ACT MATH STRATEGIES
Tips to remember
•No ACT Math question should take
more than a minute
•Focus on trying to get 2 out of 3
questions correct
•Skills that are tested are deliberately of
a wide range
ACT Math Test
•24 Pre-Algebra and Elementary Algebra
questions
•10 intermediate algebra questions
•8 coordinate geometry questions
•14 plane geometry questions
•4 trigonometry questions
Math Strategies
• There’s no partial credit! Do not dwell on writing out the
equation and solving. You don’t have to be obdient to the way
you learned it.
• Pick numbers to fill in algebraic equations. Consider the
following equation:
• If a is an odd integer and b is an even integer, which
of the following must be odd?
• A) 2a + b
• B) a + 2b
• C) ab
• D) a^2b
• E) ab^2
Math Strategies
Back Solve:
•Try the answers in the question to find the
best choice.
•It doesn’t matter how you get the right
answer… so long as you do!
Follow these steps for success
•1) Ask yourself: What is the question?
•Don’t memorize definitions… but it’s
important to process and understand the
precise language used in the math exam
•2) What information am I given?
• When planning how to attack the problem, the
obvious way to answer could be too long, so be
creative in your answer processes.
Follow these steps for success
3) What can I do with the information?
• No need to show your work
• If the answer you calculated is there, choose it.
You’re probably right. If not, use the process of
elimination and choose
• 4) Am I finished? Go back and reread.
• If you are stuck, skip it on the first pass.
• Usually everyone skips some questions the first time
through.
• AVOID a third pass.
When to use a calculator
• You are permitted to use a calculator
• You don’t NEED it. The ACT doesn’t technically
require the use of a calculator on any question
• Know when the use of the calculator is slowing you
down. Sometimes it will be faster to solve in your
head!
• Calculators are meant to SUPPLEMENT your skills
NOT to REPLACE them
ACT Math Diagnostic Test
We will now take a diagnostic test to see where you
stand in ACT Math.
It is important for you to do your absolute best on this
test, so I can see exactly which skills you need to work
on as an individual and so I can see patterns in the
whole class.
If you finish with more than 10 minutes left in the test, I
will know you haven’t given a good faith effort, and it
will count against your participation for the day.
ACT Math Diagnostic Test Chart
Put your name at the top of the chart and fill in
ONLY the “your answer” column with the answers
from your answer sheet.
Then, swap your chart with someone else.
ACT Math Diagnostic Test Chart
• Partners, fill in the “correct answer” column with
the following correct answers and put an “X” in
the next column next to those questions they got
incorrect.
ACT Math Diagnostic Test Answers
1) C
2) H
3) D
4) J
5) A
6) F
7) E
8) K
9) B
10) F
11) D
12) G
13) E
14) J
15) C
16) F
17) B
18) F
19) E
20) J
21) D
22) G
23) C
24) K
25) D
26) F
27) D
28) F
29) A
30) G
31) A
32) K
33) B
34) G
35) E
36) G
37) C
38) K
39) E
40) H
41) C
42) J
43) B
44) J
45) E
46) G
47) C
48) K
49) E
50) H
51) E
52) K
53) D
54) F
55) E
56) H
57) D
58) H
59) B
60) F
ACT Math Diagnostic Test
• Get your own chart back, answer the questions at the bottom,
and turn it in.