ACT got you down



Tips for taking the ACT

ACT got you down? Scared about what’s in store for you when you drag yourself into the testing center for this multiple-choice exam?  The following ACT tips are going to get you a better ACT score. So memorize these and relax, okay? No cheat sheets are allowed.

1. Answer every question. Yes, even the hard ones. You won’t be penalized for guessing like you would if you were taking the SAT.

2. Use POE before you guess. Process of Elimination, that is. Each question will have at least one answer that’s way out there. Physically cross off that answer so you won’t be tempted to use it, and you’ll up your odds of guessing correctly. Then go back and see if you can cross off at least one more.

3. Start easy. Answer all of the easy questions first, then move on to the difficult ones. Usually, if you answer the questions in order, this is easy to do because they are ranked from easiest to most difficult. However, if you’re one of those people who finds reading the longer passages easier than the shorter passages, start there, where it’s easiest for you.

4. Memorize the directions. During the test, you won’t get extra time to read the directions, so if you take five minutes to figure out what to do, that’s five fewer minutes you’ll have to get points.

5. Don’t doodle. On the answer sheet, that is. The ACT is graded by a machine; if your chicken scratch interferes with the reading mechanism, you could miss out on points. Keep the oval sheet as clean as is possible.

6. Erase completely. Bring two erasers – one for the heavy-duty erasing you may need to do and another clean eraser to fix up your ovals completely. You don’t want erasure marks mucking up your answers and causing you to lose points.

7. Pace yourself. You’ll have a little less than 30 seconds to answer each question, so keep that in mind. Don’t spend three minutes staring off into space or re-reading a longer passage; stay focused.

8. Bring a watch. Archaic, yes, what with your cell phone and all, but since you won’t be able to have your cell phone on you, bring a watch. There’s no guarantee you’ll be testing in a room with a working clock.

9. Reconsider the obvious. If an answer seems too easy, it may just be. Be sure to read every answer choice and select the best possible answer. The obvious choice may be a distracter.

10. Don’t second-guess. If you marked B for question 18, there was probably a good reason for it, so don’t go back and change it, unless you've found information in a later part of the test to disprove your original theory. Statistics prove that your first guess is usually the best one.

11. Come back to a toughie. If you’re stuck between two answer choices, circle the question and come back to it with fresh eyes after you’ve answered the other questions. Remember you have to pace yourself.

12. Cross-check ovals. Every five questions or so, double-check your answer sheet to make sure you haven’t skipped an oval. There’s nothing worse than getting to the end of a test and realizing you missed filling in a oval somewhere.

13. Bring your own calculator. The test center will not provide you with one, so bring an approved calculator for easier math work. (All the questions can be answered without one, but bring one anyway.)

14. Outline before you write. If you’re taking the essay, be sure to take five out of the thirty minutes and plan before you write. It isn’t a waste of time; the scorers are looking for well-organized essays. The best way to get one is to plan ahead with either an outline or graphic organizer.

15. Practice.You’ve heard it before, but it’s really the truth. Buy an ACT prep book, and answer every single question in it. You’ll gain confidence and a lot of extra points by doing so.

These fifteen tips may just be a lifesaver when you’re taking the ACT, so be sure to follow them all!

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.

• If you are taking the ACT Plus Writing, see these Writing Test tips.

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, with a No. 2 pencil. Do not use ink, a mechanical pencil, or correction fluid.

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

o Decide what perspective you want to take on the issue.

o Then jot down your ideas: this might simply be a list of 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 essay.

• 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.

• Stay focused on the topic.

• 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.

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

• If possible, before time is called, recheck your work:

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).

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

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

Google Online Preview   Download