2009 Revised Act Prep Class Part 1 (1)

September 24, 2009

• Grab some note paper. • Grab a sample test booklet.• Have a seat!• We will begin at 4:00 pm.

What comes to mind when you think of more testing? How does the idea of another test make you feel?

Welcome to ACT/SAT Test Prep Success!

• Phones• Restroom• Be attentive• Water only• Respect the needs of others

Test Prep Tips and Strategies For Acing the SAT/ACT!

SESSION ONE:SESSION ONE:• General ACT/SAT information• SAT/ACT comparison• Scoring• Diagnostic Test• Questions

SESSION TWO:SESSION TWO:• English Strategies• Reading Strategies• Math Strategies• Science Strategies• Writing Strategies• Questions

The ACT is a curriculum-based achievement test that explains what students know and are able to do.

The SAT is an aptitude test to assess critical thinking skills. Predicts college success.

Both the ACT and SAT is used for college admission and provides guidance for

future plans!

• The ACT/SAT is for grades 11 & 12 11th is the best time! • The ACT is actually 4 tests: English, Math,

Reading & Science • The SAT is 4 tests: Math, Critical

Reading, Writing Multiple Choice, & Writing (plus subject tests)

WHAT IS THE TEST STRUCTURE? SATSAT ACTACT• TEN section exam: FIVE section exam:• Three critical reading English, Math,• Three math Reading, Writing,• Three Writing Science Reasoning• One experimental

SATSAT

• up to geometry and algebra II

ACTACT• up to

trigonometry

SATSAT ACTACT

-sentence completions -four passages;-long & short critical one each of:reading passages, Prose Fiction,-reading comprehension Social Science, Humanities, Natural Science.

SATSAT ACTACT

grammar essayusage stresses grammarword choicemandatory essay

SATSAT ACTACT

- none -charts, graphs, and

data interpretation

SAT:SAT:• YES!• ¼ of a point for each

wrong answer on multiple choice questions

ACT:ACT:• NO!

SAT:SAT:200 – 800 per sectionadded together for a score of600 – 2400; can be separated

2 -12 for essay

ACT:ACT:1 – 36 for each subjectaveraged for a composite score

2 – 12 for essay

SAT:SAT:YES! If you request a score report

be sent to specific colleges, the report includes the scores you received on EVERY SAT taken.

ACT:NO! There is a “Score Choice”

option. You can choose which schools receive the scores AND which scores the schools see.

SAT / ACT-Scholarship purposes

One Hour multiple choice tests that measure how much you know about a particular academic subject.

SAT Subject Tests fall into 5 areas:English, history, math, science, and languages

Some colleges recommend…others REQUIRE one or more SAT subject tests…check your schools

• Register for the ACT at www.actstudent.org

• Register for the SAT at www.collegeboard.com

http://www.actstudent.org/

http://www.collegeboard.com/

Punctuation 13%Grammar and Usage 16%Sentence Structure 24%Strategy 16%Organization 15%Style 16%

75 items, 45 minutes

ACT English Test Content

Pre- and Elem. Algebra 40%Intermediate Algebra & Coordinate Geometry 30%Plane Geometry 23%Trigonometry 7%


ACT Mathematics Test Content

Social Studies 25%Natural Sciences 25%Prose Fiction 25%Humanities 25%


ACT Reading Test Content

Drawn from Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and Physical Science:Data Representation 38%Research Summaries 45%Conflicting Viewpoints 17%


ACT Science Test Content

SAT Critical Reading Section• Time= 70 min (two 25-min. sections and one

20-min. section). • Question type= Passage-based reading and

sentence completion• Score= 200-800

SAT Math Section• Time= 70 min (two 25-min. sections and one

20-min. section). • Question type= Multiple-choice questions

and student-produced responses • Score= 200-800

SAT Writing Section• Time= 60 min (two 25-min. sections and one

10-min. section). • Question type= Multiple-choice questions

and student-produced essay• Score= 200-800

The ACT and SAT are national college admission test, accepted

by colleges and universities across the United States!

ACT Score Scale

1 - 36What does this mean to me?

Using your score to improve skills and understanding!

16-19 Score Range

Solve routine one-step arithmetic problems, such as single-step percent, and calculate a simple average of whole numbers

Perform computations on data from tables and graphs

Activities that may benefit students:

Do multistep computations with rational numbers

Gather, organize, display, and analyze data in a variety of ways

Skill-building20-23 Score Range Solve routine two-step or three-step

arithmetic problems involving concepts, such as rate and proportion, tax added, percentage off, computing an average with negative integers, and computing with a given average

Translate from one representation of data to another (e.g., a bar graph to a circle graph)

Describes the skills within a score range that a student is likely to know

Suggestions to strengthen skills and

understanding

College Readiness StandardsCollege Readiness Standards

Estimated National Admission Selectivity Ranges

Open Up to 17All HS grads until school capacity is reached

Liberal 18-19Some from lower 1/2 of HS grad class

Traditional 20-22Top 50% of HS grad class

Selective 23-26Top 25% of HS grad class

Highly Selective 27-36Top 10% of HS grad class

• Raw vs. Scaled• In order to reach the number you see on your

score report, two calculations must take place.• First, your raw score is calculated. This is the

number of points you earned, based on the number of questions you answered correctly, minus a fraction of the number answered incorrectly. Questions you skipped are not counted and no points are subtracted for incorrect Student Produced Response mathematics questions (grid-ins) on the SAT.

• Each CORRECT answer: add (+) 1 point• Each WRONG answer for a multiple-choice

question: subtract (-) 1/4 of a point • Student-produced response: no points

subtracted • Each OMITTED question: no points

subtracted

• Critical Reading: 501Critical Reading: 501 • Mathematics: 515Mathematics: 515 • Writing: 493Writing: 493 • AVERAGE COMPOSITE SCORE: 1509• PERFECT: 2400• Obviously, you may need higher scores for

more selective schools.

• Match your scores with the schools that you are considering.

• For example:Minimum score for Arizona StateArizona State= ACT=22 SAT=1040 (no writing)

Minimum score for HarvardHarvard=

ACT=31 SAT= 2080 (with writing)

• Report to your test center/school no later than 8am (unless told otherwise by school)

• Check in– Acceptable ID– Admission ticket (only required for National

Test dates)

ACT Test Day Schedule• English 45 min.

– (no break)

• Mathematics 60 min.– (15 min. break)

• Reading 35 min.– (no break)

• Science 30 min.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~• Writing (if taken) 30 min.

SAT Test Day Schedule• Critical Reading 70 min.

– (no break)

• Mathematics 70 min.– (15 min. break)

• Writing 60 min.– (no break)

Arrive at 7:45. Plan to be done by 12:30.

When Will I Get My Scores?

Your score report will

arrive four to eight four to eight weeksweeks after you’ve taken the ACT/SAT exam.

***RUSH SCORES

Nationwide, about 1/3 of studentswho take the ACT or SAT also retest. Of

those, 55% increased their composite score, 22% had no change, and 23%

decreased their composite score.

Now You’re Ready for SAT/ACT Tips and Strategies! (next week!)

• To prepare:• Take the diagnostic testTake the diagnostic test• Be ready to discuss success Be ready to discuss success strategiesstrategies

• Bring blank CDs if you would like copies of some test prep materials.

October 1, 2009

• Grab some note paper. • Pick up “Test Sample Sections”• Get out your diagnostic test.• Have a seat!• We will begin at 4:00 pm.

SESSION TWO:SESSION TWO:

• Review Diagnostic/ go over answers• English Strategies• Reading Strategies• Math Strategies• Science Strategies• Writing Strategies• Questions

• How did you do with the timing?

• What difficulties did you face while taking the test?

• What did you learn about time management?

• After going over the answers, how did you do?

• You do not actually need to do the questions in order. No question is weighted more than another.

• 2 pass system- Ask yourself: “Can “Can I do this now?”I do this now?”, , “Can I do this “Can I do this with some time?”with some time?”,, or or “Am I ever “Am I ever going to be able to do this in a going to be able to do this in a million years?” million years?” Do all the ones Do all the ones you can do immediately first.you can do immediately first.

• Eliminate “off the wall” answers first.

• If you have to guess, guess B or C.

• Longer answers are also more likely to be correct.

• If you are spending too much time on a question, it is not worth it! Guess and move on!

• First Section: The English SectionThe English Section• Look at the English section on the

sample tests.• ACTACT= correct the sentence, order

the sentence• SATSAT= sentence completion

• First Section: The English SectionThe English Section• Let’s hear some tips from the

tutorial.• Most of these strategies can be

applied to BOTH tests. • Take good notes.

• First Section: The English SectionThe English Section• Let’s practice some of the strategies.• Turn to the sample English section.• You will have 10 minutes to complete

the section. • We will go over responses afterward.

• Second Section: The The Reading Section Reading Section • Look at the reading section on the

sample tests.• ACTACT= passage based questions• SATSAT= passage based questions

• Second Section: The Reading SectionThe Reading Section• Let’s hear some tips from the



• Read with 3 “KEYS” in mind:1.1. PURPOSEPURPOSE2.2. CENTRAL IDEACENTRAL IDEA3.3. GENERAL STRUCTUREGENERAL STRUCTUREDon’t read questions first!! Read Don’t read questions first!! Read

passage to answer “3 KEYS”!passage to answer “3 KEYS”!

THERE ARE THREE:1. To examine a concept objectively• analysis = to inform• strictly informative…news article

2. To prove a point• this is an argument = to persuade• presents authors point of view• subjective…matter of opinion

3. To tell a story• this is a narrative = fiction, bio, or

memoir• involves conflict

LOOK FOR KEY WORDS!ANALYSIS PASSAGE:“examine” “explore” “historical”ARGUMENT PASSAGE:“comment” “pt of view” “position”NARRATIVE PASSAGE:“story” “novel” “account” “memoir”

ANALYSIS PASSAGE:• focuses on a questionARGUMENT PASSAGE:• focuses on a thesis…the point the writer

is trying to makeNARRATIVE PASSAGE:• focuses on conflict …intro, development

and resolution of some conflict

ANALYSIS PASSAGE:1. Intro: shows why the topic is worth

exploring2. Development: gives examples, details3. Conclusion: justifies topic

ARGUMENT PASSAGE: (Gun Control)• Intro conflict: tell sad story, cite

stats,• Develop conflict: studies, quotes,

anecdotes• Resolve conflict: writer’s pt of view

or position

NARRATIVE PASSAGE:How does the passage explain, develop

and resolve conflict?

1. Read the question and cover up the answer choices.

2. YOU answer the question!3. Choose the best or closest match

among the choices.

If question 23 does not contain a line reference, but question 22 refers to line #15 and question 24 refers to line #18 then the answer to question 23 is “sandwiched” between line 15 and 18!

Remember: questions follow the order of the passage.

All SAT have these; ACT in science sec Common theme …different writersSTRATEGY: • Read Passage 1…answer questions• Read Passage 2…answer questions• THEN do compare/contrast questions• DO NOT READ PASSAGES BACK TO

BACK….YOU WILL GET THE IDEAS CONFUSED

These are the ones you can’t get through the language or the concepts!

STRATEGY:Don’t Panic!See if there is another passage in the

section…skip it…move onJust do the questions that require little

reading…”word in context” questions

Practice will help!Use your finger to “push” your eyes

• Second Section: The Reading SectionThe Reading Section• Let’s practice some of the strategies.• Turn to the sample Reading section.• You will have 10 minutes to complete


• Third Section: The Math Section The Math Section • Look at the math section on the

sample tests.• ACTACT= algebra, geometry, and

trigonometry• SATSAT= algebra, geometry, student

produced questions

• Third Section: The Math SectionThe Math Section• Let’s hear some tips from the



• Third Section: The Math SectionThe Math Section• Let’s practice some of the strategies.• Turn to the sample Math section.• You will have 10 minutes to complete


2009 Revised Act Prep Class Part 1 (1)

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