The official ACT prep guide, [2018]: [the only official Prep Guide from the Makers of the ACT]

The Official ACT Prep Guide is the bestselling resource for students getting ready to take the ACTa test. Step by step, it walks you through the entire test experience, from registration to your Score Report, and provides you with effective test-taking strategies. The guide includes three actual ACT testsall of which contain the optional writing testthat you can use to practice at your own pace. To help you better review test subjects and improve your understanding, the guide provides clear explanations for every answer and ideas for boosting your score on the English, math, reading, and science tests as well as the optional writing test.;About the ACT -- Preparation, skills, and strategies -- Taking and scoring your first ACT practice test -- Identifying areas for improvement -- Improving your English score -- Improving your math score -- Improving your reading score -- Improving your science score -- Improving your score on the optional writing test -- Taking additional practice tests -- Scoring the additional practice tests -- Interpreting your ACT test scores -- Registering, planning, and packing for test day.;Info on scoring your writing test -- Reporting categories -- Test day section -- 400 additional practice questions available online. The Official ACT Prep Guide -- Contents -- Preface -- How This Book Is Arranged -- Before You Begin -- Part One: Getting Acquainted with the ACT Test -- Chapter 1: About the ACT -- Description of the ACT -- English Test -- Mathematics Test -- Reading Test -- Science Test -- Writing Test (Optional) -- ACT Test Formats: Paper and Online -- Using a Calculator -- Taking the Test -- Summary -- Chapter 2: Preparation, Skills, and Strategies -- Mental Preparation -- Identify Strengths and Address Areas of Improvement -- Develop a Positive Mental Attitude -- Keep the Test in Perspective -- General Test-Taking Strategies and Skills -- Remain Calm -- Pace Yourself -- Know the Directions Ahead of Time -- Read Carefully and Thoroughly -- Choose Strategies for Answering Easier and More Difficult Questions -- Use Logic on More Difficult Questions -- Choose a Strategy for Guessing on Multiple-Choice Questions -- Choose a Strategy for Changing Answers -- Write Notes in Your Test Booklet -- Mark Your Answers Carefully -- Plan to Check Your Answers -- Learn Strategies for Specific Tests -- Summary -- Part Two: Taking and Evaluating Your First Practice Test -- Chapter 3: Taking and Scoring Your First ACT Practice Test -- Simulating Testing Conditions -- Scoring Your Practice Test -- Scoring Your Multiple-Choice Practice Tests -- Scoring Your Practice Writing Test Essay -- Reviewing Explanatory Answers -- Chapter 4: Identifying Areas for Improvement -- Reviewing Your Overall Performance -- Highlighting Strengths and Areas for Improvement on the English Test -- Test-Taking Skills -- Highlighting Strengths and Areas for Improvement on the Mathematics Test -- Math Subject Areas -- Test-Taking Errors -- Highlighting Strengths and Areas for Improvement on the Reading Test -- Types of Reading Passages -- Reading Skills Tested -- Test-Taking Errors Highlighting Strengths and Areas for Improvement on the Science Test -- Subject Matter -- Types of Science Questions -- Common Science Test-Taking Errors -- Highlighting Strengths and Areas for Improvement on the Writing Test -- Writing Skills Tested -- Writing Strategy or Process Errors -- Part Three: Improving Your Score -- Chapter 5: Improving Your English Score -- Content of the ACT English Test -- Types of Questions on the ACT English Test -- Strategies for Taking the ACT English Test -- Chapter 6: Improving Your Math Score -- Content of the ACT Mathematics Test -- Preparing for Higher Math -- Integrating Essential Skills -- Modeling -- Types of Questions on the ACT Mathematics Test -- Basic Math Problems -- Basic Math Problems in Settings -- Very Challenging Problems -- Question Sets -- Strategies for Taking the ACT Mathematics Test -- Pace Yourself -- Answer All Questions -- Answer All the Easy Questions First, Then Go Back to Answer the Hard Ones -- Read Each Problem Carefully -- Look for Information in the Answer Choices -- Use Illustrations Wisely and Whenever You Can -- Use Your Calculator Wisely -- Think! -- Show Your Work -- Check Your Answers -- Chapter 7: Improving Your Reading Score -- Content of the ACT Reading Test -- Key Ideas and Details -- Craft and Structure -- Integration of Knowledge and Ideas -- Types of Questions on the ACT Reading Test -- Representative ACT Reading Test Questions -- Strategies for Taking the ACT Reading Test -- Pace Yourself -- Use the Time Allotted -- Think of an Overall Strategy That Works for You -- Keep the Passage as a Whole in Mind -- Find a Strategy for Approaching Each Question -- Reading Strategies Summary -- Chapter 8: Improving Your Science Score -- Content of the ACT Science Test -- Format of the ACT Science Test -- Data Representation Format Discussion of Sample Passage I (Data Representation) -- Research Summaries Format -- Discussion of Sample Passage II (Research Summaries) -- Conflicting Viewpoints Format -- Discussion of Sample Passage III (Conflicting Viewpoints) -- Strategies for Taking the ACT Science Test -- Develop a Problem-Solving Method -- Take Notes -- Pace Yourself -- Practice Interpreting Graphs, Tables, and Diagrams -- Make the Most of the Information in Graphs -- Make the Most of the Information in Tables -- Develop an Understanding of Scientific Investigations -- Carefully Analyze Conflicting Viewpoints -- Chapter 9: Improving Your Score on the Optional Writing Test -- Content of the ACT Writing Test -- How Your Essay Will Be Scored -- Sample Prompt and Essays -- Sample ACT Writing Test Prompt -- Sample Essay Responses -- Strategies for Taking the ACT Writing Test -- Prewrite -- Write -- Review Your Essay -- Practice -- Part Four: Taking Additional Practice Tests -- Chapter 10: Taking Additional Practice Tests -- Explanatory Answers -- Explanatory Answers -- Chapter 11: Scoring the Additional Practice Tests -- Scoring Your Practice Tests -- Scoring Practice Test 2 -- Scoring the Multiple-Choice Tests -- Scoring Your Practice Writing Test 2 Essay -- Scoring Practice Test 3 -- Scoring the Multiple-Choice Tests -- Scoring Your Practice Writing Test 3 Essay -- Chapter 12: Interpreting Your ACT Test Scores and Ranks -- Understanding Your ACT Test Results -- How ACT Scores Your Multiple-Choice Tests -- How ACT Scores Your Writing Test -- Recognizing That Test Scores Are Estimates of Educational Achievement -- Using Ranks to Interpret Your Scores -- Comparing Your Test Scores to Each Other -- Comparing Your Scores and Ranks to Your High School Grades -- Comparing Your Scores to Those of Enrolled First-Year College Students The only guide from the ACT organization, the makers of the exam, revised and updated for 2017 and beyond The Official ACT Prep Guide, 2018 Edition, Revised and Updated is the must-have resource for college bound students. The guide is the go-to handbook for ACT preparation and the only guide from the makers of the exam. The book and online content includes the actual ACT test forms (taken from real ACT exams). In addition, this comprehensive resource has everything students need to know about when they are preparing for and taking the ACT. The book contains information on how to register for the exam, proven test-taking strategies, ideas for preparing mentally and physically, gearing up for test day, and much more. This invaluable guide includes additional questions and material that contains articles on everything from preparing a standout college application and getting into your top-choice school to succeeding in college -The bestselling prep guide from the makers of the ACT test -Offers bonus online contest to help boost college readiness -Contains the real ACT test forms used in previous years This new edition offers students updated data on scoring your writing test, new reporting categories, as well as updated tips on how to do your best preparing for the test and on the actual test day from the team at ACT. It also offers additional 400 practice questions that are available online The only guide from the ACT organization, the makers of the exam, revised and updated for 2017 and beyond The Official ACT Prep Guide, 2018 Edition, Revised and Updated is the must-have resource for college bound students. The guide is the go-to handbook for ACT preparation and the only guide from the makers of the exam. The book and online content includes the actual ACT test forms (taken from real ACT exams). In addition, this comprehensive resource has everything students need to know about when they are preparing for and taking the ACT. The book contains information on how to register for the exam, proven test-taking strategies, ideas for preparing mentally and physically, gearing up for test day, and much more. This invaluable guide includes additional questions and material that contains articles on everything from preparing a standout college application and getting into your top-choice school to succeeding in college The bestselling prep guide from the makers of the ACT test Offers bonus online content to help boost college readiness Contains the real ACT test forms used in previous years This new edition offers students updated data on scoring your writing test, new reporting categories, as well as updated tips on how to do your best preparing for the test and on the actual test day from the team at ACT. It also offers additional 400 practice questions that are available online. Using ACT College and Career Readiness Standards to Help You Understand Your ACT Scores -- Planning Your Education and Career -- Seeking Additional Information and Guidance -- ACT College and Career Readiness Standards-English -- Production of Writing -- ACT College and Career Readiness Standards-Mathematics -- ACT College and Career Readiness Standards-Reading -- Text Complexity Rubric-Reading -- ACT College and Career Readiness Standards-Science -- Part Five: Moving Forward to Test Day -- Chapter 13: Registering, Planning, and Packing for Test Day -- National Testing Program versus School/District/State Testing -- Registering for the ACT -- Selecting a National Testing Date and Location -- Selecting a Test Option -- Registering -- Registering Under Special Circumstances -- Planning and Packing for Test Day -- Getting to the Test Center -- Dressing for Test Day -- Packing for Test Day: What to Bring -- Obtaining Additional Test Details -- At the Test Center -- Checking In -- Following the Rules -- Communicating with the Testing Staff -- Maintaining Your Composure and Energy -- Voiding Your Answer Documents on Test Day -- Testing More Than Once -- EULA Info on scoring your writing test -- Reporting categories -- Test day section -- 400 additional practice questions available online. About the ACT -- Preparation, skills, and strategies -- Taking and scoring your first ACT practice test -- Identifying areas for improvement -- Improving your English score -- Improving your math score -- Improving your reading score -- Improving your science score -- Improving your score on the optional writing test -- Taking additional practice tests -- Scoring the additional practice tests -- Interpreting your ACT test scores -- Registering, planning, and packing for test day.