ACT Prep...
Do your VERY Best!
Successful Study Skills
Successful Study Skills
is a series intended for Austin ISD middle and high school students for use in enhancing their study habits. However, anyone may benefit from the suggestions, tips, links, and information provided. We hope you have SUCCESS in your STUDYING.
For Suggestions to help with Organizing Your Study Skills, go to :
For suggestions on Note-Taking, go to: https://www.smore.com/417na
For suggestions on improving Study Habits, go to: https://www.smore.com/7w5fk
For suggestions on Memory & Learning Strategies, go to: https://www.smore.com/7ybds
For suggestions on Preparing for the SAT, go to: https://www.smore.com/dj4az
General Tips:
Study in short, frequent sessions. Short bursts of concentration repeated frequently are much more effective than one long session. So, even if you only have 10 minutes, DO IT. Take a break. Then study another 10 minutes. This “distributed learning” allows your brain to recharge and absorb your efforts.
- Study and practice with sample questions of each type found on the test. Know the directions for each section of the test. Read and follow the directions.
- Practice pacing yourself. Know how many sections to expect in each section of the test.
- Answer easy questions first. Mark skipped questions in your exam book so you can quickly return to them.
- Understand the scoring! You get a point for a right answer. There is no deduction for omitted answers or for wrong answers. However, filling in each question with a guess is better than leaving the answer blank. You don't lose points on the ACT or redesigned SAT (beginning March 2016).
- You can write in the test book: cross out wrong answers and do scratch work. Avoid stray marks on the answer sheet. A machine scores your test and can't distinguish between a correct answer and a careless doodle.
- Keep checking that you are placing your answer in the correct section and number on the answer sheet.
- Don't spend too much time on any one question. You should spend only seconds on the easiest questions and no more than 1-2 minutes on even the hardest ones.
- Practice, practice, practice!
Practice Using the ACT Question of the Day!
Check out this NEW ACT Study Guide and Practice Tests!
What's Inside:
- Full length practice tests
- Information about the optional Writing Test
- Strategies to prepare for the test
- What to expect on test day
This information is also in Spanish! go to : www.actstudent.org
Math Preparation
- Look through the test and divide it into easy, medium and hard questions. Start with the easy questions.
- Pick a value and plug it in (avoid using 0, 1 and -1).
- Estimate choices.
- Know your math vocabulary- sum= add, difference= subtract, product= multiply, twice= times 2, etc.
- Choose 100 for percentage questions with unknown values.
- Replace variables with easy numbers.
- Review commonly used formulas provided in the test book at the beginning of each mathematics section.
- Know basic formulas and computational skills. Recall of complex formulas and extensive computation is not required.
- Draw a sketch or diagram of the given information. All pictures are drawn to scale unless it specifically indicates “not drawn to scale.”
- Make sure you answer the question. Solutions to many questions will involve several steps.
- Make sure your answer is reasonable. Simple calculation errors may make your answer unreasonable.
- Use the calculator when needed. All problems can be solved without a calculator.
- Check your work.
Science Preparation
- Know the science vocabulary: Independent vs. Dependent Variable, Direct vs. Indirect Relationship, Constants.
- Read the passage, determine the purpose of the experiment, the methods used, and the results.
- ACT Science section presents information in 3 ways and followed by multiple choice questions. Questions can be answered with the information in the passages.
- ACT Science: 3 Data Representation passages present information in graphs, tables and other forms. 3 Research Summary passages present a series of experiments. 1 Conflicting Viewpoint passage discusses different theories about a topic.
- ACT Science has 3 question types: Figure Interpretation (reading tables and graphs), Patterns (describing relationships between variables, plotting or interpreting data) and Scientific Reasoning (reasons for experimental design).
Study a designated amount of time each day!
Don't give up!
Hard work= SUCCESS!
English Preparation ACT English
Tests understanding of usage/mechanics, punctuation, grammar and usage, sentence structure, rhetorical skills, strategy, organization and style. The test has five passages, each accompanied by a sequence of multiple-choice test questions. Different passage types are used to provide a variety of rhetorical situations.
- Some questions refer to underlined portions of the passage and offer several alternatives to the underlined portion. You must decide which choice is most appropriate in the context of the passage.
- Some questions ask about an underlined portion, a section of the passage or the passage as a whole. You must decide which choice best answers the question posed.
- Many questions offer "NO CHANGE" to the passage as one of the choices.
- The questions are numbered consecutively. Each question number refers to a corresponding numbered portion underlined in the passage or to a corresponding numeral in a box located in the passage.
- Be aware of the writing style used in each passage.
- Be aware of questions with no underlined portions—that means you will be asked about a section of the passage or about the passage as a whole.
- Read and consider all of the answer choices before you choose the one that best responds to the question.
- Reread the sentence, using your selected answer.
Reading Preparation ACT Reading
The test comprises four sections, each containing one long or two shorter prose passages. Passages on topics in social studies, natural sciences, literary narrative (including prose fiction) and the humanities are included.
- Read the passage(s) carefully.
- Read and consider all of the answer choices before you choose the one that best responds to the question.
- Refer to the passage(s) when answering the questions.
- Questions will ask you to use referring and reasoning skills to:
- Determine main ideas;
- Locate and interpret significant details;
- Understand sequences of events;
- Make comparisons;
- Comprehend cause-effect relationships;
- Determine the meaning of context-dependent words, phrases and statements;
- Draw generalizations; and
- Analyze the author's or narrator's voice and method.
More FREE Practice Tests can be Found Here!
Writing Preparation ACT Writing
Tests your writing skills in an essay—specifically those writing skills emphasized in high school English classes and in entry-level college composition courses.
- Read and consider all prompt material. Understand the issue, its perspectives and your essay task.
- Take the time to really explain an example that fully develops your point of view. The prewriting questions included with the prompt will help you analyze the perspectives and develop your own. Use the prewriting space in your test booklet to structure/outline your response.
- Establish the focus of your essay by making clear your argument and its main ideas. Explain and illustrate your ideas with sound reasoning and meaningful examples.
- Do not skip lines and do not write in the margins. Write your essay legibly, in English, with a No. 2 pencil. Do not use ink, a mechanical pencil or correction fluid.
- Read over your essay. Correct any mistakes in grammar, usage, punctuation and spelling. If you find any words that are hard to read, recopy them. Make any corrections and revisions neatly between the lines. Do not write in the margins.
24 Hours Before the Test
A few activities you may want to do 24 hours leading up to the test include the following:
- Charge your graphing calculator the day before the test.
- Go to bed at a reasonable time so you will be well rested. Set an alarm clock or app to wake you on the day of the test. Give yourself plenty of time so you are not rushed.
- Eat breakfast on the day of the test, but don’t overeat. You want to feel full but not tired.
- Take your identification card, testing ticket and a light jacket or sweater with you to the test.
- Do your very best on the test. Good luck!