Another ACT test is right around the corner! If it feels less festive and anticipatory than, say, the week before Christmas, well, that makes sense. It is totally normal to feel some nervousness and uncertainty just before a big test. We thought we would share with you some tips that will help you perform better and feel more confident as you take on this big challenge. Ready? Here we go.
English
One question type causes the most stress: the ones at the end of the passage that ask you whether or not the author accomplished whatever s/he set out to accomplish. They look like this:
“Suppose the writer’s goal had been to write an essay on the historical impact of the chocolate chip cookie. Would this essay accomplish that goal?”
When I used to see these questions, my brain would complain, “I have to read the whole passage now???” and threaten to revolt. Now that I know this strategy, I actually kind of like these questions. (Is that weird?)
Here’s the strategy: ACT English passages are well organized. That means that the first sentence of each paragraph will be a clear topic sentence. In addition, all of these passages come with a title. Those titles are super helpful! If you go back and carefully read the title plus the topic sentence of each paragraph, you’re going to know exactly what the writer accomplished in the essay, and you’ll be able to answer the question quickly and confidently.
Math
The math strategy I want to share is one of the most useful standardized test strategies of all time. Suppose a question starts with a statement like, “If a and b are integers, and b < a < 0, which of the following will have the greatest value?” In math class, you might be expected to evaluate the five different answer choices to prove why one of them will always have the greatest value. On the ACT, you have a much better option: plug in numbers and let them solve the question for you.
Here’s what you do (it’s really simple): pick numbers for a and b, making sure you play by the rules: they are integers, they both are less than zero, and b is less than a. You could make b = -3 and a = -2. Once you have those values, simply plug them into through the answer choices. Whichever answer choice produces the largest value is the right answer.
What’s amazing about plugging in is that it can help you solve some of the “hardest” questions on the test. Look for opportunities to plug in numbers on questions 45-60…I can almost guarantee that you’ll see one just like the problem mentioned above!
Reading
Ask anyone who has gone through this before what the major challenge is on the Reading Test, and 9 out of 10 will say the same thing: the speed.
This section asks you to do a fair amount of work in an unfair amount of time. Four 800 word passages plus 40 questions…in 35 minutes? That’s a lot of work in not a lot of time. Here’s the thing: you can actually finish the section. The secret is not second-guessing your answers.
In school, you’re used to mulling your answer choices, flipping back and forth from choice (A) to choice (D), weighing the nuances of each one. You can’t afford to do that on the ACT. Here’s what you do instead:
-Read the question carefully.
-Think of an answer in your head.
-When you find an answer that matches what you were thinking, choose it and go to the next question.
-If you have to go back and do some research, do it. If a question gives you a line reference, it is always a good idea to look back.
-If after a minute you are having a hard time finding the evidence you need, or if you are torn between two answers, move on. Circle the question, put your best guess down on the answer sheet, and come back to that question if time allows.
I know that’s different from how you take a test in school, but this is a different test. The main objective here is to get through all 40 questions at as high a level of accuracy as you can. Obsessing over 1-2 questions may help you get those questions right, but if they cost you the chance to answer 6 other questions, then that extra time spent wasn’t worth it, right?
Science
Three words:
Keep. It. Simple.
The whole point of the Science test is to flood you with information. The passages are long, dense, and filled with unfamiliar terms. The questions themselves are designed to overwhelm students through sheer excess of words. I mean, seriously: some of the questions are mind-blowing in the way they use 100 words just to say the simplest thing.
Your job is to ignore the B.S. and find the important stuff. Here’s a sample:
“Based on Figure 2 , a researcher asserted that GSI and K are negatively correlated. The researcher hypothesized that over the subsequent three-month period the value of GSI will steadily increase. According to this claim, the value of K will likely:”
What’s important here?
-GSI and K are negatively correlated.
-GSI is increasing.
-We’re looking at Figure 2.
You really only need the first two facts here. “Negatively correlated” means that as one goes up, the other goes down. What happens to K as GSI increases? You guessed it: it decreases.
On the Science Test, don’t try to understand everything within the passage and the questions. Hunt for key terms, look for simple relationships, and move on to the next question. In simpler terms: Keep It Simple.
Writing (optional)
For those of you taking the optional Writing test, here are a couple of hot tips:
-When you address the perspectives that are given, try to do more than just “agree” or “disagree.” Write about how the authors made their points. Are their arguments supported by evidence? Did they make any broad generalizations, or appeals to emotion? The more specific you can get about the techniques the authors employed, the better your score will be.
-Write a ton. Length is your friend! I hope it’s obvious that you shouldn’t include fluff in order to make it longer, but whenever you have the chance to explain your thinking in greater depth, do so. Length is the clearest indicator of score on the ACT essay—so don’t be shy! Write as much as you possibly can!
That’s it! Hope you found these tips helpful.
