section. When asked a question about an underlined sentence or section, take into account how it fits with the rest of the section before you answer. Some answers will work, but the correct answer will be the one that works best with the writing style used. After making a selection, reread the sentence with your changes to make sure it fits.

When taking the math section, use your calculator wisely. While you can use it for every question, you don't need to do so. It will take too much time. Only use a calculator when you absolutely need to. Also, solve the problem and then make a choice. Do not try and work backwards from the given solutions. This takes too much time as well. Finally, make sure the answer makes sense. An error in your work can lead to answer that simply doesn't make sense. If this is the case, recheck your work.

The reading section is simple. Read the passage thoroughly, and then refer to it to answer the questions. Do not worry, you will have time to read everything if you pace yourself properly. 

Last is the science test. First, read through the scientific material before answering any questions. Next, consider different viewpoints of the material. Some questions will ask you to select an answer based on the difference of the two viewpoints. It may help to take notes on the material while reading it.

From avila.edu/ub/acttips.doc (Avila University)

ACT TIPS

General Information

The entire test is multiple-choice with four possible answers for each question (the Mathematics section has five answer choices). You are scored from 1-36. You receive a score for each subject and an overall composite score, which is the average of the subject test scores. It is a timed test, and you have approximately three hours (175 minutes) for the entire exam. The required portion is divided into the following four subject tests in the following order: English, Mathematics, Reading, and Science Reasoning. There is a Writing section that is newer and is not required. This score does not affect your composite score. The English, Mathematics, and Reading tests have subscores from 1-18 so that you can review your strengths and weaknesses in each subject. You are scored from 2-18 on the Writing test and also receive a combined English and Writing score of 1-36. There also are essay comments from scorers. There may be a shorter experimental section as well, which helps determine future ACT questions. This does not count toward your final score, but you should do your best. (Note that the ACT is the primary test accepted in the Midwest, but the SAT is primarily accepted on the east and west coasts. See the map at the following site: .)

|Section |Number of Questions |Time (Minutes) |Average Score |Content |

|English |75 |45 |20.6 |usage/mechanics and rhetorical skills |

|Mathematics |60 |60 |20.8 |pre-algebra, elementary algebra, intermediate algebra, coordinate geometry, |

| | | | |geometry, and elementary trigonometry |

|Reading |40 |35 |21.4 |reading comprehension |

|Science |40 |35 |20.9 |interpretation, analysis, evaluation, reasoning, and problem-solving |

|Optional Writing Test |1 essay prompt |30 |7.7 |writing skills |

* Information in the General Information paragraph and the chart above is taken from .

General Tips

• All questions are worth the same amount of points. Answer the easier or shorter/less time consuming questions first.

• You are not penalized for questions you answer incorrectly (points are not deducted). This is why it is so important that you make a guess for EACH question. You are scored on the number of questions you get right.

o ACT: Answer every question, even if you have no idea. There is no penalty for getting them wrong or for leaving them blank. Your raw score is calculated by just adding the number you got right. ()

o SAT: your raw score is the number you get right MINUS 1/4 the number you get wrong. This is (in theory) to correct for random guessing. But there’s no penalty for leaving answers blank, you just don’t get any points for than answer—blank answers are not “wrong”. And, yes, if you can narrow each one you guess on down to 2 or even 3 choices, it’s better to guess, because then your odds of getting it right are higher than the risk of 1/4th of a point. ()

• Mark a minus sign next to questions you do not think you know the answer to or that are time consuming. You can come back to them at the end.

• Mark a plus sign or circle questions that you feel you can answer but that will take more time to answer. You can come back to these questions later.

• Or, write a checkmark next to any answer to which you need to return. Whatever marking you make, ensure that it is large enough to notice and that you know what it means.

• Be sure that when the moderator says that there are only a few minutes left, you start filling in the remaining blank ovals with a guess -- even if you do not have time to read the question thoroughly or to make an educated guess. DO NOT leave any blank answers.

• Write ALL over the test booklet! Circle, underline, make notes, etc. Do whatever you need to do to get the answer!

• CROSS OUT answers that you can eliminate. If you can erase two incorrect answers, you have a 50-50 chance of selecting the correct answer. This improves your odds dramatically!

• The ACT tests your general knowledge and information you have retained, but it also tests your reasoning skills. You do not necessarily need to have facts memorized to answer a question correctly. There are often hints in the question itself that can help you eliminate incorrect responses.

• For science or reading passages, read the questions associated with that passage first. This helps you focus your reading since you have to read very quickly.

• Study the question and make an educated guess before you even look at the answers. Most times, the answer you think up is among the choices or it is similar to the answer choices. If you look at the answers before reading the question, your thoughts can be swayed toward a certain answer, or you might try to make a certain answer fit. (It is ok to read the questions associated with passages first.)

• GO WITH YOUR FIRST INSTINCT! Do not try to reason your way out of each response. There is only ONE correct answer.

• Blacken all ovals completely, and erase all incorrect markings completely. You do not want to be penalized for not filling in an oval completely, even if you have selected the correct answer. Do NOT make stray marks on your answer sheet.

• Practice, practice, practice! Purchase or borrow ACT prep booklets from the UB office, and try out sample problems. Practicing will not be as helpful if you do not time yourself. Pretend you are in a real test situation and test in a quiet location. Time limits make most students nervous, so to get used to this pressure situation, and time yourself!

• There are thousands of online resources for ACT prep. You can practice during Saturday sessions, after school, or at home or in a library. Perform a Google search for ACT prep, or go to the websites listed below (and countless others) to find practice questions, tips, and tricks. Go through as many questions as you can a day.

o

o

o (other links included on this site)

o

• Do NOT risk cheating. Your exam will be taken away and you will receive no score. You have numerous opportunities to take the exam, so do not blow it by trying to cheat once. Nobody wants to retake a three-hour exam.

• Ensure that you get at least eight hours of sleep. Do NOT stay up late or go out the night before. Relax and watch a movie, or do something fun to ease your mind. Cramming in practice questions will only stress you out, especially for each answer you do not immediately answer correctly.

• EAT BREAKFAST! Protein helps ease hunger pangs. You will be testing from approximately 8:00 to noon in most cases, which is a long time without a snack. You are not allowed to leave early, even if you finish your exam early, so eat breakfast. Your brain cannot warm up to full speed without food.

• You can also warm up your brain before the test by reading part of the newspaper during breakfast. Or, read a magazine, book, or something to get you used to reading early in the morning since you will be reading quickly for around three hours. Read something that will be well-written to improve your ear for grammatically correct prose.

• Months before the exam, read a little each day of a newspaper or novel. These represent examples of edited text and proper grammar usage. The ACT will be testing your knowledge of this and will help with your reading comprehension. You should be reading a bit a day anyway! (Note that blogs and websites may not be good examples of proper grammar.)

• Use the ENTIRE time for your test. Even if you think you have answered all questions, you should check your answers. It would be terrible if you accidentally were off a line and marked ALL of your answers one row off! You can also use extra time to go back to questions you marked that gave you some trouble.

• Pace yourself. Do not rush but do not spend more than a minute per question. If you do not know an answer, make a guess and move on. You can change it later. Try to answer as many questions you know you can answer first. If you are weak in geometry, save those questions until the end, and focus on algebra, for example. Often, there are more questions per section than minutes per section so WATCH your pace.

• Wear a watch and watch the clock! Pay attention to the times the moderator writes on the board (or announces), and adjust your pace accordingly.

• Ensure that you have all supplies. The moderator will provide you with blank scratch paper. Make sure that you have three sharpened number 2 pencils with good erasers. If you have to get up during the text to get a pencil, your concentration will be broken. In addition, double-check to ensure that you have your calculator with you so you do not panic right before or during the test (even though you don’t technically need a calculator).

• Brush up on relaxation techniques. Breathe deeply right before or during the exam to calm your nerves. One way to accomplish this is by breathing in deeply through your nose and exhaling through your mouth several times.

• Consider signing up for the ACT toward the end of your junior year. You can always retake the test even several times to try to improve your score. If you get a decent score, congratulations, you’re finished and you have one less thing to worry about during your senior year! You also have a better idea of what schools you can apply to or what types of scholarships you could receive. (Note that some college programs require a certain score on the ACT. For example, teachers often have to have an Act score of 20 – 22 to be admitted into the school’s College of Education.) You can retake the exam during college if you need to improve your score, but it is better to do this in high school when the information is fresh in your mind. You are eligible for more scholarships the higher your score gets! If you take the test at the end of your junior year, you will know what the test is like and will be less nervous and better at retaking it should you choose to do so. And, you can even practice over the summer! Some schools sponsor ACT prep classes that are often taught during the summer, so you might consider taking advantage of those. They usually are provided for a fee. In the fall of your senior year, the information will be fresh again and you may have learned more math or other skills, so consider taking the test again. Taking the test more than once is not fun, but it will not hurt! Even if your score drops or remains stagnant, you did not lose anything, and at least you know you tried your best. Remember, your highest score always counts.

• If you are doing poorly in school in one of the core subject areas, get tutoring! Stay after school for extra help. Often, grades and success in school can help determine your success on the ACT.

English (Sentence Structure) Section Information and Tips

This is the first section and is 45 minutes in length and has 75 questions. It covers usage, mechanics, and rhetorical (the ability to use language effectively and the use of literary devices) skills. Several passages are included with various underlined portions, ranging from whole sentences, to phrases in sentences, to a single word. Most questions will contain a response of NO CHANGE as the A (first) selection. This means that the underlined sentence or sentence portion is correct the way it is written. The other three responses offer alternatives to the underlined portion. You need to determine if the underlined portion is correct as is or if it needs to be modified and then you must select the best alternative. There will be a few questions regarding the order of sentences in a paragraph or paragraphs in a passage and if they are in the most logical order, and there may be a question regarding tone ().

• The most common types of grammatical errors are verb/subject agreement, plural versus possessive, apostrophe errors, sentence structure errors, awkwardness, verbosity, redundancy, and the incorrect use of idioms (testprep/tips).

• Common sentence structure errors are sentence fragments, run-on sentences, misplaced modifiers, and lack of parallelism (from Barron’s How to Prepare for the ACT, p. 99).

• There may be up to EIGHT (this is an estimate) questions in the grammar section that have to do with redundancy. If a sentence appears to be verbose or sound awkward, it probably is. You want the response that is the most clear, concise, or to the point.

• Note that some passages are anecdotes or narratives written in an informal or first-person point of view. Some questions want you to select the best answer not based on grammatical correctness but on general flow and how the underlined portion fits (or does not fit) with the rest of the passage. Consider style and tone of the whole passage. (Getting Into the ACT, p. 60)

Mathematics Section Information and Tips

The second section is 60 minutes long with sixty math questions. A bit over half the test covers algebra. The rest is over geometry, such as area, plane geometry, coordinates, and basic trigonometry (SIN/COS). You may use an appropriate calculator ONLY during this section. This section has five answer choices instead of four. ()

• Remember that NONE of the math questions require the use of a calculator to be solved. If a calculator makes you feel more comfortable, bring one you have used before and one you feel comfortable using. Ensure that it works properly.

• Note that mathematic diagrams may not be drawn to scale. Do not assume that because an angle appears smaller than another that it is, etc. Use mathematic reasoning to determine the answer – do not guess by studying the diagram.

• While diagrams may not be drawn to scale, you can assume as fact that geometric figures lie in a plane and that the word line means a straight line.

• Ensure that you have the correct type of calculator. Graphing and advanced scientific calculators are unnecessary but are allowed. View the types of calculators you can use at . Generally, a four function calculator is acceptable. Your text will be taken away and you will receive a zero score if you attempt to use a prohibited calculator.

• When you study the question, think about if the answer is positive, negative, a fraction or decimal, etc. Immediately remove answers that do not fit these criteria.

Reading (Comprehension) Section Information and Tips

This section is 35 minutes long and contains 40 questions that measure your reading comprehension skills. Several passages are included from books, journals, or magazines. Some are fictional, and some are factual. The following topics may be included: history, economics, psychology, politics, anthropology, art, music, biology, chemistry, physics, or others. Basically, the passages can be about almost anything and can be a bit dry or boring. ()

• Study the main verb or verbs in the question. If you are to compare, contrast, or define, then be sure that your response aligns with that verbiage.

• For any questions regarding vocabulary, think about root words or if the word sounds positive or negative in connotation. For example, the word harsh actually sounds harsh when it is spoken, as opposed to the word airy. (Vocabulary, synonyms, and analogy words applied to the SAT only, but analogies were removed in 1995. The following is an example of a simple analogy is: shoe is to foot as key is to lock).

Science Reasoning Section Information and Tips

This section is also 35 minutes long and contains 40 questions, so you have less than a minute per question. There are seven passages followed by approximately five questions for each passage. The passages involve data analysis, research summarization, and conflicting viewpoints. ()

• Remember that in the science passages, the paragraph, diagram, or chart, graph, or table contains all of the information you need to know to answer the question. Just calm your mind and think. The answer is there for you.

• There is no specific Social Studies or History section on the ACT, but those topics can be covered briefly in the Reading section.

Writing Section Information and Tips

The Writing section is optional and occurs at the end of the exam. It is 30 minutes long. You must respond to a prompt regarding a social issue that is applicable to high school students. It is scored by two people. You must use a number 2 pencil and make it legible and on-topic. The scores are combined. A third reader is involved if the two scores vary by more than one point. ()

• You do not have to follow a specific essay format, but the FPT (five-paragraph theme) essay is a good place to start. Write an introductory paragraph that captures the reader, contains a thesis, and states your opinion. Write a few paragraphs of support in the body of your essay and then conclude your essay with a paragraph that summarizes your opinion and points. Stay on topic and do not leave the reader with a new question at the end.

• Practice writing an essay in thirty minutes based on a current event or social issue to prepare for this exam. A sample prompt is included below.

Independent Prompt Example

Your college administration is considering whether or not there should be a physical education requirement for undergraduates. The administration has asked students for their views on the issue and has announced that its final decision will be based on how such a requirement would affect the overall educational mission of the college. Write a letter to the administration arguing whether or not there should be a physical education requirement for undergraduates at your college.

(Do not concern yourself with letter formatting; simply begin your letter, "Dear Administration.")

Cited from .

From Tara Malone (Chicago Tribune 01/13/2011)

In a study released Thursday in the journal Science, Sian Beilock and Gerardo Ramirez asked half a class of freshmen facing their first final exams to write down their concerns about the upcoming test while other students journaled about an unrelated topic.

To a teen, students who wrote about their stress scored as well or better than those who didn't, scoring an average B-plus compared with a B-minus.

The researchers repeated the experiment a year later with the same results.

"It's getting negative thoughts and worries down on paper that seems to be the benefit," said Beilock, author of "Choke: What the Secrets of the Brain Reveal About Getting It Right When You Have To."

The idea is to clear the working memory — sort of a mental scratch pad in the brain — of worries that interfere with the cognitive resources needed for the task at hand. Beilock likens it to a computer with two dozen programs running at once.

Committing concerns to paper seems to clear all that away, setting up teens to earn top scores when it most counts.

"There's lots of stress in terms of getting the right marks, getting the right grades to excel," Beilock said. "The nice thing here is students can write on their own."

................
................

In order to avoid copyright disputes, this page is only a partial summary.

Google Online Preview   Download