1. ACT & MME Tips

2. GENERAL TIPS
ACTStudent.org says “Read the directions for each test carefully.”
DON’T DO THAT!!!
It’s a waste of your time since you know the directions and the test is timed.
Reading the directions will take a couple minutes that you don’t want to waste.

3. Feel free to write on the test.
Answer the easy questions first, then go back and answer the more difficult ones if you have time remaining on that test.
Feel free to write on the test.
Studies have shown that people who do score better.
Now, don’t write too much…
Wear a watch (that doesn’t beep).
You can’t use a phone to keep track of time.

4. Answer every question. Your scores on the multiple-choice tests are based on the number of questions you answer correctly.
There is no penalty for guessing.
If you complete a test before time is called, recheck your work on that test.

5. If you don’t know the best answer, use the process of elimination to help you narrow your answers down.

6. PROCESS OF ELIMINATION
EXTREMES
Pay attention to the adjectives and adverbs used in the answer choices.
Descriptors that sound extreme, such as hateful or ecstatic, are often too extreme and indicate a seductive and incorrect answer choice.

7. ABSOLUTES
Beware of answer choices with absolutes.
Words like always, never, everyone, and all usually indicate a wrong answer choice.

8. BAIT AND SWITCH
Watch out for answer choices that use the EXACT same wording as the passage because it’s usually a trick!
Correct answers are always a paraphrase of the actual passage and will not include the exact same wording.

9. NOT MENTIONED, BUT SOUNDS GOOD
Look out for answer choices that sound correct based on what you read but that were never actually mentioned in the passage.

10. ACT ENGLISH Pronoun-antecedent agreement
Everyone should take out their book.
Everyone should take out his or her book.
Ambiguous or weak pronoun reference
The dancer told the singer that she needs to practice.
(Which one needs to practice?)
The answer is typically clear and does not include unnecessary words.

11. Focus: redundancy, pronouns, commas. KISS – Keep It Simple, Stupid.
Read and consider all of the answer choices before you choose the one that best responds to the question.
Some may be good, but the correct answer is the best option.
Focus: redundancy, pronouns, commas.
KISS – Keep It Simple, Stupid.

12. ACT READING
Read the selection all the way through before looking at the questions.
Mark it up as you read by circling specific examples and by putting + or – by things, depending on the author’s attitude towards them.

13. ACT WRITING
Outline first – 5 min. or so. Then you have 25 min. to write a well-organized essay.
From the scoring guide – what it takes to get a 6/6:
“The organization of the essay is clear.”
Use an outline.

14. Include some background information – don’t just start out by saying, for example, “No, high school shouldn’t be five years long.”
Introduce the topic first.

15. From the scoring guide – what it takes to get a 6/6:
“The essay … may offer a critical context for discussion.”
From the scoring guide – what it takes to get a 5/6:
“The essay … may offer a broad context for discussion.”
From the scoring guide – what it takes to get a 4/6:
“The essay … may offer some context for discussion.”
From the scoring guide – what it takes to get a 3/6:
“The essay … does not offer a context for discussion .”

16. Include specific examples/reasons.
From the scoring guide – what it takes to get a 6/6:
“Development of ideas is ample, specific, and logical. Most ideas are fully elaborated.”
Include specifics in your outline.

17. Include evidence that you’ve considered the complexity of the issue.
From the scoring guide – what it takes to get a 6/6:
“The essay addresses complexity by examining different perspectives on the issue, or by evaluating the implications and/or complications of the issue, or by fully responding to counterarguments to the writer’s position.”

18. WORKEYS READING NOT FOR ACT (Tuesday)
This is just for the WorkKey’s reading (Wednesday)
Read the question first; then look in the selection for key words to answer the question.