ACT for leanning english

ACT High School Number of Questions on the exams Designed so you can’t finish Designed so you can finish Answer Choices Common errors included in answer choices Not as many Essay 30 min

1

© 2010 by ACT, Inc All rights reserved

College

 A national college admission examination that consists of tests in:

 Designed as a predictive measure not as a content performance measure

 Over 1.8 million test takers each year

 ACT results are accepted by virtually all U.S colleges and universities

 The ACT includes 215 multiple-choice questions and takes approximately 3 hours and 30 minutes to complete with breaks The actual testing time is 2 hours and

55 minutes (plus 30 minutes if you are taking the Writing Test)

 The ACT is administered in six different months: September, October, December, February, April, and June

 The ACT offers an optional Writing Test You should check directly with the

institutions you are considering to find out their requirements

 ACT sub-scores less than the following

require students to enroll in

developmental education courses at both Community Colleges and Institutions of Higher Learning (IHL)

 The registration fee is $39.50 for the ACT with no Writing Test

 The registration fee is $56.50 for the ACT plus the Writing Test

 These fees include score reports for you, your high school and up to four college choices for which a

valid code is listed at time of registration

 If you can’t afford the registration fee, go to the

following website to apply for a fee waiver:

http://www.actstudent.org/faq/answers/feewaiver.h tml

- Graduation Option: sub-score of 17

How to get to college?

Average ACT Scores by

Core Curriculum Completion Status,

2007–2011

For each year from 2007 to

2011, ACT Composite and subject scores were higher for students who took a core

curriculum or more in high school than for students who did not

On average, high school graduates who completed at least a core curriculum earned Composite test scores 2.2 to 3.1 points higher than the scores of students who did not take a core curriculum Similar ranges of higher scores for core or more curriculum completers are noted for each subject test: English (2.5 to 3.5 points), Reading (2.2 to 3.0), Mathematics (2.3 to 3.0), and Science (2.0 to 2.7)

Took Core or More

Took Less Than Core

 As often as you wish– many students test twice, once as a junior and again as a senior

 You should definitely consider retesting if:

 you had any problems during the test, such as

misunderstanding the directions or not feeling physically well

 you are not satisfied that your scores accurately represent your abilities in the areas tested

 ACT research shows that of the students who took the ACT more than once:

• 55% increased their composite score on the retest

retest

test score you want sent to colleges The following link can help you to determine how to send the scores from one

testing date to the colleges of your choice:

http://www.actstudent.org/faq/answers/morethan once.html

ACT High School

Number of Questions on the

exams

Designed so you can’t finish Designed so you can finish

Answer Choices Common errors included in

answer choices

Not as many

Essay 30 min Hours & weeks

Reading Under serious time

constraints

Read at home

Science Little science needed Science required

Math No partial credit

Process does not matter You should look for the wrong answers

Partial Credit Process matters Look for the correct answer Questions Intentionally hard Straight forward

Page 12

The test writers:

1) intentionally make the questions time

consuming

2) include trap answers

3) include words that lead you to the incorrect answer choice

EVERY STUDENT CAN PERFORM WELL ON THE ACT!

- The Score chart is a great tool to show the students that they don’t have to get every question right in order to get a good score on the ACT!

- Explain to them that although a 50% on an English Class test may be a

failing grade, it is an 18 on the ACT, and many colleges will accept that

score!!!

-A 60% on a History Class test may be a D-, but on the ACT it’s a 22! Now

colleges aren’t only accepting you, but they’re giving you scholarships!

**Student GPA is also taken into consideration**

Note: The ACT scales 1 - 36

Standards for College Readiness:

What does it all mean?

A PARADIGM SHIFT:

50% = 18 60% = 22 66% = 24 71% = 26 80% = 29 91% = 33 One Little Point at a Time!

MOTIVATION!

 What is the “required” score for

ACT score requirements?

a goal for each test and sub-score

Study The ACT

question?

or are they mixed?

Page 17

 There is no penalty for wrong answers on the ACT

 Pick a letter of the day and use that letter

every time you guess

Practice Makes Perfect

 Students should take numerous practice tests!

 Students should not under any circumstances take the tests for the first time when it counts towards their admissions!

By taking several practice exams students will

• Increase their confidence & decrease test anxiety

by becoming familiar with the test

• Increase their overall speed and accuracy

Page 19

Use a Watch

• Timing and Pacing are the most difficult

aspects of the test because students are not

used to dealing with time constraints

• Wearing a watch helps keep your pacing

goals and tell you if you are spending too

much time on one section or passage

Page 20

Page 21

ACT Triage

•Work on the easy/quick questions first

Be sure to know your POOD:

Personal Order of Difficulty

Page 22

Eliminate what you know is wrong

 Pace Yourself (Announcements only

made when 5 minutes/1 minute remain)

guessing)

make notes on answer sheet

Extrapolate Interpolate Predict generalize

Hypothesize Conclude Compare evaluate

Mapping ACT Science Reasoning

Analyze

20Q 50%

Generalize

13Q 32.5%

 35 minutes

 The science test is a test of

your science reasoning skills

 All of the information you

need to answer the questions correctly is provided in the

passages

ACT Prep Science Test

•All four areas are represented

•At least one passage and no more than two passage represent each content area

 15 questions - data representation

viewpoints

HARDER AS YOU PROGRESS

THROUGH THE TEST

• The ACT science test

emphasizes scientific reasoning skills rather than recall of

scientific content, mathematical skill, or reading ability

 Unlike the math test you will not be required to remember formulas, definitions, etc

 You are tested on your ability

to examine information using text, chart, graphs and tables

 Things to do:

reading

question

 Things to do:

which charts/graphs/experiments

go together

bold, underlined or capitalized –

they will ask a question relating to

this word

Mapping ACT Mathematics

10Q 17%

Intermediate Algebra

9Q 15%

Geometry

14Q 23%

Coordinate Geometry

9Q 15%

Trigonometry

4Q 7%

Inference or decision making

12Q 20%

®

14 questions dealing with Pre-Algebra

 10 questions from Elementary Algebra

 9 questions based on Intermediate Algebra

 9 questions from Coordinate Geometry

 14 questions from Plane Geometry

 4 Trigonometry questions

The questions assume knowledge of basic formulas and computational skills but do not require memorization of complex formulas or extensive computation

Go Through The Test Twice

Take 45 minutes to go through the test

Answer the questions that you know how to do

Guess on the questions you know you’ll never get

Mark the harder questions that you’ll come back to later

Spend the last 15 minutes going over the test again

Answer the questions you skipped

Make sure you have answered every question

Spend any remaining time checking your work

ALL PROBLEMS ON THE ACT

CAN BE SOLVED WITHOUT

USING A CALCULATOR

You may use a four-function, scientific, or graphing calculator on the Math test

Calculators, such as TI-89 and TI-92 are NOT permitted (see page

4 in the ACT prep booklet)

Bring a calculator that you know how to use – bringing a more

powerful calculator that you do not know how to use isn’t going to

help you

Read the problem carefully

Pay attention to what the question asks you to find

Watch for unnecessary information

Label the figures with numbers or letters

Draw a picture

There’s more than one way to solve these problems

It’s a timed test – find a quick and reliable way to solve the problem

Do your work in your test booklet

Be careful using your calculator – it’s easy to push the wrong button

Don’t get involved in long, complicated, or tricky calculations

Make sure you answered the question that was asked

Each of the wrong answers represents a common mistake that you might have made

If your answer isn’t one of the choices, reread the question and check your work

Take advantage of the multiple-choice format and try each answer until you find the one that works

WARNING: Doing it this way will take more time

BACKSOLVE

The greatest common divisor of 84, 90, and 66 (that is, the largest exact

divisor of all three numbers) is:

90 does not go into 84 – eliminate answer E

36 does not go into 84 – eliminate answer D

18 does not go into 84 – eliminate answer C

12 does not go into 90 – eliminate answer B

6 must be the correct answer and it checks

84 = 2٠2٠3٠7 90 = 2٠3٠3٠5 66 = 2٠3٠11

2٠3 = 6

CORRECT ANSWER:

A

GUESSTIMATE

If you can estimate the correct answer, then you should be able to eliminate

at least one or two answer choices

120 is greater than 60 – eliminate answer A

12 is too large – eliminate answer B

0.012 is too small – eliminate answer E

60 x 0.02 = 1.2 CORRECT ANSWER: C

 Know how to ballpark - this will improve your efficiency and score!

 Learn how to use a calculator – graphing functions and matrix

problems

 Take 2 passes - X the questions in the test booklet you do not understand

at all and skip them on your second pass - when should I circle some

 P.O.E - be sure to eliminate the wrong answers

 Follow your personal order of difficulty – start with your easiest section

 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

Page 42

Mapping ACT Reading

4 Passages – 40 Questions – 35 Minutes

Specific

Detail

Sequence Cause/Effect Comparison

Author’s Voice Main Idea

Generalization Conclusion

Words in Context

Read 750 words

Social Science

08:45 10Q 25%

Read 750 words

Natural Science

08:45 10Q 25%

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

1 Prose Fiction: Most interesting to read, but

often the hardest questions! Most

time-consuming!

2 Social Sciences: politics, history

3 Humanities: arts, culture

4 Natural Science: Typically the easiest!

(POOD) Factual information!

Page 44

READING

4 passages, 10 questions each, 35 minutes total!

Always review the answer choices before looking back

Be careful on questions with specific line references If looking back, read a few

lines before and after the given line reference

Do not hesitate over answers You must get to all 4 passages!

Be an active/demanding reader!

Use CPR and/or TD!

Pacing!!! (8-9 minutes per passage)

No matter what, each student MUST have a reading strategy!

For most students there is a definitive reading strategy that produces the highest possible ACT reading score It is a two step process, and it is extremely simple

Step 1: Read the entire passage quickly but actively, seeking out the most

important information You are allowed to annotate or underline, but only do this

if it is already one of your reading strengths When you finish reading the

passage, you should be able to mentally review the main ideas and supporting details! If you cannot do this easily, you were not actively reading! (Reading the passage should take between 4 – 5 minutes.)

Step 2: Answer the questions Be sure to read ALL FOUR answer choices, using process of elimination, BEFORE looking back to the passage (Answering

questions should take about 4 – 5 minutes.) No matter what, you must complete each passage in LESS THAN 9 MINUTES!

In order to reach your maximum reading score, it is imperative that you get to all four passages! Remember, it is possible to get some answers wrong on the ACT and still achieve an amazing score!

An alternative strategy that works for some students is to actively read only the first and last paragraphs while skimming the body of the passage and then answering the questions as described above

No matter what, DO NOT waste precious time by reading the questions first!

This strategy is a virtual guarantee of a low reading score Again, DO NOT read the questions first

Mapping ACT English

Editing five short passages

75 questions - 45 minutes – 9 minutes Per passage

Usage - Mechanics Skills

12Q 16%

Sentence Structure

18Q 24%

Strategy

12Q 16%

Organization

11Q 15%

Style

12Q 16%

Run-on Comma splice Fragment Coord conjunction Parallelism Misplaced modifiers Clauses Subordination Split construction Unintended meaning

Appropriate support Main idea Audience Effective:

Opening sentence Concluding sentence

Paragraph development Sentence-level structure Paragraph-level structure

Conciseness Ambiguity Low-level usage Shifting point of view

®

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

Page 49

English

75 questions, 5 passages, 45 minutes

Punctuation COMMAS are used on the ACT in 6 ways:

1 After Introductory Clauses followed by a complete sentence

 Try skimming the passage first, then

going back to the questions

underlined

by making another error

sentence with your new answer to make sure it makes sense

 Tests against your ear

• Grocery store: 10 Items or… Less? Fewer?

time it appears

Page 53

1 Take practice tests and READ

EXPLANATIONS Not helpful just to

take the test Reflective practice is the only way to get better at this!

 Online resource: the official ACT website

55

Test scores are only

one factor used for

college admission

decisions