Preparing for the Preparing for the ACTACT

Strategies for Taking Timed Strategies for Taking Timed TestsTests

B 4 TestingB 4 Testing DO NOT “Party” the night beforeDO NOT “Party” the night before GO TO BED---GET SOME RESTGO TO BED---GET SOME REST

Do NOT take Ambien, Tylenol PM, etc…Count Sheep Do NOT take Ambien, Tylenol PM, etc…Count Sheep insteadinstead

Sharpen and put in your bag at least 2 # 2 pencils Sharpen and put in your bag at least 2 # 2 pencils that have erasers (no mechanical pencils)that have erasers (no mechanical pencils)

Make sure the batteries are good in your calculatorMake sure the batteries are good in your calculator Don’t break up with your boyfriend/girlfriend or Don’t break up with your boyfriend/girlfriend or

fight with your parents the night B4 the testfight with your parents the night B4 the test Talk to (don’t yell at) your parents if you have Talk to (don’t yell at) your parents if you have

concerns…but expect them NOT to know how to concerns…but expect them NOT to know how to make it better.make it better.

In the In the AMAM

EAT breakfast (and no I don’t mean a EAT breakfast (and no I don’t mean a can of Red Bull and some M & Ms)can of Red Bull and some M & Ms)

Get up as you normally doGet up as you normally do Try not to stress about the test…at this Try not to stress about the test…at this

point, you are as prepared as you are point, you are as prepared as you are going to be, so as Faith Hill would going to be, so as Faith Hill would say…JUST BREATHE!say…JUST BREATHE!

Think positive. You remember Stuart Think positive. You remember Stuart Smalley from SNL??? Daily Smalley from SNL??? Daily Affirmations can go along way. Affirmations can go along way.

Law and Order: THE TESTLaw and Order: THE TEST

For goodness sake, READ the For goodness sake, READ the DIRECTIONSDIRECTIONS

Answer the questions you KNOW first; Answer the questions you KNOW first; SKIP the ones you don’t know at all.SKIP the ones you don’t know at all.

THINK…there is some time to think, but THINK…there is some time to think, but not a long time to think.not a long time to think.

Don’t spend too much time on ONE Don’t spend too much time on ONE question (less than 30 sec. per grammar question (less than 30 sec. per grammar ? and less than 1 min. per reading ?)? and less than 1 min. per reading ?)

Multiple ChoiceMultiple Choice

Read all of the answers before picking Read all of the answers before picking oneone

Elimination MethodElimination Method Make an educated guess…there is no Make an educated guess…there is no

penalty---whatever that meanspenalty---whatever that means DON’T CHANGE YOUR MIND!!!!! DON’T CHANGE YOUR MIND!!!!!

(unless you have come to some (unless you have come to some revelation about the correct answer)revelation about the correct answer) Remember the TRANSCENDTALISTS Remember the TRANSCENDTALISTS

If you have time, go back to the ones If you have time, go back to the ones you guessed onyou guessed on

Skip, Return, CheckSkip, Return, Check

Reading PassagesReading Passages READ the Questions FIRST strategyREAD the Questions FIRST strategy Read the 1Read the 1stst, 2, 2ndnd, and last paragraphs FIRST, and last paragraphs FIRST

You can figure out what the essay is supposed to You can figure out what the essay is supposed to be aboutbe about

This may not be as helpful with the prose passagesThis may not be as helpful with the prose passages Skim the rest of the passageSkim the rest of the passage Identify the thesis and the topic sentencesIdentify the thesis and the topic sentences Don’t get hung up on vocabulary you don’t Don’t get hung up on vocabulary you don’t

know…just read the passageknow…just read the passage Use context of passage to help you get the general Use context of passage to help you get the general

meaning of the passagemeaning of the passage Early on, figure out the style of the passage…Early on, figure out the style of the passage…

is it historical, cultural, humorous, scientific.is it historical, cultural, humorous, scientific. PINCH yourselfPINCH yourself

Writing for ACTWriting for ACT Pace Yourself (30 min. to read prompt, plan, and Pace Yourself (30 min. to read prompt, plan, and

write)write) Pre-write…with an understandingPre-write…with an understanding

Create a THESIS (position); Brainstorm IDEASCreate a THESIS (position); Brainstorm IDEAS Write with clarityWrite with clarity Develop Ideas----SUPPORT People!!!Develop Ideas----SUPPORT People!!! Organize Essay in a structure (5 paragraphs is a Organize Essay in a structure (5 paragraphs is a

structure ACT tends to like, but you don’t have to structure ACT tends to like, but you don’t have to use this structure)use this structure) Topic Sentences; Transitions---DON’T say 1Topic Sentences; Transitions---DON’T say 1stst, 2, 2ndnd, ,

33rdrd, or In Conclusion/In summary, or In Conclusion/In summary Reread your essayReread your essay

Writing for ACT (cont.)Writing for ACT (cont.) Persuasive writingPersuasive writing

Point---Task has been understood; Position Point---Task has been understood; Position is clear; Offers critical context for is clear; Offers critical context for discussiondiscussion

Strategies for Persuasion (create complexity)Strategies for Persuasion (create complexity) Examine different perspectives on an issue Examine different perspectives on an issue Evaluate implications and/or complications Evaluate implications and/or complications

of the issueof the issue Responds fully to counterarguments to Responds fully to counterarguments to

writer’s positionwriter’s position Conclusion---Looks ahead; reemphasizes Conclusion---Looks ahead; reemphasizes

positionposition

Get a 6 (or at least a 5)Get a 6 (or at least a 5) Intro. & Concl. are clear, effective, Intro. & Concl. are clear, effective,

and well-developed and well-developed Ideas are clear and Ideas are clear and logicallogical Position is maintained throughoutPosition is maintained throughout Shows good command of languageShows good command of language Sentences are varied and word choice Sentences are varied and word choice

is varied and precise (no stuff; thing; is varied and precise (no stuff; thing; good/bad; etc…)good/bad; etc…)

Very few, if any distracting errorsVery few, if any distracting errors Ideas are fully supported through Ideas are fully supported through

examples, analysis, etc…examples, analysis, etc…

Neatness MattersNeatness Matters

Erase completely…and don’t smear other Erase completely…and don’t smear other bubbles while doing so.bubbles while doing so.

Fill in only the little bubble…no stray Fill in only the little bubble…no stray marks (This is where the ACT tests fine marks (This is where the ACT tests fine motor coordination you were to learn in motor coordination you were to learn in Kindergarten)Kindergarten)

Double check your test booklet number Double check your test booklet number with the answer sheet…there is more with the answer sheet…there is more than one versionthan one version

Make sure you filled in all of the bubbles. Make sure you filled in all of the bubbles.

The Death GripThe Death Grip“Let my pencil go”“Let my pencil go”

If your arms tire during the test, it’s If your arms tire during the test, it’s because you are holding onto the because you are holding onto the pencil as if it were your cell phone pencil as if it were your cell phone when a teacher asks you to hand it when a teacher asks you to hand it over for going off in the middle of classover for going off in the middle of class

Relax; shake out your hands; flex your Relax; shake out your hands; flex your handshands

DON’T Pop Your Knuckles…that is just DON’T Pop Your Knuckles…that is just plain obnoxiousplain obnoxious

Knowing It AllKnowing It All

Not gonna happenNot gonna happen Many questions are designed to test Many questions are designed to test

skills beyond your grade, so just skills beyond your grade, so just answer the questions to the best of answer the questions to the best of your abilityyour ability

Remember…you are NOT AP FrankRemember…you are NOT AP Frank

After the TestAfter the Test

Take a deep breath and relax…there’s Take a deep breath and relax…there’s nothing you can do until your scores nothing you can do until your scores come in.come in.

Apologize to your parents for being mean Apologize to your parents for being mean to them as you were stressing for the testto them as you were stressing for the test

Celebrate yourself (remember Stuart Celebrate yourself (remember Stuart Smalley)Smalley)

Act Sane…while your brain may be on Act Sane…while your brain may be on meltdown, you are still in schoolmeltdown, you are still in school