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The only guide from the ACT organization, the makers of the exam, with 5 genuine, full-length practice tests in print and online.
The Official ACT Prep Guide 2020-2021 is the only guide from the makers of the exam and it includes actual ACT test forms (taken from past ACT exams). It offers 5 actual ACT tests (all with optional writing tests) so you can practice at your own pace. To help you review, this guide provides detailed explanations for every answer and practical tips on how to boost your score on the English, math, reading, science, and optional writing tests.
The test creators also created online resources accessible through this book. You can practice online with 5 full length practice tests to mimic the test day experience. These test questions can be organized, filtered, and tracked to test your exam performance.
Get ready for test day with this bestselling guide to the ACT. The Official ACT Prep Guide 2020-2021 will help you feel comfortable, confident, and prepared to do your best to ace the ACT!
The Official ACT Prep Guide 2020-2021 includes:
ACT (Iowa City, IA) is a not-for-profit organization providing assessment, research, information, and program management services to support education and workforce development. Known most widely as the makers of the ACT exam--the college readiness and placement assessment taken by some 1.8 million high school students each year--ACT produces a number of assessments and services reaching more than 10 million people along the kindergarten through career continuum. ACT's rigorous research informs policy decisions and helps develop programs that boost lifelong learning potential in schools and workplaces around the world. To learn more, visit www.act.org.
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 and Section Retesting 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 196
Reviewing Your Overall Performance 197
Highlighting Strengths and Areas for Improvement on the English Test 197
Test-Taking Errors 198
Highlighting Strengths and Areas for Improvement on the Mathematics Test 200
Math Subject Areas 200
Test-Taking Errors 200
Highlighting Strengths and Areas for Improvement on the Reading Test 201
Types of Reading Passages 202
Reading Skills Tested 202
Test-Taking Errors 203
Highlighting Strengths and Areas for Improvement on the Science Test 204
Science Subject Areas 204
Types of Science Questions 205
Test-Taking Errors 205
Highlighting Strengths and Areas for Improvement on the Writing Test 206
Writing Skills Tested 206
Writing Strategy or Process Errors 207
Part Three: Improving Your Score 209
Chapter 5: Improving Your English Score 211
Content of the ACT English Test 211
Types of Questions on the ACT English Test 212
Strategies for Taking the ACT English Test 221
Chapter 6: Improving Your Math Score 237
Content of the ACT Mathematics Test 238
Preparing for Higher Math 238
Integrating Essential Skills 238
Modeling 239
Types of Questions on the ACT Mathematics Test 239
Basic Math Problems 239
Basic Math Problems in Settings 243
Very Challenging Problems 247
Question Sets 254
Strategies for Taking the ACT Mathematics Test 259
Pace Yourself 259
Answer All Questions 259
Answer All the Easy Questions First, Then Go Back to Answer the Hard Ones 260
Read Each Problem Carefully 260
Look for Information in the Answer Choices 260
Use Illustrations Wisely and Whenever You Can 261
Use Your Calculator Wisely 261
Think! 261
Show Your Work 262
Check Your Answers 262
Chapter 7: Improving Your Reading Score 263
Content of the ACT Reading Test 263
Key Ideas and Details 264
Craft and Structure 264
Integration of Knowledge and Ideas 264
Types of Questions on the ACT Reading Test 264
Representative ACT Reading Test Questions 265
Strategies for Taking the ACT Reading Test 275
Pace Yourself 275
Use the Time Allotted 275
Think of an Overall Strategy That Works for You 276
Keep the Passage as a Whole in Mind 276
Find a Strategy for Approaching Each Question 276
Reading Strategies Summary 277
Chapter 8: Improving Your Science Score 285
Content of the ACT Science Test 285
Format of the ACT Science Test 286
Data Representation Format 287
Discussion of Sample Passage I (Data Representation) 289
Research Summaries Format 292
Discussion of Sample Passage II (Research Summaries) 294
Conflicting Viewpoints Format 296
Discussion of Sample Passage III (Conflicting Viewpoints) 298
Strategies for Taking the ACT Science Test 301
Develop a Problem-Solving Method 301
Take Notes 302
Pace Yourself 302
Practice Interpreting Graphs, Tables, and Diagrams 302
Make the Most of the Information in Graphs 303
Make the Most of the Information in Tables 305
Develop an Understanding of Scientific Investigations 306
Carefully Analyze Conflicting Viewpoints 306
Chapter 9: Improving Your Score on the Optional Writing Test 307
Content of the ACT Writing Test 308
How Your Essay Will Be Scored 308
Sample Prompt and Essays 308
Sample ACT Writing Test Prompt 309
Sample Essay Responses 311
Strategies for Taking the ACT Writing Test 335
Prewrite 335
Write 335
Review Your Essay 336
Practice 336
Part Four: Taking Additional Practice Tests 337
Chapter 10: Taking Additional Practice Tests 339
Practice Test 2 345
Explanatory Answers 405
Practice Test 3 483
Explanatory Answers 543
Practice Test 4 621
Explanatory Answers 679
Practice Test 5 751
Explanatory Answers 809
Chapter 11: Scoring the Additional Practice Tests 879
Scoring Your Practice Tests 880
Scoring Practice Test 2 881
Scoring the Multiple-Choice Tests 881
Scoring Your Practice Writing Test 2 Essay 887
Scoring Practice Test 3 890
Scoring the Multiple-Choice Tests 890
Scoring Your Practice Writing Test 3 Essay 895
Scoring Practice Test 4 897
Scoring the Multiple-Choice Tests 897
Scoring Your Practice Writing Test 4 Essay 902
Scoring Practice Test 5 904
Scoring the Multiple-Choice Tests 904
Scoring Your Practice Writing Test 5 Essay 909
Chapter 12: Interpreting Your ACT Test Scores and Ranks 911
Understanding Your ACT Test Results 913
How ACT Scores Your Multiple-Choice Tests 913
How ACT Scores Your Writing Test 913
Recognizing That Test Scores are Estimates of Educational Achievement 913
Using Ranks to Interpret Your Scores 914
Comparing Your Test Scores to Each Other 914
Comparing Your Scores and Ranks to Your High School Grades 914
Comparing Your Scores to Those of Enrolled First-Year College Students 914
Using ACT College and Career Readiness Standards to Help You Understand Your ACT Scores 915
Planning Your Education and Career 916
Seeking Additional Information and Guidance 916
ACT College and Career Readiness Standards—English 917
Production of Writing 917
ACT College and Career Readiness Standards—Mathematics 924
ACT College and Career Readiness Standards—Reading 933
Text Complexity Rubric—Reading 940
ACT College and Career Readiness Standards—Science 947
Part Five: Moving Forward to Test Day 951
Chapter 13: Registering, Planning, and Packing for Test Day 953
National Testing Program versus State and District Testing 954
Registering for the ACT 954
Selecting a National Testing Date and Location 954
Selecting a Test Option 956
Registering 956
Registering Under Special Circumstances 957
Planning and Packing for Test Day 957
Getting to the Test Center 957
Dressing for Test Day 958
Packing for Test Day: What to Bring 958
Obtaining Additional Test Details 959
At the Test Center 959
Checking In 959
Following the Rules 960
Communicating with the Testing Staff 961
Maintaining Your Composure and Energy 962
Voiding Your Answer Documents on Test Day 962
Testing More Than Once 963
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