ACT TEST REVIEW

Section 1) English 2) Math 3) Reading ) Science !) Writing Test Breakdown 75 Questions, 45 Minutes 60 Questions, 60 Minutes (Calculator) 40 Questions, 35 Minutes 40 Questions, 35 Minutes 1 Essay, 30 Minutes Score Range 1-36 1-36 1-36 1-36 2-12

***The scores from the four multiple-choice tests are averaged to get your overall composite score. The Writing Test plays no role in the composite score.

BASIC STRATE"#
1) $%%& '$ersonal %rder o( &i((ic)lt*) + Always o t!e "uestions t!at loo# easiest to you $irst% &eci e w!ic! "uestions you want to answer an w!en you want to answer t!e'% (et your )oints w!ere you can% *#i) tou+! "uestions an co'e ,ac# later to answer t!e'% 2) ,% B-A,.S + -ou on.t lose )oints $or any wron+ answers on t!e AC/, so 0E1E2 lea3e any answer ,lan#, no 'atter w!at% 3) $%E '$rocess o( Eli/ination) + 4ncrease your c!ances o$ +ainin+ )oints an +ettin+ t!e answer correct ,y eli'inatin+ t!e o,3ious wron+ c!oices% Cross o$$ any wron+ answers ri+!t away% /!e wron+ answers are t!ere to istract you $ro' )ic#in+ t!e ri+!t one% ) -%T& '-etter o( the &a*) + 5se tec!ni"ue only i$ you !a3e no i ea w!at t!e answer is, you can.t eli'inate any answers an you on.t !a3e ti'e to +et to t!e "uestions% 6ic# a letter, any letter an #ee) t!at letter t!e sa'e $or all answers you co')letely +uess on an $ill in w!en runnin+ out o$ ti'e%

E,"-IS0 '1! 23ESTI%,S4 ! MI,3TES)

5 )assa+es wit! 15 "uestions eac! 6unctuation, (ra''ar an *tyle 7 E itin+ /est 7 'a#e eac! as clear an well written as )ossi,le C5s + Co/6lete4 Consistent4 Clear and Concise /!e answer c!oices !ol t!e clue to w!at t!e "uestion is testin+% 7IRST 23ESTI%, 8 What5s Changing in the Answers9 Eli'inate t!e answers t!at are wron+ ue to )unctuation, tense, su,8ect-3er, a+ree'ent, etc%, an t!en co')are t!e answers re'ainin+% ,% C0A,"E is correct a,out 25 )ercent o$ t!e ti'e% &on.t ,e a$rai to )ic# it i$ none o$ t!e ot!er answers 'atc! u)%

T0I,"S T% -%%. 7%R 1) VERTICA- -I,E TEST + &o t!is w!en )unctuation is c!an+in+ in t!e answers% &raw a 3ertical line at t!e crossroa s an eter'ine i$ t!ere is a co')lete or inco')lete i ea ,e$ore an a$ter t!e crossroa s% 9nce you eter'ine C or 4C, you will #now w!at )unctuation is nee e % C%M$-ETE I&EA + 4 ea t!at can stan on its own: *u,8ect, 1er,, 9,8ect, Co')lete /!ou+!t 2 Co')lete 4 eas are se)arate ,y */96 6unctuation 7 6erio , *e'icolon, Co''a ; <A0=9-* (<or, An, 0or, =ut, 9r, -et, *o), Question Mar#, E>cla'ation Mar# */96 6unctuation only lin#s Co')lete 4 eas: i$ you see 4C, t!en */96 6unctuation is not correct I,C%M$-ETE I&EA + Cannot stan on its own, not a co')lete sentence, 'issin+ su,8ect an 3er,, always 'issin+ so'et!in+, isru)te con3ersation 4C ;C, C ; 4C, or 4C ; 4C ? (9 6unctuation suc! as Co''as or 0o 6unctuation at all: 4C ; 4C is al'ost always @noA )unctuation: &90./ /A6 /BE =2ACE*, let t!e sentence +o Cey wor s t!at can 'a#e sentence 4C 7 @Alt!ou+!, =ecause, 4$, *ince, /!at, 5nless, 5ntil, D!ile, D!o, D!ic!A 2) SI: R3-ES T% 3SE A C%MMA Co''a ; <A0=9-* to lin# 2 Co')lete 4 eas Ein# 4C ; C in eit!er or er A$ter an 4ntro uctory 4 ea or Clause

A$ter e3ery ite' in a list, inclu in+ a co''a a$ter t!e wor ,e$ore @an A =etween a list o$ two t!in+s, a 8ecti3es escri,in+ a noun =e$ore an A$ter 5nnecessary 4n$o%: i$ t!e )!rase c!an+es t!e 'eanin+ o$ t!e sentence t!en 09 C9MMA*: i$ t!e )!rase is not nee e an is useless in$o%, t!en co''as (/!at ? 0o Co''as: D!ic! ? Co''as: Bowe3er ? Co''as)

3) S3B;ECT8VERB A"REEME,T A 3er, 'ust a+ree wit! t!e su,8ect an 3ice 3ersa 7 *in+ular wit! *in+ular an 6lural wit! 6lural% Collecti3e 0ouns +et sin+ular 3er, 7 /ea', =an , (rou), Class, <a'ily, *c!ool, etc% <in t!e su,8ect, $in t!e 3er,, 'a#e it correct tense 7 )ast, )resent, $uture *u,8ect 7 *tar o$ t!e sentence: )er$or'er o$ t!e action or t!e $eeler o$ t!e $eelin+% /!e su,8ect is usually t!e noun or t!e )ronoun% A noun is a )erson, )lace or t!in+, an a )ronoun ta#es t!e )lace o$ a noun% A )ronoun !as to a+ree in nu',er an +en er wit! noun it re)laces% 6ronouns 7 Do'en +et s!e, !er an !ers% Men +et !e, !i' an !is% *in+ular t!in+s +et it an its% 6lural )ronouns +et t!ey, t!e', t!eir an t!eirs% 4$ you.re not sure i$ it.s 'an or wo'an, use !eF!i'F!is /!e 3er, is a wor t!at e>)resses an action 7 a $eelin+ or a state o$ ,ein+% @/o ,eA an @to !a3eA are !el)in+ 3er,s% 5se @isA or @ wasA or @!asA $or sin+ular su,8ects an @areA or @wereA or @!a3eA $or )lural su,8ects Ma#e sentences in acti3e 3oice% A3oi )assi3e on AC/% 4$ you see @-in+A wor s in answers, usually eli'inate t!at answer

) W0% A,& W0%M 5se D!o w!en you nee a su,8ect $or t!e 3er, in t!e inco')lete i ea 5se D!o' i$ you alrea y !a3e a su,8ect in t!e inco')lete i ea

!) A$%STR%$0ES + $%SSESSIVES A,& C%,TRACTI%,S Cnow t!e i$$erence o$ w!en to use a)ostro)!e an w!en not to use a)ostro)!e% 4t.s ? 4t is: its ? )ossessi3e% /!at.s ? /!at is% -ou.re ? -ou are: your ? )ossessi3e% D!o.s ? D!o is: w!ose ? )ossessi3e *in+ular nouns +et .s: 6lural nouns +et s.% Eoo# at wor a$ter )ossessi3e wor to eter'ine i$ sin+ularF)lural nee e

<) MA.E SE,TE,CE C%,CISE4 -ESS W%R&# 4$ you loo# at answers an t!ere is t!e sa'e wor or )!rase in e3ery answer an one o$ your c!oices is only t!at wor or )!rase, t!en t!at "uestion is testin+ @conciseA% C!oose t!e 'ore concise answer%

Eoo# out $or t!e G&elete. C!oice an $in a reason not to c!oose @&eleteA% C!oose t!e @ eleteA o)tion w!en t!e un erline )ortion isn.t necessary to 'a#e t!e sentence

1) %T0ER &E7I,ITI%,S T% .,%W Ad=ecti>es + wor s t!at escri,e a noun 7 )retty, an+ry, u+ly, etc% Ad>er? + escri,es e3eryt!in+ else li#e 'o i$yin+ a 3er,, a 8ecti3e or ot!er a 3er, 7 nicely, !o)e$ully, etc% Con=)nctions + wor s t!at can 'a#e an i ea inco')lete 7 alt!ou+!, ,ecause, t!at, w!ile, since: also wor t!at 8oins wor s, )!rases or clauses to+et!er Idio/s + <i+ure o$ s)eec! t!at $ollows no rules 7 istance ,etween, in or er to, wa+er on, across $ro' Mis6laced Modi(ier + Any #in o$ escri)tion t!at is )ut in t!e wron+ )lace in a sentence an t!us escri,es t!e wron+ t!in+% Happy as a pig in mud, cheesecake was smeared all over the dogs face. $re6ositions and 6re6ositional 6hrases + little wor s t!at s!ow a relations!i) 7 o$, on, to, o$, ,y, in, wit!, ,etween

MAT0 '<@ 23ESTI%,S4 <@ MI,3TES)

9nly section wit! 9r er o$ &i$$iculty 7 1st 20 Easy: 2n 20 Me iu': 3r 20 Bar Questions ran+e $ro' Arit!'etic an Al+e,ra to /ri+ono'etry Two (or/s + $l)g and Ch)g Calc)lations an Word $ro?le/s -ou can use Calc)lators 7 <our-$unction, scienti$ic an +ra)!in+% 9nly ones )ro!i,ite are /4-HI an /4-I2% Ma#e sure you enter in$or'ation into your calculator correctly 7 ne+ati3es, $ractions, )arent!eses, etc% 5se $%E an Ball6arking% *o'e answers are 8ust too ,i+ an too s'all: eli'inate t!e ones you #now are wron+ ri+!t away% All $i+ures are rawn to scale unless ot!erwise note , so use t!at eye to ,all)ar# answers in +eo'etry "uestions% @4$ an an+le loo#s ,i++er t!an I0 e+rees, it is%A

1) ,% M%RE A-"EBRA $-3""I," I, + /!is tec!ni"ue c!an+es al+e,ra an +eo'etry )ro,le's into si')le arit!'etic )ro,le's% 6E5( 40 w!en you see 3aria,les in t!e answers% 5se easy nu',ers to 'a#e t!e 'at! as easy as )ossi,le 7 use 2,5, 10 an 100, an a3oi 0 an 1 w!en )ossi,le: i$ )ro,le' as#s $or ne+ati3e nu',ers, )lu+ in a ne+ati3e nu',er: c!ec# all $i3e answers since you are )lu++in+ in your own nu',ers% $-3""I," I, T0E A,SWERS '$ITA) + 5se t!e nu',ers t!at are in t!e answer c!oices to !el) you sol3e t!e )ro,le'% *tart wit! t!e 'i le answer c!oice unless t!e "uestion as#s $or least or +reatest 3alue% *tartin+ wit! t!e 'i le can !el) you eter'ine w!et!er to )rocee u) or own $ollowin+ t!at answer% Ea,el your answer c!oices 7 t!ey are t!e answer to your "uestion t!at you un erline in t!e )ro,le'% 5*E 64/A w!en "uestion as#s $or a s)eci$ic a'ount an use wor s in "uestion suc! as @Bow 'anyA or @Bow 'uc!A or @D!at is t!e 3alue o$A% Also 5*E 64/A w!en t!ere are no 3aria,les in t!e answer c!oices% -ou can use 6E5( 40 i$ t!ere are 3aria,les% 2) W%R& $R%B-EMS 7IRST STE$ 8 3,&ER-I,E T0E 23ESTI%,4 #now w!at t!e "uestion is as#in+ a'i st all t!e wor s an sentences =rea# t!e wor in+ into ,ite-siJe )ieces an write own w!at you #now an w!at t!e "uestion is tellin+ you Eet t!e answers !el) you: loo# $or t!ose clues wit!in t!e answers an ways to use 69E: answers too s'all, answers too ,i+, etc%

3) &E7I,ITI%,S #%3 ,EE& T% .,%W

,)/?er + E3eryt!in+ &istinct 8 &i$$erent Integer + 0o $ractions or eci'als, w!ole nu',ers $ositi>e + 0u',ers +reater t!an Jero ,egati>e + 0u',ers less t!an Jero A?sol)te Val)e + Ma#es nu',er )ositi3e, istance $ro' Jero% E>en + &i3isi,le ,y 2 %dd + 0ot &i3isi,le ,y 2 Consec)ti>e + 4n or er, +oin+ u) Reci6rocal + <li) t!e nu',er o3er Re/ainder + 0u',er t!at is le$t o3er w!en nu',ers on.t i3i e e3enly @ A 0u',er, E3en, 4nte+er 7actors + 6ieces o$ a nu',er t!at can i3i e t!e inte+er e3enly% <actors o$ H are 1,H: 2,4 M)lti6les + Multi)ly your nu',er ,y 1, 2, 3, 4, etc% to +et your 'ulti)les o$ t!at nu',er% Multi)les o$ H are H, 16, 24, 32, etc% $ri/e ,)/?ers + 0u',ers i3isi,le only ,y itsel$ an 1% 6ri'e nu',ers less t!an 20 inclu e 2, 3, 5, 7, 11, 13, 17, 1I S)/ + A ition &i((erence + *u,traction $rod)ct + Multi)lication 2)otient 8 &i3ision I/aginar* ,)/?ers ? *"uare 2oot o$ 0e+ati3e 0u',er IneB)alities + 4$ you 'ulti)ly or i3i e ,y a ne+ati3e, $li) t!e si+n% KKK<or s"uare 3aria,les an a,solute 3alue, +reater t!an ? or, so two lines in o))osite irection on +ra)!, li#e oars in a ,oat: less t!an ? an S*ste/ o( EB)ations + 4$ t!ere are two 3aria,les an two e"uations, stac# t!e' an a or su,tract to 'a#e one 3aria,le cancel out, i$ )ossi,le EC6onents + @Mo' An &a S!ow $ower MoreA Multi)ly t!e ,ases, A t!e e>)onents 7 (>L)(>M) ? >5 &i3i e t!e ,ases, Su,tract t!e e>)onents - >MF >L ? > 2aise t!e )ower to a $ower, Multi)ly t!e e>)onents 7 (2>L)M ? H >6 KKKA t!e ,ases, o not!in+ to t!e e>)onents KKKAny nu',er to 0 )ower is G1. KKKAny nu',er to 1st )ower is itsel$ Roots + -ou can a or su,tract s"uare roots only w!en t!e nu',ers un er t!e s"uare root si+ns are t!e sa'e% A>erage 'Mean) + A t!e nu',ers u) in your +rou), i3i e ,y nu',er o$ t!in+s in your +rou) an t!at.s your a3era+e Median + Mi le nu',er w!en nu',ers are or ere least to +reatest Mode + 0u',er t!at a))ears t!e 'ost o$ten wit!in set o$ nu',ers $ro?a?ilit* + D!at -ou Dant &i3i e =y D!at -ou (ot: t!e c!ance t!at so'et!in+ will !a))en 7actorial A 5N ? 5>4>3>2>1 ? 120

$atterns + A se"uence o$ a +rou) o$ nu',ers t!at increase or ecrease in a consistent )attern Arith/etic SeB)ence + /!e &i$$erence ,etween consecuti3e ter's is constant% 60 53 46 3I 32 25, etc% "eo/etric SeB)ence + /!e 2atio ,etween consecuti3e ter's is constantO 3 6 12 24 36, etc% ) 23A&RATIC E23ATI%,S aCD E ?C E c A @ Coe((icient + nu',er ne>t to t!e 3aria,le &egree + ,i++est e>)onent in e"uation 3nde(ined + w!en Jero is in eno'inator Bino/ialF7actor + /wo t!in+s in )arent!eses w!en e"uation is $actore outF,ro#en own RootsFsol)tions + all 3alues $or > GS)/ o( the RootsH ? -,Fa G$rod)ct o( the RootsH ? cFa 7%I- '7irst4 %)tside4 Inside4 -ast) + &o t!is i$ "uestion +i3es you two $actors an as#s $or "ua ratic e"uation 4$ "uestion +i3es you an e"uation, $actorN Eoo# $or )laces to )lu+ in an 64/A !) $-A,E "E%METR# 7%RM3-AS 'I7 ,% 7I"3RE "IVE,4 &RAW %,EIIIJ -ABE- #%3R 7I"3RES 7R%M I,7%K "IVE,)

Perimeter add up all sides Area Formulas

square = a 2

rectangle = ab

parallelogram = bh

trapezoid = h/2 (b1 + b2)

circle = pi r 2

(pi = = 3.141592...

ellipse = pi r1 r2

triangle =

one !al$ ti'es t!e ,ase len+t! ti'es t!e !ei+!t o$ t!e trian+le

equilateral triangle =

Vol)/e 7or/)las

cu,e ? a 3

rectan+ular )ris' ? a , c

irre+ular )ris' ? ? !

cylin er ? ? ! ? pi r 2 !

)yra'i ? (1F3) ? !

cone ? (1F3) ? ! ? 1F3 pi r 2 !

s)!ere ? (4F3) pi r 3 Circle &e(initions arcL a cur3e line t!at is )art o$ t!e circu'$erence o$ a circle chordL a line se+'ent wit!in a circle t!at touc!es 2 )oints on t!e circle% circ)/(erenceL t!e istance aroun t!e circle% C ? 2 pi r dia/eterL t!e lon+est istance $ro' one en o$ a circle to t!e ot!er% (2r) originL t!e center o$ t!e circle 6i ' )L A nu',er, 3%1415I2%%%, e"ual to (t!e circu'$erence) F (t!e ia'eter) o$ any circle% radi)sL istance $ro' center o$ circle to any )oint on it% (r) sectorL is li#e a slice o$ )ie (a circle we +e)% tangent o( circleL a line )er)en icular to t!e ra ius t!at touc!es 90E- one )oint on t!e circle% <) A,"-ES Right Angle A I0 e+rees Straight -ine A 1H0 e+rees Triangle A 1H0 e+rees 2)adrilateral A 360 e+rees Circle A 360 e+rees R)les o( ,ote + 1) D!en a line intersects two 6arallel lines, two #in s o$ an+les are $or'e 7 ,i+ an s'all an+les% Eac! ,i+ an+le e"uals t!e ot!er ,i+ an+les: eac! s'all an+le e"uals t!e ot!er s'all an+les: an any ,i+ an+le )lus any s'all an+le e"uals 1H0 e+rees% 2) Right Triangles + 6yt!a+orean /!eore' - aL ; ,L ? cL (c is t!e !y)otenuse) 3) Isosceles Triangles + 45-45-I0 trian+les, two si es o))osite t!e 45e+ree an+les are e"ual ) EB)ilateral Triangles + 60-60-60 e+ree trian+les: all an+les an all si es are e"ual !) /wo lines are $er6endic)lar w!en t!ey 'eet at a I0- e+ree an+le%

<) Si/ilar Triangles 7 *et si es o$ eac! trian+le as )ro)ortions to t!e corres)on in+ si es% 1) S%0CA0T%A 8 A way o$ re'e',erin+ !ow to co')ute t!e sine, cosine, an tan+ent o$ an an+le% S%0 stan s $or *ine e"uals 9))osite o3er By)otenuse% CA0 stan s $or Cosine e"uals A 8acent o3er By)otenuse% T%A stan s $or /an+ent e"uals 9))osite o3er A 8acent%

1) C%%R&I,ATE "E%METR# S-%$E A riseFrun ? y2 7 y1F>2 7 >1 (6arallel lines ? sa'e slo)e: )er)en icular lines ? o))osite reci)rocal slo)es) E23ATI%, %7 A -I,E A y ? '> ;, (' stan s $or slo)e: , stan s $or yinterce)t: > an y stan $or any or ere )air on t!e line) 4$ A ( 1, y1) an !( 2, y2,), t!en istance d, $ro' A to ! ?

'i )oint, ", o$ A! ? Circles centere at (0,0) ? >L ; yL ? rL Circles centere at (!,#) ? (>-!)L ; (y-#)L ? rL M) -%"ARIT0MS /!e logarith/ o$ a nu',er is t!e e>)onent ,y w!ic! a $i>e nu',er, t!e ,ase, !as to ,e raise to )ro uce t!at nu',er% <or e>a')le, t!e lo+arit!' o$ 1000 to ,ase 10 is 3, ,ecause 1000 is 10 to t!e )ower 3O 1000 ? 103 ? 10P10P10% More +enerally, i$ ? #y, t!en y is t!e lo+arit!' o$ to ,ase #, an is written lo+#( ), so lo+10(1000) ? 3%

lo+ (>Fy) ? (lo+>) 7 (lo+y)

lo+ (> to t!e y )ower) ? ylo+>

REA&I," ' @ 23ESTI%,S4 3! MI,3TES)

4 )assa+es 7 6rose <iction, *ocial *cience, Bu'anities, 0atural *cience 6assa+es are always in sa'e or er: no or er o$ i$$iculty 699& 7 &o )assa+es o$ t!e +enres an to)ics you $in interestin+ or easier $irst: s'all )ara+ra)!s, easy to $in line re$erences an easy to $in lea wor s: s!ort "uestions an answers easier t!an lon+ "uestions an answers% 0ail t!e )assa+es you #now an t!en lea3e t!e !ar er )assa+es $or later% Easy to answer 7 <etc! t!e answer ri+!t out t!e )assa+e: line re$erences or +reat lea wor s 0ee so'e reasonin+ "uestions 7 @D!at oes t!e aut!or really 'eanQA or @D!at oes t!e aut!or in$erQA

1) BASIC A$$R%AC0 $re>iewL C!ec# t!e ,lur, an 'a) t!e "uestions% Ma) t!e Questions 'ean *tarrin+ your "uestions t!at contain line re$erences an easy-to-$in answers an 5n erlinin+ Eea Dor s wit!in t!e "uestions% Work the $assageL 2ea t!e story once: un erline lea wor s a+ain t!at you re'e',er $ro' t!e "uestions% *!oul not ta#e lon+er t!an 3 'inutes% Work the 2)estionsL 5se 699&: o t!e easy an si')le ones $irst an t!en tac#le t!e !ar er ones suc! as @in$erA or w!at oes aut!or 'ean in entire )assa+e, etc% Work the AnswersL 69E: eli'inate answers t!at on.t 'a#e sense 7 Co//on Tra6s 8 2i+!t Dor s, Dron+ *tory: 9ut t!e Din ow: 2i+!t Answer, Dron+ Question (-es, ,ut not 'ain )oint o$ )assa+e): Eli'inate answers t!at see' silly, ru e an o$$ensi3e: aut!ors are res)ect$ul an courteous 2) 7ETC0 23ESTI%,S <etc! "uestions re$er to a )articular )art o$ t!e )assa+e, an t!eir answers ten to ,e irect )ara)!rases o$ in$or'ation t!at a))ears in t!e )assa+e% /!ese "uestions ten to ,e easier ,ecause t!ey are 'ore strai+!t$orwar t!at ,asically as# you w!at t!e "uestion says% Bow to s)ot G<etc!. "uestionsO Accor in+ to t!e )assa+e R /!e aut!or @statesA: @in icatesA: @o$$ersA *!ort answers 2ea Din ow to $in answer an w!at )assa+e says 3) REAS%,I," 23ESTI%,S

2easonin+ "uestions 'a#e you @reasonA w!at t!e aut!or is sayin+% 2ea t!e 5-10 line win ow o$ te>t an $in out w!at t!e aut!or is really sayin+ Bow to s)ot G2easonin+. "uestionsO 4n$ers, Means, *u++ests, 4')lies Eon+er answers 6ur)ose or $unction o$ )art or all o$ t!e )assa+e D!at t!e aut!or or a )erson in t!e )assa+e woul a+ree or isa+ree wit! C!aracteriJe or escri,e all or )arts o$ t!e )assa+e ) E:CE$T4 -EAST %R ,%T 23ESTI%,S Cross out t!e wor s E>ce)t, Eeast or 0ot: Mar# eac! answer c!oice as /rue or <alse% 6ic# t!e o one out% !) T0E "%-&E, T0REA& Eoo# $or a 'ain or co''on t!e'e t!rou+!out all o$ your "uestions, an correct answers s!oul all a+ree wit! eac! ot!er% An answer to one "uestion 'ay !el) you wit! anot!er%

SCIE,CE ' @ 23ESTI%,S4 3! MI,3TES)

3 Charts and "ra6hs 6assa+es wit! 5 Questions Eac! (always $i+ures) 3 EC6eri/ents 6assa+es wit! 6 Questions Eac! (usually $i+ures) 1 7ighting Scientists 6assa+e wit! 7 Questions (so'eti'es $i+ures) /ests Science Reasoning an Co//on .nowledge, 09/ 9utsi e *cience Cnowle +e 7 ,ul# o$ t!e "uestions re"uire you to s)ot, e3aluate an synt!esiJe tren s an relations!i)s in $i+ures an 3iew)oints% SCIE,TI7IC T0I,.I," IS B3I-T %, A 7%3,&ATI%, %7 C%MM%, SE,SEI Eoo# $or Trends wit!in a $i+ure, c!art or 3iew)oint Eoo# $or Relationshi6s ,etween $i+ures or 3iew)oints: la,el t!ose relations!i)s on t!e c!art 7 &irect, 4n irect, =ell Cur3e, <lat, 0o 2elations!i): la,el 5) or &own Arrows ,ow $assages + *'all ta,les an +ra)!s: nu',ers, not wor s or sy',ols: easy to s)ot, consistent relations!i)s: s!ort answers, $eaturin+ nu',ers or wor s, suc! as @increaseF ecreaseA 2)estions + Eoo# u) 3alues or a relations!i)% =e rea y to 'a#e )re ictions ,ase on c!art in$or'ation% *ynt!esiJe in$or'ation% &raw conclusions%

1) BASIC A$$R%AC0 Work the 7ig)resL Mar# any tren s on t!e $i+ures an c!arts: note units use Work the 2)estionsL Eoo# u) answers, rea only i$ an w!en you nee to: eter'ine w!at e>)eri'ents to loo# at t!e 'ost ,ase on !ow 'any "uestions )ertain to eac! e>)eri'ent Work the AnswersL 69E: t!e c!arts an t!e relations!i)s wit!in t!e $i+ures can !el) you eli'inate t!e wron+ answers: D!ene3er 3aria,les !a3e a consistent relations!i), eli'inate t!e inconsistent answers% D!ene3er t!ere is only one )air o$ e>act o))osites, one o$ t!e )air is 'ost li#ely t!e correct answer%

2) 7I"0TI," SCIE,TISTS 6assa+es co'e wit! 2 to 5 3iew)oints: you.re e3aluatin+, co')arin+ an contrastin+ i$$erin+ 3iew)oints in a scienti$ic e,ate% Basic a66roachL 1) Read the Introd)ction 7 Contains 'ain t!esis o$ w!at you will rea % /!e lon+er t!e intro t!e 'ore i')ortant it is to all o$ t!e "uestions% /!e 'ore scientists, t!e $ewer "uestions on 8ust one 3iew)oint% 2) $re>iew the 2)estionsL D!o is 'ore )o)ularQ D!ic! scientist !as t!e 'ost

"uestionsQ Mar# t!e "uestions wit! a 1, 2, 3, etc% relatin+ it to t!e scientistF)assa+e it eals wit!% Ea,el it wit! a 1 an 2 or 1 an 3 i$ t!e "uestion eals wit! 'ore t!an one scientistF)assa+e 3) &o %ne 0*6othesis at a Ti/e ) 3se *o)r $%%&L &o t!e "uestions on ,ot! or all t!e !y)ot!eses last%

WRITI," '1 ESSA#4 3@ MI,3TES)

9)tional $or colle+es as a re"uire'ent $or a))lication on t!e AC/ /est% =ut since 'ost colle+es re"uire it, we teac! it, reco''en it an re"uire it on all )ractice tests% /wo rea ers +ra e your essay on a scale o$ 1-6: t!e scores are a e to+et!er $or a ran+e o$ 2-12 on your score re)ort% Dritin+ !as no e$$ect on your co')osite score 6 ? E$$ecti3e: 5 ? Co')etent: 4 ? A e"uate: 3 ? *o'e &e3elo)in+ *#ill: 2 ? 4nconsistent or Dea# *#ill: 1 ? Eittle or 0o *#ill /o +et a 6 7 @/!e essay s!ows a clear un erstan in+ o$ t!e tas#% /!e essay ta#es a )osition on t!e issue an 'ay o$$er a critical conte>t $or iscussion% /!e essay a resses co')le>ity ,y e>a'inin+ i$$erent )ers)ecti3es on t!e issue, or ,y e3aluatin+ t!e i')lications an For co')lications o$ t!e issue, or ,y $ully res)on in+ to counter ar+u'ents to t!e writer.s )osition% &e3elo)'ent o$ i eas is a')le, s)eci$ic an lo+ical% Most i eas are $ully ela,orate % A clear $ocus on t!e s)eci$ic issue in t!e )ro')t is 'aintaine % /!e or+aniJation o$ t!e essay is clear: t!e or+aniJation 'ay ,e so'ew!at )re icta,le or it 'ay +row $ro' t!e writer.s )ur)ose% 4 eas are lo+ically se"uence % Most transitions re$lect t!e writer.s lo+ic an are usually inte+rate into t!e essay% /!e intro uction an conclusion are e$$ecti3e, clear an well e3elo)e % /!e essay s!ows a +oo co''an o$ lan+ua+e% *entences are 3arie an wor c!oice is 3arie an )recise% /!ere are $ew, i$ any, errors to istract t!e rea er%A &e3elo) a )oint o$ 3iew on an issue )resente in an e>cer)t *u))ort your )oint o$ 3iew usin+ reasonin+ an e>a')les $ro' your rea in+, stu ies, e>)erience, or o,ser3ations <ollow t!e con3entions o$ stan ar written En+lis! T0I,. 7IRST4 WRITE -ATER + /!e 'ost i')ortant )art o$ your essay is your a,ility to un erstan t!e co')le>ity an conte>t o$ t!e e,ate% =rainstor' all your i eas own on )a)er% 5se t!ose i eas to )ic# a si e, t!en outline, construct an t!en write your essay% 1) Identi(* sides and reasons (or those sides 2) Identi(* ass)/6tions and conseB)ences + assu')tions are o)inions t!at eac! si e ,uilt t!eir ecisions on: conse"uences are w!at eit!er si e i n.t t!in# o$ w!en co'in+ to t!ose ecisions

3) $)t It In ConteCt + E>a')les !el) su))ort your ar+u'ent, so use as 'any as you can to ,ac# u) your ar+u'ent By)ot!etical e>a')les are 9C% I7 #%3 CA,5T $IC. A SI&E %R ISS3E IS C-EAR-# ,%T RI"0T %R WR%," + Thesis8Antithesis8S*nthesis Model 1) Thesis + =e+in wit! an ac#nowle +e'ent o$ t!e rele3ance o$ t!e to)ic to teena+ers% E>)lain t!e conte>t $or w!y t!e $irst si e is t!e correct one, usin+ ,est assu')tions, conse"uences an e>a')les to su))ort )osition% ((9 *4&E AN) 2) Antithesis + =e+in wit! a transitional to)ic sentence an e>)lain t!e contest $or w!en t!e $irst si e 'ay ser3e as )ro,le's, usin+ ,est assu')tions, conse"uences an e>a')les to su))ort t!at )osition as well% ((9 *4&E =N) 3) S*nthesis + Co'e u) wit! a solution% *tate a +eneral rule $or w!en si e one is t!e ri+!t one an also w!en it 'ay ,e a )ro,le'% &iscuss !ow t!e rule a))lies to your e>a')les% E>)lain !ow to use t!e rule in ot!er cases% (A 4* (99&, = 4* (99&, MACE E1E2-=9&- BA66- D4/B A C9M629M4*E)