1. Act English Section

2. So how did I do?
If you want to figure out what your Scaled Score would be for this test follow the following formula:
Determine your raw score: Your raw score is the number of questions you answered correctly. Because there are 75 questions on the ACT English Test the highest possible raw score is 75
To determine your scaled score:
Raw Score x 36 = _______ ÷ 75 = _______
Subtract 2 from your answer above for the correction factor and this is your scaled score
Note that a 36 is the best you can do

4. Makeup of the Practice Test
23/75 (31%)= Sentence Structure
14/75 (19%) = Punctuation
13/75 (17%) = Context
9/75 (13%) = Subject/Verb Agreement
9/75 (12%) = Paragraph Placement
7/75 (7%) = Active/Passive Voice

5. Best to Worst Sections Active Passive Voice: 13.8 Context: 14.8
Subject/Verb Agreement: 19.2
Punctuation: 24.8
Sentence Structure: 26.7
Paragraph Placement: 27.6
My Math Reasoning: I added up how many people got each active/passive question wrong (97) and divided it by how many active/passive questions there were (7) and got 13.8

6. What were your personal three most difficult types of questions?
First: Make a list of all the numbers you got wrong
If you did not finish your test just add up the questions you were able to answer and got incorrect

7. What were your personal three most difficult types of questions?
Second: Look at the two papers I gave you
The first is a tally sheet where you will count up how many of each question type you got incorrect
The second tells you what type (sentence structure, punctuation, context, etc.), of question all the numbers are
Third: Tally on your tally sheet how many you got wrong in each question type

8. What were your personal three most difficult types of questions?
Four: Write down your top three most difficult question types on your information sheet
This will help me put you in review groups and ensure that you are practicing what you are getting wrong on the ACT English
I don’t need to know how many you got wrong, but what areas were the most challenging for you

9. And The Tips Begin! Answer ALL questions
If you have no idea about an answer pick the _________________________!
This is especially true about questions that ask about the style (wording) of the passage
In most instances the underlined portion is too wordy

10. To Read Or Not To Read
When you take this portion of the test ______________________________before you start to answer questions
However do not try to rush through by reading only the underlined sections because you will be absolutely______________when it comes to the paragraph placement and context questions

11. It may seem like the _______________________ is unimportant since these are grammar questions
  However, there are many questions where ________ must be considered
You will have questions asking about: transitions, paragraph placement, sentence placement, and overall clarity of the context of the passage… if you just read the underlined portions you don’t even know what the true topic of what you read!
  For a question that asks you to choose the best closing sentence, you will need _________________
__________________________________________

12. Sooo Many Underlined Words….
For Each Passage:
Skim the first few sentences quickly nothing both its content and style
Note the verb tense (past, present, future)
Note the person used in the passage (you, us, they --- first, second, third)

13. Auto Correct
If the underlined portion of the paragraph does not make sense as you are reading try to silently correct it before you look at the answer choices so you are not swayed by any ACT tricks

14. NO CHANGE
The answer choice “no change” should come up about a s often as the others do on your answer sheet
Just because a portion of the passage is underlined doesn’t mean that there is something wrong with it
It is a RUMOR that you should choose “no change” if you do not know the answer --- this answer choice is correct just as much as the others

15. Clear and Simple is the Best
The ACT Test often questions your ability to recognize and eliminate redundancy in sentences and paragraphs
You will be rewarded for clearly and simply expressing the intended idea

16. Simple and Clear Example
Over many weeks, as time goes by, the potter’s collections slowly grows: bowls, vases, and pots fill the studio.
No change
with the passing of time,
Gradually
Delete the underlined potion

17. Comma Crazy Comma Usage Rule --- __________________ ______________
If three answer choices include a comma and one does not, read the one without the comma first
It is the correct answer the majority of the time
Note that I did not say ALL the time but just the MAJORITY

18. Leave It Out Example
Shortly after I arrived, my uncle said he had a gift for me.
No change
Uncle, said
Uncle said,
Uncle said;

19. Wordy, Wordy, Wordy
To avoid wordiness, another trap on the ACT, simply OMIT phrases that either ___________ what has already been said OR ____________ to the meaning of the sentence
On wordiness questions 99.9% of the time the correct answer is the___________ answer

20. Wordiness Question Example
But anyway, I recommend a trip to Ireland.
A. NO CHANGE
B. Ultimately, I would have to recommend
C. Despite all this, I would strongly suggest
D. I definitely recommend

21. Addition Questions Most times No is the answer
Would this be a relevant addition to make here?
F. Yes, because it supports the point that researchers had to do a great deal of experimenting before they could get popcorn to pop in a microwave
G. Yes, because it provides scientific information that helps the reader to understand why microwave popcorn was so successful
H. No, because it distracts the reader from the focus of the essay and does not logically fit at this point
J. No, because the information is too detailed for such an informal essay

22. Take Delete Seriously
On questions that ask you if the underlined portions should be kept or deleted ________ ______________ the correct answer is delete the underlined portion
So if you are unsure select the delete underlined portion answer choice

23. Delete Portion Example
The first sign that our remodeling project might have its ups and downs was when the contractor announced his bottom-line price to cover all our wondrous plans; it because immediately clear right away that a scale-back was necessary.
No change
at the onset
instantly
Delete the underlined portion

24. “OMIT the underlined potion”
Always read the “OMIT the underlined portion” _______________, leaving out the part that is underlined
If it’s correct and makes sense, select this option and move on!

25. Example of a “OMIT” question
Dubble Bubble sold quick as a wink and was an instant success
A NO CHANGE
B was an overnight success
C sold out in the blink of an eye
D OMIT the underlined portion

26. Punctuation: the great abyss! , : ; __ ( )
The greatest threat to the alligator is the loss of its habitat as wetlands are drained; to build housing for the spiraling human population.
NO CHANGE
drained to build housing
drained, to build, housing
drained, to build housing,
What is the ACT’s favorite punctuation question? The one where the answer requires no punctuation! It drives students crazy.

27. Time to make our worst sections one of our best!

28. The Dreaded Paragraph Placement
Guess what! You have to have _________ the passage in order to figure out where to place paragraphs! Shocking I know!

29. How would you know the answer to this if you only read the underlined portion?
For the sake of the logic and coherence of this paragraph, Sentence 3 should be placed: F. Where it is now G. Before Sentence 1 H. After sentence 1 J. After Sentence 4

30. Or This???
Which of the following sequences of paragraphs makes the essay most logical?
No change
1, 3, 2, 4, 6
4, 1,2, 3, 5
1, 2, 5, 4, 3

31. There are usually _________ questions like this on the English portion of the ACT so skipping them is NOT an option

32. Paragraph Placement
To help determine what order the paragraphs should be in, read the ________________ of each paragraph
This will help you remember each paragraph and put them in a cohesive order faster

33. Paragraph and Sentence Placement
Instead of _________ and then looking at the passage read the passage and every time you finish reading a line with a number under it then go to that question
This way you are bouncing back and forth between question and the reading

34. Show Test Example