The Official ACT Prep Guide, 2018-19 Edition (Book + Bonus Online Content) (Paperback, 2019-20 (Book)

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 ACT 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 22

Summary 23

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 101

Scoring Your Multiple-Choice Practice Tests 102

Scoring Your Practice Writing Test Essay 108

Reviewing Explanatory Answers 113

Chapter 4: Identifying Areas for Improvement 188

Reviewing Your Overall Performance 189

Highlighting Strengths and Areas for Improvement on the English Test 189

Test-Taking Skills 190

Highlighting Strengths and Areas for Improvement on the Mathematics Test 192

Math Subject Areas 192

Test-Taking Errors 192

Highlighting Strengths and Areas for Improvement on the Reading Test 193

Types of Reading Passages 194

Reading Skills Tested 194

Test-Taking Errors 195

Highlighting Strengths and Areas for Improvement on the Science Test 196

Subject Matter 196

Types of Science Questions 197

Common Science Test-Taking Errors 197

Highlighting Strengths and Areas for Improvement on the Writing Test 198

Writing Skills Tested 198

Writing Strategy or Process Errors 199

Part Three: Improving Your Score 201

Chapter 5: Improving Your English Score 203

Content of the ACT English Test 203

Types of Questions on the ACT English Test 204

Strategies for Taking the ACT English Test 213

Chapter 6: Improving Your Math Score 229

Content of the ACT Mathematics Test 230

Preparing for Higher Math 230

Integrating Essential Skills 230

Modeling 231

Types of Questions on the ACT Mathematics Test 231

Basic Math Problems 231

Basic Math Problems in Settings 235

Very Challenging Problems 239

Question Sets 246

Strategies for Taking the ACT Mathematics Test 251

Pace Yourself 251

Answer All Questions 251

Answer All the Easy Questions First, Then Go Back to Answer the Hard Ones 252

Read Each Problem Carefully 252

Look for Information in the Answer Choices 252

Use Illustrations Wisely and Whenever You Can 253

Use Your Calculator Wisely 253

Think! 253

Show Your Work 254

Check Your Answers 254

Chapter 7: Improving Your Reading Score 255

Content of the ACT Reading Test 255

Key Ideas and Details 256

Craft and Structure 256

Integration of Knowledge and Ideas 256

Types of Questions on the ACT Reading Test 256

Representative ACT Reading Test Questions 257

Strategies for Taking the ACT Reading Test 267

Pace Yourself 267

Use the Time Allotted 267

Think of an Overall Strategy That Works for You 268

Keep the Passage as a Whole in Mind 268

Find a Strategy for Approaching Each Question 268

Reading Strategies Summary 269

Chapter 8: Improving Your Science Score 277

Content of the ACT Science Test 277

Format of the ACT Science Test 278

Data Representation Format 279

Discussion of Sample Passage I (Data Representation) 281

Research Summaries Format 284

Discussion of Sample Passage II (Research Summaries) 286

Conflicting Viewpoints Format 288

Discussion of Sample Passage III (Conflicting Viewpoints) 290

Strategies for Taking the ACT Science Test 293

Develop a Problem-Solving Method 293

Take Notes 294

Pace Yourself 294

Practice Interpreting Graphs, Tables, and Diagrams 294

Make the Most of the Information in Graphs 295

Make the Most of the Information in Tables 297

Develop an Understanding of Scientific Investigations 298

Carefully Analyze Conflicting Viewpoints 298

Chapter 9: Improving Your Score on the Optional Writing Test 299

Content of the ACT Writing Test 300

How Your Essay Will Be Scored 300

Sample Prompt and Essays 300

Sample ACT Writing Test Prompt 301

Sample Essay Responses 303

Strategies for Taking the ACT Writing Test 327

Prewrite 327

Write 327

Review Your Essay 328

Practice 328

Part Four: Taking Additional Practice Tests 329

Chapter 10: Taking Additional Practice Tests 331

Practice Test 2 337

Explanatory Answers 397

Practice Test 3 477

Explanatory Answers 537

Practice Test 4 625

Explanatory Answers 683

Chapter 11: Scoring the Additional Practice Tests 752

Scoring Your Practice Tests 753

Scoring Practice Test 2 754

Scoring the Multiple-Choice Tests 754

Scoring Your Practice Writing Test 2 Essay 760

Scoring Practice Test 3 763

Scoring the Multiple-Choice Tests 763

Scoring Your Practice Writing Test 3 Essay 768

Scoring Practice Test 4 770

Scoring the Multiple-Choice Tests 770

Scoring Your Practice Writing Test 4 Essay 775

Chapter 12: Interpreting Your ACT Test Scores and Ranks 777

Understanding Your ACT Test Results 779

How ACT Scores Your Multiple-Choice Tests 779

How ACT Scores Your Writing Test 779

Recognizing That Test Scores Are Estimates of Educational Achievement 779

Using Ranks to Interpret Your Scores 780

Comparing Your Test Scores to Each Other 780

Comparing Your Scores and Ranks to Your High School Grades 780

Comparing Your Scores to Those of Enrolled First-Year College Students 780

Using ACT College and Career Readiness Standards to Help You Understand Your ACT Scores 781

Planning Your Education and Career 782

Seeking Additional Information and Guidance 782

ACT College and Career Readiness Standards—English 783

Production of Writing 783

ACT College and Career Readiness Standards—Mathematics 790

ACT College and Career Readiness Standards—Reading 799

Text Complexity Rubric—Reading 806

ACT College and Career Readiness Standards—Science 813

Part Five: Moving Forward to Test Day 817

Chapter 13: Registering, Planning, and Packing for Test Day 819

National Testing Program versus State and District Testing 820

Registering for the ACT 820

Selecting a National Testing Date and Location 820

Selecting a Test Option 822

Registering 822

Registering Under Special Circumstances 823

Planning and Packing for Test Day 823

Getting to the Test Center 823

Dressing for Test Day 824

Packing for Test Day: What to Bring 824

Obtaining Additional Test Details 825

At the Test Center 825

Checking In 825

Following the Rules 826

Communicating with the Testing Staff 827

Maintaining Your Composure and Energy 828

Voiding Your Answer Documents on Test Day 828

Testing More Than Once 829