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CliffsNotes ACT Cram Plan PDF

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proadfCbodrlraiat en imoomVdnni lss Pamii,llt na ao e ptc nr rhtaee caiC cv cAeeitsCntsiT ict et eeos r , T C A ® TM William Ma, Jane R. Burstein, and Nichole Vivion About the Authors Acknowledgments William Ma was chairman of the Math Department at the Herricks My wife, Mary, and my daughters, Janet and Karen, who gave me School District on Long Island for many years before retiring. He much help in putting the book together. Kelly Henthorne for her also taught as an adjunct math instructor at Baruch College, editorial assistance. Columbia University, and Fordham University. He is the author of — William Ma several books including two calculus review books, an SAT prep book, and an on-line review course for the New York State’s Math I would like to thank my husband, David, and children, Jessica, A Regents Exam. He is currently a math consultant. Jonathan, Beth, and Seth, for their encouragement and helpful suggestions. Many thanks also to everyone at Herricks High School, Jane Burstein taught English at Herricks High School in New Hyde especially to English teacher Barbara Hoffman and her students who Park, NY, for 36 years. She is the author of an SAT prep book and were willing to write sample essays. has been an ACT and SAT tutor for 25 years, an instructor at — Jane Burstein Hofstra University, and a reader for AP exams. Thanks to my friends and family for their ongoing support Nichole Vivion is the author of CliffsNotes AP Biology Flashcards throughout the writing process. and a contributor to CliffsNotes Test Success for AP Biology. She — Nichole Vivion currently teaches upper school science courses in biology, biotechnology, and public health at The Nightingale-Bamford Editorial school in New York City. Acquisitions Editor: Greg Tubach Project Editor: Kelly Dobbs Henthorne Technical Editors: David Herzog, Scott Ryan Composition Proofreaders: Laura L. Bowman, Jessica Kramer Wiley Publishing, Inc. Composition Services CliffsNotes® ACT® Cram Plan™ Note: If you purchased this book without a cover, you should be aware that this book is Published by: stolen property. It was reported as “unsold and Wiley Publishing, Inc. destroyed” to the publisher, and neither the 111 River Street author nor the publisher has received any Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774 payment for this “stripped book.” www.wiley.com Copyright © 2009 Wiley, Hoboken, NJ Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ Published simultaneously in Canada ISBN: 978-0-470-47173-9 Library of Congress Control Number: 2009016229 Printed in the United States of America 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning, or otherwise, except as permitted under Sections 107 or 108 of the 1976 United States Copyright Act, without either the prior written permission of the Publisher, or authorization through payment of the appropriate per-copy fee to the Copyright Clearance Center, 222 Rosewood Drive, Danvers, MA 01923, 978-750-8400, fax 978-646-8600, or on the web at www.copyright.com. Requests to the Publisher for permission should be addressed to the Legal Department, Wiley Publishing, Inc., 10475 Crosspoint Blvd., Indianapolis, IN 46256, 317-572-3447, fax 317-572-4355, or online at http://www.wiley.com/go/permissions. THE PUBLISHER AND THE AUTHOR MAKE NO REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES WITH RESPECT TO THE ACCURACY OR COMPLETENESS OF THE CONTENTS OF THIS WORK AND SPECIFICALLY DISCLAIM ALL WARRANTIES, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION WARRANTIES OF FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. NO WARRANTY MAY BE CREATED OR EXTENDED BY SALES OR PROMOTIONAL MATERIALS. THE ADVICE AND STRATEGIES CONTAINED HEREIN MAY NOT BE SUITABLE FOR EVERY SITUATION. THIS WORK IS SOLD WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT THE PUBLISHER IS NOT ENGAGED IN RENDERING LEGAL, ACCOUNTING, OR OTHER PROFESSIONAL SERVICES. IF PROFESSIONAL ASSISTANCE IS REQUIRED, THE SERVICES OF A COMPETENT PROFESSIONAL PERSON SHOULD BE SOUGHT. NEITHER THE PUBLISHER NOR THE AUTHOR SHALL BE LIABLE FOR DAMAGES ARISING HEREFROM. THE FACT THAT AN ORGANIZATION OR WEBSITE IS REFERRED TO IN THIS WORK AS A CITATION AND/OR A POTENTIAL SOURCE OF FURTHER INFORMATION DOES NOT MEAN THAT THE AUTHOR OR THE PUBLISHER ENDORSES THE INFORMATION THE ORGANIZATION OR WEBSITE MAY PROVIDE OR RECOMMENDATIONS IT MAY MAKE. FURTHER, READERS SHOULD BE AWARE THAT INTERNET WEBSITES LISTED IN THIS WORK MAY HAVE CHANGED OR DISAPPEARED BETWEEN WHEN THIS WORK WAS WRITTEN AND WHEN IT IS READ. Trademarks: Wiley, the Wiley Publishing logo, CliffsNotes, the CliffsNotes logo, Cram Plan, Cliffs, CliffsAP, CliffsComplete, CliffsQuickReview, CliffsStudySolver, CliffsTestPrep, CliffsNote-a-Day, cliffsnotes.com, and all related trademarks, logos, and trade dress are trademarks or registered trademarks of John Wiley & Sons, Inc. and/or its affi liates. ACT is a registered trademark of ACT, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Wiley Publishing, Inc. is not associated with any product or vendor mentioned in this book. For general information on our other products and services or to obtain technical support, please contact our Customer Care Department within the U.S. at (877) 762-2974, outside the U.S. at (317) 572-3993, or fax (317) 572-4002. Wiley also publishes its books in a variety of electronic formats. Some content that appears in print may not be available in electronic books. For more information about Wiley products, please visit our web site at www.wiley.com. Table of Contents Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . vi An Overview of the Cram Plan for the ACT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .vi General Test-taking Strategies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .vi Using a Graphing Calculator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . vii Format of the ACT Test . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . vii Online Extras at CliffsNotes.com . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .viii I. Diagnostic Test . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Answer Sheet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Section 1 English Test . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 Section 2 Mathematics Test . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12 Section 3 Reading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17 Section 4 Science . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24 Section 5 Writing Assessment Prompt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35 Scoring the Diagnostic Test . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36 Answer Explanations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38 Scoring Worksheets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .47 The Rubric . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .48 II. Two-Month Cram Plan for the ACT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .53 III. One-Month Cram Plan for the ACT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .57 IV. One-Week Cram Plan for the ACT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .61 V. The English Test . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .63 Format . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .63 Content . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .63 A. Usage and Mechanics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .63 B. Important Terms to Know . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .64 C. Understanding Mechanics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .64 D. Grammar and Usage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .76 E. Rhetoric . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .97 VI. The Reading Test . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103 A. Overview of the ACT Reading Test . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .103 B. General Strategies for the Reading Test . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .103 C. Types of Reading Questions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .104 D. Practice Questions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .112 VII. Strategies for Solving ACT Math Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117 iii CliffsNotes ACT Cram Plan VIII. Applying Pre-Algebra Skills . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119 A. Real Numbers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .119 B. Integers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .120 C. Fractions and Decimals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .121 D. Absolute Value . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .123 E. Scientific Notations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .124 F. Exponents and Radicals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .125 G. Percents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .126 H. Ratios and Proportions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .127 I. Linear Equations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .128 J. Counting Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .129 K. Probability . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .131 L. Mean, Median, and Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .133 M. Data Interpretation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .135 IX. Solving Elementary Algebra Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 138 A. Rational Expressions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .138 B. Properties of Exponents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .139 C. Factoring Polynomials . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .140 D. Adding and Subtracting Polynomials . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .141 E. Multiplying and Dividing Polynomials . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .142 F. Quadratic Equations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .142 G. Word Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .143 X. Studying Intermediate Algebra . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145 A. Algebraic Expressions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .145 B. Algebraic Expressions Involving Absolute Value . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .146 C. Algebraic Expressions Involving Exponents and Radicals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .147 D. Equations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .148 E. Inequalities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .149 F. Systems of Equations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .150 G. Functions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .151 H. Logarithmic and Exponential Functions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .153 I. Modeling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .154 J. Complex Numbers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .156 K. Patterns and Sequences . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .157 L. Matrices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .158 XI. Answering Coordinate Geometry Questions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 160 A. Points, Lines, and Planes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .160 B. Conic Sections and Other Curves . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .162 C. Odd and Even Functions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .167 D. Graphing Inequalities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .170 E. Slopes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .173 F. Parallel and Perpendicular Lines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .175 G. Midpoints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .176 H. Distance Formula . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .177 iv Table of Contents XII. Working with Plane Geometry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 178 A. Measurement of Angles and Line segments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .178 B. Properties of Triangles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .180 C. Properties of Quadrilaterals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .182 D. Similarity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .184 E. Areas and Perimeters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .187 F. Solids, Volumes, and Surface Areas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .189 G. Properties of Circles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .191 H. Concept of Proof . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .194 I. Transformations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .196 XIII. Tackling Trigonometry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 201 A. Trigonometry of the Right Triangle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .201 B. Trigonometric Functions of Non-Acute Angles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .203 C. Laws of Sine and Cosine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .206 D. Graphs of Trigonometric Functions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .209 E. Trigonometric Identities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .211 F. Solving Trigonometric Equations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .212 XIV. The Science Test . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 213 A. Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .213 B. General Strategies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .213 C. Types of Science Questions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .215 D. Visual Representations of Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .226 XV. ACT Writing Assessment Test . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 229 A. Approach to the Essay: Thinking (2–3 minutes) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .229 B. Approach to the Essay: Planning (2–3 minutes) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .229 C. Approach to the Essay: Writing (18–22 minutes) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .230 D. Proofread (2–3 minutes) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .232 XVI. Full-Length Practice Test with Answer Explanations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 233 Format of the ACT Practice Test . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .233 Answer Sheet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .234 Section 1 English Test . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .237 Section 2 Mathematics Test . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .255 Section 3 Reading Test . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .265 Section 4 Science Test . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .276 Section 5 Writing Assessment Prompt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .297 Scoring the Practice Test . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .298 Answer Explanations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .300 Scoring Worksheets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .314 Appendix A. Using a Graphing Calculator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 316 Appendix B. Common Math Formulas and Theorems for the ACT . . . . . 322 v Introduction Many juniors and seniors take the ACT as part of the college admissions process. By taking this test, students give the admissions officers an objective standard that can be used to compare one student to other students. Colleges use these scores, along with the high school transcripts, resumés of extracurricular activities, letters of recommendation, and application essays as a guide to predict how well each individual will do in college-level courses. Now that you have decided to take this exam, you are ready to begin the preparation process. All you need for success is some time and determination. Whether you have two months, one month, or one week, you can achieve your goals if you are organized, hard-working, and willing to stick to the plan. This guide introduces you to different sections of the test, gives you a schedule to help you plan your preparation, and presents guided practice to help improve your English, mathematics, science, and reading skills. For those students who are taking the Optional Writing Assessment, Chapter XV, “ACT Writing Assessment,” covers writing strategies. An Overview of the Cram Plan for the ACT The ACT is not an intelligence test; it is an achievement test. This means that it tests your ability in four content areas: English, mathematics, science, and reading (and writing if you opt for the Writing Assessment). The best way to get ready for this test is to determine exactly how much time you have to prepare and follow the appropriate plan: the two-month plan, the one-month plan, or the one-week plan. Each plan has a schedule for you to follow along with the approximate time you will need to allot to each task. In addition, each subject review chapter gives you strategies for that part of the test. Included in each subject review chapter are practice exercises to assist you in the areas in which you are weakest and to help you continue to maximize your strengths. We suggest you begin by taking the Diagnostic Test. This will help you diagnose your areas of weakness: those parts of the test on which you will need to focus your attention. The answer explanations will guide you to the specific chapters that cover the topics in which you need the most help. After the Diagnostic Test, you will find a scoring guide that will give you an indication of your current score on each section of the ACT. Then you can begin to focus on the subject review chapters. After you have completed the review, you can take the Practice Test, a full-length simulated ACT. General Test-taking Strategies ■ Become familiar with the format of the test. If you know what to expect, you will be less nervous and more confident the day of the test. ■ Work at a steady pace. You do not have the time to get bogged down on any one question. If you are having difficulty with a question, take your best educated guess and move on. The Diagnostic Test and the Practice Test will help you learn to pace yourself properly. vi Table of Contents ■ Use this book to familiarize yourself with the directions to each section of the test. Knowing the directions to each section ahead of time will save you precious minutes on the day of the test. ■ Read each question very carefully and be sure you know exactly what it asks. Many questions require you to note very specific details. Watch for signal words like most, seldom, highest, and lowest. ther ■ Always read all the answers carefully, and use POE (Process of Elimination) to narrow down the choices. ual ■ Use the answer choices to help you when you are unsure. On any multiple-choice test, the answer is always right there in front of you. eed ■ If you take the Writing Assessment, read the prompt carefully and be sure to address u the issue as it is presented. ■ Be sure you are bubbling in the answers in the correct circle on your answer sheet. Check yourself every 5 questions. ing ■ Bring everything you will need with you the day of the test: sharpened number 2 pencils with good erasers, calculator, and tissues. It is a good idea to bring your own watch; you cannot be sure you will have a visible clock in the testing room. Don’t forget to have your admission ticket and photo ID with you. ■ There is no guessing penalty on the ACT. Answer EVERY question. Make sure you have filled in only one circle for each question. Carefully erase any changed answers. Using a Graphing Calculator n. All questions in the math portion of the ACT can be solved without a calculator; however, using a calculator, particularly a graphing calculator, can help solve a h problem faster and avoid making careless errors. In this book, every question that ch can be solved with the help of a graphing calculator is indicated by a calculator icon. elp However, this icon does not appear on the actual ACT exam. A special section on how to use a graphing calculator to solve some of the ACT math questions is included in Appendix A. : Please note that some calculators are not permitted on the ACT Math Test, for example, e TI-89, TI-92, TI-Nspire CAS, HP 48GII, Algebra fx 2.0, and ClassPad 300. To see the latest Test, updated list of calculators permitted on the ACT Math Test, visit www.actstudent.org or call 800-498-6841 for a recorded message. you Format of the ACT Test The ACT is a multiple-choice test comprised of 4 sections and one optional Writing Assessment (the essay). Section 1, the English Test, contains 75 questions on grammar, usage, and rhetoric. us Section 2, the Mathematics Test, is comprised of questions on pre-algebra, elementary algebra, intermediate algebra, coordinate geometry, plane geometry, and trigonometry. Section 3, ou the Reading Test, is comprised of four passages taken from different content areas including Test fiction, the social sciences, the humanities, and the natural sciences. Section 4, the Science vii CliffsNotes ACT Cram Plan Test, covers the application of science reasoning in biology, chemistry, earth/space sciences, and physics. The Writing Assessment, a persuasive essay in response to a specific prompt, is given after the first 4 sections. The multiple-choice test alone takes 2 hours and 55 minutes; the essay takes an additional 30 minutes. Test # of Questions # of Minutes English 75 45 Mathematics 60 60 Reading 40 35 Science 40 35 Optional Writing Assessment 1 30 Online Extras at CliffsNotes.com As an added bonus to this CliffsNotes ACT Cram Plan, you can get some additional practice by visiting www.cliffsnotes.com/go/ACTCram. There, you'll find: ■ Sample ACT English Test Reading Passage ■ Suggested ACT Math Approaches with Samples ■ Sample ACT Reading Test Passage with Questions and Answer Explanations ■ And more! viii

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It's ACT Crunch Time!Get a plan to ace the exam—and make the most of the time you have left.Whether you have two months, one month, or even just a week left before the exam, you can turn to the experts at CliffsNotes for a trusted and achievable cram plan to ace the ACT—without ever breaking a s
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