ACING THE ACT

ACT Math PREPARATION AND TIPS 1GOAL SETTINGWhat is the required score for admission to your 1st choice school?

Are you applying for scholarships with ACT score requirements?

In addition to a composite score goal, set a goal for each test and sub-score.

Set the bar high, but make it reachable!2Average act scores for:Air Force 29Colorado College 28School of Mines 27Fort Lewis 19Metro State 18Regis 21UC Boulder 23University of Denver 25UNC 20Western State 19CSU 22

TEST DATES 1st: April/June of Junior Year

2nd: September/October of Senior Year

3rd: December/February of Senior Year

4TEST PREPARATION#14+ Years of Math, Science, English#2ACT Preparation Course#3 Practice Workbook/On-line Resources

Ideal Preparation Plan:10% Understanding Test80% Reviewing Skills10% Test-taking Strategies5PREPARATION RESOURCESOnline/Self-Paced Courses:ACT Online Prep ($19.95 for 1 year)SD MyLife and My Student Edge (FREE)

Practice TestsDSTEP, ASVAB, PSAT, SD Test-OutsPreparing for the ACT (Archived editions online)

Practice BooksThe Real ACT Prep Guide ($30.95)

Classroom Review CoursesSylvan Learning CenterKeene Academy

6WHAT TO BRINGPencilsCalculatorIdentification and Registration7GENERAL TEST-TAKING TIPSPace Yourself (Announcements only made when 5 minutes/1 minute remain)Read directions before test dateRead questions carefully (annotate)Answer easy questions firstAnswer EVERY question (no penalty for guessing)Be precise in marking answer and dont make notes on answer sheetDont panic! Work the entire time.

8MATH TEST PREP60 QUESTIONS/60 MINUTES(1 question per minute)

Pre-Algebra/Elementary Algebra24 QuestionsIntermediate Algebra/Coordinate Geometry18 Questions Plane Geometry/Trigonometry18 Questions

9MATH TIPSDraw a picture if one is not provided. Figures given are not drawn to scale, so mark them with given measures or symbols.Know the following translations: of means multiply and per means divide. Know the area and perimeter formulas for triangles, rectangles, and circles, and how to find the volume and surface area of a box. If a problem is given in terms of fractions, decimals, or percents, consider using an alternate form to find the answer.

10MATH TIPSIf the question and/or answer set are given in terms of variables only, substitute simple numbers to help determine the answer.Most answers are listed from least to greatest, so you can use a technique called backsolving to find the correct answer.Do not overuse your calculator! The test is written so that every problem can be solved without a calculator. Set up the problem in your test booklet first and take a moment to consider what a reasonable answer would be before using the calculator.

11Pre-algebra topicsFractions, percentagesProbabilityFactors, primesDivisibilityAbsolute valueExponents and rootsQuestion 1

Question 2

Question 3

Question 4

Question 5

Algebra topicsSubstitutionSolving equationsInequalitiesSimplifying expressionsFOILQuestion 1

Question 2

Question 3

Intermediate algebraSolving and factoring quadraticsSystems of equationsFunctionsMatricesLogarithmsQuestion 1

Question 2

Question 3

Question 4

Question 5

Coordinate geometryCoordinate planeDistanceSlopeParallel and perpendicular linesEquation of a lineGraphing a lineQuestion 1

Question 2

Question 3

Question 4

Question 5

Question 6

Plane geometryAngles and linesCirclesTrianglesPolygonsQuestion 1

Question 2

Question 3

Question 4

Question 5

trigonometrySOHCAHTOASolving trianglesTrig identitiesQuestion 1

Question 2