1. Test-taking tips/strategies Much of the information was gleamed from an ACT workshop presented by Ms. Shelly Harris Teacher Mid-Del City

2. ACT During the ACT (or any standardized test), sit where you sat in the class that gave you the most trouble/the subject you struggle with the most. During the ACT (or any standardized test), sit where you sat in the class that gave you the most trouble/the subject you struggle with the most.

3. Whatever “candy” you like (peppermint, jolly rancher, etc.), eat while you’re studying that subject, then eat the SAME candy when you test. (4 test = 4 different candies) Whatever “candy” you like (peppermint, jolly rancher, etc.), eat while you’re studying that subject, then eat the SAME candy when you test. (4 test = 4 different candies) This is sensory/memory recall. The candy helps you recall certain things from your study time. **REMEMBER…there is no food or drink in the testing areas, so don’t advertise your candy! You just may happen to have it in your pocket in case you have a “cough” that morning! This is sensory/memory recall. The candy helps you recall certain things from your study time. **REMEMBER…there is no food or drink in the testing areas, so don’t advertise your candy! You just may happen to have it in your pocket in case you have a “cough” that morning!

4. Keep your morning routines: Don’t eat a large breakfast—unless that’s what you always do. Don’t eat a large breakfast—unless that’s what you always do. Shower, make-up, brush teeth, etc. Shower, make-up, brush teeth, etc. Don’t drink energy drinks unless that’s what you normally do—you’ll spaz out during test Don’t drink energy drinks unless that’s what you normally do—you’ll spaz out during test Don’t cram for test the night before Don’t cram for test the night before No highlighters No highlighters DO NOT BRING A CELL PHONE INSIDE! DO NOT BRING A CELL PHONE INSIDE! IF IT GOES OFF DURING TEST, YOU’LL BE KICKED OUT OF TESTING AREA—NULL AND VOID! IF IT GOES OFF DURING TEST, YOU’LL BE KICKED OUT OF TESTING AREA—NULL AND VOID!

5. More tips... Take a jacket…might be chilly Take a jacket…might be chilly No highlighters No highlighters DO NOT BRING A CELL PHONE INSIDE! DO NOT BRING A CELL PHONE INSIDE! IF IT GOES OFF DURING TEST, YOU’LL BE KICKED OUT OF TESTING AREA—NULL AND VOID!  IF IT GOES OFF DURING TEST, YOU’LL BE KICKED OUT OF TESTING AREA—NULL AND VOID! 

6. 4 different tests in this order: English—(Go with “D” if you’re guessing) English—(Go with “D” if you’re guessing) Math—If you’re a math whiz, start at the back of the test; it’s the hardest—if not, just start. Math—If you’re a math whiz, start at the back of the test; it’s the hardest—if not, just start. AFTER THE MATH TEST, THERE IS A 10- MINUTE BREAK—USE IT!!! AFTER THE MATH TEST, THERE IS A 10- MINUTE BREAK—USE IT!!! GET OUT OF ROOM GET OUT OF ROOM GET CAFFEINE GET CAFFEINE Reading—Start with 3 rd passage—it’s the hardest Reading—Start with 3 rd passage—it’s the hardest Science—Ask if you can stand up a second before you Science—Ask if you can stand up a second before you start this part of the test! STRETCH! start this part of the test! STRETCH!

7. The Test & Answer Document When you walk into the testing session, make sure to ask: “Are you going to tell us when 5 minutes are left?”. When you walk into the testing session, make sure to ask: “Are you going to tell us when 5 minutes are left?”. Mark in your test booklet Mark in your test booklet Never fill out answer document until last 5 minutes of each section. Never fill out answer document until last 5 minutes of each section. Wear a WATCH and then trust your proctor for TIME! Wear a WATCH and then trust your proctor for TIME!

8. ENGLISH DO NOT READ THE DIRECTIONS! DO NOT READ THE DIRECTIONS! Read the questions first. Read the questions first. Start reading ONLY the underlined portion Start reading ONLY the underlined portion The only time you have to look at the sentences around a problem is for the “verb tense” questions. The only time you have to look at the sentences around a problem is for the “verb tense” questions. If you can clearly see something is wrong, ck it If you can clearly see something is wrong, ck it 10 to 12 “No Change” answers 10 to 12 “No Change” answers If there is OMIT/DELETE—pick it and move on! If there is OMIT/DELETE—pick it and move on!

9. Sentence Structure Run-on Sentences: Run-on Sentences: _____, _____ NO _____, _____ NO _____ ; _____ YES _____ ; _____ YES _____. _____ YES _____. _____ YES _____, CC _____ YES _____, CC _____ YES But, Or, Yet, And, For, Nor But, Or, Yet, And, For, Nor _____ ; CA _____ YES _____ ; CA _____ YES However, therefore, moreover, consequently, nevertheless, etc. However, therefore, moreover, consequently, nevertheless, etc. If all else fails, cross out the Prepositional Phrases and look for subject/verb agreement! If all else fails, cross out the Prepositional Phrases and look for subject/verb agreement!

10. If the question says “Not” or “Except,” circle those words! Pay attention to these!!! If the question says “Not” or “Except,” circle those words! Pay attention to these!!! 3 right choices... 3 right choices... A. yes A. yes B. yes B. yes C. yes C. yes D. no... Pick this one D. no... Pick this one

11. www.actstudent.org/test Practice online before you take the test! Practice online before you take the test!

12. Math Math whiz? Start at the end and work backwards Math whiz? Start at the end and work backwards Struggle with math? Start at the beginning Struggle with math? Start at the beginning If you come close to an answer that’s listed, choose that one! If you come close to an answer that’s listed, choose that one! Have an approved calculator! Have an approved calculator! Wait for the last 5 minutes and fill in answers! Wait for the last 5 minutes and fill in answers! Don’t know the answer? Pick the D/J spot! Don’t know the answer? Pick the D/J spot! Plug-in Method: Choose B or C, plug it in and work from there Plug-in Method: Choose B or C, plug it in and work from there Collegealgebratricks.org (Review equations for Algebra and Geometry) Collegealgebratricks.org (Review equations for Algebra and Geometry)

13. Reading Never read passage first Never read passage first Always read question stem FIRST! Always read question stem FIRST! 4 passages 4 passages 1 st section—Questions first—Mark key words that stand out in the STEM! 1 st section—Questions first—Mark key words that stand out in the STEM! If it gives a line number, go 2 up and 2 down If it gives a line number, go 2 up and 2 down With “vocab.” questions, never pick answer before looking at passage; it probably won’t be the obvious choice With “vocab.” questions, never pick answer before looking at passage; it probably won’t be the obvious choice

14. Reading Questions give the answer—NOT the passage! Questions give the answer—NOT the passage! NOT about the passage—only the question! NOT about the passage—only the question! Mark all stems—don’t look at choices! Mark all stems—don’t look at choices! When you go back to read the passage, your brain already has “key words” from your having marked the stems... Mark, circle, etc. When you go back to read the passage, your brain already has “key words” from your having marked the stems... Mark, circle, etc. MARK THE PASSAGE! BUT READ QUICKLY! MARK THE PASSAGE! BUT READ QUICKLY! STUDENTS WHO MARK THEIR BOOKS, SCORE BETTER ON THEIR TEST!!!!! STUDENTS WHO MARK THEIR BOOKS, SCORE BETTER ON THEIR TEST!!!!! If something stands out in passage, mark it! If something stands out in passage, mark it!

15. Reading Once you’ve read the passage quickly and marked it, go back to your questions and the choices! Once you’ve read the passage quickly and marked it, go back to your questions and the choices! There’s always a “dumb” choice—mark it out! There’s always a “dumb” choice—mark it out! 3 left and 1 of those is clearly WRONG! 3 left and 1 of those is clearly WRONG! Now, you have a 50/50 chance! Now, you have a 50/50 chance! Draw an arrow between these 2 to clearly mark them. < This helps to focus! Draw an arrow between these 2 to clearly mark them. < This helps to focus! This method should work for EOI and AP as well! This method should work for EOI and AP as well!

16. REVIEW for READING Read QUESTIONS first!!!! Read QUESTIONS first!!!! Mark question stems…looking for key words Mark question stems…looking for key words Look for Vocabulary words in passage—don’t just pick the obvious answer without looking Look for Vocabulary words in passage—don’t just pick the obvious answer without looking When line #’s are given, go 2 up and 2 down! When line #’s are given, go 2 up and 2 down!

17. Reading READ the passages in this order: READ the passages in this order: 3 rd passage FIRST!!! (It’s usually the hardest.) 3 rd passage FIRST!!! (It’s usually the hardest.) 2 nd passage—2 nd hardest 2 nd passage—2 nd hardest 1 st passage—All detail/usually easy 1 st passage—All detail/usually easy 4 th passage—last—Sometimes you don’t have to read the whole passage on this one 4 th passage—last—Sometimes you don’t have to read the whole passage on this one

18. Remember... Skim, read quickly, mark everything that stands out to you Skim, read quickly, mark everything that stands out to you Have pencil on page, mark WORDS because your brain will pick up on those Have pencil on page, mark WORDS because your brain will pick up on those Circle the words “NOT” and “EXCEPT” Circle the words “NOT” and “EXCEPT” If you run out of time, go to first and last sentence of paragraph, read those only If you run out of time, go to first and last sentence of paragraph, read those only

19. Science Remember, Stand UP and Stretch before this test! Remember, Stand UP and Stretch before this test! This part of the test is NOT about science knowledge (at least most of it isn’t... Maybe only 4 questions) This part of the test is NOT about science knowledge (at least most of it isn’t... Maybe only 4 questions) Science is about your Reasoning Skills!!! Science is about your Reasoning Skills!!! Your Test-taking Abilities!!! Your Test-taking Abilities!!! Use the < (arrow) system you used w/Reading! Use the < (arrow) system you used w/Reading! NEVER change your 1 st answer! (Unless new evidence is discovered, then change it.) NEVER change your 1 st answer! (Unless new evidence is discovered, then change it.)

20. Science Do not read the science passages—no time! Do not read the science passages—no time! Save the ones you have to read/understand until the end—then choose the D/J spot Save the ones you have to read/understand until the end—then choose the D/J spot Question stems—what are they asking? Question stems—what are they asking? Mark in the book! Mark in the book!

21. www.actstudent.org www.actstudent.org www.actstudent.org Take some practice tests before the real deal! Take some practice tests before the real deal!

22. Some of this information was obtained from an ACT workshop I attended presented by Ms. Shelly Harris-- Former Teacher, Former Teacher, Mid-Del City Mid-Del City