The ACT Math Test Useful Strategies

Use Your Calculator Wisely ›Sometimes using a calculator might actually take more time than working the problem out by hand – use the calculator with discretion. ›If a fraction problem gives all the answers in fraction, not decimal form, you should not use your calculator. You’ll only be wasting time converting your decimal answer to fraction form. This rule also applies to problems involving radicals. ›You should only use your calculator when you have a definite operation you want to perform. You should not reach for your calculator instinctively any time you run into trouble. ›No calculation on the test should be super difficult.

Encourage Your Inner Artist ›On the right-hand side of every Math Test page, you will find a column with the header “DO YOUR FIGURING HERE.” ›You can use this space to write formulas, graphs, drawings of triangles, or whatever else you want. ›Don’t bother being neat or thorough in this scribble space. You should not do work as if you’re trying to impress your teacher. ›You should do just as much work as you need to do in order to get the question right: no more, no less.

Beware of Partial Answers ›Partial answers love to prey upon eager test takers who are in a hurry to get the right answer. Instead of paying careful attention to the question, these test takers get a number, see it in the answer choices, and immediately identify it as the correct answer. ›ACT knows about all these eager, jumpy test takers and deliberately plants partial answers throughout the Math Test. ›On word problems, the last sentence of the problem usually tells you what the question is looking for. ›Consider rereading this last sentence once you’ve formulated your answer to make sure you did what the question asked.

Difficulty of Questions ›You should pace yourself according to the knowledge that an early problem on the test will be easier than a problem late in the test. ›With 60 minutes to solve 60 problems, you might be thinking that you should allot a minute for each problem. But easy problems should take you less than a minute to solve, while solving a difficult problem can be time- consuming. ›If you find yourself spending too much time on a problem early in the test, skip it and come back to it later.

Process for Answering Math Questions 1.Read the question without paying attention to the answer choices. 2.Make sure you understand what the question is asking, and have a plan for finding the answer. 3.Answer the question as if there were no answer choices. 4.Match your answer to the answer choices given. 5.Fill in the appropriate bubble on the answer sheet.

Strategy = Target Score › You can get a 23, or even a 25 or 26, without answering a large number of questions, so there’s no need to race through the test. You should focus on getting questions right. ›Students looking to score a 27 or above on the Math Test, though, should not be working out every question. Finding quicker ways to answer questions must be part of your strategy, because only through these faster methods will you give yourself the time to get to and answer the last few difficult questions that can make all the difference.