Table of Contents

Preface xi How This Book Is Arranged xii

Before You Begin xii

Part One: Getting Acquainted with the ACT Test 1

Chapter 1: About the ACT 3

Description of the ACT 4

English Test 4

Mathematics Test 6

Reading Test 13

Science Test 15

Writing Test (Optional) 18

ACT Test Formats: Paper and Online 20

Using a Calculator 20

Taking the Test 21

Summary 22

Chapter 2: Preparation, Skills, and Strategies 23

Mental Preparation 24

Identify Strengths and Address Areas of Improvement 24

Develop a Positive Mental Attitude 25

Keep the Test in Perspective 25

General Test-Taking Strategies and Skills 26

Remain Calm 26

Pace Yourself 26

Know the Directions Ahead of Time 27

Read Carefully and Thoroughly 27

Choose Strategies for Answering Easier and More Difficult

Questions 28

Use Logic on More Difficult Questions 29

Choose a Strategy for Guessing on Multiple-Choice Questions 29

Choose a Strategy for Changing Answers 29

Write Notes in Your Test Booklet 30

Mark Your Answers Carefully 30

Plan to Check Your Answers 30

Learn Strategies for Specific Tests 31

Summary 31

Part Two: Taking and Evaluating Your First Practice Test 33

Chapter 3: Taking and Scoring Your First ACT Practice Test 35

Simulating Testing Conditions 35

Scoring Your Practice Test 96

Scoring Your Multiple-Choice Practice Tests 97

Scoring Your Practice Writing Test Essay 103

Reviewing Explanatory Answers 108

Chapter 4: Identifying Areas for Improvement 183

Reviewing Your Overall Performance 184

Highlighting Strengths and Areas for Improvement on the English Test 184

Test-Taking Skills 185

Highlighting Strengths and Areas for Improvement on the Mathematics Test 187

Math Subject Areas 187

Test-Taking Errors 187

Highlighting Strengths and Areas for Improvement on the Reading Test 188

Types of Reading Passages 189

Reading Skills Tested 189

Test-Taking Errors 190

Highlighting Strengths and Areas for Improvement on the Science Test 191

Subject Matter 191

Types of Science Questions 192

Common Science Test-Taking Errors 192

Highlighting Strengths and Areas for Improvement on the Writing Test 193

Writing Skills Tested 193

Writing Strategy or Process Errors 194

Part Three: Improving Your Score 195

Chapter 5: Improving Your English Score 197

Content of the ACT English Test 197

Types of Questions on the ACT English Test 198

Strategies for Taking the ACT English Test 207

Chapter 6: Improving Your Math Score 222

Content of the ACT Mathematics Test 223

Types of Questions on the ACT Mathematics Test 224

Basic Math Problems 224

Basic Math Problems in Settings 227

Very Challenging Problems 232

Question Sets 239

Strategies for Taking the ACT Mathematics Test 242

Pace Yourself 242

Answer All Questions 243

Answer All the Easy Questions First, Then Go Back to Answer the Hard Ones 243

Read Each Problem Carefully 243

Look for Information in the Answer Choices 243

Use Illustrations Wisely and Whenever You Can 244

Use Your Calculator Wisely 244

Think! 244

Show Your Work 245

Check Your Answers 245

Chapter 7: Improving Your Reading Score 246

Content of the ACT Reading Test 246

Types of Passages on the ACT Reading Test 247

Prose Fiction 247

Humanities 247

Social Studies 248

Natural Sciences 248

Types of Questions on the ACT Reading Test 248

Representative ACT Reading Test Questions 249

Strategies for Taking the ACT Reading Test 259

Pace Yourself 259

Use the Time Allotted 259

Think of an Overall Strategy That Works for You 260

Keep the Passage as a Whole in Mind 260

Find a Strategy for Approaching Each Question 260

Reading Strategies Summary 261

Chapter 8: Improving Your Science Score 269

Content of the ACT Science Test 269

Format of the ACT Science Test 270

Data Representation Format 271

Discussion of Sample Passage I (Data Representation) 272

Research Summaries Format 275

Discussion of Sample Passage II (Research Summaries) 277

Conflicting Viewpoints Format 279

Discussion of Sample Passage III (Conflicting Viewpoints) 281

Strategies for Taking the ACT Science Test 284

Develop a Problem-Solving Method 284

Take Notes 285

Pace Yourself 285

Practice Interpreting Graphs, Tables, and Diagrams 285

Make the Most of the Information in Graphs 286

Make the Most of the Information in Tables 288

Develop an Understanding of Scientific Investigations 288

Carefully Analyze Conflicting Viewpoints 288

Chapter 9: Improving Your Score on the Optional Writing Test 289

Content of the ACT Writing Test 290

How Your Essay Will Be Scored 290

Sample Prompt and Essays 290

Sample ACT Writing Test Prompt 291

Sample Essay Responses 293

Strategies for Taking the ACT Writing Test 317

Prewrite 317

Write 317

Review Your Essay 318

Practice 318

Part Four: Taking Additional Practice Tests 319

Chapter 10: Taking Additional Practice Tests 321

Explanatory Answers 379

Explanatory Answers 513

Chapter 11: Scoring the Additional Practice Tests 597

Scoring Your Practice Tests 598

Scoring Practice Test 2 599

Scoring the Multiple-Choice Tests 599

Scoring Your Practice Writing Test 2 Essay 605

Scoring Practice Test 3 608

Scoring the Multiple-Choice Tests 608

Scoring Your Practice Writing Test 3 Essay 613

Chapter 12: Interpreting Your ACT Test Scores and Ranks 615

Understanding Your ACT Test Results 616

How ACT Scores Your Multiple-Choice Tests 617

How ACT Scores Your Writing Test 617

Recognizing That Test Scores Are Estimates of Educational Achievement 617

Using Ranks to Interpret Your Scores 617

Comparing Your Test Scores to Each Other 618

Comparing Your Scores and Ranks to Your High School Grades 618

Comparing Your Scores to Those of Enrolled First-Year College Students 618

Using ACT College and Career Readiness Standards to Help You Understand Your ACT Scores 619

Planning Your Education and Career 621

Seeking Additional Information and Guidance 621

ACT College and Career Readiness Standards—English 622

Production of Writing 622

ACT College and Career Readiness Standards—Mathematics 629

ACT College and Career Readiness Standards—Reading 638

Text Complexity Rubric—Reading 645

ACT College and Career Readiness Standards—Science 652

Part Five: Moving Forward to Test Day 657

Chapter 13: Registering, Planning, and Packing for Test Day 659

National Testing Program versus School/District/State Testing 660

Registering for the ACT 660

Selecting a National Testing Date and Location 660

Selecting a Test Option 662

Registering 662

Registering Under Special Circumstances 663

Planning and Packing for Test Day 663

Getting to the Test Center 663

Dressing for Test Day 664

Packing for Test Day: What to Bring 664

Obtaining Additional Test Details 665

At the Test Center 665

Checking In 665

Following the Rules 666

Communicating with the Testing Staffff 667

Maintaining Your Composure and Energy 668

Voiding Your Answer Documents on Test Day 668

Testing More Than Once 669

About the Author

ACT is a not-for-profit organization providing assessment, research, information, and program management services to support education and workforce development.