1. ACT® PREPARATION AND TIPS
Seth Keene
Stacey Schultz

2. What is the “required” score for admission to your 1st choice school?
Are you applying for scholarships with ACT score requirements?
In addition to a composite score goal, set a goal for each test and sub-score.
Set the bar high, but make it reachable!
GOAL SETTING

3. TEST DATES 1st: April/June of Junior Year
2nd: September/October of Senior Year
3rd: December/February of Senior Year
TEST DATES

4. TEST PREPARATION #1 4+ Years of Math, Science, English
#2 ACT Preparation Course
#3 Practice Workbook/On-line Resources
Ideal Preparation Plan:
10% Understanding Test
80% Reviewing Skills
10% Test-taking Strategies
TEST PREPARATION

5. PREPARATION RESOURCES
Online/Self-Paced Courses:
ACT Online Prep ($19.95 for 1 year)
SD MyLife and My Student Edge (FREE)
Practice Tests
DSTEP, ASVAB, PSAT, SD Test-Outs
Preparing for the ACT (Archived editions online)
Practice Books
The Real ACT Prep Guide ($30.95)
Classroom Review Courses
Sylvan Learning Center
Keene Academy
PREPARATION RESOURCES

6. TEST DAY TIPS Friday Night: Saturday Morning:
Eat a good meal rich in carbohydrates (such as pasta) at a reasonable hour. Be in bed by 11pm.
Set two alarms or ask family and friends to ensure you wake up.
Saturday Morning:
Wake up one hour before you need to leave and take a shower.
Wear comfortable and casual clothing, but avoid being too comfortable. Dress in layers as the temperature inside the test room may vary.
Eat a healthy, substantial breakfast. As a rule, protein is better than sugar. Avoid heavy foods (such as omelets) that could cause indigestion.
Know which building and parking lot to use. Plan to arrive by 7:45am so you don’t feel rushed.
TEST DAY TIPS

7. WHAT TO BRING Pencils Calculator Identification and Registration
Calculator
Identification and Registration
Snack and Drink
Wrist Watch
Tissues (for winter test dates)
WHAT TO BRING

8. GENERAL TEST-TAKING TIPS
Pace Yourself (Announcements only made when 5 minutes/1 minute remain)
Read directions before test date
Read questions carefully (annotate)
Answer easy questions first
Answer EVERY question (no penalty for guessing)
Be precise in marking answer and don’t make notes on answer sheet
Don’t panic! Work the entire time.
GENERAL TEST-TAKING TIPS

9. ENGLISH TEST PREP 75 QUESTIONS/45 MINUTES (9 minutes per passage)
Usage/Mechanics: 40 Questions
Punctuation
Grammar and Usage
Sentence Structure
Rhetorical Skills: 35 Questions
Strategy
Organization
Style
ENGLISH TEST PREP

10. Read the entire passage first (roughly 1. 5 minutes)
Read the entire passage first (roughly 1.5 minutes). Focus on grammar and revision skills, not comprehension.
Answer diction and grammar questions first; they are usually the easiest to answer quickly.
Listen for errors as you read the answer choices. You can often hear an error as you say a sentence in your head.
Read ALL answers carefully; answers often look similar, sometimes differing only by a comma.
“NO CHANGE” is the correct choice about 25% of the time.
ENGLISH TIPS

11. MATH TEST PREP 60 QUESTIONS/60 MINUTES (1 question per minute)
Pre-Algebra/Elementary Algebra
24 Questions
Intermediate Algebra/Coordinate Geometry
18 Questions
Plane Geometry/Trigonometry
MATH TEST PREP

12. Draw a picture if one is not provided
Draw a picture if one is not provided. Figures given are not drawn to scale, so mark them with given measures or symbols.
Know the following translations: of means multiply and per means divide.
Know the area and perimeter formulas for triangles, rectangles, and circles, and how to find the volume and surface area of a box.
If a problem is given in terms of fractions, decimals, or percents, consider using an alternate form to find the answer.
MATH TIPS

13. If the question and/or answer set are given in terms of variables only, substitute simple numbers to help determine the answer.
Most answers are listed from least to greatest, so you can use a technique called backsolving to find the correct answer.
Do not overuse your calculator! The test is written so that every problem can be solved without a calculator. Set up the problem in your test booklet first and take a moment to consider what a reasonable answer would be before using the calculator.
MATH TIPS

14. READING TEST PREP 40 QUESTIONS/35 MINUTES (9 minutes per passage)
Prose Fiction: 10 Questions
Social Studies: 10 Questions
Humanities: 10 Questions
Natural Sciences: 10 Questions
READING TEST PREP

15. Read the passage actively (3 minutes); underline or circle any key points. Read with awareness of the author’s goal, tone, and theme.
If a question refers to a specific line of the passage, read one line above and below the indicated line to better understand the context.
Save difficult questions (such as inferring) for last and answer easier questions (such as vocabulary) first. Note: It is best to finish one passage completely before going on to the next.
READING TIPS

16. SCIENCE TEST PREP (5 minutes per passage)
40 QUESTIONS/35 MINUTES
(5 minutes per passage)
Data Representation: 15 questions
Research Summaries: 18 questions
Conflicting Viewpoints: 7 questions
SCIENCE TEST PREP

17. If a passage seems difficult, skip it; data representation passages are often the easiest.
When reading passages, aim at a general understanding on the first reading and do not dwell on a specific aspect of data. If the passage contains conflicting viewpoints, consider similarities and differences between the scientists’ arguments.
When reading tables and charts, focus on labels, trends in data, and maximum or minimum values. Look for connections between multiple data representations.
SCIENCE TIPS

18. 1 PROMPT/30 MINUTES WRITING TEST PREP
The test consists of one writing prompt that will define an issue and describe two points of view on that issue.
Students may adopt either of the perspectives described in the prompt, or may present a third point of view on the issue.
Scores will not be affected by the point of view taken on the issue.
WRITING TEST PREP

19. Do some planning (in your Writing Test booklet) before writing the essay.
At the beginning of your essay, explain your point of view in a clear and logical way.
Discuss the issue in a broader context or evaluate the implications or complications of the issue.
Address what others might say to refute your point of view and present a counter-argument.
Use specific examples.
Vary the structure of your sentences.
Use transitional words and phrases.
End with a strong conclusion that summarizes or reinforces your position.
If time remains, check your work for spelling and grammatical errors.
WRITING TIPS

20. Questions?
Reminders of upcoming test dates and registration deadlines
Information requests
GO ACE THE ACT®!
CONCLUSION