ACT 36 in Just 7 Steps

Four key principles<br/>Principle 1 · Learn 36 Strategies<br/>Principle 2 · Study 36 Examples<br/>Principle 3 · Complete 36 Practice Problem Sets<br/>Principle 4 · Concentrate on 36 Review<br/>The ACT: the basics<br/>What is the ACT?<br/>Why does the ACT exist?<br/>What are the differences between the ACT and the SAT?<br/>What is the format of the ACT?<br/>How many questions are there on the ACT?<br/>How long does the exam take?<br/>How is the exam scored?<br/>How often is the ACT administered?<br/>How much does it cost?<br/>How do I register?<br/>How important is the ACT?<br/>How many times should I take the ACT?<br/>How is the ACT reported?<br/>What is the TIR?<br/>Should I take the ACT Writing test?<br/>What is the PLAN?<br/>What about special circumstances?<br/>The truth about the ACT<br/>Essential materials<br/>General ACT preparation<br/>Take a diagnostic exam<br/>Work together: 36 Practice and 36 Review<br/>Step 1 · Learn 36 Strategies<br/>Step 2 · Complete an ACT practice section<br/>Step 3 · Score your ACT practice section<br/>Step 4 · Check questions you answered correctly<br/>Step 5 · Check questions you answered incorrectly<br/>Step 6 · Complete your 36 Review<br/>Step 7 · Repeat steps 1 to 6<br/>When to prepare<br/>The 36 six-phase schedule<br/>A consistent schedule<br/>Where to prepare<br/>What to memorize<br/>Physical and mental health<br/>General 36 Strategies<br/>General 36 Strategy 1 · Practice how to take the ACT<br/>General 36 Strategy 2 · Write it all down<br/>General 36 Strategy 3 · Bubble one page at a time<br/>General 36 Strategy 4 · Skip and return<br/>General 36 Strategy 5 · Always guess—always<br/>Extra tips and tricks<br/>1 Prepare for ACT English<br/>Stats<br/>Breaking down ACT English<br/>English 36 Strategies<br/>English 36 Strategy 1 · Say it out loud (well, not really)<br/>English 36 Strategy 2 · Eliminate choices you know are wrong<br/>English 36 Strategy 3 · Don’t forget about “NO CHANGE” and “DELETE”<br/>English 36 Strategy 4 · Shorter is sweeter<br/>English 36 Strategy 5 · Read and answer as you go<br/>Categories<br/>Usage/mechanics (53%)<br/>Punctuation<br/>Grammar/usage<br/>Sentence structure<br/>Rhetorical skills (47%)<br/>Strategy<br/>Organization<br/>Style<br/>2 Prepare for ACT Math<br/>Stats<br/>Breaking down ACT Math<br/>Logistics<br/>Timing<br/>Using a calculator<br/>Mathematical concepts<br/>Topics covered<br/>Scoring<br/>Basic math<br/>Order of operations<br/>Distribution<br/>Even and odd numbers<br/>Positive and negative numbers<br/>Integers<br/>Real and rational numbers<br/>Pre-algebra<br/>Number problems<br/>Square roots<br/>Exponents<br/>Scientific notation<br/>Factors and multiples<br/>Ratio, proportion, and percentage<br/>Linear equations<br/>Absolute value and ordering<br/>Mean, median, and mode<br/>Probability<br/>Data representation<br/>Elementary algebra<br/>Substitution<br/>Using variables to express relationships<br/>Algebraic operations and inequalities<br/>Factoring<br/>Intermediate algebra<br/>Roots of polynomials<br/>The quadratic formula<br/>Radicals and radical expressions<br/>Absolute values in equations<br/>Sequences and patterns<br/>Functions<br/>Matrices<br/>Complex numbers<br/>Logarithms<br/>Coordinate geometry<br/>Points and lines<br/>Polynomials<br/>Circles<br/>Graphing inequalities<br/>Slope<br/>Parallel and perpendicular lines<br/>Distance and midpoints<br/>Conics<br/>Plane geometry<br/>Angles<br/>Circles<br/>Triangles and the Pythagorean theorem<br/>Polygons<br/>Transformations<br/>Volume and 3-D geometry<br/>Trigonometry<br/>SOHCAHTOA<br/>Values and properties of trigonometric functions<br/>Graphing trigonometric functions<br/>Trigonometric identities<br/>Solving trigonometric equations<br/>Math 36 Strategies<br/>Math 36 Strategy 1 · Write it down<br/>Math 36 Strategy 2 · Draw a picture<br/>Math 36 Strategy 3 · Perform a sanity check<br/>Math 36 Strategy 4 · Don’t trust your eyes<br/>Math 36 Strategy 5 · Target the unknown<br/>Math 36 Strategy 6 · Use your calculator—last<br/>Math 36 Strategy 7 · Don’t be afraid to take the first step<br/>Math 36 Strategy 8 · When in doubt, test it out<br/>Equations to memorize<br/>Intermediate algebra<br/>Coordinate geometry<br/>Plane geometry<br/>Trigonometry<br/>3 Prepare for ACT Reading<br/>Stats<br/>Breaking down ACT Reading<br/>General strategy<br/>Timing<br/>The high school difference<br/>Literal vs. critical thinking<br/>Skills tested<br/>Reading 36 Strategies<br/>Reading 36 Strategy 1 · Write your own answer down first<br/>Reading 36 Strategy 2 · Skim it to win it<br/>Reading 36 Strategy 3 · Read actively<br/>Reading 36 Strategy 4 · Don’t defend the choices—attack<br/>Reading 36 Strategy 5 · Don’t assume<br/>Reading 36 Strategy 6 · Avoid extremes<br/>Reading 36 Strategy 7 · Choose general over specific<br/>Reading 36 Strategy 8 · Mark it up<br/>Subject-specific strategies<br/>Prose fiction<br/>Social sciences<br/>Natural sciences<br/>Humanities<br/>4 Prepare for ACT Science<br/>Stats<br/>Breaking down ACT Science<br/>Science 36 Strategies<br/>Data representation<br/>Science 36 Strategy 1 · Go straight to the questions in data representation<br/>Science 36 Strategy 2 · Look for trends<br/>Science 36 Strategy 3 · Know your graphs<br/>Research summaries<br/>Science 36 Strategy 4 · Go straight to the questions in research summaries<br/>Science 36 Strategy 5 · Look for keywords in research summaries<br/>Science 36 Strategy 6 · Focus on similarities and differences in research summaries<br/>Conflicting viewpoints<br/>Science 36 Strategy 7 · Mark the passage<br/>Science 36 Strategy 8 · Look for keywords in conflicting viewpoints<br/>Science 36 Strategy 9 · Focus on similarities and differences in conflicting viewpoints<br/>Science 36 Strategy 10 · Don’t be intimidated<br/>Additional tips<br/>Timing<br/>ACT 36 General Strategy<br/>The “not enough information” choice<br/>When to skip a passage<br/>5 Prepare for ACT Writing<br/>Stats<br/>Breaking down ACT Writing<br/>Scoring the ACT essay<br/>ACT Writing score sheet<br/>The essay topic<br/>Writing 36 Strategies<br/>Writing 36 Strategy 1 · Master the five-paragraph essay format<br/>Template for the five-paragraph essay<br/>Writing 36 Strategy 2 · Pace yourself<br/>Writing 36 Strategy 3 · Use vocabulary to your advantage<br/>Writing 36 Strategy 4 · Fill the space<br/>Writing 36 Strategy 5 · Stay active<br/>Writing 36 Strategy 6 · Transition smoothly<br/>Writing 36 Strategy 7 · Don’t get personal<br/>Writing 36 Strategy 8 · Plan, plan, plan<br/>6 Practice a full-length ACT exam<br/>Answer sheets<br/>Section 1 · English<br/>Section 2 · Mathematics<br/>Section 3 · Reading<br/>Section 4 · Science<br/>Section 5 · Writing<br/>7 Review the ACT practice exam<br/>Section 1 · English<br/>Section 2 · Mathematics<br/>Section 3 · Reading<br/>Section 4 · Science<br/>Section 5 · Writing<br/>Guide to scoring the ACT exam<br/>Raw scores<br/>Scaled scores<br/>Composite score<br/>Reminders for exam day