Welcome to ACT prep! ACT English/Reading

Welcome to ACT Welcome to ACT prep! prep! ACT ACT

English/ReadingEnglish/Reading

Please take out Please take out your ACT prep your ACT prep

booklet and a pen booklet and a pen or pencil.or pencil.

Overview:Overview:

I can’t give you magic strategies. I can’t give you magic strategies. Today: suggestions for what you can Today: suggestions for what you can

do on your own time to practice and do on your own time to practice and improve your skills and scoresimprove your skills and scores

English first, then Reading.English first, then Reading.

English:English:

Looks like this:Looks like this: Example on page 14 of your ACT Example on page 14 of your ACT

prep booklet.prep booklet.

The Basics: EnglishThe Basics: English 75 questions, 45 minutes75 questions, 45 minutes

– Usage/Mechanics:Usage/Mechanics: Punctuation: 13%Punctuation: 13% Grammar/Usage: 16%Grammar/Usage: 16% Sentence Structure: 24%Sentence Structure: 24%

– Rhetorical Skills:Rhetorical Skills: Strategy: 16%Strategy: 16% Organization: 15%Organization: 15% Style: 16%Style: 16%

Tips: EnglishTips: English Try skimming the passage first, then Try skimming the passage first, then

going back to the questions.going back to the questions. Read the whole sentence, not just Read the whole sentence, not just

the part underlined.the part underlined. Be careful that you don’t correct an Be careful that you don’t correct an

error by making another error.error by making another error. Once you choose an answer, reread Once you choose an answer, reread

the sentence with your new answer the sentence with your new answer to make sure it makes sense.to make sure it makes sense.

How to Improve: EnglishHow to Improve: English1.1. Take practice tests and READ Take practice tests and READ

EXPLANATIONS. Not helpful just to EXPLANATIONS. Not helpful just to take the test. take the test. ReflectiveReflective practice is practice is the only way to get better at this!the only way to get better at this!

Online resource: ACT.orgOnline resource: ACT.org Barron’s ACT book in CRCBarron’s ACT book in CRC


EXPLANATIONS. Not helpful just to EXPLANATIONS. Not helpful just to take the test. take the test. ReflectiveReflective practice is practice is the only way to get better at this!the only way to get better at this!


2.2. 6 types of question. Figure out 6 types of question. Figure out which area needs most work:which area needs most work:

Your ACT booklet, page 60Your ACT booklet, page 60 Barron’s website online, have to pay, can Barron’s website online, have to pay, can

do a demodo a demo Even better, Barron’s ACT book in CRCEven better, Barron’s ACT book in CRC


EXPLANATIONS. Not helpful just to EXPLANATIONS. Not helpful just to take the test. take the test.


2.2. 6 types of question. Figure out 6 types of question. Figure out which area needs most work:which area needs most work:

Your ACT booklet, page 60Your ACT booklet, page 60 Barron’s website online, have to pay, can Barron’s website online, have to pay, can

do a demodo a demo Even better, Barron’s ACT book in CRCEven better, Barron’s ACT book in CRC

SkillsSkills Question #sQuestion #s Poss. Poss. scorescore

Your Your scorscor

ee

Usage/MechanicsUsage/Mechanics

PunctuationPunctuation 10, 11, 28, 32, 34, 50, 55, 63, 10, 11, 28, 32, 34, 50, 55, 63, 6666

1010

Grammar/Grammar/ UsageUsage

4, 5, 6, 29, 46, 49, 56, 59, 70, 4, 5, 6, 29, 46, 49, 56, 59, 70, 7373

1212

Sentence Sentence StructureStructure

7, 8, 12, 14, 16, 27, 33, 40, 43, 7, 8, 12, 14, 16, 27, 33, 40, 43, 44, 47, 48, 52, 54, 57, 61, 68, 44, 47, 48, 52, 54, 57, 61, 68, 6969

1818

Rhetorical SkillsRhetorical Skills

StrategyStrategy 15, 18, 23, 26, 30, 35, 39, 41, 15, 18, 23, 26, 30, 35, 39, 41, 4545

1212

OrganizationOrganization 2, 13, 17, 19, 20, 21, 31, 36, 602, 13, 17, 19, 20, 21, 31, 36, 60 1111 StyleStyle 1, 3, 9, 22, 37, 38, 42, 53, 62, 1, 3, 9, 22, 37, 38, 42, 53, 62,

65651212


Your Your scorscor

ee



1010 99


4, 5, 6, 29, 46, 49, 56, 59, 70, 4, 5, 6, 29, 46, 49, 56, 59, 70, 7373

1212 88


7, 8, 12, 14, 16, 27, 33, 40, 43, 7, 8, 12, 14, 16, 27, 33, 40, 43, 44, 47, 48, 52, 54, 57, 61, 68, 44, 47, 48, 52, 54, 57, 61, 68, 6969

1818 99



1212 1010

OrganizationOrganization 2, 13, 17, 19, 20, 21, 31, 36, 602, 13, 17, 19, 20, 21, 31, 36, 60 1111 88 StyleStyle 1, 3, 9, 22, 37, 38, 42, 53, 62, 1, 3, 9, 22, 37, 38, 42, 53, 62,

65651212 55


Your Your scorscor

ee



1010 99


4, 5, 6, 29, 46, 49, 56, 59, 70, 4, 5, 6, 29, 46, 49, 56, 59, 70, 7373

1212 88


7, 8, 12, 14, 16, 27, 33, 40, 43, 7, 8, 12, 14, 16, 27, 33, 40, 43, 44, 47, 48, 52, 54, 57, 61, 68, 44, 47, 48, 52, 54, 57, 61, 68, 6969

1818 99



1212 1010

OrganizationOrganization 2, 13, 17, 19, 20, 21, 31, 36, 602, 13, 17, 19, 20, 21, 31, 36, 60 1111 88 StyleStyle 1, 3, 9, 22, 37, 38, 42, 53, 62, 1, 3, 9, 22, 37, 38, 42, 53, 62,

65651212 55

The Basics: ReadingThe Basics: Reading40 questions, 35 minutes40 questions, 35 minutes

– 2 types of questions:2 types of questions: Referring: 35%ishReferring: 35%ish

– Questions that refer directly back to the text—you Questions that refer directly back to the text—you can “find” the answer in the text.can “find” the answer in the text.

Reasoning: 65%ishReasoning: 65%ish– Questions that ask you to make inferences, draw Questions that ask you to make inferences, draw

conclusions, read between the lines. Stuff you conclusions, read between the lines. Stuff you can’t “find” in the text, but have to figure out can’t “find” in the text, but have to figure out yourself.yourself.

– 4 passages: one each of Social Studies, 4 passages: one each of Social Studies, Natural Sciences, Fiction, and Natural Sciences, Fiction, and Humanities.Humanities.

Reading:Reading:

Looks like this:Looks like this: Example on page 34 of your ACT Example on page 34 of your ACT

prep booklet.prep booklet.

Tips: ReadingTips: Reading Some students skim questions first, Some students skim questions first,

some read passage first.some read passage first. Read passage carefully or you won’t Read passage carefully or you won’t

be able to answer reasoning Qs be able to answer reasoning Qs (65%!)(65%!)

Write on the passage as you read-- Write on the passage as you read-- activates more areas of your brain.activates more areas of your brain.

Fake interest. No, really. Fake interest. No, really.

How to Improve: ReadingHow to Improve: Reading Same resources and methods as Same resources and methods as

English—figure out which types of English—figure out which types of questions give you trouble, practice questions give you trouble, practice just those.just those.

Read. A lot. Focus on nonfiction Read. A lot. Focus on nonfiction (you get enough fiction in English (you get enough fiction in English class). Newspapers, news class). Newspapers, news magazines, etc.magazines, etc.

Time to practice!Time to practice!

Turn to page 14 in your booklet.Turn to page 14 in your booklet. Try questions 1-5. Feel free to talk Try questions 1-5. Feel free to talk

them through with the person next to them through with the person next to you if you wish.you if you wish.

Documents

Welcome to ACT prep! ACT English/Reading