The Official ACT Prep Guide, 2018

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 14
Science Test 17
Writing Test (Optional) 19
ACT Test Formats: Paper and Online 21
Using a Calculator 21
Taking the Test 22
Summary 23
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 Th oroughly 29
Choose Strategies for Answering Easier and More Difficult Questions 30
Use Logic on More Diffi cult Questions 0
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 Specifi c Tests 32
Summary 32
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 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 188
Reviewing Your Overall Performance 189
Highlighting Strengths and Areas for Improvement on the English Test 189
Test-Taking Skills 190
Highlighting Strengths and Areas for Improvement
on the Mathematics Test 192
Math Subject Areas 192
Test-Taking Errors 192
Highlighting Strengths and Areas for Improvement on the Reading Test 193
Types of Reading Passages 194
Reading Skills Tested 194
Test-Taking Errors 195
Highlighting Strengths and Areas for Improvement on the Science Test 196
Subject Matter 196
Types of Science Questions 197
Common Science Test-Taking Errors 197
Highlighting Strengths and Areas for Improvement on the Writing Test 198
Writing Skills Tested 198
Writing Strategy or Process Errors 199
Part Three: Improving Your Score 201
Chapter 5: Improving Your English Score 203
Content of the ACT English Test 203
Types of Questions on the ACT English Test 204
Strategies for Taking the ACT English Test 213
The ONLY Official Prep Guide from the Makers of the ACT
Chapter 6: Improving Your Math Score 229
Content of the ACT Mathematics Test 230
Preparing for Higher Math 230
Integrating Essential Skills 230
Modeling 231
Types of Questions on the ACT Mathematics Test 231
Basic Math Problems 231
Basic Math Problems in Settings 235
Very Challenging Problems 239
Question Sets 246
Strategies for Taking the ACT Mathematics Test 251
Pace Yourself 251
Answer All Questions 251
Answer All the Easy Questions First, Th en Go Back to
Answer the Hard Ones 252
Read Each Problem Carefully 252
Look for Information in the Answer Choices 252
Use Illustrations Wisely and Whenever You Can 253
Use Your Calculator Wisely 253
Think! 253
Show Your Work 254
Check Your Answers 254
Chapter 7: Improving Your Reading Score 255
Content of the ACT Reading Test 255
Key Ideas and Details 256
Craft and Structure 256
Integration of Knowledge and Ideas 256
Types of Questions on the ACT Reading Test 256
Representative ACT Reading Test Questions 257
Strategies for Taking the ACT Reading Test 267
Pace Yourself 267
Use the Time Allotted 267
Think of an Overall Strategy Th at Works for You 268
Keep the Passage as a Whole in Mind 268
Find a Strategy for Approaching Each Question 268
Reading Strategies Summary 269
Chapter 8: Improving Your Science Score 277
Content of the ACT Science Test 277
Format of the ACT Science Test 278
Data Representation Format 279
The ONLY Official Prep Guide from the Makers of the ACT
Discussion of Sample Passage I (Data Representation) 281
Research Summaries Format 284
Discussion of Sample Passage II (Research Summaries) 286
Conflicting Viewpoints Format 288
Discussion of Sample Passage III (Confl icting Viewpoints) 290
Strategies for Taking the ACT Science Test 293
Develop a Problem-Solving Method 293
Take Notes 294
Pace Yourself 294
Practice Interpreting Graphs, Tables, and Diagrams 294
Make the Most of the Information in Graphs 295
Make the Most of the Information in Tables 297
Develop an Understanding of Scientifi c Investigations 298
Carefully Analyze Confl icting Viewpoints 298
Chapter 9: Improving Your Score on the Optional Writing Test 299
Content of the ACT Writing Test .. 300
How Your Essay Will Be Scored 300
Sample Prompt and Essays 300
Sample ACT Writing Test Prompt 301
Sample Essay Responses 303
Strategies for Taking the ACT Writing Test 327
Prewrite 327
Write 327
Review Your Essay 328
Practice 328
Part Four: Taking Additional Practice Tests 329
Chapter 10: Taking Additional Practice Tests 331
Explanatory Answers 397
Explanatory Answers 537
Chapter 11: Scoring the Additional Practice Tests 621
Scoring Your Practice Tests 622
Scoring Practice Test 2 623
Scoring the Multiple-Choice Tests 623
Scoring Your Practice Writing Test 2 Essay 629
Scoring Practice Test 3 632
Scoring the Multiple-Choice Tests 632
Scoring Your Practice Writing Test 3 Essay 637
Chapter 12: Interpreting Your ACT Test Scores and Ranks 639
Understanding Your ACT Test Results 641
How ACT Scores Your Multiple-Choice Tests 641
How ACT Scores Your Writing Test 641
Recognizing Th at Test Scores Are Estimates of
Educational Achievement 641
Using Ranks to Interpret Your Scores 642
Comparing Your Test Scores to Each Other 642
Comparing Your Scores and Ranks to Your
High School Grades 642
Comparing Your Scores to Th ose of Enrolled First-Year College Students 642
Using ACT College and Career Readiness Standards to Help You Understand Your ACT Scores 643
Planning Your Education and Career 644
Seeking Additional Information and Guidance 644
ACT College and Career Readiness Standards--English 645
Production of Writing 645
ACT College and Career Readiness Standards--Mathematics 652
ACT College and Career Readiness Standards--Reading 661
Text Complexity Rubric--Reading 668
ACT College and Career Readiness Standards--Science 675
Part Five: Moving Forward to Test Day 679
Chapter 13: Registering, Planning, and Packing for Test Day 681
National Testing Program versus School/District/State Testing 682
Registering for the ACT 682
Selecting a National Testing Date and Location 682
Selecting a Test Option 684
Registering 684
Registering Under Special Circumstances 685
Planning and Packing for Test Day 685
Getting to the Test Center 685
Dressing for Test Day 686
Packing for Test Day: What to Bring 686
Obtaining Additional Test Details 687
At the Test Center 687
Checking In 687
The ONLY Official Prep Guide from the Makers of the ACT Following the Rules 688
Communicating with the Testing Staff 689
Maintaining Your Composure and Energy 690
Voiding Your Answer Documents on Test Day 690
Testing More Than Once 691