The Ultimate ACT Test Taking Tips Guide

<p>I'm not 100% sure if this was created already, but I'll take my chances. Basically I created this topic so we can compile specific strategies for tackling the ACT all together. I've read tips from the red book and many other sources, but I'm sure plenty of people have adopted personal and useful strategies in which others could benefit from.
The rules are simple, all you have to do is post any section/s on the ACT in which you could share tips for and list them below the section. Here's an example:</p>

<p>English:
- read entire passage then answer questions </p>

<p>Math:
- avoid using your calculator for every single question</p>

<p>Please avoid criticizing other people's strategies, we all don't use the same strategies and just because a strategy/tip may not work for you doesn't mean it won't work for someone else.The goal is to help everyone out, plus I could use some additional tips myself whenever I retake the exam. Let's see how far this goes. :)</p>

<p>I am barely going to take the ACT the first time, and i have found some tips:</p>

<p>English - Review every bit of grammar there is. The ACT will be tricky and confuse you with some grammar rules students often forget. I didn’t even know what perfect present tense was until i looked at my grammar guide. Be prudent for ambiguous pronoun use, such as “they, he, she,” etc. </p>

<p>Reading - Read quickly, but try to comprehend what is going on. If you don’t want your mind to wonder, then make yourself LOVE the passage. This really is helping me. Also, due to time constrains, we tend to look at questions and putting an answer without seeing the other choices. So, quickly skim all the questions without losing focus, and pick the one you know it is.</p>

<p>Math - I kind of suck at math, so i have nothing here.</p>

<p>Science - Read the intro quickly to grasp what is going on with an experiment. The other day, i went straight to the questions without reading anything. I found that if a question asks for something specifically, i would go back to the passage, and waste time on finding the answer. The answer is in the passage, never forget that.</p>

<p>English: Recite the sentences in your mind to see if it sounds faulty or good. When in doubt, the shortest, simplest answer is the right answer 90% of the time.</p>

<p>Math: Use your calculator as much as possible. 1. It ensures correct math if you type the numbers in right rather than trying to multiply 2 digit numbers in your head and 2. it saves you a significant amount of time.</p>

<p>Reading: Carefully read each passage. Take note of specific information and try to grasp the meaning and purpose of the passage. Doing so means you dont have to go back to the passage to answer the questions. Now, I’m able to answer at least 6 questions in about a minute because I dont have to go back to the passage.</p>

<p>Science: In my practice, I go straight to the questions, except for the Conflicting Viewpoints passage. Besides that, there is really nothing you have to memorize, numbers for example, because you don’t know what the question is pertaining too</p>

<p>English: know complete and incomplete sentences and how to punctuate them.if a sentence is in the passive voice it is usually wrong .always go with the most concise answer </p>

<p>math : first 30 problem are super easy so pass through those somewhat fast but try to avoid making silly mistakes.i second using the calculator it saves you A LOT of time.</p>

<p>reading:i suck at reading.
science: i suck at this too.</p>

<p>English: shorten prose, can’t have comma for 2 independent clause or else comma splice, colon starts off with dependent clause, and if use commas between superflous info. - Do all of these and you will get at least a 32+
Math: use calc a lot.
reading: find which passages are good for you. I usually do prose, then science, then the other 2. I do this because prose and science take me no time at all, and I get them all right. But I struggle with the other 2 passages, which is why I do them last.
science: go straight the questions unless you have the 2 scientists passage. Also if the question asks “according to the passage” you should go to the passga.e</p>