Ŀ � 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 ACT Test Formats: Paper and Online 21 Using a Calculator 21 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 33 Chapter 3: Taking and Scoring Your First ACT Practice Test 35 Simulating Testing Conditions 35 Practice Test 1 41 Scoring Your Practice Test 99 Scoring Your Multiple-Choice Practice Tests 100 Scoring Your Practice Writing Test Essay 106 Reviewing Explanatory Answers 111 Chapter 4: Identifying Areas for Improvement 178 Reviewing Your Overall Performance 179 Highlighting Strengths and Areas for Improvement on the English Test 179 Test-Taking Errors 180 Highlighting Strengths and Areas for Improvement on the Mathematics Test 182 Math Subject Areas 182 Test-Taking Errors 182 Highlighting Strengths and Areas for Improvement on the Reading Test 183 Types of Reading Passages 184 Reading Skills Tested 184 Test-Taking Errors 185 Highlighting Strengths and Areas for Improvement on the Science Test 186 Science Subject Areas 186 Types of Science Questions 187 Test-Taking Errors 187 Highlighting Strengths and Areas for Improvement on the Writing Test 188 Writing Skills Tested 188 Writing Strategy or Process Errors 189 Part Three: Improving Your Score 191 Chapter 5: Improving Your English Score 193 Content of the ACT English Test 193 Types of Questions on the ACT English Test 194 Strategies for Taking the ACT English Test 203 Chapter 6: Improving Your Math Score 219 Content of the ACT Mathematics Test 220 Preparing for Higher Math 220 Integrating Essential Skills 220 Modeling 221 Types of Questions on the ACT Mathematics Test 221 Basic Math Problems 221 Basic Math Problems in Settings 225 Very Challenging Problems 229 Question Sets 236 Strategies for Taking the ACT Mathematics Test 241 Pace Yourself 241 Answer All Questions 241 Answer All the Easy Questions First, Then Go Back to Answer the Hard Ones 242 Read Each Problem Carefully 242 Look for Information in the Answer Choices 242 Use Illustrations Wisely and Whenever You Can 243 Use Your Calculator Wisely 243 Think! 243 Show Your Work 244 Check Your Answers 244 Chapter 7: Improving Your Reading Score 245 Content of the ACT Reading Test 245 Key Ideas and Details 246 Craft and Structure 246 Integration of Knowledge and Ideas 246 Types of Questions on the ACT Reading Test 246 Representative ACT Reading Test Questions 247 Strategies for Taking the ACT Reading Test 257 Pace Yourself 257 Use the Time Allotted 257 Think of an Overall Strategy That Works for You 258 Keep the Passage as a Whole in Mind 258 Find a Strategy for Approaching Each Question 258 Reading Strategies Summary 259 Chapter 8: Improving Your Science Score 267 Content of the ACT Science Test 267 Format of the ACT Science Test 268 Data Representation Format 269 The ONLY Official Prep Guide from the Makers of the ACT Discussion of Sample Passage I (Data Representation) 271 Research Summaries Format 274 Discussion of Sample Passage II (Research Summaries) 276 Conflicting Viewpoints Format 278 Discussion of Sample Passage III (Conflicting Viewpoints) 280 Strategies for Taking the ACT Science Test 283 Develop a Problem-Solving Method 283 Take Notes 284 Pace Yourself 284 Practice Interpreting Graphs, Tables, and Diagrams 284 Make the Most of the Information in Graphs 285 Make the Most of the Information in Tables 287 Develop an Understanding of Scientific Investigations 288 Carefully Analyze Conflicting Viewpoints 288 Chapter 9: Improving Your Score on the Optional Writing Test 289 Content of the ACT Writing Test 290 How Your Essay Will Be Scored 290 Sample Prompt and Essays 290 Sample ACT Writing Test Prompt 291 Sample Essay Responses 293 Strategies for Taking the ACT Writing Test 317 Prewrite 317 Write 317 Review Your Essay 318 Practice 318 Part Four: Taking Additional Practice Tests 319 Chapter 10: Taking Additional Practice Tests 321 Practice Test 2 327 Explanatory Answers 387 Practice Test 3 465 Explanatory Answers 525 Practice Test 4 603 Explanatory Answers 661 Practice Test 5 733 Explanatory Answers 791 Practice Test 6 865 Explanatory Answers 923 Chapter 11: Scoring the Additional Practice Tests 1008 Scoring Your Practice Tests 1009 Scoring Practice Test 2 1010 Scoring the Multiple-Choice Tests 1010 Scoring Your Practice Writing Test 2 Essay 1016 Scoring Practice Test 3 1019 Scoring the Multiple-Choice Tests 1019 Scoring Your Practice Writing Test 3 Essay 1024 Scoring Practice Test 4 1026 Scoring the Multiple-Choice Tests 1026 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 1038 Scoring Practice Test 6 1040 Scoring the Multiple-Choice Tests 1040 Scoring Your Practice Writing Test 6 Essay 1046 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 Production of Writing 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 Part Five: Moving Forward to Test Day 1089 Chapter 13: Registering, Planning, and Packing for Test Day 1091 National Testing Program versus State and District Testing 1092 Registering for the ACT 1092 Selecting a National Testing Date and Location 1092 Selecting a Test Option 1094 Registering 1094 Registering Under Special Circumstances 1095 Planning and Packing for Test Day 1095 Getting to the Test Center 1095 Dressing for Test Day 1096 Packing for Test Day: What to Bring 1096 Obtaining Additional Test Details 1097 At the Test Center 1097 Checking In 1097 Following the Rules 1098 Communicating with the Testing Staff 1099 Maintaining Your Composure and Energy 1100 Voiding Your Answer Documents on Test Da y 1100 Testing More Than Once 1101