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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 Full ACT Test 4

English Test 4

Mathematics Test 6

Reading Test 14

Science Test 17

Writing Test (Optional) 19

The Fifth Test 21

Using a Calculator 22

Taking the Test 23

Summary 24

Chapter 2: Preparation, Skills, and Strategies 25

Mental Preparation 26

Identify Strengths and Address Areas of Improvement 26

Develop a Positive Mental Attitude 27

Keep the Test in Perspective 27

General Test-Taking Strategies and Skills 27

Remain Calm 27

Pace Yourself 28

Know the Directions Ahead of Time 29

Read Carefully and Thoroughly 29

Choose Strategies for Answering Easier and More Difficult Questions 30

Use Logic on More Difficult Questions 30

Choose a Strategy for Guessing on Multiple-Choice Questions 30

Choose a Strategy for Changing Answers 31

Write Notes in Your Test Booklet 31

Mark Your Answers Carefully 31

Plan to Check Your Answers 32

Learn Strategies for Specific Tests 32

Summary 32

Part Two: Taking and Evaluating Your First Practice Test 35

Chapter 3: Taking and Scoring Your First ACT Practice Test 37

Simulating Testing Conditions 37

Scoring Your Practice Test 101

Scoring Your Multiple-Choice Practice Tests 102

Scoring Your Practice Writing Test Essay 108

Reviewing Explanatory Answers 113

Chapter 4: Identifying Areas for Improvement 184

Reviewing Your Overall Performance 185

Highlighting Strengths and Areas for Improvement on the English Test 186

Test-Taking Errors 186

Highlighting Strengths and Areas for Improvement on the Mathematics Test 188

Math Subject Areas 188

Test-Taking Errors 188

Highlighting Strengths and Areas for Improvement on the Reading Test 189

Types of Reading Passages 190

Reading Skills Tested 190

Test-Taking Errors 191

Highlighting Strengths and Areas for Improvement on the Science Test 192

Science Subject Areas 192

Types of Science Passages 193

Test-Taking Errors 193

Highlighting Strengths and Areas for Improvement on the Writing Test 194

Writing Skills Tested 194

Writing Strategy or Process Errors 196

Part Three: Improving Your Score 197

Chapter 5: Improving Your English Score 199

Content of the ACT English Test 199

Types of Questions on the ACT English Test 200

Strategies for Taking the ACT English Test 209

Chapter 6: Improving Your Math Score 225

Content of the ACT Mathematics Test 226

Preparing for Higher Math 226

Integrating Essential Skills 226

Modeling 227

Types of Questions on the ACT Mathematics Test 227

Basic Math Problems 227

Basic Math Problems in Settings 231

Very Challenging Problems 235

Question Sets 242

Strategies for Taking the ACT Mathematics Test 247

Pace Yourself 247

Answer All Questions 247

Answer All the Easy Questions First, Then Go Back to

Answer the Hard Ones 248

Read Each Problem Carefully 248

Look for Information in the Answer Choices 248

Use Illustrations Wisely and Whenever You Can 249

Use Your Calculator Wisely 249

Think! 249

Show Your Work 250

Check Your Answers 250

Chapter 7: Improving Your Reading Score 251

Content of the ACT Reading Test 251

Key Ideas and Details 252

Craft and Structure 252

Integration of Knowledge and Ideas 252

Types of Questions on the ACT Reading Test 253

Representative ACT Reading Test Questions 253

Strategies for Taking the ACT Reading Test 262

Pace Yourself 262

Use the Time Allotted 262

Think of an Overall Strategy That Works for You 263

Keep the Passage as a Whole in Mind 263

Find a Strategy for Approaching Each Question 263

Reading Strategies Summary 264

Chapter 8: Improving Your Science Score 272

Content of the ACT Science Test 272

Format of the ACT Science Test 273

Data Representation Format 274

Discussion of Sample Passage I (Data Representation) 276

Research Summaries Format 279

Discussion of Sample Passage II (Research Summaries) 281

Conflicting Viewpoints Format 283

Discussion of Sample Passage III (Conflicting Viewpoints) 285

Strategies for Taking the ACT Science Test 288

Develop a Problem-Solving Method 288

Take Notes 289

Pace Yourself 289

Practice Interpreting Graphs, Tables, and Diagrams 289

Make the Most of the Information in Graphs 290

Make the Most of the Information in Tables 292

Develop an Understanding of Scientific Investigations 293

Carefully Analyze Conflicting Viewpoints 293

Chapter 9: Improving Your Score on the Optional Writing Test 294

Content of the ACT Writing Test 295

How Your Essay Will Be Scored 295

Sample Prompt and Essays 295

Sample ACT Writing Test Prompt 296

Planning Your Essay 298

Sample Essay Responses 299

Strategies for Taking the ACT Writing Test 323

Prewrite 323

Write 323

Review Your Essay 324

Practice 324

Part Four: Taking Additional Practice Tests 327

Chapter 10: Taking Additional Practice Tests 329

Practice Test 2 335

Explanatory Answers 395

Practice Test 3 473

Explanatory Answers 531

Practice Test 4 603

Explanatory Answers 661

Practice Test 5 735

Explanatory Answers 793

Practice Test 6 883

Explanatory Answers 941

Chapter 11: Scoring the Additional Practice Tests 1007

Scoring Your Practice Tests 1008

Scoring Practice Test 2 1009

Scoring the Multiple-Choice Tests 1009

Scoring Your Practice Writing Test 2 Essay 1015

Scoring Practice Test 3 1017

Scoring the Multiple-Choice Tests 1017

Scoring Your Practice Writing Test 3 Essay 1023

Scoring Practice Test 4 1025

Scoring the Multiple-Choice Tests 1025

Scoring Your Practice Writing Test 4 Essay 1031

Scoring Practice Test 5 1033

Scoring the Multiple-Choice Tests 1033

Scoring Your Practice Writing Test 5 Essay 1039

Scoring Practice Test 6 1041

Scoring Your Multiple-Choice Practice Tests 1041

Scoring Your Practice Writing Test 6 Essay 1047

Chapter 12: Interpreting Your ACT Test Scores and Ranks 1049

Understanding Your ACT Test Results 1051

How ACT Scores Your Multiple-Choice Tests 1051

How ACT Scores Your Writing Test 1051

Recognizing That Test Scores Are Estimates of Educational Achievement 1051

Using Ranks to Interpret Your Scores 1052

Comparing Your Test Scores to Each Other 1052

Comparing Your Scores and Ranks to Your High School Grades 1052

Comparing Your Scores to Those of Enrolled First-Year College Students 1052

Using ACT College and Career Readiness Standards to Help You Understand Your ACT Scores 1053

Planning Your Education and Career 1054

Seeking Additional Information and Guidance 1054

ACT College and Career Readiness Standards—English 1055

ACT College and Career Readiness Standards—Mathematics 1062

ACT College and Career Readiness Standards—Reading 1071

Text Complexity Rubric—Reading 1078

ACT College and Career Readiness Standards—Science 1085

The ONLY Official Prep Guide from the Makers of the ACT

Part Five: Moving Forward to Test Day 1093

Chapter 13: Registering, Planning, and Packing for Test Day 1095

National Testing Program Versus State and District Testing 1096

Registering for the ACT 1096

Selecting a National Testing Date and Location 1096

Selecting a Test Option 1098

Registering 1098

Registering under Special Circumstances 1099

Planning and Packing for Test Day 1099

Getting to the Test Center 1099

Dressing for Test Day 1100

Packing for Test Day: What to Bring 1100

Obtaining Additional Test Details 1101

At the Test Center 1101

Checking In 1101

Following the Rules 1102

Communicating with the Testing Staff 1103

Maintaining Your Composure and Energy 1104

Voiding Your Answer Documents on Test Day 1105

Testing More Than Once 1105

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