1. Tips for the Reading and English Tests
From Barron’s
ACT 36

2. What’s new on the ACT English Reading See slide --
Punctuation 10-15%
Grammar and Usage 15-20%
Sentence Structure 20-25%
Strategy 15-20%
Organization 10-15%
Style 10-15%
Reading
Will “almost certainly” have a comparative passage.
See slide --

3. English

4. 5 keys of the English Section
Economy: The shorter answer is usually the better answer
Order: Answer the easy questions first--they’re worth the same number of points.
Pacing: Slow down and read more conscientiously.
Intuition: After slowing down, trust yourself and your knowledge of formal, written English.
Clarity and Logic: The right answer will be clear and logical, slow down to see relationships.
5 keys of the English Section
pages 4-6

5. It’s mostly commas: Use the five most common comma rules
Don’t worry about quotation marks: ACT won’t ask.
Learn about semicolons, colons, dashes, and apostrophes.
Intuition is your last line of defense.
Punctuation
pages 9-10

6. Comma Rule #1: Separate intro words from rest of sentence.
Comma Rule #2: Use pairs of commas for “interrupters.”
Comma Rule #3: Use a comma to separate two independent clauses and use a “FANBOYS” conjunction.
Comma Rule #4: A comma separates words in list
(don’t worry about the Oxford comma)
Comma Rule #5: Use a comma between clauses when one clause begins with an “-ing” word.

7. Don’t forget to study those
COMMONLY CONFUSED WORDS

8. Reading

9. Strategies Pre-Reading
Plan on about 8 minutes per passage and questions
Look at the “Big Picture”: How many paragraphs? How big are they? Is there a lot of dialogue? What insight can the title and author give you?
Clear your mind.
Preheat your brain: What do you already know?
Do NOT read the question first (no time).
Strategies
Pre-Reading

10. Strategies Reading Nonfiction
Read the opening very carefully to identify the thesis and tone.
Read the closing paragraph to clarify the thesis and main arguments.
Scan the rest of the piece for support to the main arguments.
Pay attention to transitions.
Strategies
Reading
Nonfiction

11. Strategies Reading Fiction
Read the opening very carefully to identify the CAPS (Character, Attitude, Problem, Solution)
Read the closing paragraph to clarify the CAPS.
Scan the rest of the piece for details to support the CAPS.
Strategies
Reading
Fiction

12. Strategies After Reading Answer the easy questions first.
Guess first, then find the answer.
Question Types:
Ask you to find a detail
Make an inference or judgment
Test your vocab in context (rare)
Strategies
After Reading

13. Writing

14. Your Goal: Solid, Not Perfect

15. Criteria page 286 Pick a side and stick to it.
Describe context (give background).
Describe AND discuss MULTIPLE PERSPECTIVES
Discuss benefit, problems, and repercussions.
Respond to the counterarguments
Criteria
page 286

16. Think big! You’re not confined to information specifically IN the prompt.
Discuss issues and ideas
You do not need to choose the perspective with which you agree--pick the side you can best argue.
PREWRITE
Add more analysis--not more reasons.
Other Tips