The Official ACT Prep Guide 2021-2022, (Book + 5 Practice Tests + Bonus Online Content)

The comprehensive guide to the 2021-2022 ACT^® test, with 6 genuine, full-length practice tests in print and online.

This 2021-2022 guide includes six actual ACT^® tests – all of which contain the optional writing test – that you can use to practice at your own pace. To help you review test subjects and improve your understanding, this guide provides clear explanations for every answer. You’ll also get practical tips for boosting your score on the English, math, reading, and science tests, as well as the optional writing test. Additionally, you can access the six tests online through the access code provided in the guide. The code also provides access to 400 online flashcards to help you prepare for all sections in the ACT^® examination.

The test’s creators filled this guide with expert advice on how to both mentally and physically prepare for the exam. It will also help you:

• Review the entire ACT^® test content so you’ll know what to expect on test day
• Understand the procedures you’ll follow when you’re taking the ACT^®
• Prepare for the types of questions you can expect to find on the test
• Adopt test-taking strategies that are right for you

The Official ACT^® Prep Guide 2021-2022 is the best resource to prepare you for test day. By using this guide you can feel comfortable that you’re prepared to do your best!

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.

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 Full ACT Test 4

English Test 4

Mathematics Test 6

Reading Test 14

Science Test 17

Writing Test (Optional) 19

The Fifth Test 21

ACT Test Formats: Paper and Online 21

Using a Calculator 21

Taking the Test 23

Summary 24

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 Thoroughly 29

Choose Strategies for Answering Easier and More Difficult Questions 30

Use Logic on More Difficult 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 Specific 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

Practice Test 1 41

Scoring Your Practice Test 99

Scoring Your Multiple-Choice Practice Tests 100

Scoring Your Practice Writing Test Essay 106

Reviewing Explanatory Answers 111

Chapter 4: Identifying Areas for Improvement 178

Reviewing Your Overall Performance 179

Highlighting Strengths and Areas for Improvement on the English Test 179

Test-Taking Errors 180

Highlighting Strengths and Areas for Improvement on the Mathematics Test 182

Math Subject Areas 182

Test-Taking Errors 182

Highlighting Strengths and Areas for Improvement on the Reading Test 183

Types of Reading Passages 184

Reading Skills Tested 184

Test-Taking Errors 185

Highlighting Strengths and Areas for Improvement on the Science Test 186

Science Subject Areas 186

Types of Science Questions 187

Test-Taking Errors 187

Highlighting Strengths and Areas for Improvement on the Writing Test 188

Writing Skills Tested 188

Writing Strategy or Process Errors 189

Part Three: Improving Your Score 191

Chapter 5: Improving Your English Score 193

Content of the ACT English Test 193

Types of Questions on the ACT English Test 194

Strategies for Taking the ACT English Test 203

Chapter 6: Improving Your Math Score 219

Content of the ACT Mathematics Test 220

Preparing for Higher Math 220

Integrating Essential Skills 220

Modeling 221

Types of Questions on the ACT Mathematics Test 221

Basic Math Problems 221

Basic Math Problems in Settings 225

Very Challenging Problems 229

Question Sets 236

Strategies for Taking the ACT Mathematics Test 241

Pace Yourself 241

Answer All Questions 241

Answer All the Easy Questions First, Then Go Back to

Answer the Hard Ones 242

Read Each Problem Carefully 242

Look for Information in the Answer Choices 242

Use Illustrations Wisely and Whenever You Can 243

Use Your Calculator Wisely 243

Think! 243

Show Your Work 244

Check Your Answers 244

Chapter 7: Improving Your Reading Score 245

Content of the ACT Reading Test 245

Key Ideas and Details 246

Craft and Structure 246

Integration of Knowledge and Ideas 246

Types of Questions on the ACT Reading Test 246

Representative ACT Reading Test Questions 247

Strategies for Taking the ACT Reading Test 257

Pace Yourself 257

Use the Time Allotted 257

Think of an Overall Strategy That Works for You 258

Keep the Passage as a Whole in Mind 258

Find a Strategy for Approaching Each Question 258

Reading Strategies Summary 259

Chapter 8: Improving Your Science Score 267

Content of the ACT Science Test 267

Format of the ACT Science Test 268

Data Representation Format 269

The ONLY Official Prep Guide from the Makers of the ACT

Discussion of Sample Passage I (Data Representation) 271

Research Summaries Format 274

Discussion of Sample Passage II (Research Summaries) 276

Conflicting Viewpoints Format 278

Discussion of Sample Passage III (Conflicting Viewpoints) 280

Strategies for Taking the ACT Science Test 283

Develop a Problem-Solving Method 283

Take Notes 284

Pace Yourself 284

Practice Interpreting Graphs, Tables, and Diagrams 284

Make the Most of the Information in Graphs 285

Make the Most of the Information in Tables 287

Develop an Understanding of Scientific Investigations 288

Carefully Analyze Conflicting Viewpoints 288

Chapter 9: Improving Your Score on the Optional Writing Test 289

Content of the ACT Writing Test 290

How Your Essay Will Be Scored 290

Sample Prompt and Essays 290

Sample ACT Writing Test Prompt 291

Sample Essay Responses 293

Strategies for Taking the ACT Writing Test 317

Prewrite 317

Write 317

Review Your Essay 318

Practice 318

Part Four: Taking Additional Practice Tests 319

Chapter 10: Taking Additional Practice Tests 321

Practice Test 2 327

Explanatory Answers 387

Practice Test 3 465

Explanatory Answers 525

Practice Test 4 603

Explanatory Answers 661

Practice Test 5 733

Explanatory Answers 791

Practice Test 6 865

Explanatory Answers 923

Chapter 11: Scoring the Additional Practice Tests 1008

Scoring Your Practice Tests 1009

Scoring Practice Test 2 1010

Scoring the Multiple-Choice Tests 1010

Scoring Your Practice Writing Test 2 Essay 1016

Scoring Practice Test 3 1019

Scoring the Multiple-Choice Tests 1019

Scoring Your Practice Writing Test 3 Essay 1024

Scoring Practice Test 4 1026

Scoring the Multiple-Choice Tests 1026

Scoring Your Practice Writing Test 4 Essay 1031

Scoring Practice Test 5 1033

Scoring the Multiple-Choice Tests 1033

Scoring Your Practice Writing Test 5 Essay 1038

Scoring Practice Test 6 1040

Scoring the Multiple-Choice Tests 1040

Scoring Your Practice Writing Test 6 Essay 1046

Chapter 12: Interpreting Your ACT Test Scores and Ranks 1049

Understanding Your ACT Test Results 1051

How ACT Scores Your Multiple-Choice Tests 1051

How ACT Scores Your Writing Test 1051

Recognizing That Test Scores Are Estimates of Educational Achievement 1051

Using Ranks to Interpret Your Scores 1052

Comparing Your Test Scores to Each Other 1052

Comparing Your Scores and Ranks to Your High School Grades 1052

Comparing Your Scores to Those of Enrolled First-Year College Students 1052

Using ACT College and Career Readiness Standards to Help You Understand Your ACT Scores 1053

Planning Your Education and Career 1054

Seeking Additional Information and Guidance 1054

ACT College and Career Readiness Standards—English 1055

Production of Writing 1055

ACT College and Career Readiness Standards—Mathematics 1062

ACT College and Career Readiness Standards—Reading 1071

Text Complexity Rubric—Reading 1078

ACT College and Career Readiness Standards—Science 1085

Part Five: Moving Forward to Test Day 1089

Chapter 13: Registering, Planning, and Packing for Test Day 1091

National Testing Program versus State and District Testing 1092

Registering for the ACT 1092

Selecting a National Testing Date and Location 1092

Selecting a Test Option 1094

Registering 1094

Registering Under Special Circumstances 1095

Planning and Packing for Test Day 1095

Getting to the Test Center 1095

Dressing for Test Day 1096

Packing for Test Day: What to Bring 1096

Obtaining Additional Test Details 1097

At the Test Center 1097

Checking In 1097

Following the Rules 1098

Communicating with the Testing Staff 1099

Maintaining Your Composure and Energy 1100

Voiding Your Answer Documents on Test Day 1100

Testing More Than Once 1101

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