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Health & Fitness

ACT tips for this season's test-takers

Tomorrow is the ACT exam.  Here are some tips!

General advice: don't leave answer choices blank and bring your own non-beeping watch.  Set the watch at the 0 minute mark at the start of each section so you don't have to follow the random time the proctor puts on the board.

(Check out my last post for ACT English advice.)  


Do the following during the Math section:
-reduce fractions

-factor polynomials 

-look out for the geometry switch: they will describe the area of a shape, then at the last line ask you about the perimeter (or circumference)

For the Reading section:

-Read the passage and take abbreviated notes on the side.  

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-Don't spend more than 8 minutes total per passage, unless you think you're better at one passage than the next.  

For the Science section:

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-You don't need to read the experiment carefully.  Read a little, then study the charts and tables, taking notes on trends.

-Look out for the question stem: "we decided to add one more trial- what do you expect will happen?"  Just follow the trend notes you took.

For the Essay:

Write about the context, answer yes or no, and support your essay with detailed reasoning.

For the night before/ morning of any standardized test:

1. Get a good nights' sleep for as many hours that is typical for you to feel well-rested. If you try to go to bed *too* early, you make wake up too early. But make sure you don't stay up late. This will be more helpful to you on this challenge to your mental endurance than cramming will be.

2. Eat breakfast, and don't stray from your usual menu. This isn't the day to have a big stack of pancakes when you've been eating cereal and juice everyday. Even though the test is a few hours, eating extra food in the morning will make you sleepy. Cereal, fruit, toast, and yogurt are all good choices. Then...

3. Bring a snack. Nuts, granola bars, a banana, some water... these are light foods that will keep your body happy.

4. Dress in layers so that you can cool down or warm up if necessary.

5. Make sure you have your calculator, (with extra batteries) and sharpened pencils.

6. Get your body's circulation going through exercise or active yoga. Just 20 minutes should work to bring you out of sleep mode. During the test, don't slouch over and lean your head on your hand; your brain will start switching to sleep mode again.

7. Keep a positive attitude!  You need to get into "attack" mode and draw up all the techniques and resources that have prepared you.  Plan strategies as you go from easy to hard and don't forget process of elimination.

Good luck!

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