Schedule for the Day
9:30-10 am: session 1
● C-111: ACT Reading (ACT Group 1)
● C-112: ACT Science (ACT Group 2)
● C-108: SAT Writing & Language
(SAT Group 1)
● C-109: SAT Math (SAT Group 2)
10:10-10:40 am: session 2
● C-111: ACT Reading (ACT Group 2)
● C-112: ACT Science (ACT Group 1)
● C-108: SAT Writing & Language
(SAT Group 2)
● C-109: SAT Math (SAT Group 1)
10:50-11:20 am: session 3
● C-111: SAT Reading (SAT Group 1)
● C-112: SAT Khan Academy (SAT
Group 2)
● C-108: ACT Writing & Language
(ACT Group 1)
● C-109: ACT Math (ACT Group 2)
11:30 am-12: session 4
● C-111: SAT Reading (SAT Group 2)
● C-112: SAT Khan Academy (SAT
Group 1)
● C-108: ACT Writing & Language
(ACT Group 2)
● C-109: ACT Math (ACT Group 1)
The BasicsDay of the Test
CHECKLIST FOR TEST DAY:
• Admission Ticket (should receive in the mail 2 to 3 weeks
before your test date)
• No. 2 Pencils and Erasers
• Approved Calculator and batteries (TI 84 or TI 84+)
• ID Form
• wrist watch
Optional:
• snacks
• bottled water
What Exactly is On the ACT?
• 3 hours and 25 minutes - total
• English=70 questions in 45 minutes
• Math= 60 questions in 60 minutes
• Critical Reading= 40 questions in 35 minutes
• Science= 40 questions in 35 minutes
What is a “Good Score” on the ACT?
• Each section is on a scale of 1 to 36
• Perfect combined score of an avg of 36
–Harvard: 32
–UT: 28
–A&M: 30
–UH: 18 English, 21 Reading, 22 Mathematics and 24 Science
• Scores can typically be found on the college or universities websites
• You will get your raw score and a percentile ranking score
Getting in Gear
1. Set A Score Goal
2. Block Out Time in Your Schedule
3. Study with Friends
4. Treat It Like the Real Thing
ACT- (1) 60 minute section pg 6 of practice book
● 60 questions -NO GRIDDABLES
● Must memorize formulas
● Number and Quantity 7-10%
● Algebra 12-15%
● Functions 12-15%
● Geometry 12-15%
● Statistics and Probability 8-12%
● Integrating Essential Skills 40-43%
● Modeling 25%
Know your directions!● Each section will begin by showing where
you should be on your answer sheet.
● The directions will be the same in practice
as they are on the test. Don’t take the time
to read directions.
Math Section
Calculators
• Know how to use your calculator.• Know your arithmetic.• Know your squares• TI-84 is allowed on both SAT and ACT
– TI-89 and up are not allowed.
All problems can be solved without a calc, so if you find yourself without outrageuous responces, they are probably wrong
Skipping Questions
Don’t think
you will get it
right
Might get it
right if you
have time
Answered,
but not sure
if correct
Formula Activity
Knowledge of basic formulas and computational skills are assumed as background knowledge. Extensive computation is not required
PEMDAS----Don’t expect something super simple, expect
fractions and multiple parenthesissee example on separate handout
Rule 2: Exceeds by or is greater than meanssubtract(or add)
Example: X exceeds y by 7
Means: x - y = 7 or y + 7 = X
Exceeds = or
Rule 3: Percent (%) usually goes with of.
Percent means per (of) hundred
Example: 25% of y Means: 25 of 100 of y
or 25/100 of y
= fraction
Rule 4: But wait, there’s more. Percent can be made trickier with the word more.
Example: Sue has 25% more apples than John
Means: Sue has the same as John plus 25%
more = same +
Rule 5: Percent increase or decrease means subtract or add.
Example: Jim invests $50. It increases 10%.
Means: $50 + (10% of $50) = investment
increase = decrease =
Rule 6: Ratio
A ratio is a comparison.Example: The ratio of y to x is 5
Means: y/x = 5; y is being compared to x
Rule 7: Chance or probability is a type of ratio.
Chance or probability means
number of times the particular thing could happennumber of times any of the things could happen
6 Rules of Guessing
You are taking the same test that 11th and 12th graders are taking, there WILL be questions you do not know….I’m going to train you on some tips for increasing your chances of accuracy.
Rule 1 of Guessing-One of these things is MOST like
the others…..
If you have no idea what the correct answer is, chose the one that looks MOST like all the other answers
Rule 2 of Guessing: Problems INCREASE in difficulty as you go
along• If you are on one of the last questions in the
math section and you arrive at your answer with a simple calculation, the answer is probably wrong.
Rule 3 of Guessing:THREE’s a crowd
• When 20 different test were sampled, there were only 9 sets of triplets..
• There were no instances when the same letter choice occurred 4 times in a row
Rule 4 of GuessingChoose an answer that contains the number represented in the
most answer choicesSee example on separate handout
Rule 5 of GuessingPick “non answers” at the beginning, not at the end
• If at the beginning of the test there is a choice that says, “Answer not listed” there is 50% chance this is the correct answer
• However, if it is offered near the end of the test, it’s probably wrong
• (probably, but not always, if you think it’s the right answer, then choose it)
Rule 6 of GuessingBeware of answer choices that
express an opinion too strongly or that makes an absolute statement• This occurs more in reading
Reading Test Dichotomous Key Challenge
• For the challenge,/ you will be use the Reading Section (p. 32-39) in your packet.
• Once you have worked your way through the dichotomous key, write down your group’s response on an index card.
What’s on the test?1 A Passage 1 is a Prose Fiction excerpt. Go to 2
1 B Passage 1 is a Social Science excerpt. Go to 3
2A Passage 2 is a Social Science excerpt. Go to 4
2B Passage 2 is a Humanities excerpt. Go to 5
5A Passage 4 is a Science excerpt. College Ready
5B Passage 4 is about “The Jaws That Jump . ” Duke TIP
Format of the Test
3A The answer choices for questions are A, B, C, D Go to 6
3B The answer choices for questions are F, G, H, J Go to 7
4A Passage 2 has you compare two passages (A & B) Go to 8
4B Passage 3 has you compare two passages (A & B) Go to 9
watch your time
8/9 minutes per passage
35 s/?
answer in this order
1st: vocabulary
2nd: line specific
3rd: specific detail
4th: inferred or implied
5th: main idea or primary purpose
Know the directions
Reading Rules
do NOT read the passage first
1. Read & underline ?’s
2. Scan the for what ?’s are asking
Think about it this way…IMAGINE TWO CHILDREN PLAYING TAG IN A DEEP, DARK forest. Who’s gonna win? A speed demon from the big city who doesn’t know his way around and keeps tripping and falling? Or a slower-footed tyke who grew up in the forest and knows every root, twist, and cranny of the forest?Here’s the point: Knowing the landscape can be very helpful. If the ACT’s the forest, you’ll have to know the nooks and crannies of the test. Source: http://www.sparknotes.com/testprep/books/newsat/chapter6.rhtml
ACT English: what’s on the test?
• The ACT English section is a 75-question, 45-minute
test.
• That comes out to just 36 seconds per question!
• Each English test has five essays or passages, each of
which is accompanied by a sequence of multiple-choice
questions.
• Spelling and vocabulary aren’t tested on ACT English.
ACT English: What’s on the test?
• ACT English tests two broad content areas.
• The first is Usage and Mechanics(including
punctuation, grammar usage, and sentence structure).
• Usage and Mechanics will require fine-tuned
punctuation and grammar knowledge.
• The second is Rhetorical Skills (including strategy,
organization, and style).
• Rhetorical Skills focuses on your comprehending of the
passage as a whole and your ability to maximize the
passage's organization and style.
ACT English: What’s on the test?
Want more tips?
https://edpuzzle.com/media/580f5656d171f3f33
e114541
ACT English
How to tackle the English section:1. Skim the passage as if it were a regular piece of
writing (you will NOT have time to read the entire piece)
2. Correct or circle mistakes before looking at choices
3. “No change” is often the answer4. If you are not sure which concept is being
tested, look at the answer choices for a clue
ACT English
*Let’s take a look at what the ACT English section looks like…
*Grab a packet and begin looking at the various types of questions.
*What do you notice about the questions? Passages?
ACT English
Knowing your grammar and revision rules are very important in this section!
Let’s practice! Take out your device and prepare to play
Kahoot!
ACT English
Kahoot: If you do not have a device, you may work with a friend.
https://create.kahoot.it/?_ga=1.72844435.1224761066.1465476799&deviceId=61812370-
6a56-498c-9ceb-8f863f5c426c#quiz/5eb96d49-5ea7-4dc8-
b57f-50cc4af27cd5
ACT Science Reasoning• 40 Questions in 35 minutes• Contains 7 reading passages.• Each passage is equal in length and difficulty. • Answer easiest first. (Within a passage, the
easiest questions are first,followed by moderate, and then difficult.)
• You should avg. about 5 minutes per passage. Does not test Science knowledge.
• Tests ability to read and interpret information displayed in tables, graphs, and charts.
Best ACT Science Prep StrategiesPart #1
Tips and Tricks Video
Primary Question Types
• Data Representation:Reading & interpreting information from tables, graphs, or illustrations
• Research Summaries: drawing conclusions & predicting results based on data collected from several experiments
• Conflicting Viewpoints: Comparing opposing views or comparing different experiments with two to three theories to explain a scientific observation
Ways to Reason
Problem/Situation: You have to get from point A to Point B as fast as you possibly can. You are offered two means of transportation that start from the same position.
Option A-Jet plane that can transport you at 700mph.
Option B- Ferrari that can transport you at speeds close to 200mph.
What would be the best way to get from Point A to Point B?
• Why did you choose your answer?
• What factors might be considered in order to determine the correct answer?
• What would some factors be that might cause you to change your initial answer?
• What did you learn from this?
Table TrendsDirections: Identify the trends in the tables below. Place arrows or symbols by each column header to represent the trend.
increasing
decreasing
constant
Best ACT Science Prep StrategiesPart #2
Video - Use Your Finger
Tips
Use these four steps while tackling the Science Reasoning section:
1. Read the question and restate it if necessary2. Refer back to the passage3. Formulate your answer without looking at
the choices4. Match your answer to the choices given
Know Your Directions
Don’t waste time reading directions.Directions: There are several passages in this test. Each passage is followed by several questions. After reading a passage, choose the best answer to each question and fill in the corresponding oval on your answer document. You may refer to the passages as often as necessary. You are NOT permitted to use a calculator.
Science Testing Strategies
• Stay Focused.• Don’t read the directions.• Preview the associated graphs and tables.• Identify critical elements in passages.
(Underline or Circle, make notes)• Don’t Waste Time on Confusing or Long
Words.• Don’t take too much time on any question.• Eliminate the wrong answers first.• The least wrong answer will be correct.
Best ACT Science Prep StrategiesPart #3
Science Strategies Part #3
SAT/ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips
Factual Questions in ACT Science:
How to Read Graphs, Tables, and Data
http://tinyurl.com/act-graphs-tables-data
(http://blog.prepscholar.com/factual-questions-in-act-science-tips-and-strategies-how-to-read-graphs-tables-and-data)