Implied pronouns–those that do not have an antecedent in the sentence nor in a preceding sentence–are difficult to spot in writing because they are so prevalent in our speech. Do you know how to spot errors with “they” and “them”? If not, read on, because you are sure to encounter such errors on your ACT […]
ACT and SAT Math Tips: Average Questions in Disguise
Test makers like to be tricky, because sneaky questions separate the students who comprehend a concept and those who have just memorized a formula they do not understand. We see examples of these tricky questions on the ACT and SAT in hidden triangles, “fake” quadratic equations, systems of equations, and many more concepts, including today’s […]
ACT and SAT Reading Tips: How to Recognize Right Answers
There is a certain comfort in multiple choice questions, knowing that the right answer is there on the page staring up at you. While we often spend more time discussing the characteristics of WRONG answers in the Reading section of the ACT and SAT, it’s important to know what the RIGHT answer looks like, too. […]
New Official ACT Prep Guide 2018-2019: Should you Upgrade?
A new Official ACT Prep Guide 2018-2019 was released earlier this month, causing many students to worry that their 2018 editions or 2016-2017 editions are out-of-date. Unfortunately, test makers have found that frequent new editions of their official guides drive up sales, and the ACT is not alone in its practice of releasing updates every […]
A New Edition of The Official ACT Prep Guide: Should you Update?
ACT released a “revised and updated” version of their Official ACT Prep Guide last week, causing many students to worry that their 2016-2017 editions were lacking vital information. But rest easy, test takers. The two editions are nearly identical. The three tests in both books are exactly the same. This is a bit of a […]
ACT English and SAT Writing Tips: Who’s Worrying About Apostrophes?
Apostrophes have two uses on the ACT and SAT: 1. To form possessive nouns. 2. To replace missing letters in contractions. Let’s examine these two situations–as well as when to avoid apostrophes–in this week’s blog.
ACT and SAT Math Tips: Classic Quadratic Forms
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: the writers of standardized tests assess the same concepts, over and over and over again. Test experts are able to become test experts for that very reason—there is a finite amount of material one needs to learn in order to master the ACT and the SAT. […]
ACT and SAT Reading Tips: “True to You” Answer Traps
There are certain facts that everyone just knows: the earth orbits the sun. Yellow and blue make green. America was founded in 1776. An adjective modifies a noun or pronoun. A group of birds is called a flock. Unfortunately, what you know has no place on the ACT and SAT Reading sections; the questions assess […]
ACT English and SAT Writing Tips: Diction Errors
Mark Twain once quipped, “The difference between the right word and the almost right word is the difference between lightning and a lightning bug.” I doubt that he was thinking about standardized English and Writing tests when he uttered those words, but they are conveniently applicable to ACT and SAT diction errors. Failing to catch diction […]
ACT and SAT Math Tips: Similar Triangles, the Mini-me of the Math World
Similar triangles occur frequently on both the ACT and the SAT. If you think of them as the Mini-Me of the standardized testing math world, you’ll never fail to recognize them when they appear on your test. Let’s review their properties and then look how they may try to sneak onto the ACT and the […]