ACT & U Every Thing You Should Have Learned in High School…
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Transcript of ACT & U Every Thing You Should Have Learned in High School…
ACT & U
Every Thing You Should Have Learned in High School…
Get a Grip
Learn what to expect Know what you know Strengthen your
weaknesses
What is it? Measures Academic Achievement in:
*English
*Mathematics
*Reading
*Science
How, Who, What Decides?
ACT reviews published objectives of instruction 7th through 12th grade from all 50 States
Review textbooks on state-approved lists Survey educators at secondary and post-
secondary institutions
…and more
The ACT is prepared according to the:• Standards for Education and
Psychological Testing• Code of Professional Responsibilities
in Educational Measurement• Code of Fair Testing Practices in
Education
Specifics - English 75 Questions, 45 Minutes Usage/Mechanics 40
Punctuation 10Basic Grammar 12Sentence Structure 18
Rhetorical Skills 34Strategy 12Organization 11Style 12
Specifics - Mathematics 60 Questions, 60 Minutes Pre-Algebra 14 Elementary Algebra 10 Intermediate Algebra 9 Coordinate Geometry 9 Plane Geometry 14 Trigonometry 4
Specifics - Reading
40 Questions, 35 Minutes Prose Fiction 10 Humanities 10 Social Studies 10 Natural Sciences 10
Specifics - Science Content Areas:
Biology, Earth/Space Sciences, Chemistry, Physics
Format:
Data Representation 15
Research Summaries 18
Conflicting Viewpoints 7
English in ACT’s Words “The ACT English Test measures the
students understanding of the conventions of standard written English (punctuation, grammar and usage and sentence structure and of rhetorical skills (strategy, organization, and style.) Spelling, vocabulary, and rote recall of rules are grammar are not tested.”
Mathematics in ACT’s Words
“The Mathematics Test assesses the mathematical skills that students have typically acquired in courses taken up to the beginning of grade twelve. The test requires students to use their reasoning skills to solve practical problems. The problems assume knowledge of basic formulas and computational skills but do not require memorization of complex formulas or extensive computation.”
Reading in ACT’s Words
“The Reading Test measures the student’s reading comprehension as a product of referring and reasoning skills. The test items require the student to derive meaning from several texts by (1) referring to what is explicitly stated and (2) resoning to determine implicit meanings and to draw conclusions, comparisons and generalizations.”
Science in ACT’s Words
“The Science Test measures the student’s interpretation, analysis, evaluation, reasoning, and problem-solving skills required in the natural sciences.”
Writing in ACT’s Words
“The Writing Test is an optional 30-minute essay test that measures writing skills emphasized in high school English classes and in entry level college composition courses.”
Why Should Students take the ACT?
Universally accepted for college admission
Curriculum based More than a test Good value
When?Five National Test
Dates:• October• December• February• April• June
For you:• April 4th
• June 13th
• September 12th
• October 24th
• December 12th
Retesting? ACT research shows that of the
students who took the ACT more than once:
55% increased their composite score on the retest
22% had no change 23% decreased their composite score
How do I prepare?
The ACT is curriculum-based. “[T]he best preparation for any student taking the ACT is rigorous college preparatory coursework in high school.”
What’s the Score? The ACT scored on a 1-36 Scale All Wrong = 1, All Correct = 36 Each test raw score converted to
“scale score” Scale Scores added up and divided by
4 to equal composite score ½ Correct = 18
Numbers, Numbers…
HS Graduating Class of 2008:
Mean ACT Scores: WI National• English 21.7 20.6• Math 22.3 21.0• Reading 22.6 21.4• Science 22.3 20.8• Composite 22.3 21.1
To Get a 21…
English 60% Correct Mathematics 45% Correct Reading 55% Correct Science 60% Correct
The EZ Way: English
40 Questions are Usage/Mechanics which gives you a 17.
Review Basic Rules of Grammar and Proper Punctuation(22Q)
The EZ Way: Math 33 questions are Pre-Algebra,
Elementary Algebra, Intermediate Algebra which gives you a 22.
Do practice tests and exercises focusing on algebra..but don’t ignore….
The EZ Way: Reading
7 out of 10 in each passage gives you a 23.
Practice test passages. Read for content…anything.
The EZ Way: Science
Data Representation is 15 questions Research Summaries is 18 questions All Data Representation and ½ of
Research Summaries would give you a 22
So…Your Preparation
Utilize your UB ACT score Take practice tests Find a strategy that works for you with
each section Review core concepts
English Review Proper Punctuation rules and
applications Review Basic Rules of Grammar Go through English tests to see how
test writers frame sentence structure and Rhetorical skills questions
Mathematics
Review study guides Do practice Mathematics tests Use UB ACT subscore to focus on
deficiencies
Reading
Read, Read, Read…reading for content…
See if there is an subscore area that you need to concentrate in.
Do practice Reading tests
Science
Do practice Science tests
Test-Taking Strategies Relax You’re going to make mistakes All that matters is which circle you fill
in Save the hard items for last They try to trick you Watch out for except, not, or least
Strategies, cont’d. Still don’t have the answer? Eliminate
and guess Do you work in the test booklet Write the letter for the answer choice
in your test booklet
UB is there for you
ACT Prep in February & March Additional practice and review
materials Fee Waivers
ACT is there for you Visit ACT websites:
www.act.org
www.actstudent.org