The readiness of high school students for college is measured using the ACT test. It prepares them for their careers based on the curriculum used in their schools.
The development of some or all ACT assessments on a national basis is significantly beneficial for the future of the learners as they seek instructional support from their teachers. College-bound students become aware of and exposed to the experiences of being in college thus even the underserved, middle, and low-income learners join the enrollment pipeline. Preparation for college at an early stage will help them move through the studies at this level more efficiently than those who do not take the ACT test.
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The general overview of the ACT test
The ACT test was developed as a competitor for the SAT test which had been considered a mainstream college admissions test. When Everett Franklin came up with the exam, he named it the American College Test to examine the cognitive reasoning of the students and also test what they had learned while in school. In 1959, the first exam was administered to 75,460. The ACT exam during this time was divided into natural sciences, English, social studies, and mathematics sections. The students were provided with 45 minutes for each section and graded on a 0-36 scale.
The ACT became popular as a test for college admission in the central and Midwestern parts of the United States where the SAT had not been adopted. Besides, institutions that had not adopted the SAT tests began providing the ACT exams.
The test has undergone significant changes throughout the 20th and also the 21st century. Social Studies was replaced with Reading, the math exam began testing trigonometry and algebra while the English test focused more on writing skills.
The exam period for each test was reduced to 40 minutes. Recent research in 2014 showed that the ACT test faces similar problems that were faced when the SAT was being administered. While only 10% of African American students pass three of the ACT tests, 50% of white students attain this level and 60% of Asian students qualify.
The ACT exams are taken either during the spring of a student’s junior or the fall of the senior year. Students are required to register for the ACT tests five weeks prior to the date when the exam will be administered. Students can also take both the ACT and the SAT exams.
Tips for passing the ACT test
When taking the English exam, the students should read the sentence carefully to identify the phrases that sound wrong. Pronoun errors, problems with the sentence structure, and errors in the link of a verb and its subject are what students should begin looking for as they carry out the English ACT practice test.
As a student answers the Mathematics test, they can sketch simple diagrams to help them “see” the answers. Mathematical reasoning is tested by these examinations thus they should not spend a lot of time figuring out the answer. For the multiple-choice mathematics questions, reference information is usually provided but one has to know how to use them. Plugging in numbers from the choices provided is also a wise strategy.
The three-stage method that involves previewing, reading, and reviewing is a great method to approach the reading section of the examination. The test taker will identify the primary ideas of each paragraph and connect them during the reading process.
The writing test, on the other hand, requires a learner to organize their ideas using the standard essay format. An introduction, two body paragraphs, and a conclusion is the fastest way for the student to complete the writing exam. For the science reasoning test, the three-stage method can be used so that a student can understand each science reasoning passage. In the data representation passages, the test taker should focus on the relation between the variables used.
Training courses for the ACT test
The ACT online prep test course is provided online for the schools that want their students to sit for the ACT exams.
Another course is PrepAway ACT Sample Practice Test Questions that provides test-taking strategies, full-length tests, and also targeted exam practice. This test comes along with the ACT diagnostic test, the personalized ACT prep, and the ACT prep dashboard.
There are also lessons from the ACT experts, step-by-step video solutions for questions tested in the past, and ACT prep reports to provide progress on the course.
Top resources for the ACT test
The ACT concepts flashcards are an effective study resource since they teach the brain to remember concepts quickly. These cards make studying an easy task since they are not heavy unlike books hence learners can use them when they are in the field, on the bus, or as they have their meals.
The ACT Prep and Practice App have multiple practice questions and 100 training videos to help a learner prepare for the ACT test. The videos are interesting for the learner who is able to navigate the different sections of the application without any difficulties. Through the app, students can find reviews on the practice questions and an analysis of their answers as well.
Best websites for the ACT test
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Number 2.com provides opportunities for the students to view tutorials answer the practice questions provided, create personalized flashcards before they sit for the ACT exams. On this website, students create accounts where they can track their progress on what they are studying and determine their skill level.
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At FreeTestPrep.com, video explanations and the ACT articles together with the flashcards make it a beneficial website for the ACT candidates. The website provides quizzes on each of the subjects and feedback on the answers considered as incorrect.
Top-notch books for the ACT test
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The ACT Prep Black Book designs the ACT test as a predictable and standardized test. It motivates the test takers to work harder and provide practical strategies to approach the exams rather than tricks. There are a variety of strategies for students to choose the best alternative that works best for them. The Black Book provides explanations for the answers to the hardest questions.
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The official act prep guide is another book that provides the gold standard ACT practice questions. The quality of the real questions previously administered is considered better than those provided by Kaplan and The Princeton Review. The summarized tests need just 12 hours of attention from a student for them to qualify.
Conclusion
One can score above 60% of the overall score as long as he/she follows the provided instructions and answers multiple-choice test questions. Passing the ACT exam increases a person’s chance to join college and also teaches other skills that may not be covered in the basic school curriculum.
