ACT: The ENGLISH TEST

ENGLISH SUBJECT TEST 50% of the time, OMIT is correct 45 minutes 75 questions never spend more than 45 seconds or so per question Trust your ears. What sounds right? Shortest answer is often the best answer Don’t waste time reading the directions 50% of the time, OMIT is correct about 10 questions per exam pose a “yes” or “no” answer with an explanation… pay close attention to the reasoning this is the first test on the ACT

English : Usage & Mechanics Punctuation (10 questions) Appositives Avoiding ambiguity Focuses on proper comma use ! and ? usually given as incorrect options Grammar & Usage (12 questions) Subject-verb agreement (singular/plural) Pronoun-antecedent agreement Idioms (expressions used in English language) Sentence structure (18 questions) Clauses & modifiers

English : Rhetorical Skills Strategy (12 questions) Adding/revising/deleting sections of a passage The shortest, most concise answer is usually correct Organization (11 questions) Opening, transitional, and closing statements Style (12 questions) Maintaining tone (formal vs. informal) Avoiding wordiness (shortest can be best) Avoiding ambiguity with pronouns (it, etc.) NO CHANGE is correct 20-25% of the time; Don’t be afraid to choose it