If you’re going to apply for college, perhaps, you’re thinking about taking the ACT. This test appeared in the 1950s, as an alternative to the SAT. “ACT” stood for “American College Test,” and even though now this abbreviation doesn’t have a particular meaning, this test may still be the right choice for a high school student. Learn more about the ACT with Writers-House.com!
The main difference between the SAT and ACT is the number of questions. Generally, there are more questions in the ACT, but the SAT contains more questions in each section. There are also differences between sections from these two tests. In the ACT, the writing section is optional, while reading, science, and math are necessary.
The ACT: Overview
The ACT includes four sections: math, English, science, and reading. If you decide to complete the optional writing section, it must be the last part of your test, adding another section and so making you pass a test on five subjects. Every section except writing can bring you up to 36 points.
The English section consists of 75 questions. This is the biggest section but you need to complete it in just 45 minutes. When completing the math section, you have 60 minutes for 60 questions. Both science and reading sections require you to answer 40 questions in 35 minutes.
Given the limited time that you have, time management becomes the most important factor that determines your score. If you want to complete the English section successfully, you have to answer every question in just 36 seconds.
The ACT English Section
As we have already mentioned above, the English section is the biggest one. However, it also gives you the least amount of time to complete. Thus, the only way to deal with this section is to prepare in advance. There are 3 blocks with multiple choice questions that address such topics as punctuation, grammar, rhetoric, and organization.
The ACT English section includes six types of questions which can be divided into two categories: usage and mechanics, and rhetorical skills. Most of these questions allow you to change certain paragraphs or sentences so that they read more clearly.
Questions on rhetorical skills focus on the argumentative strategy of a particular passage, as well as on its style and structure. Mechanics and usage questions are aimed to evaluate your understanding of punctuation, grammar, and sentence structure.
The English Section: Writing Tips
Consider doing a few important things a day before the test, to increase your chances to get a nice score. First of all, you should develop an effective reading strategy. We recommend that you read your questions first so that you can understand what to focus on while reading.
Here is another strategy that will help you prepare for the test. Study the rules of grammar and focus on the rules that get included in the ACT most often. For example, you should know how to write sentences properly, especially when it comes to complex compound sentences with many clauses. About 20% of the grammar questions will require this sort of knowledge.
You should also keep in mind that, sometimes, the right answer is “no change.” If there is such an answer option, you may want to choose it if you feel that it’s valid.
The ACT Math Section
The math section, probably, addresses the most topics. It includes questions from such areas as algebra, trigonometry, prealgebra, plane, and coordinate geometry. Therefore, you should be familiar with each of these areas to complete the math section successfully. There are different types of questions, including problems that require simple algebraic solutions and questions that require you to work with graphs, datasets, and geometric shapes.
The math section includes multiple-choice questions with five options to choose from. You will start with the easiest questions, moving toward the hardest ones. The first part of this section will focus on prealgebra and algebra, while the second part will be more about trigonometry and geometry.
The Math Section: Tips
This section not only requires you to possess developed problem-solving skills but also to memorize certain formulas. The thing is that the ACT will not provide you with a formula sheet.
Another thing that you should do to improve your ACT math results is to work at the right pace. We recommend that you practice working on individual questions before you take the real test. In addition, don’t forget that if you bring a calculator, its type should be mentioned in the officially approved list.
The ACT Reading Section
What makes this section different from others is that it focuses on the skills that you already use every day. You read instructions, books, assignments, articles, so your reading skills always have some practice.
The ACT test will challenge your comprehension skills. You will also need to answer multiple-choice questions. You will have to read passages from the sciences and humanities, and then answer questions about the authors’ choices and various details.
There are five types of questions. Most often, you will have to write about some details from the texts. Therefore, we recommend that you read your materials carefully and note important details.
The Reading Section: Tips
We recommend that you practice reading and improve your reading speed. You should also be able to quickly find the necessary evidence that can support your claims. You can also understand that a certain answer is right if you find evidence that supports it.
You can boost your reading speed if you read every day. Don’t get distracted from the reading process and stay focused on the content. We recommend that you choose longer works for practicing. Look for quizzes about novels that you’ve read and try to answer tricky questions.
The ACT Science Section
Instead of focusing on facts that you’ve learned in science class, the ACT science section requires you to apply the scientific method to different ideas. The ideas may be presented in the form of written paragraphs, charts, or graphs. Therefore, this section mostly focuses on logic.
When working on this section, you should use your knowledge of different scientific methods to answer questions about the research. You will work with summaries and you might also need to interpret a researcher’s intention or ideas, explaining why the experiment was designed in a particular way. Some questions may also require you to interpret the results of the experiment.
The Science Section: Tips
The most difficult questions in this section may require you to address conflicting viewpoints, and that’s where reading comprehension becomes especially important. You need to interpret the author’s tone and to explain the word choice. Given that this section may contain a lot of information, we recommend that you read your questions first. You don’t need to memorize everything. Instead, approach reading strategically so that you can save some time.
Another way to save your precious time is to answer questions out of order. Just read the section quickly and mark the easiest and the most difficult questions. After this, quickly answer the easier part so that you have more time for difficult questions.
The ACT Writing Section (Optional)
If you decide to complete this optional section, you will have to write a persuasive essay in 40 minutes. You will be given a topic and a prompt that explains what you need to address. Usually, writing topics are debatable and focus on common ideas. You will be also given three different positions. Make sure to read the task to understand what exactly you should write.
Just as when dealing with other standardized tests, you will have to write a five-paragraph essay that includes an introduction, body, and conclusion. Make sure to support your claims with evidence and address opposing opinions in at least one paragraph.
Two different graders will grade your essay, and the sum of their scores can bring you up to 12 points. The graders will evaluate your ability to present your ideas, to develop your opinion, and to organize your essay.
The Writing Section: Tips
Before you take the writing test you should understand how the essays are graded. Many skilled students have their own understanding of what a good essay should look like. Your personal standards are not necessarily the same as the ACT standards so we recommend that you check out the ACT writing rubric before going to the writing test.
There are also students who have a hard time trying to come up with clear arguments. You should choose a single opinion because if you try to argue for a few points, your answer won’t be fully developed and focused.
Don’t forget that all of your claims should be backed up with evidence. If you add quotes from trusted sources, you’ll make your opinion more credible. We recommend that you check out some controversial issues so that you can learn how to work with different perspectives.
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