introduction v
act faqs ix
acknowledgments x
self-assessment tests 
general directions 
english test 
reading test 
answer key 
answers explained 
diagnostic charts 
1 overview and format of the act 
english test 
format 
timing plans 
english skills assessed 
reading test 
format 
timing plan 
reading skills assessed 
types of reading passages 
reading test tips 
writing test 
format 
timing plan 
writing skills assessed 
chapter summary 
2 be a class act on test day 
advanced prep plans 
how to be a class act on test day 
act timing tips 
act testing tips 
what to bring to the test center 
what not to bring to the test center 
what to expect at the test center 
what to expect during the test 
chapter summary 
3 english test 
english skills in closer focus 
act english principles 
a author��s style and tone 
accuracy in grammar, usage, and
sentence formation 
c conciseness 
coherence, unity, and focus 
commas, colons, semicolons, and
other punctuation 
t technique: strategy and organization 
tone used by the author 
no sweat points: things you won��t be tested on 
a note about vocabulary and spelling 
quick drills 
making sense of the double-column format 
the ouch! factor 
test-taking tips 
time-saver: zoom in and zoom out 
time-saver: use caret symbols for placement questions 
tackling top-heavy questions 
chapter summary 
practice mini-passage 
answer key 
answers explained 
4 reading test 
reading strategies: preview, focus, read, answer 
five levels of concentration and comprehension 
reading skills in closer focus 
finding the main idea 
locating and interpreting details 
recognizing events in sequence 
drawing comparisons 
understanding cause and effect 
grasping meanings in context 
formulating generalizations 
examining author��s voice and method 
vocabulary 
chapter summary 
practice exercises 
prose fiction: ��driving down broadway�� 
social science: ��mobilization for youth�� 
humanities (1): ��yamas and nimyanas�� 
humanities (2): ��loving the questions�� 
natural science: ��dynamic cross-cylinder test�� 
answer key 
answers explained 
5 writing test 
how to be a clast act on test day 
writing skills in closer focus 
prewriting, freewriting, revising/editing 
flexible timing plans 
guidelines for evaluation 
chapter summary 
practice exercises 
practice writing prompt 1 
sample response and explanation 
practice writing prompt 2 
sample response and explanation 
an additional writing prompt 
practice tests 
english test 
reading test 
answer key 
answers explained 
diagnostic charts 
index