Simple ACT Strategy

Overview

• Grid and go if you don't know an answer
• 4 components (Writing, English, Math and Science); 1 section per component
• Content based exam – more of classroom learning
• Questions degree of difficulty are varied throughout the exam (#7 may be more difficult than #45)
• Must bring a watch - and be able to tell time :)
• Must time yourself throughout the test and while preparing for the exam

English

45 minutes, 75 questions

• Consists of punctuation, grammar, usage and sentence structure
• Make sure you use strategy, organization and focus on your style of writing (rhetorical skills)
• Make sure you use short passages with multiple choice questions – assess writing skills and grammar situations

Math

60 minutes, 60 questions

• Consists of algebra, geometry, trigonometry
• Test includes all math taught up to the beginning of 12^th grade is covered
• Make sure you use 1 minute per question – grid and go if you don't know

Reading

35 minutes, 40 questions

• Consists of 4 passages - literature (pro's), humanities, science, social science
• Spend about 9 minutes on each reading passage
• Each passage has 10 questions
• Questions/answers are not in chronological order of the passage

Science

35 minutes, 40 questions

• Consists of analyzing data, reading charts and graphs
• Make sure you read each graph, test is more reading comprehension vs. the knowledge you have for science
• Make sure you answer the first 5 questions, they should be easy, if you can't get #6-7, bubble and go (*if when you practice, you run out of time, be sure to get first 5 correct and then bubble in 6-7 and move on. Don't spend to much time on any one question at the end of every passage)

Final thought: Prepare, prepare and prepare. Then prepare some more!

Good Luck!