English ACT Prep

English ACT Prep

ACT

There are three parts to the ACT.

1. Math

2. English

3. Reading

This Prep Course will give you some tips on how to improve your English score on the ACT.

English ACT

You will have 45 minutes to complete a 70 question test for this portion of the ACT.

The questions are multiple-choice and are over five passages (essays).

For each passage there are roughly 15 questions.

English ACT

This test measures your understanding of:

1. The Conventions of Standard English

2. Production of Writing

3. Knowledge of Language

It focuses on your ability to make decisions regarding the revising and editing of a given piece.

1. Pace Yourself

With the 45-minute time limit, you have roughly 9 minutes for each essay. This includes skimming the passage and answering the questions.

Given the time limit, you should be able to spend about 30 seconds on each question.

Any time you have left over you can use to double-check answers on questions you were unsure of.

2. Be aware of the writing style used in the essay

Each essay is written in a different style.

Some will be narrative and some could be anecdotes written in first-person, informal view.

Others will be scholarly written in a third-person, formal view.

Some questions may ask you about the style and tone of the piece as a whole.

3. Consider a question's context before choosing an answer

Use the context clues provided in the essay to help you determine the correct answer.

Read at least a couple of sentences beyond the portion of the essay that is being questioned to help you get an idea of what is being discussed in that portion. You may need to read more than that in some cases.

Multiple Choice

How much time do you have on average for each essay?

• 4 minutes

• 45 minutes

• 9 minutes

4. Be aware of the connotations of words

Vocabulary isn't tested as a separate section on the ACT.

However, having a good vocabulary will help you do better on the test.

You should be able to use context clues to help you with the dictionary definition of a word you don't know.

You should also be able to identify the connotations (feelings and associations) as well.

5. Look for a stated question

Before responding to a question identified by an underlined portion, check for a stated questions preceding the options.

If there is one, it will provide you with some guidelines for deciding on the best choice.

Some questions will ask you to choose the portion that is NOT or LEAST acceptable.

Multiple Choice

What are the connotations of words?

• feelings/associations

• definition

• educated guess

• synonyms

6. Note the differences in the answer choices

Examine each of the choices provided to you as answers and determine how each option differs from the others.

Consider all of the features of writing that are included in each option.

7. Avoid making new mistakes

Some of the options for a question will have similar wording, so be careful when you are making your choice.

When choosing an answer that would correct a mistake in the writing, it can be easy to choose an answer that would create a new mistake. So be aware of what the answers say and pay close attention.

8. Determine the best answer

1. Reread the sentence or sentences containing the underlined portion, substitute each of the options, and determine which is best.

2. Decide how the underlined portion might best be phrased and then look for the phrasing in the answer options.

If the underlined portion is correct, select the NO CHANGE option.

Multiple Select

When looking at the answers provided on the English test, what should you pay attention to? (Select all that apply)

• Check for new mistakes that can be made

• The differences between the answers

• Go with your gut

9. Reread the sentence using your selected answer

Once you have chosen your answer, reread the sentence with the answer you determined to be the best in it.

If it makes sense, you can move on to the next question. If it doesn't, take a look at the other options again.

10. Watch for questions about the entire essay or a section of the essay

These questions are identified by a number in a box at the appropriate point in the essay, rather than an underlined portion.

11. Be careful with two part questions

Questions with two parts may ask you to decide which option is best and choose the supporting reason that makes that option the most appropriate or convincing.

12. Watch for interrelated questions

Sometimes you will run into questions that are asking about the same portion of the essay.

In these cases it may be helpful to answer the second question first or to answer these questions together.

Read questions like this first and then decide on a course of action.

Multiple Choice

How are questions about a section or entire essay identified?

• the section is in a different font

• letter in a box

• the question is in parentheses in the essay

• number in a box

Conventions of Standard English

• Grammar

• Usage

• Punctuation

• Sentence structure and formation

Punctuation

• The wording will be very similar

• The punctuation options will differ

• You will need to know the differences in these punctuation uses

• Read each of the options carefully

Punctuation Practice

Around this time the polka music and button accordian played by German immigrant railroad workers; left their mark on waila.

14.

F. NO CHANGE

G. workers

H. workers:

J. workers,

Conventions

• Grammar and usage

• Choosing the best word or words in a sentence

Conventions Practice

1. Subject Verb agreement

"The owner of the bicycles are going to sell them."

"The owner of the bicycles is going to sell them."

Which is correct?

Explanation

The subject in the sentence "owner" is singular. Since the subject is singular, you need to have a singular verb "is."

Multiple Choice

Pronoun Antecedent agreement: Which is correct?

• Susan and Mary left her briefcases in the office.

• Susan and Mary left their briefcases in the office.

Multiple Choice

Adjectives and Adverbs with corresponding nouns and verbs: Which is correct?

• Danielle spread frosting liberal on the cat.

• Danielle spread frosting liberally on the cat.

Multiple Choice

Verb Forms: Which is correct?

• Fritz had just begun to toast Lydia's marshmallows when the rabbits stampeded.

• Fritz had just began to toast Lydia's marshmallows when the rabbits stampeded.

Multiple Choice

Pronoun Forms and Cases: Which is correct?

• Syemour and Svetlana annoyed there parents all the time.

• Syemour and Svetlana annoyed their parents all the time.

Multiple Choice

Pronoun Forms and Cases: Which is correct?

• After the incident with the peanut butter, the zebra and I were never invited back.

• After the incident with the peanut butter, the zebra and me were never invited back.

Multiple Choice

Comparative and Superlative Modifiers: Which is correct?

• My goldfish is more smarter than your brother.

• My goldfish is smarter than your brother.

Multiple Choice

Comparative and Superlative Modifiers: Which is correct?

• Your brother, however, has the cuter aardvark that I've ever seen.

• Your brother, however, has the cutest aardvark that I've ever seen.

Multiple Choice

Idioms: Which is correct?

• The definition of a word can be looked up in a dictionary.

• The definition of a word can be looked down in a dictionary.

Sentence Structure

• Effective formation of sentences

• Relationships between and among clauses

• Placement of modifiers

• Shifts in construction

Practice

1. Subordinate or dependent clauses and participle phrases

"These hamsters are excellent pets because providing hours of cheap entertainment."

"These hamsters are excellent pets providing hours of cheap entertainment." (participle phrase)

"These hamsters are excellent pets because they provide hours of cheap entertainment." (dependent clause)

Multiple Choice

Run-on or fused sentences: Which is correct?

• We discovered that the entire family had been devoured by anteaters it was horrible.

• We discovered that the entire family had been devoured by anteaters. It was horrible.

Multiple Choice

Comma Splices: Which is correct?

• The anteaters had terrible manners, they just ate and ran.

• The anteaters had terrible manners. They just ate and ran.

Multiple Choice

Sentence Fragments: Which is correct?

• Julio didn't lose his temper when he found scorpions in his socks.

• When he found scorpions in his socks.

Multiple Choice

Misplaced Modifiers: Which is correct?

• Snarling and snapping, Juanita attempted to control her pet turtle.

• Snarling and snapping, the pet turtle resisted Juanita's attempt to control it.

Multiple Choice

Shifts in Ver Tense or Voice: Which is correct?

• We sat down to the table to eat, but before we began, John said grace.

• We sate down to the table to eat, but before we began, John says grace.

Multiple Choice

Shifts in Pronoun Person or Number: Which is correct?

• Hamsters should work at the most efficient pace that one can.

• Hamsters should work at the most efficient pace that they can.

Production of Writing

• Writing strategy

• Organization

• Style

Practice

In the early 1900s, the O'odham became acquainted with marching bands and woodwind instruments (which explains the presence of saxophones in waila).

13. Given that all of the choices are true, which one is most relevant to the focus of this paragraph?

A. NO CHANGE

B. (although fiddles were once widely used in waila bands).

C. (even though they're now often constructed of metal).

D. (which are frequently found in jazz bands also).

Multiple Choice

Today, after many birthdays and New Year's Days, I now find meaningful the difference I once found confusing. Otherwise, this difference points to significant underlying cultural values.

• NO CHANGE

• Though,

• In fact,

• Then,

Knowledge of Language

• Effective word choices

• Writing style

• Tone

• Clarity

• Economy

Practice

The school board members believed that wearing "play clothes" to school made the students inefficient toward their school work, while more formal attire established a positive educational climate.

F. NO CHANGE

G. lazy and bored to tears with

H. blow off

J. lax and indifferent toward