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ACT Test taking Tips and Strategies General thoughts; The ACT contains multiple-choice tests in four areas: English, Mathematics, Reading, Science. Each of these tests contains questions that offer either four or five answer choices from which you are to choose the correct, or best, answer. Writing Component An essay that you write to address a given prompt. Read the directions for each test carefully. Before you begin taking one of the tests, read the directions carefully. The English, Reading, and Science Tests ask for the “best” answer. Do not respond as soon as you identify a correct answer. Read and consider all of the answer choices and choose the answer that best responds to the question. Read the directions for each test carefully. The Mathematics Test asks for the “correct” answer. Read each question carefully to make sure you understand the type of answer required. Then, you may want to work out the answer you feel is correct and look for it among the choices given. If your answer is not among the choices provided, reread the question and consider all of the answer choices. Pace yourself. The time limits set for each test give nearly everyone enough time to finish all the questions. However, because the English, Reading, and Science Tests contain a considerable amount of text, it is important to pace yourself so you will not spend too much time on one passage. Similarly, try not to spend too much time puzzling over an answer to a specific problem in the Mathematics Test. Go on to the other questions and come back if there is time. Your supervisor will announce when you have five minutes remaining on each test. Answer the easy questions first. The best strategy for taking the tests is to answer the easy questions and skip the questions you find difficult. After answering all of the easy questions, go back and answer the more difficult questions if you have time. Use logic on more difficult questions. Use logic to eliminate incorrect answers to a question. Compare the answer choices to each other and note how they differ. Such differences may provide clues as to what the question requires. Eliminate as many incorrect answers as you can, then make an educated guess from the remaining answers Answer every question! Your score on the tests will be based only on the number of questions that you answer correctly; there is no penalty for guessing. Thus, you should answer every question within the time allowed for each test, even if you have to guess. Your supervisor will announce when you have five minutes remaining on each test. Review your work. If there is time left after you have answered every question in a test, go back and check your work on that test. Check to be sure that you marked only one response to each question. You will not be allowed to go back to any other test or mark responses to a test after time has been called on that test. Be precise in marking your answer document. Be sure that you properly fill in the correct ovals on your answer document. Check to be sure that the number of the line of ovals on your answer document is the same as the number of the question you are answering and that you mark only one response for each question. ENGLISH TEST PREP 75 QUESTIONS/45 MINUTES (9 minutes per passage) Usage/Mechanics: 40 Questions Punctuation Grammar and Usage Sentence Structure Rhetorical Skills: 35 Questions Strategy Organization Style ENGLISH TIPS Read the entire passage first (roughly 1.5 minutes). Focus on grammar and revision skills, not comprehension. Answer diction and grammar questions first; they are usually the easiest to answer quickly. Listen for errors as you read the answer choices. You can often hear an error as you say a sentence in your head. Read ALL answers carefully; answers often look similar, sometimes differing only by a comma. “NO CHANGE” is the correct choice about 25% of the time. MATH TEST PREP 60 QUESTIONS/60 MINUTES (1 question per minute) Pre-Algebra/Elementary Algebra 24 Questions Intermediate Algebra/Coordinate Geometry 18 Questions Plane Geometry/Trigonometry 18 Questions MATH TIPS Draw a picture if one is not provided. Figures given are not drawn to scale, so mark them with given measures or symbols. Know the following translations: of means multiply and per means divide. Know the area and perimeter formulas for triangles, rectangles, and circles, and how to find the volume and surface area of a box. If a problem is given in terms of fractions, decimals, or percents, consider using an alternate form to find the answer. MATH TIPS If the question and/or answer set are given in terms of variables only, substitute simple numbers to help determine the answer. Most answers are listed from least to greatest, so you can use a technique called backsolving to find the correct answer. Do not overuse your calculator! The test is written so that every problem can be solved without a calculator. Set up the problem in your test booklet first and take a moment to consider what a reasonable answer would be before using the calculator. READING TEST PREP 40 QUESTIONS/35 MINUTES (9 minutes per passage) Prose Fiction: 10 Questions Social Studies: 10 Questions Humanities: 10 Questions Natural Sciences: 10 Questions READING TIPS Read the passage actively (3 minutes); underline or circle any key points. Read with awareness of the author’s goal, tone, and theme. If a question refers to a specific line of the passage, read one line above and below the indicated line to better understand the context. Save difficult questions (such as inferring) for last and answer easier questions (such as vocabulary) first. Note: It is best to finish one passage completely before going on to the next. SCIENCE TEST PREP 40 QUESTIONS/35 MINUTES (5 minutes per passage) Data Representation: 15 questions Research Summaries: 18 questions Conflicting Viewpoints: 7 questions SCIENCE TIPS If a passage seems difficult, skip it; data representation passages are often the easiest. When reading passages, aim at a general understanding on the first reading and do not dwell on a specific aspect of data. If the passage contains conflicting viewpoints, consider similarities and differences between the scientists’ arguments. When reading tables and charts, focus on labels, trends in data, and maximum or minimum values. Look for connections between multiple data representations.