The Official ACT Prep Pack with 5 Full Practice Tests (3 in Official ACT Prep Guide + 2 Online)

Everything You Need to Feel Completely Prepared
Includes 5 Full–length Practice Tests

3 Practice Tests in the Book, Updated Writing Prompts, Policies and Procedures for Test Day 2 Practice Tests Online, 2,400+ Questions with Detailed Explanations FREE App for Practice and Reporting Wherever You Are Online

The comprehensive guide to this year′s ACT® test, with 5 genuine full–length practice tests and optional Writing tests.

The Official ACT Prep Pack combines the bestselling ACT preparation guide with ACT Online Prep, a powerful computer–based learning program, so that you can study for the ACT in the way that suits your learning style or your mood. Sometimes a book is the best way to study a subject, especially when the printed format best matches the ACT test that you will be taking. At other times, it′s more effective to work with an adaptive program that identifies where you need to improve and takes you step–by–step through the skillbuilding process. Also, when traditional study just gets to be too much, download the free mobile app, relax and play one of a series of games you won′t realize that you are still learning.

Filled with expert advice from the test′s creators on preparing both mentally and physically, the guide also helps you:

Review the entire content of the ACT so you′ll know what to expect Understand the procedures you′ll follow when you′re taking the ACT Study the types of questions you can expect to find on the test Adopt test–taking strategies that are right for you

By using the strategies and tools provided by The Official ACT Prep Pack, you can feel comfortable and confident that you′re prepared to do your best on test day.

Preface xi

How This Book Is Arranged xii

Before You Begin  xii

Part One: Getting Acquainted with the ACT Test 1

Chapter 1: About the ACT 3

Description of the ACT 4

English Test 4

Mathematics Test  6

Reading Test 14

Science Test 17

Writing Test (Optional)  19

ACT Test Formats: Paper and Online 21

Using a Calculator 21

Taking the Test 22

Summary 23

Chapter 2: Preparation, Skills, and Strategies  25

Mental Preparation 26

Identify Strengths and Address Areas of Improvement 26

Develop a Positive Mental Attitude  27

Keep the Test in Perspective 27

General Test–Taking Strategies and Skills  27

Remain Calm  27

Pace Yourself  28

Know the Directions Ahead of Time 29

Read Carefully and Th oroughly 29

Choose Strategies for Answering Easier and More Diffi cult

Questions  30

Use Logic on More Diffi cult Questions 30

Choose a Strategy for Guessing on Multiple–Choice Questions  30

Choose a Strategy for Changing Answers 31

Write Notes in Your Test Booklet 31

Mark Your Answers Carefully 31

Plan to Check Your Answers 32

Learn Strategies for Specifi c Tests 32

Summary 32

Part Two: Taking and Evaluating Your First Practice Test 33

Chapter 3: Taking and Scoring Your First ACT Practice Test  35

Simulating Testing Conditions 35

Scoring Your Practice Test 101

Scoring Your Multiple–Choice Practice Tests  102

Scoring Your Practice Writing Test Essay  108

Reviewing Explanatory Answers 113

Chapter 4: Identifying Areas for Improvement  188

Reviewing Your Overall Performance 189

Highlighting Strengths and Areas for Improvement on the English Test  189

Test–Taking Skills 190

Highlighting Strengths and Areas for Improvement on the Mathematics Test 192

Math Subject Areas 192

Test–Taking Errors 192

Highlighting Strengths and Areas for Improvement on the Reading Test 193

Types of Reading Passages 194

Reading Skills Tested  194

Test–Taking Errors 195

Highlighting Strengths and Areas for Improvement on the Science Test  196

Subject Matter 196

Types of Science Questions  197

Common Science Test–Taking Errors  197

Highlighting Strengths and Areas for Improvement on the Writing Test  198

Writing Skills Tested  198

Writing Strategy or Process Errors  199

Part Three: Improving Your Score 201

Chapter 5: Improving Your English Score 203

Content of the ACT English Test 203

Types of Questions on the ACT English Test 204

Strategies for Taking the ACT English Test 213

Chapter 6: Improving Your Math Score  229

Content of the ACT Mathematics Test 230

Preparing for Higher Math  230

Integrating Essential Skills  230

Modeling 231

Types of Questions on the ACT Mathematics Test 231

Basic Math Problems  231

Basic Math Problems in Settings 235

Very Challenging Problems 239

Question Sets  246

Strategies for Taking the ACT Mathematics Test 251

Pace Yourself  251

Answer All Questions 251

Answer All the Easy Questions First, Then Go Back to Answer the Hard Ones 252

Read Each Problem Carefully 252

Look for Information in the Answer Choices  252

Use Illustrations Wisely and Whenever You Can  253

Use Your Calculator Wisely  253

Th ink!  253

Show Your Work 254

Check Your Answers  254

Chapter 7: Improving Your Reading Score 255

Content of the ACT Reading Test 255

Key Ideas and Details 256

Craft and Structure 256

Integration of Knowledge and Ideas  256

Types of Questions on the ACT Reading Test  256

Representative ACT Reading Test Questions 257

Strategies for Taking the ACT Reading Test 267

Pace Yourself  267

Use the Time Allotted 267

Th ink of an Overall Strategy Th at Works for You 268

Keep the Passage as a Whole in Mind  268

Find a Strategy for Approaching Each Question  268

Reading Strategies Summary 269

Chapter 8: Improving Your Science Score 277

Content of the ACT Science Test 277

Format of the ACT Science Test  278

Data Representation Format 279

Discussion of Sample Passage I (Data Representation) 281

Research Summaries Format 284

Discussion of Sample Passage II (Research Summaries) 286

Conflicting Viewpoints Format 288

Discussion of Sample Passage III (Confl icting Viewpoints) 290

Strategies for Taking the ACT Science Test 293

Develop a Problem–Solving Method  293

Take Notes 294

Pace Yourself  294

Practice Interpreting Graphs, Tables, and Diagrams  294

Make the Most of the Information in Graphs 295

Make the Most of the Information in Tables 297

Develop an Understanding of Scientifi c Investigations 298

Carefully Analyze Confl icting Viewpoints 298

Chapter 9: Improving Your Score on the Optional Writing Test 299

Content of the ACT Writing Test 300

How Your Essay Will Be Scored  300

Sample Prompt and Essays 301

Sample ACT Writing Test Prompt 301

Sample Essay Responses 303

Strategies for Taking the ACT Writing Test 327

Prewrite 327

Write 327

Review Your Essay 328

Practice 328

Part Four: Taking Additional Practice Tests 329

Chapter 10: Taking Additional Practice Tests 331

Explanatory Answers  397

Explanatory Answers  537

Chapter 11: Scoring the Additional Practice Tests  621

Scoring Your Practice Tests 622

Scoring Practice Test 2 623

Scoring the Multiple–Choice Tests 623

Scoring Your Practice Writing Test 2 Essay 629

Scoring Practice Test 3 632

Scoring the Multiple–Choice Tests 632

Scoring Your Practice Writing Test 3 Essay 637

Chapter 12: Interpreting Your ACT Test Scores and Ranks  639

Understanding Your ACT Test Results 641

How ACT Scores Your Multiple–Choice Tests 641

How ACT Scores Your Writing Test  641

Recognizing Th at Test Scores Are Estimates of Educational Achievement 641

Using Ranks to Interpret Your Scores  642

Comparing Your Test Scores to Each Other 642

Comparing Your Scores and Ranks to Your High School Grades 642

Comparing Your Scores to Th ose of Enrolled First–Year College Students 642

Using ACT College and Career Readiness Standards to Help You Understand Your ACT Scores 643

Planning Your Education and Career 644

Seeking Additional Information and Guidance 644

ACT College and Career Readiness Standards English  645

Production of Writing 645

ACT College and Career Readiness Standards Mathematics  652

ACT College and Career Readiness Standards Reading 661

Text Complexity Rubric Reading  668

ACT College and Career Readiness Standards Science 675

Part Five: Moving Forward to Test Day  679

Chapter 13: Registering, Planning, and Packing for Test Day  681

National Testing Program versus School/District/State Testing  682

Registering for the ACT 682

Selecting a National Testing Date and Location  682

Selecting a Test Option 684

Registering  684

Registering Under Special Circumstances 685

Planning and Packing for Test Day 685

Getting to the Test Center  685

Dressing for Test Day 686

Packing for Test Day: What to Bring 686

Obtaining Additional Test Details 687

At the Test Center  687

Checking In  687

Following the Rules 688

Communicating with the Testing Staff 689

Maintaining Your Composure and Energy 690

Voiding Your Answer Documents on Test Day 690

Testing More Than Once 691

ACT (Iowa City, IA) is a not–for–profit organization providing assessment, research, information, and program management services to support education and workforce development. Known most widely as the makers of the ACT? exam––the college readiness and placement assessment taken by some 1.8 million high school students each year––ACT produces a number of assessments and services reaching more than 10 million people along the kindergarten through career continuum. ACT′s rigorous research informs policy decisions and helps develop programs that boost lifelong learning potential in schools and workplaces around the world. To learn more, visit www.act.org.