Brought to you by your friendly GPS English Department MME Test Prep 2010 Brought to you by your friendly GPS English Department

Michigan Math, Science, & Social Studies Which tests am I taking? March 9 ACT Plus Writing English Math Reading Science Writing March 10 WorkKeys Reading for Information Applied Math Locating Information March 11 Michigan Math, Science, & Social Studies Social Studies

Why do I want to take these tests? 1. To demonstrate the skills you have been practicing throughout your school career. 2. Free ACT test—all costs covered by the state. 3. So that you don’t have to take a retake test later. 4. Will be beneficial to your post-high school goals.

ACT Test Breakdown Subject Total Items Time (in minutes) English 75 MC 45 Mathematics 60 MC 60 Reading 40 MC 35 Science Writing 1 Prompt 30

Tips for taking the ACT Directions for the ACT sections never change. Use a practice ACT test to read directions ahead of time. Don’t waste time reading directions on the test day – just start.

Tips for taking the ACT You are encouraged to write in your ACT test booklet during the test. Circle main ideas Cross out incorrect answers Jot notes including shifts of tone Underline important words

Tips for taking the ACT Use PROCESS OF ELIMINATION (PoE) to eliminate incorrect answer choices. For example, do you know the answer to this question? Who was the tenth president of the United States? What if you use PoE? Let’s look at the next slide….

Tips for taking the ACT Who was the tenth president of the United States? Bill Clinton George Washington John Tyler John F. Kennedy Could you figure out that the correct answer is “C. John Tyler” by using PoE?

Tips for taking the ACT NEVER leave a question blank. There is NO penalty for guessing. If you are about to run out of time, fill in the remaining bubbles on your answer sheet. Guess the same letter each time (25% chance of getting it correct). If you randomly fill in bubbles, you will get about 8% correct. Answer options are A, B, C, D followed by F, G, H, J. Be sure your answer sheet options match those on the current question.

Tips for taking the ACT Avoid cramming for the test the night before. This makes your score go down, not up! Eat a healthy, light breakfast the morning of testing. Sleep well several nights before the test. (Lack of sleep often hits 48 hours later.)

ACT Reading Prose Fiction 10 questions ~8 minutes Social Science Humanities Natural Science

ACT Reading Read quickly. Read for main idea. Ignore details (for now). Prepare yourself for difficult passages. Underline main ideas. Circle examples and “shifters.” (However, although, despite, even though, nonetheless) Mark (+) or (-) to indicate positive or negative tone, attitude, and example. Sum up what you just read in a few words somewhere next to the passage.

ACT READING I am going to pass out a sample reading passage to you called “Of the Origin and Use of Money.” Please do not begin reading until I say “Start.” You will have 3 minutes to read (the same amount of time you should give yourself on the real ACT).

REMEMBER! Read for and underline main idea. Circle examples and “shifters.” (However, although, despite, even though, nonetheless) Mark (+) or (-) to indicate positive or negative tone, attitude, and example. Sum up what you just read in a few words somewhere next to the passage

Main Idea Questions Look back at what you have underlined. Look at your sum-it-up note. Decide if the question is asking about the passage as a WHOLE or just PART of the passage. Use PoE (Process of Elimination).

1. Which passage best summarizes the main idea of the first paragraph? Commercial society is based on exploiting the labor of others. Division of labor is the only way to a truly commercial society. A person’s needs can be best met through the exchange of surplus goods. Only through hard work will man reach his goals.

1. Which passage best summarizes the main idea of the first paragraph? Commercial society is based on exploiting the labor of others. Division of labor is the only way to a truly commercial society. A person’s needs can be best met through the exchange of surplus goods. Only through hard work will man reach his goals. The question asks students to look only at the first paragraph. “Division of labor” is mentioned in the first sentence, but it is NOT the main point of the paragraph, which eliminates B as an answer. “A” and “d” sound good, but cannot be found in the passage.

Vocabulary Questions Asks about the meaning of a word in the passage. Look at word in the passage. Read at least one sentence before and at least one sentence after the one in which the word is used. Even if you think you KNOW what the word means, look back in the passage to be sure it is really used that way.

2. As it is used in line 11, the word superfluity most nearly means: F. More than is needed. G. Material goods. H. High quality. J. A shortage.

2. As it is used in line 11, the word superfluity most nearly means: F. More than is needed. G. Material goods. H. High quality. J. A shortage.

Generalization Take a large amount of information and shrink it down to a shorter way of saying the same thing. Beware! Some answers will be true, but will NOT answer the question.

3. One of the main problems with trading goods and services, according to the author is: Goods can spoil before they can be traded. A common price of goods cannot be met. Trading requires both parties to be honest. Often the goods in trade are not needed by one party.

3. One of the main problems with trading goods and services, according to the author is: Goods can spoil before they can be traded. A common price of goods cannot be met. Trading requires both parties to be honest. Often the goods in trade are not needed by one party.

Look back in the passage. Detail Questions Look back in the passage. Beware! Some wrong answers come from sentences or words around the actual answer.

F. Dried cod G. Tobacco H. Salt J. Metal 4. According to the passages, what goods are used in trade in Newfoundland? F. Dried cod G. Tobacco H. Salt J. Metal

F. Dried cod G. Tobacco H. Salt J. Metal 4. According to the passages, what goods are used in trade in Newfoundland? F. Dried cod G. Tobacco H. Salt J. Metal

Inference Questions Author has not blatantly stated the fact that you are looking for. The author has implied something and you must infer. Information from the text + Your own knowledge = INFERENCE

5. It can be inferred from the passage that a reason people originally chose cattle as a form of currency is: Cattle were a valuable commodity. They chose goods that were readily available. They had not yet invented a way to melt metal. Cattle were easy to divide.

5. It can be inferred from the passage that a reason people originally chose cattle as a form of currency is: Cattle were a valuable commodity. They chose goods that were readily available. They had not yet invented a way to melt metal. Cattle were easy to divide.

Other question types… Point of view Cause and Effect Comparison What is the author’s opinion on a subject? Cause and Effect What would be the outcome of an event stated in the passage? Comparison Compare sets of information and decide on the differences among them.

ACT English Test 45 minutes 75 MC questions 13% Punctuation 16% Grammar and Usage 24% Sentence Structure 16% Writing Strategies 15% Organizational Techniques 16% Style

ACT English Sample question -

When storyteller Mary Carter Smith practices her art and everybody listens. NO CHANGE Smith, practices her art Smith, practices her art, Smith practices her art,

When storyteller Mary Carter Smith practices her art and everybody listens. NO CHANGE Smith, practices her art Smith, practices her art, Smith practices her art,

Tips for ACT English No change option will be used about 25% of the time. Omit=take out Reread the sentence with your selection in the blank before moving on. Don’t automatically choose diction that “sounds” better (whom instead of who). Each has equal chance of being correct.

Take home packet… Please complete the packet before our next meeting Take home packet… Please complete the packet before our next meeting. We will meet again on Tuesday. Presenters: Distribute the grammar packet.

WorkKeys Day 2 of testing is WorkKeys. WorkKeys tests your job knowledge. Are you employable? Results can be shown to prospective employers as extra incentive to hire you.

WorkKeys Sample Question -

In this situation, the goal for the team can best be accomplished by: Scenario: A two-person paint and wallpaper crew is redecorating the first floor of a house for a family which has gone on vacation. The team has two days to finish the job. They have completed the dining room and family room. One team member is finishing the painting in the kitchen; the other has begun wallpapering the living room. The second team member finds that after the paste is applied, the wallpaper tears very easily when he is trying to adjust it on the wall and trim it to fit. They discuss the situation. The one who is painting suggests that they both work on the wallpapering first and then finish painting the kitchen. She explains that one of them can hold up the bottom of the wallpaper strip while the other one does the trimming. This might prevent the tearing by eliminating the extra weight on the paper. In this situation, the goal for the team can best be accomplished by: A. asking for more time to complete the project. B. buying extra wallpaper to allow for torn pieces. C. continuing to work individually on each room. D. working together on the wallpapering and painting in both rooms.

In this situation, the goal for the team can best be accomplished by: Scenario: A two-person paint and wallpaper crew is redecorating the first floor of a house for a family which has gone on vacation. The team has two days to finish the job. They have completed the dining room and family room. One team member is finishing the painting in the kitchen; the other has begun wallpapering the living room. The second team member finds that after the paste is applied, the wallpaper tears very easily when he is trying to adjust it on the wall and trim it to fit. They discuss the situation. The one who is painting suggests that they both work on the wallpapering first and then finish painting the kitchen. She explains that one of them can hold up the bottom of the wallpaper strip while the other one does the trimming. This might prevent the tearing by eliminating the extra weight on the paper. In this situation, the goal for the team can best be accomplished by: A. asking for more time to complete the project. B. buying extra wallpaper to allow for torn pieces. C. continuing to work individually on each room. D. working together on the wallpapering and painting in both rooms.

Tips for MC on the ACT Wrong answers are called distracters. Distracters take your attention away from the right answer. CLOSE BUT NOT QUITE Is technically a “right” answer, but is not the best answer. TOTAL OPPOSITE the polar opposite of the right answer….so wrong it seems right. WORD FOR WORD uses exact wording from the prompt to trick you into picking the answer….usually doesn’t answer the question.

Remember to choose the BEST answer The ACT will offer you a spectrum of choices on MC. A B C D Wrong Correct Don’t be tempted away by the second best answer (Answer C in the example). Don’t over-think the question.

Please remember to take home your grammar packet Please remember to take home your grammar packet. You need to complete it by next Tuesday.