Transcript ACT Test Preparation

ACT TEST PREPARATION
Catch the Fever
Junior Seminar
THE BEST PREPARATION IS A SOLID
HIGH SCHOOL CURRICULUM
 Review
your PLAN® results to identify
academic weaknesses
 Use
ACT Online Prep™—ACT’s test
preparation program
 Take
ACT’s free practice test
 See
your counselor for other test
preparation materials
 Visit
the ACT website at
www.actstudent.org
TODAY’S GOALS
Become familiar with the
ACT® test content and format
Learn
appropriate test
taking strategies
ACT OVERVIEW
 English
75 Questions in 45 Minutes
 Math
 60 Questions in 60 Minutes
 Reading
 40 Questions in 35 Minutes
 Science
 40 Questions in 35 Minutes

 Know
the directions before test day so
you do not spend time reading them.
ENGLISH TEST
 Subject/Verb
agreement - Trust your inner
ear.
 Subject/Verb agreement - Cross out
Prepositional Phrases.
 Pronoun Clarity & Agreement – When a
pronoun (he, she, it, they, them, his, him,
her) is underlined be totally sure to what
it is referring. If it is unclear in ANY way
it is incorrect.
ENGLISH TEST
 Transition
Words – When a transition
word (such as although, since, but
therefore, moreover, however,
consequently) is underlined make sure it
works with the flow of the paragraph.
 Commas – When a comma is underlined
ask yourself, “Should there be a pause
here?”
 Independent Clauses – Phrases that can
stand alone are separated with a
semicolon, comma with “and,” or a period.
ENGLISH TEST
 Prepositions
– When a preposition is
underlined check to see if it is the correct
preposition to use.
 I/Me & It’s/Its – If I or me is underlined,
check it by putting the I/me first or by
dropping the other person. (This tip works
for who/whom & he/him)
 If “its” or “it’s” is underlined remember
that “it’s” means it is and that “its” is
possessive.
ENGLISH TEST SUMMARY
Keep
it simple - ACT likes crisp
& clear always choose the
answer that is the most clear,
concise, direct, and
NONREDUNDANT.
Do not be afraid to use the NO
CHANGE option.
ENGLISH PRACTICE
MATH TEST
6 Topics are covered on the test
 Pre-Algebra
14 Questions / 24% of the Test
 Elementary Algebra
9 Questions / 15% of the Test
 Intermediate Algebra
9 Questions / 15 % of the Test
MATH TEST
 Coordinate
Geometry
9 Questions / 15% of the Test
 Plane Geometry
14 Questions / 24% of the Test
 Trigonometry
4 Questions / 7% of the Test
MATH TEST
 Perform
question triage: Focus on
questions you can answer quickly and
return to others later.
 All questions on the ACT can be answered
in 1 minute or less and without a
calculator.
 You need to know basic formulas.
 Area of a triangle, Area of a rectangle /
square, Area of a circle, Perimeter of a
figure, Circumference of a circle, Special
Right Triangles (45-45-90 and 30-60-90)
MATH PRACTICE
READING TEST
4
reading passages / 10 questions
each
 Social studies
 Natural Science
 Prose
 Humanities
 Become familiar with the different
types of passages and complete the
ones you are best at first.
READING TEST
 Skim
the passage quickly and
answer all 10 questions on that
passage before moving to the next
passage.
 Underline as you read. Underline
main ideas, people, and words that
reference sequence.
READING TEST
Make
notes in the margins. Two
or three key words can provide a
main idea of the paragraph.
Quickly find the tone of the
passage and the author’s
purpose.
Look for line references in the
questions.
SCIENCE TEST
 Seven
subtests
 3 Data Representation Passages
(Graphs or Diagrams) / 7 Questions
each
 3 Research Summaries / 6 Questions
each
 1 Conflicting Viewpoints Passages / 7
Questions
 5 Minutes per Passage
SCIENCE / DATA REPRESENTATION
 Look
at the questions first. Some of the
charts and graphs are not used. The
question should tell you which graph or
chart to use to answer a question.
 Take note of the axes of a graph and what
they represent. Look for critical points
(maximums, minimums, outliers…)
 Look for trends in the data.
SCIENCE / RESEARCH SUMMARIES
 Read
and summarize the
experiments (hypothesis).
 Apparatus (What is being
experimented on or what device is
being used?)
 Variables (Control, Independent,
Dependent)
 Look at the results.
SCIENCE / CONFLICTING VIEWPOINTS
7
out of 40 questions will be from
this passage.
 Work quickly! You have 5 to 6
minutes on this passage.
 Read preamble and skim arguments,
focusing on the opening sentence of
each argument.
 Highlight disagreement
SCIENCE OVERVIEW
 Find
the types of science passages
you like best and complete those
first.
 Focus on the passages that
incorporate your strengths in
science. (Biology, Physics,
Chemistry…)
 Focus, this is always the last test.
BEST ADVICE FOR ACT
Leave no questions
unanswered!
There is no penalty
for guessing.
FREE RESOURCES
www.actstudent.org
www.march2success.com