Catch the Fever Junior Seminar ACT Test Preparation Catch 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 English 75 Questions in 45 Minutes Math 60 Questions in 60 Minutes Reading 40 Questions in 35 Minutes Science 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.

Do not be afraid to use the NO CHANGE option. 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 1.A / 2. H / 3. D

6 Topics are covered on the test Pre-Algebra Math Test 6 Topics are covered on the test Pre-Algebra 14 Questions / 24% of the Test Elementary Algebra 9 Questions / 15% of the Test Intermediate Algebra 9 Questions / 15 % of the Test

9 Questions / 15% of the Test Plane Geometry Math Test Coordinate Geometry 9 Questions / 15% of the Test Plane Geometry 14 Questions / 24% of the Test Trigonometry 4 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 2. G / 3. C

4 reading passages / 10 questions each Social studies Natural Science Reading Test 4 reading passages / 10 questions each Social studies Natural Science Prose Humanities 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.

Quickly find the tone of the passage and the author’s purpose. 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 subtests 3 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

Focus, this is always the last test. 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.

Leave no questions unanswered! There is no penalty for guessing. Best Advice for ACT Leave no questions unanswered! There is no penalty for guessing.

Free Resources www.actstudent.org www.march2success.com