ACT is a not-for-profit organization providing assessment, research, information, and program management services to support education and workforce development.

Preface xi How This Book Is Arranged xii Before You Begin xii Part One: Getting Acquainted with the ACT Test 1 Chapter 1: About the ACT 3 Description of the ACT 4 English Test 4 Mathematics Test 6 Reading Test 13 Science Test 15 Writing Test (Optional) 18 ACT Test Formats: Paper and Online 20 Using a Calculator 20 Taking the Test 21 Summary 22 Chapter 2: Preparation, Skills, and Strategies 23 Mental Preparation 24 Identify Strengths and Address Areas of Improvement 24 Develop a Positive Mental Attitude 25 Keep the Test in Perspective 25 General Test-Taking Strategies and Skills 26 Remain Calm 26 Pace Yourself 26 Know the Directions Ahead of Time 27 Read Carefully and Thoroughly 27 Choose Strategies for Answering Easier and More Difficult Questions 28 Use Logic on More Difficult Questions 29 Choose a Strategy for Guessing on Multiple-Choice Questions 29 Choose a Strategy for Changing Answers 29 Write Notes in Your Test Booklet 30 Mark Your Answers Carefully 30 Plan to Check Your Answers 30 Learn Strategies for Specific Tests 31 Summary 31 Part Two: Taking and Evaluating Your First Practice Test 33 Chapter 3: Taking and Scoring Your First ACT Practice Test 35 Simulating Testing Conditions 35 Scoring Your Practice Test 96 Scoring Your Multiple-Choice Practice Tests 97 Scoring Your Practice Writing Test Essay 103 Reviewing Explanatory Answers 108 Chapter 4: Identifying Areas for Improvement 183 Reviewing Your Overall Performance 184 Highlighting Strengths and Areas for Improvement on the English Test 184 Test-Taking Skills 185 Highlighting Strengths and Areas for Improvement on the Mathematics Test 187 Math Subject Areas 187 Test-Taking Errors 187 Highlighting Strengths and Areas for Improvement on the Reading Test 188 Types of Reading Passages 189 Reading Skills Tested 189 Test-Taking Errors 190 Highlighting Strengths and Areas for Improvement on the Science Test 191 Subject Matter 191 Types of Science Questions 192 Common Science Test-Taking Errors 192 Highlighting Strengths and Areas for Improvement on the Writing Test 193 Writing Skills Tested 193 Writing Strategy or Process Errors 194 Part Three: Improving Your Score 195 Chapter 5: Improving Your English Score 197 Content of the ACT English Test 197 Types of Questions on the ACT English Test 198 Strategies for Taking the ACT English Test 207 Chapter 6: Improving Your Math Score 222 Content of the ACT Mathematics Test 223 Types of Questions on the ACT Mathematics Test 224 Basic Math Problems 224 Basic Math Problems in Settings 227 Very Challenging Problems 232 Question Sets 239 Strategies for Taking the ACT Mathematics Test 242 Pace Yourself 242 Answer All Questions 243 Answer All the Easy Questions First, Then Go Back to Answer the Hard Ones 243 Read Each Problem Carefully 243 Look for Information in the Answer Choices 243 Use Illustrations Wisely and Whenever You Can 244 Use Your Calculator Wisely 244 Think! 244 Show Your Work 245 Check Your Answers 245 Chapter 7: Improving Your Reading Score 246 Content of the ACT Reading Test 246 Types of Passages on the ACT Reading Test 247 Prose Fiction 247 Humanities 247 Social Studies 248 Natural Sciences 248 Types of Questions on the ACT Reading Test 248 Representative ACT Reading Test Questions 249 Strategies for Taking the ACT Reading Test 259 Pace Yourself 259 Use the Time Allotted 259 Think of an Overall Strategy That Works for You 260 Keep the Passage as a Whole in Mind 260 Find a Strategy for Approaching Each Question 260 Reading Strategies Summary 261 Chapter 8: Improving Your Science Score 269 Content of the ACT Science Test 269 Format of the ACT Science Test 270 Data Representation Format 271 Discussion of Sample Passage I (Data Representation) 272 Research Summaries Format 275 Discussion of Sample Passage II (Research Summaries) 277 Conflicting Viewpoints Format 279 Discussion of Sample Passage III (Conflicting Viewpoints) 281 Strategies for Taking the ACT Science Test 284 Develop a Problem-Solving Method 284 Take Notes 285 Pace Yourself 285 Practice Interpreting Graphs, Tables, and Diagrams 285 Make the Most of the Information in Graphs 286 Make the Most of the Information in Tables 288 Develop an Understanding of Scientific Investigations 288 Carefully Analyze Conflicting Viewpoints 288 Chapter 9: Improving Your Score on the Optional Writing Test 289 Content of the ACT Writing Test 290 How Your Essay Will Be Scored 290 Sample Prompt and Essays 290 Sample ACT Writing Test Prompt 291 Sample Essay Responses 293 Strategies for Taking the ACT Writing Test 317 Prewrite 317 Write 317 Review Your Essay 318 Practice 318 Part Four: Taking Additional Practice Tests 319 Chapter 10: Taking Additional Practice Tests 321 Explanatory Answers 379 Explanatory Answers 513 Chapter 11: Scoring the Additional Practice Tests 597 Scoring Your Practice Tests 598 Scoring Practice Test 2 599 Scoring the Multiple-Choice Tests 599 Scoring Your Practice Writing Test 2 Essay 605 Scoring Practice Test 3 608 Scoring the Multiple-Choice Tests 608 Scoring Your Practice Writing Test 3 Essay 613 Chapter 12: Interpreting Your ACT Test Scores and Ranks 615 Understanding Your ACT Test Results 616 How ACT Scores Your Multiple-Choice Tests 617 How ACT Scores Your Writing Test 617 Recognizing That Test Scores Are Estimates of Educational Achievement 617 Using Ranks to Interpret Your Scores 617 Comparing Your Test Scores to Each Other 618 Comparing Your Scores and Ranks to Your High School Grades 618 Comparing Your Scores to Those of Enrolled First-Year College Students 618 Using ACT College and Career Readiness Standards to Help You Understand Your ACT Scores 619 Planning Your Education and Career 621 Seeking Additional Information and Guidance 621 ACT College and Career Readiness Standards English 622 Production of Writing 622 ACT College and Career Readiness Standards Mathematics 629 ACT College and Career Readiness Standards Reading 638 Text Complexity Rubric Reading 645 ACT College and Career Readiness Standards Science 652 Part Five: Moving Forward to Test Day 657 Chapter 13: Registering, Planning, and Packing for Test Day 659 National Testing Program versus School/District/State Testing 660 Registering for the ACT 660 Selecting a National Testing Date and Location 660 Selecting a Test Option 662 Registering 662 Registering Under Special Circumstances 663 Planning and Packing for Test Day 663 Getting to the Test Center 663 Dressing for Test Day 664 Packing for Test Day: What to Bring 664 Obtaining Additional Test Details 665 At the Test Center 665 Checking In 665 Following the Rules 666 Communicating with the Testing Staffff 667 Maintaining Your Composure and Energy 668 Voiding Your Answer Documents on Test Day 668 Testing More Than Once 669