1. A Guide to the ACT

2. Overview of the ACT
 The ACT is administered by the ACT, “an independent, not-for-
profit organization that provides a broad array of assessment,
research, information, and program management solutions in the
areas of education and workforce development”
 Total test time is 3 hours and 25 minutes (including the 30 minute
optional writing test)
 There are 215 questions on the ACT
 The ACT is scored by machine. Consequently, circles on the answer
sheet must be filled out completely, and in a neat manner

3. Overview of the ACT continued…
 The ACT contains 5 separate, timed sections
I. English
II. Mathematics
III. Reading
IV. Science
V. Writing
 Note: the writing section is optional. However, it is
highly recommended that all students complete the
writing section

4. Sections of the ACT: English
English
45 minutes
 75 questions in total
 5 passages
Question Types:
 40 usage/mechanics questions
 punctuation, grammar, usage, and sentence structure
 35 rhetorical strategy questions
 style, organization, and writing strategy

5. Sample English Problem
Example of a usage/mechanical problem:
Passage:
I grew up with buckets, shovels, and nets waiting by the back
door; hip-waders hanging in the closet; tide table charts
covering the refrigerator door; and a microscope was sitting
on the kitchen table.
 A. NO CHANGE
 B. would sit
 C. sitting
 D. sat

6. And the Answer is…
 The best answer is C. The verb form sitting is best here
because it creates a parallel structure for all three items in the
series: "nets waiting," "hip-waders hanging," "a microscope
sitting."
 The best answer is NOT A because the phrase was sitting
makes the third item in the series not parallel with the first
two items.
 The best answer is NOT B because the phrase would sit
makes the third item in the series not parallel with the first
two items.
 The best answer is NOT D because the verb sat makes the
third item in the series not parallel with the first two items.

7. Sections of the ACT: Mathematics
Mathematics
60 minutes, 60 questions
Question types:
 14 Pre-Algebra problems
 real numbers, linear equations, simple probability, data interpretation, and simple statistics
 10 Elementary Algebra problems
 polynomials, exponents, and quadratic equations
 9 Intermediate Algebra problems
 rational and algebraic expressions, inequalities, logarithms, complex numbers, sequences,
and matrices
 9 Coordinate Algebra problems
 graphing, linear equations, conics, and other curves
 14 Plane Geometry problems
 understanding of angles, line segments, triangles, quadrilaterals, polygons, and circles
 4 Trigonometry problems
 trigonometric functions, as well as sines, cosines, and tangents

8. Sample Mathematics Problem
A car averages 27 miles per gallon. If gas costs $4.04 per
gallon, which of the following is closest to how much the
gas would cost for this car to travel 2,727 typical miles?
 A. $ 44.44
 B. $109.08
 C. $118.80
 D. $408.04
 E. $444.40

9. And the Answer Is…
The Correct Answer is D
 If you divide 2,727 miles by 27 miles per gallon you will
get the number of gallons needed to travel 2,727 miles
2,727/27 = 101
 Then, multiply the number of gallons by the cost per
gallon: 101(4.04) = 408.04
This gives the cost of gas for this car to travel
2,727 typical miles.

10. Sections of the ACT: Mathematics
 Note: Calculators are allowed and HIGHLY
ENCOURAGED on the ACT Mathematics section
Permitted Calculators
 You may use any four-function, scientific, or graphing
calculator, unless it has features described in the
Prohibited Calculators list

11. Sections of the ACT: Reading
Reading
35 minutes
 40 questions total
 4 passages - each containing 10 questions
Passage Types:
 Prose Fiction – an excerpt from a short story or novel
 Humanities – an excerpt describing and analyzing a work of
art or an artist
 Social Science – an excerpt presenting researched material
 Natural Science – an excerpt presenting a science related
topic

12. Sections of the ACT: Science
Science
35 minutes
 40 questions
 7 passages
Earth Science Biology
Passage Types:
Chemistry Physics
 Most of the information necessary to understand the passages on the science
section of the ACT is presented directly or implicitly within each passage
 Calculators are not permitted because they should not be necessary to solve any of
the questions

13. Sections of the ACT: Writing
Writing
30 minutes
 Requires the test taker to provide an essay response to a given
prompt
 While this section is optional, it is highly recommended that all
test takers complete the writing section of the ACT!
 Your score on the writing section of the ACT will range from
1 (low) to 6 (high).
 This score will not affect your composite ACT score

14. Sections of the ACT: Writing
 Develop your own position according to the prompt!!
 Support your position using reasons and examples.
 Clearly state your position in the introductory paragraphs.
 Organize your essay in a coherent manner that includes an
introduction, body, and conclusion.
 DO NOT WRITE OFF-TOPIC

15. Sample ACT Writing Prompt
 At some high schools, teachers have considered allowing each
student to choose the books he or she will read for English
class rather than requiring all students in class to read the
same books. Some teachers support such a policy because
they think students will greatly improve their reading skills if
they read books they find interesting. Other teachers do not
support such a policy because they think that students will
learn more by participating in class discussing with others who
have read the same books. In your opinion, should each
individual student be allowed to choose the books he or she
reads for English class?
 In your essay, take a position on this question.You may write
about either one of the two points of view given, or you may
present a different point of view on this question. Use specific
reasons and examples to support your position.

16. How the ACT is scored
 The ACT is scored on a scale between 1 (low) and 36 (high)
 Each section is also scored on a scale between 1 and 36
 A composite score for each test is found by averaging the
scores from each of the 4 sections of the ACT
 For example, a student with a 24 on English, 22 on Mathematics, 22
on Reading, and 20 on Science will receive an ACT score of 22:
24+22+22+20 = 22
4
 The national average ACT score is 21
 The average ACT score of a Texas student is 20

17. Important strategies for the ACT
 Become familiar with the format of the test.
Know what to expect and you will be less nervous on
test day
 Answer EVERY question on the test. You do not
lose points for guessing on the ACT
 Limit your time on any one question. All
questions are worth the same number of points. If you
need a lot of time to answer a question, go on to the
next one. Later, you may have time to return to the
question you skipped.

18. Important strategies for the ACT (continued…)
 Keep track of time. Work at a steady pace and
remember that you do not have the time to get bogged
down on any one question.
 Use your test booklet as scratch paper.
 Mark the questions in your booklet that you
skipped and want to return to later.
 Read each question carefully. Be sure you know
exactly what each question asks.

19. Important strategies for the ACT (continued…)
 Use the answer choices to help you when you’re
unsure. Remember the correct answer is right there on
the page.
 Use POE (process of elimination) to eliminate
wrong answer choices.
 Check your answer sheet to make sure you are
answering the right question.
 Fill in the circles on your answer sheet completely
and in a neat manner.

20. What to expect on test day
Schedule
 7:30-7:45 Arrive
 8:00 Testing room doors close
 8:30-9:00 Testing starts
 Throughout the test there will be one short break after the
first two sections, and one additional break before the fourth
section and the writing section
 12:30-1:00 Test Ends

21. Differences between the SAT and the ACT
 The ACT is an achievement test, measuring what a student has learned in school; it
is described by admissions officers and educators as a “content-based test.”
 The SAT is an aptitude test, testing reasoning and verbal abilities; it tests critical
thinking and problem solving
The Key Differences:
 The ACT includes a science reasoning test; the SAT does not.
 The ACT math section includes trigonometry; the SAT does not
 The writing test is optional on the ACT and is done last; the writing section is
required on the SAT and is done first
 The SAT has an experimental section that is unscored (but you won’t know which
section it is); the ACT does not have an experimental section
 The SAT tests vocabulary much more than the ACT.
 The SAT is not entirely multiple choice (there is a grid-in portion in the math
section); the ACT is entirely multiple choice.
 The SAT has a guessing penalty (1/4 point off the total raw score, which is
converted into your scaled final score); the ACT does not