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