Part I
Getting into the Act: An Overview of ACT Math Basics
In this part. . .
In Part I, you get an overview of the types of math problems you can expect on the ACT. I outline the math skills you need most, show you some helpful test-taking skills, and discuss some useful problem-solving strategies.
Chapter 1
Reviewing ACT Math Basics
In This Chapter
Beginning with an overview of ACT math Identifying four important steps to success Studying the six math topics tested on the ACT Figuring out what’s not tested All across the United States — and especially in the Midwest, South, and Rocky Mountain states — high school juniors and seniors prepare for one of the most action-packed Saturdays of their lives. No, I don’t mean the prom, graduation day, or a really excellent date with someone their parents don’t know about and wouldn’t approve of if they did. No, they’re preparing for something even more fun than that: the ACT.
And if you believe any of this fun business, you’re in for a real treat: I also have a fortune in gold from the prince of a country whose name you can’t pronounce all ready to deposit into your bank account. Yeah, right.
Well, okay, some of this is true: You will be taking the ACT (which I figured out the moment you picked up this book). In this chapter, I begin the work of helping you get ready for the most fun part of all, the 60-minute math test.
I start this chapter with a look at what’s on the math portion of the ACT. Then I provide a bit of advice about four general ways to improve your score. Finally, I list the six math topics that the ACT tests you on, including a breakdown of the specific skills within each topic that you should focus on to do well.
The chapter ends with a sigh of relief as you discover the math that you don’t need to worry about on the ACT. (However, the teacher of your current math class may still want you to know something about it, so don’t flush it from your memory just yet!)
Getting an Overview of ACT Math
The ACT contains five separate tests, which are always presented in this order:
1. English
2. Mathematics
3. Reading
4. Science
5. Writing (optional)
This book focuses exclusively on the second test, the ACT mathematics test. This math portion lasts for 60 fun-filled minutes and contains 60 questions. Generally speaking, questions appear roughly in order of difficulty.
The test is scored on a scale of 1 (lowest) to 36 (highest). Additionally, you receive three subscores in the following three separate areas
Pre-algebra and elementary algebra Intermediate algebra and coordinate geometry Plane geometry and trigonometry Subscores are tallied on a scale of 1 (lowest) to 18 (highest). Note that, flying in t...
