ACT PREP English

Follow Their Tips

Pace Yourself You have 45 minutes + 75 Questions= 1 ½ minutes to look over each passage before you respond. Then 30 seconds to answer each question. If possible, spend less time on each question to leave time for checking over answers at the end. Mark ones that were most difficult and re-check those first (in book not on answer sheet).

Think About What is the writing STYLE of the passage? Informative? Persuasive? Personal Narrative? Expository? Formal/Informal?

While Skimming Identify the style Look at the topic sentences and underlined portions…summarize to yourself what the passage is about.

How does it fit in? For each question, take a look at the context. Look at the sentences around the passage you are looking at to make sure you understand the context.

Check it. Reread the sentence using your selected answer.

Read ALL of the answers Which one is MOST correct? Do the different options give you a clue? How does each answer DIFFER from the others? Don’t select an answer that fixes one error but causes another.

Questions about the WHOLE Piece Located at the end of the section Have a box that tells you that it’s about the section as a whole.

CONTENT: ENGLISH

Usage/Mechanics

Punctuation Emphasis: internal and end of sentence punctuation emphasis on how punctuation affects meaning

Item Analysis We’ll Cover: Question Numbers Review: commas, apostrophes, semicolons

WRITING HOME: COMMA RULES

Resources Commas: Apostrophes: online.com/Objects/ViewObject.aspx?ID=ABC601 online.com/Objects/ViewObject.aspx?ID=ABC601 Semicolons: =active =active

Grammar and Usage Emphasis: Subject/verb agreement Pronoun/antecedent agreement Modifiers Verb formation Pronoun case Comparative/superlative adjectives and adverbs Use of idioms

Item Analysis We’ll Cover: Item Numbers

Sentence Structure Emphasis: Show understanding of relationships between and among clauses, placement of modifiers, and shifts in construction.

Item Analysis We’ll Cover: Item Numbers *

Rhetorical Skills Understanding of the use of strategy, organization, and style in writing

Organization We’ll Cover: Item Numbers

Strategy We’ll Cover: Item Numbers 16 46

Style We’ll Cover: Item Numbers

Other Resources: Wiscareers: Need your username and password Use this site to take 3 full length practice tests, access flashcards and tips on ACT test-taking strategies. Specific Tips Regarding ACT English: outline/english/ outline/english/ Resource for Refreshing Grammar/Writing Skills: Grammar/Punctuation Exercises and Rules: