ACT Tips for the English Test

1. ACT Tips for the English Test Prepare to take notes and try some practice questions

2. Follow Directions Precisely • English consists of grammar and good writing (rhetorical skills) • Not all questions ask you to fix the grammar! Only half. You have to be aware of the difference between the two types of questions. • 75 questions on the English test • 1 of 4 questions is on sentence structure (about 20 of the 75)

3. Pay attention to sentence structure Comma usage • ACT wants you to recognize run-ons and fragments • Sometimes a comma, sometimes not – if there is no clear cut answer, they won’t ask it. Example, Oxford comma. • They’ll never ask about the “exception” to the rules. No strange, unknown, rules. Compound sentences • Independent Clause, + conjunction Independent Clause • Independent Clause; Independent Clause • Independent Clause. Independent Clause Complex sentences • Dependent Clause, Independent Clause • Independent Clause, Dependent Clause – OR – Ind. Clause Dependent Clause (no punctuation)

4. Pay attention to sentence structure He is the most disorganized person I know and still uses a pencil and paper to keep track of his inventory. (5) His small office is about to burst with all the various documents, notes, and receipts he has accumulated over the years, his filing cabinets (6) have long since been filled up.  Question 6 A NO CHANGE B years; besides that, his filing cabinets C years, and besides that, his filing cabinets D years and since his filing cabinets The correct answer is (B). Commas cannot be used to combine independent clauses. This creates what is called a “run on” sentence or a “comma splice.” (C) corrects the error as well, but makes the sentence unnecessarily wordy. Two independent clauses can always be properly combined with a semicolon.

5. Pay attention to sentence structure My father, though he is only in his early fifties, is stuck in his old-fashioned ways. He has a (1) general mistrust of any innovation or technology that he can’t immediately grasp and he always tells us, that (2) if something isn’t broken, then you shouldn’t fix it. Question 1 A NO CHANGE B ways he has a C ways having a D ways, and still has a The correct answer is (A). When a period appears in the underlined portion, check to see if each “sentence” is complete. Here, every part of the sentence is grammatically correct; no change is required.

6. Pay attention to sentence structure My father, though he is only in his early fifties, is stuck in his old-fashioned ways. He has a (1) general mistrust of any innovation or technology that he can’t immediately grasp and he always tells us, that (2) if something isn’t broken, then you shouldn’t fix it. Question 2 A NO CHANGE B tells us, that, C tells us that, D tells us that The correct answer is (D). The ACT tests very specific punctuation rules. If punctuation is used in a way not covered by these rules, it will be incorrect. No commas are required in the underlined selection, so (D) is the best option.

7. Pay attention to sentence structure We offered to help him to transfer all of his records onto it and to teach him how to use it. Eagerly, (9) we told him about all the new spreadsheet programs that would help simplify his recordkeeping and organize his accounts; and (10) emphasized the advantage of not having to completely retype any document when he found a typo. Question 10 A NO CHANGE B accounts and C accounts and, D accounts, we The correct answer is (B). Semicolons can only be used to combine independent clauses (clauses that can stand on their own as complete sentences). Here, the second clause is not a complete sentence, so the semicolon should be removed.

8. ACT will give you Compound Subjects • Neither wind nor rain nor sleet nor hail can stop the US Postal Service from delivering the mail. • Anyone on the soccer team and anybody on the basketball team is eligible for the scholarship. • Neitherwind nor rain nor sleet nor hail can stop the US Postal Service from delivering the mail. • Anyone on the soccer team and anybody on the basketball team is eligible for the scholarship.

9. ACT will give you Compound Predicates • The little boy was telling me all about the fair. • I am willing to take the job.  • The little boy was telling me all about the fair. • I am willing to take the job. 

10. Eliminate wordy expressions and avoid redundancy • ACT likes things to be clear, concise, and frankly, short. • If you can the same thing, but use fewer words, do it. ACT loves this. The shortest answer is likely the right answer. • ACT hates big fancy words! • Don’t pick the “fancy” option – ALSO – Don’t pick the too informal • Pick the answer that is AS CLOSE AS POSSIBLE to the original • Shorter is usually better!

11. Eliminate wordy expressions and avoid redundancy Rather than offering us a look of joy for the life-changing gift we had presented him, however, he again brought up the blackout scenario. [5] To Father, this is a concrete argument, never mind the fact that (11) our town hasn’t had a blackout in five years, and that one only lasted an hour or two. (12) Question 11 A NO CHANGE B although, C although D despite the fact that The correct answer is (C). If you don’t spot a grammar or usage error, check for style errors. This sentence is grammatically correct, but “although” in (C) is a much more concise way of saying “never mind the fact that.” (B) corrects the wordiness error but places an incorrect comma after “although.” (D) is still unnecessarily wordy.

12. Pick the exact right word. • Especially transitional words and phrases • Families of words: • “so” words: subsequently, consequently, therefore, etc. • “and” words: furthermore, also, besides, additionally, etc. • “but” words: however, despite this, alternatively, conversely, etc. All transition questions are in relation to those three word families.

13. Transitional words We offered to help him to transfer all of his records onto it and to teach him how to use it. Eagerly, (9) we told him about all the new spreadsheet programs that would help simplify his recordkeeping and organize his accounts; and (10) emphasized the advantage of not having to completely retype any document when he found a typo. Question 9 A NO CHANGE B On the other hand, C In addition D Rather, The correct answer is (A). This underlined section offers a transition between the offer to help transfer records and the information about other ways the computer could be helpful. The second sentence is a continuation of the first, so you can eliminate (B) and (D), both of which offer a contrast. (C) offers a correct transition, but lacks the necessary comma to be grammatically correct. The best option is (A).

14. Understand contractions: • It’s = it is, or it has • Who’s = who is • They’re = they are • You’re = you are • Should’ve = Should have (not should of) These are the only four contractions ACT ever uses! (also use Its’ to mess with kids – not a real word!)

15. Understand contractions: The long highway ramp that passed over the tunnel and the whole area was pretty new: as recently as thirty years ago, they’re had been no ramp at all. • No change • There • Their • It’s The correct answer is (B). Option (A) is a contraction meaning they are which does not make sense grammatically. Option (C) indicates possession, which also does not make sense. Option (D) is also a contraction meaning it is or it has, neither makes sense in the sentence.