ACT Math Prep and Tips

ACT Test Taking Strategies

Multiple Choice

Which of the following was NOT a tip that Joe suggested?

• Avoid 0 or 1

• Find common shapes

• Backsolve to save time

• Skip problems you aren't sure how to solve

Multiple Choice

Using the backsolving strategy, solve the following:

If $$\left(x+4\right)^2=49$$ and x<0, what is the value of x?

• -53

• -45

• -11

• -3

• 3

Changing percents to decimals to fractions

The ACT LOVES to have you convert percentages, decimals and fractions to one-another.

Fill in the Blank

Convert 9% to a fraction.

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Fill in the Blank

Convert 120% into a fraction.

(be sure to simplify)

Fill in the Blank

Convert 9.5% to a decimal.

Fill in the Blank

Covert 130% to a decimal.

Fill in the Blank

Convert the fraction $$\frac{35}{42}$$ into a percent.

Another tip:

Understand Percents

The ACT is notorious for asking questions about percents.

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In the real world, percents are ALL around you. Think about when you go shopping and it says that your shirt is 15% off... how do you know how much it will cost then?

Fill in the Blank

What is 65% of 15?

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Test Tips

• Read each question carefully to make sure you understand the type of answer required.

• Use your calculator wisely.

• Solve the problem.

• Locate your solution among the answer choices.

• Make sure your answer is reasonable. Check your work.

Multiple Choice

A car averages 27 miles per gallon. If gas costs $4.04 per gallon, which of the following is closest to how much the gas would cost for this car to travel 2,727 typical miles?

• $44.44

• $109.08

• $118.80

• $408.04

• $444.40

Multiple Choice

When x = 3 and y = 5, by how much does the value of 

$$3x^2-2y$$
exceed the value of  $$2x^2–3y?$$   

• 4

• 14

• 16

• 20

• 50

Multiple Choice

What is the greatest common factor of 42, 126, and 210?

• 2

• 6

• 14

• 21

• 42

Multiple Choice

Sales for a business were 3 million dollars more the second year than the first, and sales for the third year were double the sales for the second year. If sales for the third year were 38 million dollars, what were sales, in millions of dollars, for the first year?

• 16

• 20.5

• 22

• 35

Multiple Choice

A typical high school student consumes 67.5 pounds of sugar per year. As part of a new nutrition plan, each member of a track team plans to lower the sugar he or she consumes by at least 20% for the coming year. Assuming each track member had consumed sugar at the level of a typical high school student and will adhere to this plan for the coming year, what is the maximum number of pounds of sugar to be consumed by each track team member in the coming year?

• 13.5

• 47.5

• 54

• 66

Multiple Choice

In the standard (x,y) coordinate plane below, 3 of the vertices of a rectangle are shown. Which of the following is the 4th vertex of the rectangle?

• (3, -7)

• (4, -8)

• (5, -1)

• (9, -3)

Closing

• Which of these problems was the easiest? Which was the hardest?

• For tomorrow: Get a good nights sleep. Eat a good breakfast. Come to school on time. Do NOT let the test stress you out. DO YOUR BEST!

• If you do your best then we will know your strengths and weaknesses so we can work on them for the rest of the year so you will be ready for the real thing.