ACT Test Preparation

English Test Strategies

Basic Strategies

!  Practice Makes Perfect !  Students should take numerous

practice tests! !  Students should not under any

circumstances take the tests for the first time without practicing when it counts towards their admissions!

Basic Strategies

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

Basic ACT Strategies

Answer Every Question !  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

Tips for Test Taking

Day of the Test !  Get a good night’s sleep on at least the 2 days 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

Tips for Test Day !   Bring lots of sharp #2 pencils and a calculator. !   Treat the night before like a school night. !   Eat a balanced breakfast. !   Wear comfortable clothes. !   Arrive early. !   Bring a snack. !   Maintain your concentration. !   The real ACT will seem more difficult than any of your practice

ACTs. Why? Well, it’s not any harder; it’s just that you are a little nervous because this one counts. Being nervous is OK; it means that you care what happens.

!   Think positively.

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

ACT English Strategies

!  Don’t take the test in the order its 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! !  You don’t have to read (skim)

!  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?

English Punctuation

COMMAS are used on the ACT in 6 ways: 1. After Introductory Clauses followed by a complete

sentence 2. To Mark Interruptions 3. To Separate 2 sentences w/ a conjunction 4.  To mark Afterthoughts 5.  To Separate Words in a series / list 6.  To Separate Adjectives Hint: When in doubt, leave the comma out!

DASH 1. Interruptions 2. After-thoughts SEMICOLON 1. Separate 2 complete sentences COLON 1. Summary list. 2. After-thoughts 3. Between 2 complete sentences

English Punctuation

APOSTROPHES 1. One owner = ‘s 2.  More than one owner = s’ 3.  Plural words form the

possessive by adding ‘s GRAMMAR 1. Verb tense and agreement 2. Pronoun agreement 3. Parallelism

English Punctuation

Other English HINTS Shortest is Best! When in doubt, leave it out! Read on! Never pick “being” Pacing!!!! (9 minutes per passage. You must incorporate this into your curriculum quizzes and tests!)

English Punctuation

Quiz! What are the 4 ways to separate two complete sentences? 1. 2. 3.

English Punctuation

How to Read Your Score Report

Log on to www.actstudent.org for results and explanation of scores.

!  See handout available in Guidance Counselor’s

Office. !  Additional practice tests and strategies handouts.

GOOD LUCK!

Resources: princetonreview.com

ACT Strategy Session