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ACT Preparation

ACT Preparation. Background. ACT measures academic achievement People at ACT admit you can increase your score by preparing for the test – and even publish their own coaching book ACT is predictable – which is good!

cassandra-brady
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ACT Preparation

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  1. ACT Preparation

  2. Background • ACT measures academic achievement • People at ACT admit you can increase your score by preparing for the test – and even publish their own coaching book • ACT is predictable – which is good! • Test-taking strategies are designed to take advantage of the ACT’s predictability

  3. College Entrance • It’s important to prepare for the test whether you have a 4.0 or a 2.0 GPA. • “Many factors go into the acceptance of a student by a college. Test scores are only one of these factors. Grades in high school, extracurricular activities, essays, and recommendations are also important and may in some cases outweigh test scores”

  4. College Entrance • Of all the elements in your application “package,” your ACT score is the easiest to change. • Good grades are not a guarantee that you will do well on the ACT. • ACT only measures what’s on the test; doesn’t matter if you ‘hate’ a subject

  5. ACT requirements (2011) • WKU: 2.5 GPA and 20 ACT • UK: 22-27 average (of freshman class) • UL: 21-27 average (of freshman class) • KWC: 20 – average of freshman class • Brescia: 21 – average of freshman class • OCC – College level classes (for credit, 2011) • Basic Algebra: 22 • Basic College English: 20 • College Entry level in Reading: 21 • OCTC – 17 ACT or equivalent Compass scores

  6. Test Format • Multiple choice • Three and a half hours, one break • Four tests • English, Math, Reading, Science • Must follow directions exactly or will be excused from testing room • cell phones, filling in answers after time has been called are most common infractions

  7. English Test • 45 minutes – 75 questions • Five passages • Tests grammar, punctuation, sentence structure, and rhetorical skills

  8. Math Test • 60 minutes – 60 questions • Level of difficulty is mixed • Approx. one-third: pre-algebra and elementary algebra • Less than one-third: intermediate algebra and coordinate geometry (graphing) • Less than one-fourth: regular geometry • Four questions: trigonometry

  9. Reading Test • 35 minutes – 40 questions (10 per passage) • Four passages of about 750 words each • Different types of passages: • Prose fiction • Social science • Humanities • Natural science • Passages always in this order

  10. Science Reasoning Test • 35 minutes – 40 questions • No specific scientific knowledge is necessary • You will be asked to understand six set of scientific information presented in graphs, charts, tables, and research summaries, and will have to make sense of one disagreement between two or three scientists.

  11. ACT Scoring • Scale of 1-36 • Four scores are averaged to form composite score.

  12. Practice questions

  13. Test-Taking Strategies Discussed inCracking the ACT, 2008 Edition by The Prentice Review • ACT Triage • Two Passes • Process of Elimination • Guessing • Four-Step System (specific to Reading test)

  14. Test Takers Struggle in Timed-Testing Situations Use the same problem-solving process used in emergency rooms: TRIAGE (“Now, Later, Never”) • Who needs immediate medical attention? • Who can wait in line a little longer? • Who cannot be helped despite intervention?

  15. Testing TRIAGE Step 1:What do I answer now, later, or never? Questions to Answer Now: points you can earn easily Questions to Try Later: try though you may get stumped Questions That “Cannot be Cured”: avoid and sacrifice the point

  16. Testing TRIAGE Step 2:Two Passes Strategy to use for the ER patients who could wait. • Pass #1 • “Nail every single question you can answer.” • Put a big circle around questions that stump you, and move on. (Marking in test booklet is allowed!) • Pass #2 • Perhaps a reread will reveal something you missed the first time. • Decide again whether to answer now, later, or never and keep testing. • Don’t worry about questions you just can’t do.

  17. Testing TRIAGE Step 3:Process of Elimination (“POE”) • No penalty for guessing • Refer to Cracking the ACT for excellent illustrations of guessing and narrowing specific types of questions.

  18. There’s guessing, and then there’s guessing.

  19. Guess at Random “NEVERMORE!” • Eliminate wrong answers. • Eliminate the option that is logically absurd. • Eliminate the option that is opposite of the correct answer. Narrowing to a fifty-fifty guess is a better gamble than a 1 in 4 random guess.

  20. Guessing • What is the French word for “eggplant?” • A. aubergine • B. aubergine • C. Aubergine • D. abuergine

  21. Consistency is Key Sometimes you have to guess; therefore, when guessing remember: • To use the same letter for all “just can’t do” guesses on test day. • That contrary to popular opinion, (C) does not yield more correct answers.

  22. Summary of ACT Triage

  23. Testing TRIAGE Point #1 Use ACT triage to “invest your time more profitably.” • Unlike most test takers, you are likely to spend the majority of your time working on “doable” questions. • Immediate Result: No dread when hearing “Okay, pencils down.” • Eventual Result: Earning more points on the test.

  24. Testing TRIAGE Point #2: • Eliminate Answer Choices by Using POE • After Pass #2, eliminate wrong answers to at least a 50-50 shot. • Immediate Result: You can say you tried and even prove how! • Eventual Result: Hopefully earning a few more points!

  25. When all else fails, test like Cookie Monster! Use a Letter of the Day for hopeless cases in your emergency room. Gobble up the remaining empty circles, kick back, and digest! Immediate Result: Time left to check answers and relax Eventual Result: Possibly more correct answers Testing TRIAGE Point #3:

  26. Re-examine Practice Questions using TRIAGE Answer questions you know, circle those you don’t. Narrow choices to 50/50 Guess with letter of the day

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