ACT Test Preparation

1. ACT Test Preparation

2. ACT Superstars Rewards! • 30 or Higher- Name placed in drawing for graduation fee reimbursement and all incentives in the categories below. • 26 or Higher- ACT Superstar shirt and all incentives in the categories below. • 24 or Higher- Dinner/Lunch with Mrs. Kalb, mini field day and all incentives in the category below. • 21 or Higher- graduation cord, extra graduation ticket(s), Canes gift card, popcorn and a movie.

3. Basic ACT Strategies Answer Every Question • Read Questions First!! • There is no penalty for wrong answers on the ACT! • An educated guess is always best! • If you HAVE NO IDEA pick a specific letter and use that letter every time! • Write in test booklet i.e.. Mark skipped questions, process of elimination! • When 5 min warning is announced bubble in all unanswered questions (choose one answer choice for all remaining questions)

4. Tips for Test Taking Day of the Test • Get a good night’s sleep prior to the test • At breakfast students should review 1 or 2 questions in each section of the test • Eat a balance of protein and carbohydrates that will maintain your energy level for 4 hours

5. ACT English Information ACT English Grammar • 75 multiple choice questions; 45 minutes , 36 seconds per question • Question given in conjunction with a passage • Sentence Structure, Grammar and Usage, Punctuation, Rhetorical Skills • The English section tests not only obscure grammar rules but also punctuation errors as well ACT expects students to know what they want—It’s more than just pure grammar! • In a series of 3 or more items, put a comma before the “and” • Shorter sentences are preferred to longer sentences

6. Basic Punctuation Overview • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pE_WqqUeMo8

10. 1. Although poison ivy is not a real ivy; it can cause a serious rash. A. NO CHANGE B. ivy, it C. ivy: it D. ivy. It

11. 2. She had suffered badly through a long illness. A. NO CHANGE B. bad C. worst D. more badly

12. 3. The poems, called pastoral poetry, were about the country landscape. A. NO CHANGE B. was C. being D. OMIT the underlined word

13. 4. Many cities are debating whether to enact helmet laws for bicyclists. These laws would require riders to wear helmets. A. NO CHANGE B. bicyclists; and these C. bicyclists, these D. bicyclists these

14. 5. Each of the seniors must bring their books to the library today. A. NO CHANGE B. his C. them D. there

15. 6. Neither the scissors nor the knife is in the bottom drawer. A. NO CHANGE B. are C. was D. has been

16. The boys in the back of the room were Damon, Kevin, and he. • A. NO CHANGE • B. us • C. them • D. him

17. 8. Striking workers demanded • higher pay and that the working • conditions be made safer. • NO CHANGE • conditions to work more safely • safer working conditions • OMIT the underline part

18. Aerobic activities, such as jogging or cycling, are beneficial to health; even so, many people find it boring. • NO CHANGE • it is • them • this

19. The people of New York were excited that they were to witness a new mode of transportation: the subway. • NO CHANGE • transportation; the • transportation. The • transportation the

20. The answers are as follows: • 1. B 6. A • 2. A 7. A • 3. A 8. C • 4. A 9. C • B 10. A • (See quick explanation for answers on next slide.)

21. ACT Math Information • 60 multiple choice questions; 60 minutes • 1 minute per question! • Concentrate on the first 40 questions! • Algebra I and II, Arithmetic, Geometry,Trigonometry • This is 7th-11th grade math • It’s the wording in the question that makes this section difficult • Only four Trig problems, but two can be done without having even learned Trig! They are out to intimidate you! When in doubt skip them until the end of test

22. ACT Math Strategies • Know how to estimate- this will improve your efficiency and score! • Learn how to use a calculator – graphing functions and matrix problems • Be sure to eliminate the wrong answers • Follow your personal order of difficulty – start with your easiest section usually the first 30 problems. • Read the question carefully– they predict where students will misread the question– you can count on that answer as being one of your choices – they do this to trap students

25. ACT Reading Information Reading 40 multiple choice questions; 35 minutes, less than 1 min to answer each question • There are 4 types of passages you will encounter on the ACT. • Prose Fiction: Most interesting to read, but often the hardest questions! Most time-consuming! Skip it and go back to it if you have time! • Social Sciences: politics, history • Humanities: arts, culture • Natural Science: Typically the easiest!

26. ACT Reading Strategies • Don’t take the test in the order it’s presented! Do the easiest section for you first, because you know you’ll get those right. Save the hardest for last. • Timing is everything! Pace yourself! Skip passages you are not interested in. • You don’t have to read (skim) divide page into sections. Read only 1st and last paragraphs! • Pay attention to distracters. Distracters are designed to distract your way of thinking, break your concentration, and throw you off track. • Translate the question - What are they REALLY asking?

27. ACT Science Information Instead of calling it Science Reasoning, think of it as Technical Reading. • Basic understanding of the scientific method will help you • Not much science knowledge is needed • Read and understand charts and graphs • Opposites – when a student encounters 2 answer choices that are direct opposites, one will almost always be the correct answer. • Concentrate on the Data Interpretation questions (charts and graphs)

30. Answers

31. Additional Practice • https://cdn2.hubspot.net/hub/360031/file-2226679255-pdf/Documents/ACT_Test_2014-15.pdf