Test-taking Test-taking tips/strategiestips/strategiesMuch of the information was Much of the information was

gleamed from an ACT gleamed from an ACT workshop presented by Ms. workshop presented by Ms.

Shelly HarrisShelly Harris

Teacher Mid-Del CityTeacher Mid-Del City

ACTACT

During the ACT (or any standardized During the ACT (or any standardized test), sit where you sat in the class test), sit where you sat in the class that gave you the most trouble/the that gave you the most trouble/the subject you struggle with the most.subject you struggle with the most.

Whatever “candy” you like (peppermint, Whatever “candy” you like (peppermint, jolly rancher, etc.), eat while you’re jolly rancher, etc.), eat while you’re studying that subject, then eat the SAME studying that subject, then eat the SAME candy when you test. (4 test = 4 different candy when you test. (4 test = 4 different candies)candies)

This is sensory/memory recall. The candy This is sensory/memory recall. The candy helps you recall certain things from your helps you recall certain things from your study time. **REMEMBER…there is no study time. **REMEMBER…there is no food or drink in the testing areas, so don’t food or drink in the testing areas, so don’t advertise your candy! You just may happen advertise your candy! You just may happen to have it in your pocket in case you have a to have it in your pocket in case you have a “cough” that morning! “cough” that morning!

Keep your morning Keep your morning routines:routines:

Don’t eat a large breakfast—unless that’s Don’t eat a large breakfast—unless that’s what you always do.what you always do.

Shower, make-up, brush teeth, etc.Shower, make-up, brush teeth, etc. Don’t drink energy drinks unless that’s what Don’t drink energy drinks unless that’s what

you normally do—you’ll spaz out during testyou normally do—you’ll spaz out during test Don’t cram for test the night beforeDon’t cram for test the night before No highlighters No highlighters DO NOT BRING A CELL PHONE INSIDE!DO NOT BRING A CELL PHONE INSIDE!

IF IT GOES OFF DURING TEST, YOU’LL BE IF IT GOES OFF DURING TEST, YOU’LL BE KICKED OUT OF TESTING AREA—NULL AND KICKED OUT OF TESTING AREA—NULL AND VOID!VOID!

More tips . . . More tips . . .

Take a jacket…might be chillyTake a jacket…might be chilly No highlighters No highlighters DO NOT BRING A CELL DO NOT BRING A CELL

PHONE INSIDE!PHONE INSIDE!IF IT GOES OFF DURING IF IT GOES OFF DURING TEST, YOU’LL BE KICKED TEST, YOU’LL BE KICKED OUT OF TESTING AREA—OUT OF TESTING AREA—NULL AND VOID! NULL AND VOID!

4 different tests in this 4 different tests in this order:order:

EnglishEnglish—(Go with “D” if you’re guessing)—(Go with “D” if you’re guessing) MathMath—If you’re a math whiz, start at the back —If you’re a math whiz, start at the back

of the test; it’s the hardest—if not, just start.of the test; it’s the hardest—if not, just start. AFTER THE MATH TEST, THERE IS A 10-AFTER THE MATH TEST, THERE IS A 10-

MINUTE BREAK—USE IT!!! MINUTE BREAK—USE IT!!! GET OUT OF ROOMGET OUT OF ROOM GET CAFFEINEGET CAFFEINE ReadingReading—Start with 3—Start with 3rdrd passage—it’s the passage—it’s the

hardest hardest ScienceScience—Ask if you can stand up a second —Ask if you can stand up a second

before you before you start this part of the test! STRETCH!start this part of the test! STRETCH!

The Test & Answer The Test & Answer DocumentDocument

When you walk into the testing When you walk into the testing session, make sure to ask: “Are you session, make sure to ask: “Are you going to tell us when 5 minutes are going to tell us when 5 minutes are left?”.left?”.

Mark in your test bookletMark in your test booklet Never fill out answer document Never fill out answer document

until last 5 minutes of each section.until last 5 minutes of each section. Wear a WATCH and then trust Wear a WATCH and then trust

your proctor for TIME!your proctor for TIME!

ENGLISHENGLISH

DO NOT READ THE DIRECTIONS!DO NOT READ THE DIRECTIONS! Read the questions first.Read the questions first. Start reading ONLY the underlined portionStart reading ONLY the underlined portion The only time you have to look at the sentences The only time you have to look at the sentences

around a problem is for the “verb tense” around a problem is for the “verb tense” questions.questions.

If you can clearly see something is wrong, ck itIf you can clearly see something is wrong, ck it 10 to 12 “No Change” answers10 to 12 “No Change” answers If there is OMIT/DELETE—pick it and move on!If there is OMIT/DELETE—pick it and move on!

Sentence StructureSentence Structure

Run-on Sentences:Run-on Sentences: _____ , _____ NO_____ , _____ NO _____ ; _____ YES _____ ; _____ YES _____ . _____ YES_____ . _____ YES _____ , CC _____ YES_____ , CC _____ YES

But, Or, Yet, And, For, NorBut, Or, Yet, And, For, Nor

_____ ; CA _____ YES_____ ; CA _____ YES However, therefore, moreover, consequently, However, therefore, moreover, consequently,

nevertheless, etc.nevertheless, etc.

If all else fails, cross out the Prepositional If all else fails, cross out the Prepositional Phrases and look for subject/verb Phrases and look for subject/verb agreement!agreement!

If the question says “Not” or If the question says “Not” or “Except,” circle those words! Pay “Except,” circle those words! Pay attention to these!!!attention to these!!!

3 right choices. . . 3 right choices. . . A. yesA. yes B. yesB. yes C. yesC. yes D. no. . . Pick this oneD. no. . . Pick this one

www.actstudent.org/www.actstudent.org/testtest

Practice online Practice online before you take before you take the test!the test!

MathMath Math whiz? Start at the end and work Math whiz? Start at the end and work

backwardsbackwards Struggle with math? Start at the beginningStruggle with math? Start at the beginning If you come close to an answer that’s listed, If you come close to an answer that’s listed,

choose that one!choose that one! Have an approved calculator!Have an approved calculator! Wait for the last 5 minutes and fill in answers!Wait for the last 5 minutes and fill in answers! Don’t know the answer? Pick the D/J spot!Don’t know the answer? Pick the D/J spot! Plug-in Method: Choose B or C, plug it in and Plug-in Method: Choose B or C, plug it in and

work from therework from there Collegealgebratricks.org (Review equations Collegealgebratricks.org (Review equations

for Algebra and Geometry)for Algebra and Geometry)

ReadingReading Never read passage firstNever read passage first Always read question stem FIRST!Always read question stem FIRST! 4 passages4 passages 11stst section—Questions first—Mark key section—Questions first—Mark key

words that stand out in the STEM!words that stand out in the STEM! If it gives a line number, go 2 up and 2 If it gives a line number, go 2 up and 2

downdown With “vocab.” questions, never pick With “vocab.” questions, never pick

answer before looking at passage; it answer before looking at passage; it probably won’t be the obvious choiceprobably won’t be the obvious choice

ReadingReading Questions give the answer—NOT the passage!Questions give the answer—NOT the passage! NOT about the passage—only the question!NOT about the passage—only the question! Mark all stems—don’t look at choices!Mark all stems—don’t look at choices! When you go back to read the passage, your When you go back to read the passage, your

brain already has “key words” from your brain already has “key words” from your having marked the stems. . . Mark, circle, etc. having marked the stems. . . Mark, circle, etc.

MARK THE PASSAGE! BUT READ QUICKLY!MARK THE PASSAGE! BUT READ QUICKLY! STUDENTS WHO MARK THEIR BOOKS, STUDENTS WHO MARK THEIR BOOKS,

SCORE BETTER ON THEIR TEST!!!!! SCORE BETTER ON THEIR TEST!!!!! If something stands out in passage, mark it!If something stands out in passage, mark it!

ReadingReading Once you’ve read the passage quickly and Once you’ve read the passage quickly and

marked it, go back to your questions and the marked it, go back to your questions and the choices!choices!

There’s always a “dumb” choice—mark it out!There’s always a “dumb” choice—mark it out! 3 left and 1 of those is clearly WRONG!3 left and 1 of those is clearly WRONG! Now, you have a 50/50 chance!Now, you have a 50/50 chance! Draw an arrow between these 2 to clearly mark Draw an arrow between these 2 to clearly mark

them. < This helps to focus!them. < This helps to focus!

This method should work for EOI and AP as This method should work for EOI and AP as well!well!

REVIEW for READINGREVIEW for READING Read QUESTIONS first!!!!Read QUESTIONS first!!!!

Mark question stems…looking for key wordsMark question stems…looking for key words

Look for Vocabulary words in passage—Look for Vocabulary words in passage—don’t just pick the obvious answer without don’t just pick the obvious answer without lookinglooking

When line #’s are given, go 2 up and 2 When line #’s are given, go 2 up and 2 down! down!

ReadingReading

READ the passages in this order:READ the passages in this order:

33rdrd passage FIRST!!! (It’s usually the passage FIRST!!! (It’s usually the hardest.)hardest.)

22ndnd passage—2 passage—2ndnd hardest hardest 11stst passage—All detail/usually easy passage—All detail/usually easy 44thth passage—last—Sometimes you don’t passage—last—Sometimes you don’t

have to read the whole passage on this have to read the whole passage on this oneone

Remember . . .Remember . . .

Skim, read quickly, mark everything that Skim, read quickly, mark everything that stands out to youstands out to you

Have pencil on page, mark WORDS Have pencil on page, mark WORDS because your brain will pick up on thosebecause your brain will pick up on those

Circle the words “NOT” and “EXCEPT”Circle the words “NOT” and “EXCEPT”

If you run out of time, go to first and last If you run out of time, go to first and last sentence of paragraph, read those onlysentence of paragraph, read those only

ScienceScience Remember, Stand UP and Stretch before Remember, Stand UP and Stretch before

this test!this test! This part of the test is NOT about science This part of the test is NOT about science

knowledge (at least most of it isn’t. . . knowledge (at least most of it isn’t. . . Maybe only 4 questions)Maybe only 4 questions)

Science is about your Reasoning Skills!!!Science is about your Reasoning Skills!!! Your Test-taking Abilities!!!Your Test-taking Abilities!!! Use the < (arrow) system you used Use the < (arrow) system you used

w/Reading!w/Reading! NEVER change your 1NEVER change your 1stst answer! (Unless answer! (Unless

new evidence is discovered, then change new evidence is discovered, then change it.)it.)

ScienceScience Do not read the science passages—no Do not read the science passages—no

time!time!

Save the ones you have to Save the ones you have to read/understand until the end—then read/understand until the end—then choose the D/J spotchoose the D/J spot

Question stems—what are they asking?Question stems—what are they asking?

Mark in the book!Mark in the book!

www.actstudent.orgwww.actstudent.org

Take some practice tests Take some practice tests before the real deal!before the real deal!

Some of this information was obtained Some of this information was obtained from an ACT workshop I attended from an ACT workshop I attended presented by Ms. Shelly Harris--presented by Ms. Shelly Harris--

Former Teacher,Former Teacher,

Mid-Del CityMid-Del City