act t est p reparation catch the fever junior seminar
TRANSCRIPT
ACT TEST PREPARATIONCatch 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
English75 Questions in 45 Minutes
Math60 Questions in 60 Minutes
Reading40 Questions in 35 Minutes
Science40 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 testPre-Algebra
14 Questions / 24% of the TestElementary Algebra
9 Questions / 15% of the TestIntermediate Algebra
9 Questions / 15 % of the Test
MATH TEST
Coordinate Geometry9 Questions / 15% of the Test
Plane Geometry14 Questions / 24% of the Test
Trigonometry4 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 eachSocial studiesNatural ScienceProseHumanities
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 subtests3 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.orgwww.march2success.com