Day 6 Notes

Mastering the ACT

• Strategy #1 – DO QUESTION TRIAGE
• Triage = evaluate each patient and decide which one gets attention first and which one should be treated later
• The first time you look at a question on the ACT, make a quick decision about how hard and time-consuming it looks – decide whether to answer it now or skip it and come back to it later if you have time
• Strategy #2 – PUT THE MATERIAL IN A FORM YOU CAN UNDERSTAND
• Mark up your test booklet
• Reword the questions
• Draw diagrams

English Test 2 

Day 7 Notes

Mastering the ACT

• Strategy #3 – IGNORE IRRELEVANT ISSUES
• Just because an issue looks interesting or just because you are worried about something doesn’t make it important
• You have a time limit – don’t get caught up in issues that won’t get you a point
• Strategy #4 – CHECK BACK
• All the info you need is on the test itself – don’t be afraid to refer to it
• In Reading and Science, always refer to the place in the passage where the answer to a question can be found
• Don’t pick a choice just because it contains “key words” you remember from the passage – they use the right words but say the wrong things about them

Math Test 2 

Day 8 Notes

Mastering the ACT

• Strategy #5 – ANSWER THE RIGHT QUESTION
• Test makers often include among the wrong choices for a question the correct answer to a different question
• Always check the question again before choosing your answer
• Strategy #6 – LOOK FOR THE HIDDEN ANSWER
• An answer can be hidden by being written in a way that you aren’t likely to expect
• Many ACT questions have more than one possible right solution, though only one correct answer choice is given – they usually offer the less obvious possible answers
• Don’t settle for second best – if you don’t find YOUR answer, don’t assume you’re wrong – try to think of another right way to answer the question

Reading Test 2 

Day 9 Notes

Mastering the ACT

• Strategy #7 – GUESS INTELLIGENTLY
• On the ACT, a guess CANNOT hurt you – never leave a question blank
• 2 different kinds of guessing:
• Blind guessing – on questions too hard or time-consuming
• Considered guessing – questions you do some work on, but can’t make headway with
• Strategy #8 – BE CAREFUL WITH THE ANSWER GRID
• Come up with a strategy that works well for you when bubbling in the answers on the answer sheet

Science Test 2 

Day 10 Notes

Mastering the ACT

• Strategy #9 – USE THE LETTERS OF THE CHOICES TO STAY ON TRACK
• Odd-numbered questions have A, B, C, D (and E in Math)
• Even-numbered questions have F, G, H, J (and K in Math)
• Strategy #10 – KEEP TRACK OF TIME
• Pace yourself
• Consider resetting your watch to 12:00 at the beginning of each subject test so it will be easy to check your time
• English and Reading passages should take about 9 minutes each
• Science passages should take about 5 minutes each
• Math questions should average less than one minute each (might spend more like 2 or 3 minutes on the more difficult ones)

Writing Activity 2