ACT Prep Materials and
Online Resources
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http://owl.english.purdue.edu/exercises/2/
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Great site for preparing for the
ACT English Test if you need a
grammar review.
Commas are tricky and tested
heavily on the ACT.
Number2
www.number2.com
New Users:
Click here!
Use this site to prepare for the ACT BUT
it is best for expanding your vocabulary!
ACT Exam Success
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ACT Exam Success
The Writing Test is a requirement in Michigan, nor an option.
English Test Overview
On the ACT English Test, you will have 45
minutes to read five prose passages and
answer 75 multiple choice questions.
These questions test two types of English skills:
Your understanding of the conventions of
standard written English (“Usage and
Mechanics”)
Your knowledge of rhetorical strategies and
techniques (“Rhetorical Skills”).
English Test Continued
The 40 questions about usage and mechanics cover:
– punctuation (13%),
– grammar and usage (16%)
– sentence structure (24%).
The 35 questions about rhetorical skills address:
– general writing strategies (16%)
– organizational techniques (15%),
– style (16%).
Reading Test Overview
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The ACT Reading Test assesses your ability to
read and understand what ACT considers
college freshman level material.
The test is 35 minutes long and includes 40
questions.
There are four passages on the test, each
of which is followed by ten multiple-choice
questions.
Reading Test Continued
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The passages (each around 800 words)
are identified by a heading that will tell
you what type of text you are about to
read (fiction, for example), who the
author is, the date it was written, and
might also give you more information to
help you understand the passage.
The lines of the passage are numbered to
identify sections of the text in the
questions that follow.
Understanding the
ACT Writing Prompt
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The ACT Writing Test
Prompts used for the ACT Writing Test
Sample ACT Essay Prompt
Anchor #1
Anchor #2 - #4
Combined English/Writing
Scale Scores
Complete these steps to calculate your
Combined English/Writing Score
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Find your scale score for the English Test
in the left column.
Find your Writing Test subscore at the top
of the table.
Follow the English Test score row across
and the Writing Test subscore column
down until the two meet.
The Combined score is found where the
row and column meet.
The Metaphor Graphic
Organizer
F-G
G-H
H-I
ACT and the Persuasive Essay
The Fast Food Essay
The Metaphor Graphic Organizer
F-G
G-H
H-I
FAST FOOD Graphic
Organizer for your Essay
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Know Your Customers (B-C)
– Do/Don’t
– Scorer’s Instruction
Know Your Ingredients (D-M)
Know How to Put the Ingredients
Together (N)
KNOW YOUR
INGREDIENTS
1. POSITIONING (D) The student’s essay must take
a position on the question
– Show students how to rephrase the prompt
– Select a position
2. EXAMPLES (E) Students must include excellent
examples
– Strong examples include specific events, dates, or
measurable changes over time
– Students must write about things that have happened
in detail
– Varity of examples is important too…how much ground
students cover
KNOW YOUR
INGREDIENTS CONTINUED
3. ORGANIZATION (F)
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No matter what topics students decide to write upon
the organization should be the same.
The Top Bun: Introduction Paragraph #1
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The introduction to an ACT essay
has to do 3 things:
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Grab the scorer’s attention
Explain your position on the topic clearly and concisely
Acknowledge the counter argument to the student’s
position
Transition the scores smoothly into your three examples
KNOW YOUR
INGREDIENTS CONTINUED
3. ORGANIZATION (H)
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Transition between Meat Paragraphs
(paragraphs #2–3 and #3-4)
The first meat paragraph dives right into its
topic sentence, but the second and third meat
paragraphs need transitions.
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Help student with transition words like
another or finally.
KNOW YOUR
INGREDIENTS CONTINUED
3. ORGANIZATION (H-I)
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No matter what topics students decide to write
upon the organization should be the same.
The Bottom Bun: Conclusion (Paragraph #5)
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The conclusion of a student essay should
accomplish 2 things:
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Recap the student’s argument
Expand the student’s position and look to the
future
KNOW YOUR
INGREDIENTS CONTINUED
4. COMMAND OF LANGUAGE (K-M)
An ACT essay with a clear position and strong
examples will not get a perfect score without the
Special Sauce, so work with students to pay close
attention to these 3 facets of their essay:
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Variation in Sentence Structure
Word Choice
Grammar and Spelling
KNOW HOW TO PUT YOUR
INGREDIENTS TOGETHER
Process and Pacing Chart
STEP 1:
Understand the prompt and take a
position.
1 MINUTE
STEP 2:
Brainstorm examples.
4–5 MINUTES
STEP 3:
Create an outline.
5–6 MINUTES
STEP 4:
Write the essay.
15 MINUTES
STEP 5:
Proof the essay.
3 MINUTES
On Demand Persuasive
Writing
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IDEA ORGANIZER
My position is...
My counter argument is...
Reason #1
Support ...
Reason #2
Support ...
Reason #3
Support ...
ACT Persuasive Writing
Scoring Guidelines
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Student will use a 6 point, Persuasive
Essay holistic rubric on the day of the
test
Teachers can use a 6 point,
Persuasive Essay analytic rubric
instructionally with students before
the test date
Student friendly rubric
ACT Writing
Comment and Condition Codes
COMMENT CODES
 Make and Articulate Judgment
 Develop Ideas
 Sustain Focus
 Organize and Present Ideas
 Communicate Clearly
CONDITION CODES
 Passage submitted cannot be scored
 No valid English score
Setting ACT Score Goals
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English Test +
Mathematics Test +
Reading Test +
Science Reasoning Test +
=Total Score Goal divided by 4
=Composite Score Goal
College Readiness Standards
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English Scores 13-36
Mathematics Scores 13-36
Reading Scores 13-36
Science Reasoning Scores 13-36
– Life Science/Biology
– Physical Science/Chemistry/Physics
– Earth Science/Space
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ACT Writing