act prep smarter, score higher—guaranteed or your money back! 1-800-kap-test | kaptest.com/college...

ACT

Prep smarter, score higher—guaranteed or your money back!1-800-KAP-TEST | kaptest.com/college

Test Strategies to Raise Your Score

Agenda

• Get to know the ACT

• Learn strategies for success

• Prep smarter, not harder

But First—Let’s Say Hello!

• Grade?

• Taken the ACT?

• Math vs. Reading?

• Dream school?

Tina

Let’s Get to Know the ACT

Top Factors in College Admissions

Advanced Placement

International Baccalaureate

Dual-enrollment courses

Source: National Association of College Admissions Counseling, “2010 State of College Admission”

1a) Grades in College Prep Courses

Rigor

Relevance

Quantity

Source: National Association of College Admissions Counseling, “2010 State of College Admission”

Top Factors in College Admissions

1b) Strength of Curriculum

SAT

ACT

AP & Subject Tests

Source: National Association of College Admissions Counseling, “2010 State of College Admission”

Top Factors in College Admissions

2) Admissions Test Scores

Overall

Don’t fall behind

Don’t lose focus

Source: National Association of College Admissions Counseling, “2010 State of College Admission”

Top Factors in College Admissions

3) High School GPA

FORMAT/ TIME

SECTION FORMAT/ TIME QUESTION TYPES SCORE MD 2014Averages

English 1 Section Multiple Choice 1–36 22.1

The ACT at-a-Glance

Math 1 Section Multiple Choice 1–36 22.5

Reading 1 Section Multiple Choice 1–36 23.0

Science 1 Section Multiple Choice 1–36 22.1

Writing 1 Section Essay (Optional)1–362–12 7.1

4–5 Sections2 hrs, 55 minutes3 hrs, 25 minutes

Multiple Choice Essay

1–36 22.6Total:

• Correct Answer: +1 point

• Omitted Question: 0 points

• Incorrect Answer: 0 points

Understanding ACT Scoring

The ACT at-a-Glance

Test Day Tip:

Answer every question. If you don’t know the answer, guess!

Test Day Tip:

Answer every question. If you don’t know the answer, guess!

Reading your Score Report

1. Overall Results

2. Section Breakdown

The ACT Writing Test Unraveled

About the ACT Writing Test• 40-minute essay

• Optional, but highly recommended• Scored on a 0–6 scale by two graders on 4

categories: Ideas and Analysis, Development and Support, Organization, and Language Use and Conventions. . Grades are then added to get a total score out of 36

The ACT Writing Test UnraveledAbout the ACT Writing Test• Students are given three perspectives

on an issue and asked to :• “evaluate and analyze” the three

perspectives, • “state and develop” their own

perspective, and • “explain the relationship” between

their perspective and the given perspectives.

The ACT Essay Unraveled

DO: Answer the assignment

question

Use detailed and relevant examples

Construct a strong thesis

Organize the essay well

Use smooth transitions Use vivid imagery Proofread! (Spelling,

grammar, and punctuation)

Be clear, coherent, and concise

To get that high score you deserve… 654!

Lose your central argument

Use flowery and artificial language

Use clichés

654! To get that high score you deserve…

DON’T:

The ACT Essay Unraveled

Repeat yourself Use slang or

abbreviations

Test Score ComparisonACT

Composite Score

School Type

2322

21

20

19

18

17

16

15

14

13

12

11

ACT Composite

ScoreSchool Type

36353433323130292827262524

HARVARD TOWSON UNIVERSITY

UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND - COLLEGE PARK

JOHNS HOPKINS

Strategies for Success

Kaplan Backsolving Method

Backsolving• Try out the answer choices to find the right one.• Start with (C) unless the problem asks for the

smallest or largest value.

When do you Backsolve?• When you’re asked for a value• When the answer choices are simple numbers

Of the participants at a certain conference, 1/3 are veterinarians; 1/2 are zoologists; and the remaining 12 are trainers. Each participant specializes in only one field. What is the total number of participants at the conference.

A. 36B. 48C. 60D. 72E. 76

Veterinarians 1/3 (60) = 20Zoologists 1/2 (60) = 30

+ Trainers 12

62

Ratios

Of the participants at a certain conference, 1/3 are veterinarians; 1/2 are zoologists; and the remaining 12 are trainers. Each participant specializes in only one field. What is the total number of participants at the conference.

A. 36B. 48C. 60D. 72E. 76

Veterinarians 1/3 (72) = 24Zoologists 1/2 (72) = 36

+ Trainers 12

72

Ratios

The Kaplan Method for Math

1. What is the question?

2. What information are you given?

3. What can you do with this information?

4. Are you done yet?

+12 %

Logic64 teams compete in a tournament. Two teams play in each game, and teams that lose are immediately eliminated from the tournament. What is the minimum number of games that must be played in order to have only one undefeated team?

32 vs. 32 = 32 Games16 vs. 16 = 16 Games8 vs. 8 = 8 Games4 vs. 4 = 4 Games2 vs. 2 = 2 Games1 vs. 1 = 1 Game

= 63 Games

Logic64 teams compete in a tournament. Two teams play in each game, and teams that lose are immediately eliminated from the tournament. What is the minimum number of games that must be played in order to have only one undefeated team?

Use your critical-thinking skills!

# of winners = 1

# of losers = 63

63 games had to be played

Writing: Relative Pronouns

To _______ is the letter addressed?

The letter is addressed to him.

whom

Objective Pronoun = her, him, them, or us

Subjective Pronoun = she, he, they, or we

WHOM

WHO

Writing: Relative Pronouns

I went to the library with Anthony, _____ is also in my math class.

who

The boy to _______ we were speaking had bright green hair.

whom

____ is in my math class.

I was speaking to _____.him

He

College Prep Timeline

• PSAT in October

• Take AP and SAT Subject Tests after completing courses

• Summer prep for PSAT

College Prep TimelineFreshman Year Sophomore Year

• Extracurricular activities

• Prep for AP/Honors

• PSAT in October for National Merit

• Focus on academics—this is the critical year!

• Research admissions requirements for chosen schools

• Prepare for SAT and/or ACT

• Take required SAT Subject Tests

College Prep TimelineJunior Year Senior Year

• Take SAT and/or ACT for the last time

• Take required SAT Subject Tests

• Request letters of recommendation

• Fill out FAFSA and research scholarships

• Visit schools

Prep Smarter, Not Harder.

It’s All About You!

Consider Your…

• Goals

• Timeline

• Schedule

• Learning preference

Prep smarter, not harder.How do you learn best?

In the classroom? One-on-One?Online?

Good News. Every Kaplan Program…•Uses data to customize learning for you

•Includes reports for students and parents

•Is guaranteed to raise your score!

Prep smarter, not harder.

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Why should their prep be? NO TWO STUDENTS ARE THE SAME

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ACT Classes near Wootton

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For more information please call or visit our website.

1-800-KAP-TEST | kaptest.com/college

Tina Craun, 240-447-7592, tina.craun@kaplan.com