What is the ACT?

The ACT is a national college admission examination that consists of subject area tests in: English - 18 English - 18 Measures standard written English & Rhetorical Skills Math - 22 Math - 22 Measures mathematical skills students have typically acquired in courses taken up to the beginning of Grade 12 Reading – 21 Reading – 21 Measures Reading Comprehension Science – 24 Science – 24 Measures the interpretation, analysis, evaluation, reasoning, and problem solving skills required in the natural sciences

English Test Overview 75 questions, 45 minutes Content Covered: Content Covered: 6 elements of effective writing 6 elements of effective writing Usage & Mechanics Usage & Mechanics 1. Punctuation (13%) 2. Grammar & Usage (16%) 3. Sentence Structure (24%) Rhetorical Skills Rhetorical Skills 4. Strategy (16%) 5. Organization (15%) 6. Style (16%) Format of the test: Format of the test: 5 prose passages 5 prose passages Each passage is accompanied by multiple- choice questions Each passage is accompanied by multiple- choice questions Some questions refer to underlined portions and offer alternative choices Some questions refer to underlined portions and offer alternative choices Some ask about an underlined portion or section as a whole Some ask about an underlined portion or section as a whole Many questions offer “NO CHANGE” as a choice Many questions offer “NO CHANGE” as a choice

Math Test Overview 60 questions, 60 minutes Content Covered: Content Covered: 6 content areas 6 content areas 1. Pre-Algebra (23%) 2. Elementary Algebra (17%) 3. Intermediate Algebra (15%) 4. Coordinate Geometry (15%) 5. Plane Geometry (23%) 6. Trigonometry (7%) Format of the test: Format of the test: Multiple-choice questions Multiple-choice questions require reasoning skills to solve practical problems in mathematics require reasoning skills to solve practical problems in mathematics Knowledge of basic formulas and computational skills are necessary, but you are NOT required to know complex formulas or perform complex computation Knowledge of basic formulas and computational skills are necessary, but you are NOT required to know complex formulas or perform complex computation

Reading Test Overview 40 questions, 35 minutes Content Covered: Content Covered: reading comprehension in 4 content areas reading comprehension in 4 content areas 1. Social Studies (25%) – anthropology, archaeology, biography, business, economics, education, geography, history, political science, psychology and sociology 2. Natural Science (25%) – anatomy, astronomy, biology, botany chemistry, ecology, geology, medicine, meteorology, microbiology, natural history, physiology, physics, technology, zoology 3. Prose Fiction (25%) – intact short stories or excerpts from short stories or novels 4. Humanities (25%) – memoirs or personal essays about architecture, the arts, ethics, language, literary criticism Format of the test: Format of the test: Questions relate to comprehension of the 4 reading passages Questions relate to comprehension of the 4 reading passages measuring your ability to: measuring your ability to: Determine main ideas Determine main ideas Locate & interpret significant details Locate & interpret significant details Understand sequences of events Understand sequences of events Make comparisons Make comparisons Comprehend cause-effect relationships Comprehend cause-effect relationships Determine the meaning of context dependent words, phrases & statements Determine the meaning of context dependent words, phrases & statements Draw generalizations Draw generalizations Analyze the author’s voice and method Analyze the author’s voice and method

Science Test Overview 40 questions, 35 minutes Content Covered: Content Covered: Biology Biology Chemistry Chemistry Physics Physics Earth/Space (eg. Geology, astronomy, meteorology) Earth/Space (eg. Geology, astronomy, meteorology) Format of the test: Format of the test: Multiple-choice, based on scientific information presented in 3 formats Multiple-choice, based on scientific information presented in 3 formats Data Representation (38%) – graphs, tables and other schematic forms Data Representation (38%) – graphs, tables and other schematic forms Research Summaries (45%) – descriptions of one or more related experiments Research Summaries (45%) – descriptions of one or more related experiments Conflicting Viewpoints (17%) – expressions of several hypotheses or views based on differing premises Conflicting Viewpoints (17%) – expressions of several hypotheses or views based on differing premises

General Information The ACT includes 215 multiple-choice questions and takes approximately 3 hours and 30 minutes to complete with breaks. The ACT includes 215 multiple-choice questions and takes approximately 3 hours and 30 minutes to complete with breaks. Actual testing time is 2 hours and 55 minutes Actual testing time is 2 hours and 55 minutes The highest possible score on the ACT is a 36 The highest possible score on the ACT is a 36

When can I take the ACT? ALL PCHS Juniors will take the ACT, free of cost on Wednesday April 23 rd, 2014, during the regular school day ALL PCHS Juniors will take the ACT, free of cost on Wednesday April 23 rd, 2014, during the regular school day In addition, the ACT is administered on five test dates—in September, October, December, February, April, and June. In addition, the ACT is administered on five test dates—in September, October, December, February, April, and June. Test dates can be found and registered for on the ACT website at st/dates.html#first Test dates can be found and registered for on the ACT website at st/dates.html#first st/dates.html#first st/dates.html#first You will need to register and pay on your own for any additional tests you plan to take ~approx. $37/test You will need to register and pay on your own for any additional tests you plan to take ~approx. $37/test

Why take the ACT? The ACT is universally accepted for college admission in the U.S. The ACT is universally accepted for college admission in the U.S. The ACT is accepted by virtually all colleges and universities in the U.S., including all the Ivy League schools. The ACT is accepted by virtually all colleges and universities in the U.S., including all the Ivy League schools. The ACT multiple-choice tests are curriculum based. The ACT multiple-choice tests are curriculum based. The ACT is not an aptitude or an IQ test. Instead, the questions on the ACT are directly related to what you have learned in your high school courses in English, mathematics, reading, and science. The ACT is not an aptitude or an IQ test. Instead, the questions on the ACT are directly related to what you have learned in your high school courses in English, mathematics, reading, and science. Because the ACT tests are based on high school curriculum, students are generally more comfortable with the ACT than they are with traditional aptitude tests Because the ACT tests are based on high school curriculum, students are generally more comfortable with the ACT than they are with traditional aptitude tests

Why take the ACT? The ACT is more than a test. The ACT is more than a test. In addition to the tests, the ACT also provides test takers with a unique Interest Inventory that provides valuable information for career and educational planning and a student profile section that provides a comprehensive profile of your work in high school and your future plans. In addition to the tests, the ACT also provides test takers with a unique Interest Inventory that provides valuable information for career and educational planning and a student profile section that provides a comprehensive profile of your work in high school and your future plans. The ACT is a good value. The ACT is a good value. The ACT provides a comprehensive package of educational assessment and career planning services for college-bound students at a modest fee that is lower than the fee for the competing admissions test. The ACT provides a comprehensive package of educational assessment and career planning services for college-bound students at a modest fee that is lower than the fee for the competing admissions test.

What is the difference between the ACT and SAT? The ACT is an achievement test, measuring what a student has learned in school. The ACT is an achievement test, measuring what a student has learned in school. The SAT is more of an aptitude test, testing reasoning and verbal abilities. The SAT is more of an aptitude test, testing reasoning and verbal abilities.

How often can students take the ACT? Students may take the ACT a maximum of 12 times, but only once per national or state test date. Students may take the ACT a maximum of 12 times, but only once per national or state test date. Many students take the test twice, once as a junior and again as a senior. Many students take the test twice, once as a junior and again as a senior.

Does it help to take the ACT more than once? ACT research shows that of the students who took the ACT more than once: ACT research shows that of the students who took the ACT more than once: 57% increased their composite score on the retest 57% increased their composite score on the retest 21% had no change in their composite score on the retest 21% had no change in their composite score on the retest 22% decreased their composite score on the retest 22% decreased their composite score on the retest

The ACT: Think of it as a trainable game!

Students that practice taking the ACT, will do better on the ACT That is why you have BEEN PRACTICING! That is why you have BEEN PRACTICING! Like anything… practice makes perfect Like anything… practice makes perfect

General Strategies Practice so you know what the test is like Practice so you know what the test is like Do the tests more than once so you can get comfortable with the types of questions being asked Do the tests more than once so you can get comfortable with the types of questions being asked The more you practice, the more confidence you will have in doing well on the ACT The more you practice, the more confidence you will have in doing well on the ACT

ACT Test Prep Sessions What will YOU get out of it? PRACTICE! Answer practice test questions to improve your test taking skills and increase your content knowledge PRACTICE! Answer practice test questions to improve your test taking skills and increase your content knowledge See the types of questions you can expect to see on the test See the types of questions you can expect to see on the test Review content specific information and concepts Review content specific information and concepts Learn general and content specific tips, tricks and strategies to help you do well on the test Learn general and content specific tips, tricks and strategies to help you do well on the test Understand how you are scored on each content test Understand how you are scored on each content test

General Information about our Test Prep Sessions We will meet every day. We will meet every day. All PCHS 11 th grade students will take the ACT on Wednesday March 5, 2014 Sessions will run during 4 th period. Sessions will run during 4 th period. Please arrive with pencil, paper as well as your laptop and be on time.

Additional Resources To best prepare yourself for the ACT you should be spending time practicing outside of school USA TEST PREP – try to put at least 3 hours into USA Test Prep every week. It is one of the best prep programs available and is accessible to you FOR FREE through your PCHS account. USA TEST PREP – try to put at least 3 hours into USA Test Prep every week. It is one of the best prep programs available and is accessible to you FOR FREE through your PCHS account. The ACT Website is a WEALTH of great information The ACT Website is a WEALTH of great information Other helpful & FREE resources can be found online. There are several good sites that provide prep for the ACT. Most include answers and explanations to all the exercises and some even include an excellent review of topics covered on the exams. Other helpful & FREE resources can be found online. There are several good sites that provide prep for the ACT. Most include answers and explanations to all the exercises and some even include an excellent review of topics covered on the exams test.aspx?uidbadge test.aspx?uidbadge test.aspx?uidbadge test.aspx?uidbadge

Final Reminders All of our Test Prep Resources can be found on the Pamlico County High School Website All of our Test Prep Resources can be found on the Pamlico County High School Website Click on “Guidance”  ACT Click on “Guidance”  ACT Next week, bring pencil, paper, and your calculators for Math Test Prep! Next week, bring pencil, paper, and your calculators for Math Test Prep! Questions? Questions? Contact Mr. Standifer, Mrs. Reid and/or Mrs. Squires Contact Mr. Standifer, Mrs. Reid and/or Mrs. Squires