- ACT Composite score
- The main ACT score, 1–36 — the average of the English, Math, and Reading section scores, rounded to the nearest whole number.
- Is Science required on the ACT?
- No. On the Enhanced ACT, Science is optional and does not affect the Composite. If taken, it gives a separate Science score and a STEM score.
- Enhanced ACT
- The updated ACT (2025–2026): shorter, fewer questions, Science optional, and the Composite based only on English, Math, and Reading.
- ACT core sections
- English, Mathematics, and Reading — the three sections that count toward the 1–36 Composite.
- ACT optional sections
- Science (separate Science + STEM score) and Writing (separate 2–12 essay score). Neither affects the Composite.
- How many questions on the core ACT?
- 131 — English 50, Math 45, Reading 36 — in 125 minutes total.
- ACT English: questions and time
- 50 questions in 35 minutes.
- ACT Math: questions and time
- 45 questions in 50 minutes; a calculator is allowed.
- ACT Reading: questions and time
- 36 questions in 40 minutes.
- ACT Science: questions and time
- 40 questions in 40 minutes (optional section).
- ACT Writing: time and score
- One essay in 40 minutes; scored 2–12, separate from the Composite.
- ACT section score range
- Each section is scored 1–36.
- How is the ACT Composite calculated?
- Average the English, Math, and Reading scores and round to the nearest whole number. A .5 rounds up.
- ACT STEM score
- An optional score (1–36) reported only if you take Science — the average of your Math and Science scores.
- ACT ELA score
- An optional score reported only if you take Writing — the average of English, Reading, and Writing.
- ACT Superscore
- A new Composite built from your highest English, Math, and Reading section scores across multiple test dates.
- ACT College Readiness Benchmarks
- Section scores signaling college readiness: English 18, Math 22, Reading 22, Science 23.
- National average ACT Composite
- About 19–20 (most recent graduating class ≈ 19.4).
- How many answer choices on ACT Math now?
- Four (the Enhanced ACT dropped Math from five choices to four).
- Is there a passing score on the ACT?
- No — the ACT has no pass/fail. Colleges set their own target score ranges.
- How many times can you take the ACT?
- Up to 12 times.
- ACT base test fee
- About 70 dollars for the core test (English, Math, Reading); +5 for Science, +25 for Writing.
- ACT pacing — English
- 50 questions in 35 minutes ≈ about 36 seconds per question.
- ACT pacing — Reading
- About 9 minutes per passage (36 questions in 40 minutes).
- Should you guess on the ACT?
- Always — there is no penalty for wrong answers, so never leave a question blank.
- Subject-verb agreement
- A verb must match its subject in number. Ignore words between them: 'The list of items IS missing' (subject = list).
- Comma splice
- The error of joining two independent clauses with only a comma. Fix with a period, semicolon, or comma + FANBOYS.
- FANBOYS
- The seven coordinating conjunctions — For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, So — that join two independent clauses after a comma.
- Independent clause
- A group of words with a subject and verb that can stand alone as a complete sentence.
- Dependent (subordinate) clause
- A clause that cannot stand alone (begins with words like because, although, when, which).
- When to use a semicolon
- To join two related independent clauses without a conjunction. It works wherever a period would.
- When to use a colon
- To introduce a list, explanation, or quotation — but only after a complete sentence.
- Dangling modifier
- A descriptive phrase with no clear word to modify, so it seems to describe the wrong noun.
- Misplaced modifier
- A modifier placed too far from the word it describes, changing the intended meaning.
- Parallel structure
- Items in a list, comparison, or series share the same grammatical form (reading, writing, and running).
- Pronoun-antecedent agreement
- A pronoun must match the noun it refers to in number and gender, with a clear reference.
- its vs it's
- 'its' is possessive (no apostrophe); 'it's' = it is or it has. Test by expanding to 'it is.'
- your vs you're
- 'your' is possessive; 'you're' = you are.
- their / there / they're
- 'their' = possessive; 'there' = place; 'they're' = they are.
- who vs whom
- 'who' is a subject (does the action); 'whom' is an object (receives it). Test with he/him.
- Possessive apostrophe
- Singular noun adds 's (dog's); plural noun ending in s adds just ' (dogs'). Plurals take no apostrophe.
- Run-on sentence
- Two or more independent clauses joined with no proper punctuation or conjunction.
- Sentence fragment
- A group of words punctuated as a sentence but missing a subject, verb, or complete thought.
- Verb tense consistency
- Keep verb tenses consistent within a sentence and passage unless the timeline truly changes.
- Production of Writing
- ACT English reporting category (38–43%): topic development, organization, unity, and cohesion.
- Knowledge of Language
- ACT English reporting category (18–23%): precise word choice, style, tone, and concision.
- Conventions of Standard English
- ACT English reporting category (38–43%): grammar, usage, punctuation, and sentence structure.
- Redundancy (wordiness)
- Saying the same thing twice ('return back,' 'each and every'). The ACT usually rewards cutting it.
- Transition word: contrast
- However, but, nevertheless, on the other hand — signal a change in direction.
- Transition word: cause/effect
- Therefore, thus, consequently, as a result — signal a result.
- Transition word: addition
- Moreover, furthermore, in addition, also — add a related idea.
- 'Writer's goal' question
- Decide based on whether the sentence supports the paragraph's stated purpose — relevance, not interest.
- Nonessential clause punctuation
- Set off nonessential (extra) information with a pair of commas; essential information takes no commas.
- Comma before a verb
- Never place a comma between a subject and its verb.
- NO CHANGE on ACT English
- A legitimate answer chosen about a quarter of the time — pick it when the original is already correct and concise.
- affect vs effect
- 'affect' is usually a verb (to influence); 'effect' is usually a noun (a result).
- then vs than
- 'then' = time/sequence; 'than' = comparison.
- Concision rule
- When two choices are both grammatical, the shorter, clearer one is usually correct.
- DELETE the underlined portion
- Often the correct, most-concise answer on the ACT when the text is redundant or off-topic.
- Idiom (preposition pairing)
- Standard preposition that follows a word ('interested IN,' 'capable OF'). The ACT tests these.
- Slope formula
- m = (y₂ − y₁) / (x₂ − x₁) — the change in y over the change in x (rise over run).
- Slope-intercept form
- y = mx + b, where m is the slope and b is the y-intercept.
- Point-slope form
- y − y₁ = m(x − x₁), using a point (x₁, y₁) and the slope m.
- Parallel vs perpendicular slopes
- Parallel lines share a slope; perpendicular slopes are negative reciprocals (m and −1/m).
- Pythagorean theorem
- For a right triangle, a² + b² = c² (legs a and b, hypotenuse c).
- Common Pythagorean triples
- 3-4-5, 5-12-13, 8-15-17 (and their multiples).
- 45-45-90 triangle sides
- Side ratio 1 : 1 : √2 (legs equal; hypotenuse is a leg times √2).
- 30-60-90 triangle sides
- Side ratio 1 : √3 : 2 (short leg : long leg : hypotenuse).
- Quadratic formula
- x = (−b ± √(b² − 4ac)) / (2a), for ax² + bx + c = 0.
- Discriminant
- b² − 4ac: positive = 2 real solutions, zero = 1, negative = 0 real solutions.
- FOIL
- Multiply two binomials: First, Outer, Inner, Last. (x+2)(x+3) = x² + 5x + 6.
- Difference of squares
- a² − b² = (a + b)(a − b).
- Area of a circle
- A = πr².
- Circumference of a circle
- C = 2πr (or πd).
- Area of a triangle
- A = ½ × base × height.
- Area of a rectangle
- A = length × width; perimeter = 2(length + width).
- Volume of a rectangular solid
- V = length × width × height.
- Volume of a cylinder
- V = πr²h.
- SOHCAHTOA
- sin = opposite/hypotenuse, cos = adjacent/hypotenuse, tan = opposite/adjacent.
- Distance formula
- d = √((x₂ − x₁)² + (y₂ − y₁)²).
- Midpoint formula
- ((x₁ + x₂)/2, (y₁ + y₂)/2).
- Mean
- The average — the sum of values divided by how many there are.
- Median
- The middle value of an ordered set (average the two middle values if the count is even).
- Mode
- The value that appears most often in a data set.
- Range (statistics)
- The largest value minus the smallest value.
- Probability
- Favorable outcomes ÷ total possible outcomes — a value from 0 to 1.
- Percent change
- (new − old) ÷ old × 100. Always divide by the original.
- Percent of a number
- Convert the percent to a decimal and multiply (25% of 80 = 0.25 × 80 = 20).
- Exponent product rule
- xᵃ × xᵇ = xᵃ⁺ᵇ (add exponents when multiplying like bases).
- Exponent quotient rule
- xᵃ ÷ xᵇ = xᵃ⁻ᵇ (subtract exponents when dividing like bases).
- Power of a power
- (xᵃ)ᵇ = xᵃᵇ (multiply the exponents).
- Negative exponent
- x⁻ⁿ = 1 / xⁿ.
- Zero exponent
- Any nonzero number to the 0 power equals 1.
- Function notation f(x)
- A rule giving exactly one output for each input x; f(2) means substitute 2 for x.
- Domain and range
- Domain = all valid inputs (x); range = all resulting outputs (y).
- Direct variation
- y = kx — y changes in proportion to x (k is the constant).
- Inverse variation
- y = k/x — as x increases, y decreases.
- Sum of interior angles of a triangle
- 180°.
- Sum of interior angles of a quadrilateral
- 360°.
- Supplementary vs complementary angles
- Supplementary add to 180°; complementary add to 90°.
- Solving a system of equations
- Use substitution or elimination to find values that satisfy both equations.
- Absolute value
- |x| is the distance from 0, always non-negative. |x| = a means x = a or x = −a.
- Slope of a horizontal vs vertical line
- Horizontal line slope = 0; vertical line slope is undefined.
- Preparing for Higher Math
- ACT Math reporting category (≈80%): Number & Quantity, Algebra, Functions, Geometry, Statistics & Probability.
- Integrating Essential Skills
- ACT Math reporting category (≈20%): rates, percent, proportion, area/volume, averages in multi-step problems.
- Modeling (ACT Math)
- Questions that build or interpret a real-world model; also counted within other math categories.
- Simple interest
- I = principal × rate × time (P × r × t).
- Average speed
- Total distance ÷ total time (not the average of the two speeds).
- Combining like terms
- Add or subtract terms with the same variable and exponent (3x + 2x = 5x).
- Main idea
- The central point the whole passage supports — broader than any single detail.
- Inference (ACT Reading)
- A conclusion the passage implies but doesn't state directly, supported by textual evidence.
- Vocabulary in context
- A word's meaning from how it's used in the passage — often a less common meaning.
- Author's purpose
- Why the author wrote the passage (to inform, persuade, describe, entertain).
- Tone
- The author's attitude toward the subject, shown through word choice (e.g., critical, admiring, neutral).
- Point of view
- The perspective the passage is told from (first person, third person; the narrator's stance).
- Key Ideas and Details
- Largest ACT Reading category (44–52%): main ideas, summary, sequence, supporting evidence.
- Craft and Structure
- ACT Reading category (26–33%): word meaning, point of view, text structure, and tone.
- Integration of Knowledge and Ideas
- ACT Reading category (19–26%): arguments, evidence, and comparing paired passages.
- Paired passages
- Two shorter related texts with questions spanning both — summarize each author before comparing.
- Literary narrative / prose fiction
- An ACT Reading passage type: an excerpt from a short story or novel.
- Social science passage
- An ACT Reading passage type drawing on fields like history, economics, or psychology.
- Humanities passage
- An ACT Reading passage type from fields like art, literature, philosophy, or a memoir.
- Natural science passage
- An ACT Reading passage type on a scientific topic written for a general reader.
- Line-reference question
- Reread the cited lines plus a sentence before and after; answer from the text, not memory.
- EXCEPT / LEAST / NOT question
- Three answers are supported by the passage and one is not; cross off what you can prove.
- Fact vs opinion
- A fact can be verified; an opinion is a judgment or belief. The ACT asks you to tell them apart.
- Supporting detail
- A specific piece of text that backs up the main idea — found, not recalled.
- Sequence of events
- The order in which things happen in the passage; track time words (then, before, later).
- Compare/contrast structure
- A passage organized around similarities and differences between two things.
- Predict-then-match (vocab)
- Cover the choices, predict your own synonym from context, then pick the closest answer.
- Main-idea trap answer
- A choice that is true of only one paragraph, not the whole passage — too narrow.
- Reading pacing strategy
- Budget ~9 minutes per passage; don't over-invest in one hard question.
- Tone words (negative)
- Critical, skeptical, dismissive, ironic, somber — signal disapproval or seriousness.
- Tone words (positive)
- Admiring, optimistic, enthusiastic, reverent — signal approval or warmth.
- ACT Science: what it tests
- Scientific reasoning and data interpretation — not memorized facts. Read the figures first.
- Data Representation
- ACT Science passage format: graphs and tables to interpret (≈25–35% of passages).
- Research Summaries
- ACT Science passage format: descriptions of one or more related experiments (≈45–60%).
- Conflicting Viewpoints
- ACT Science passage format: two or more competing explanations to compare (≈15–20%).
- Independent variable
- The factor the experimenter deliberately changes (usually the x-axis).
- Dependent variable
- The outcome measured in response to the independent variable (usually the y-axis).
- Control group
- The group that receives no treatment — the baseline for comparison.
- Constant (controlled variable)
- A factor held the same across an experiment so it doesn't affect the result.
- Hypothesis
- A testable proposed explanation a scientist sets out to support or refute.
- Direct relationship
- As one variable increases, the other increases (an upward trend).
- Inverse relationship
- As one variable increases, the other decreases (a downward trend).
- Interpolation
- Estimating a value between known data points on a trend.
- Extrapolation
- Extending a trend to estimate a value beyond the known data points.
- Interpretation of Data
- Largest ACT Science category (40–50%): reading values, trends, and relationships from figures.
- Scientific Investigation
- ACT Science category (20–30%): experimental design, procedures, and variables.
- Evaluation of Models & Results
- ACT Science category (25–35%): judging hypotheses, predictions, and conclusions.
- Reading a graph: first step
- Check the axis labels and units before reading any value.
- Conflicting Viewpoints strategy
- Treat it like a Reading passage: summarize each viewpoint, then match supporting/weakening evidence.
- Correlation vs causation
- A relationship between variables doesn't prove one caused the other.
- Which finding supports a hypothesis?
- Match the data trend to what the hypothesis predicts; the supporting answer agrees with the prediction.
- Reading a data table
- Find the row/column the question names, then read straight across or down to the value.
- Scatterplot trend
- A line of best fit shows the overall direction (positive, negative, or none) of the data.
- Save Conflicting Viewpoints for last?
- Yes — it's the most reading-heavy format, so do it when you're fresh or last if time is short.
- Outside-knowledge questions
- A small number of Science questions need basic prior science; most are answered from the figures.
- Comparing two experiments
- Ask what variable changed between them and how the results differ as a result.
- Restrictive vs nonrestrictive clause
- Restrictive (essential) clauses take no commas and often use 'that'; nonrestrictive (extra) clauses use commas and 'which.'
- that vs which
- Use 'that' for essential clauses (no comma); 'which' for nonessential clauses (set off by commas).
- Colon vs semicolon
- A colon introduces (a list/explanation after a complete clause); a semicolon joins two complete clauses.
- Dash usage
- A pair of dashes (or one dash) can set off a nonessential element or signal an abrupt break or emphasis.
- Apostrophe with plural possessive
- For a plural noun ending in s, add only an apostrophe: the students' scores.
- Subject-verb with 'each/every/either/neither'
- These are singular and take a singular verb (Each of the students is ready).
- Subject-verb with compound subjects
- Subjects joined by 'and' take a plural verb; 'or'/'nor' agree with the nearer subject.
- Pronoun case after a preposition
- Use object pronouns (me, him, her, them) after a preposition: 'between you and me.'
- fewer vs less
- 'Fewer' for countable items (fewer questions); 'less' for uncountable amounts (less time).
- Comparative vs superlative
- Comparative compares two (taller); superlative compares three or more (tallest).
- Faulty comparison
- Compare like things: 'Her score is higher than his' (not 'than him').
- Verb mood consistency
- Don't shift needlessly between indicative, imperative, and subjunctive within a sentence.
- Sentence combining
- Pick the version that joins ideas most clearly and concisely without creating a run-on.
- Logical placement of a sentence
- Order sentences so each follows logically; watch transition and pronoun cues that fix position.
- Specificity / relevant detail
- Choose the detail that best fits the paragraph's focus; reject vague or off-topic additions.
- Tone/style match
- Keep the register consistent with the passage — formal stays formal, no slang in a formal essay.
- Double negative
- Avoid two negatives in one clause ('didn't do nothing'); it's nonstandard.
- Pronoun ambiguity
- Reject a pronoun (it, this, they) whose antecedent is unclear; the ACT wants a clear reference.
- Conjunctive adverb punctuation
- Words like however and therefore between two clauses need a semicolon before and a comma after.
- Possessive vs contraction (whose/who's)
- 'whose' is possessive; 'who's' = who is.
- Slope of parallel lines
- Equal slopes.
- Slope of perpendicular lines
- Negative reciprocals (e.g., 2 and −1/2).
- y-intercept
- Where a graph crosses the y-axis (x = 0); the b in y = mx + b.
- x-intercept
- Where a graph crosses the x-axis (y = 0); a root/zero of the function.
- Vertex of a parabola
- The maximum or minimum point; x = −b/(2a) for y = ax² + bx + c.
- Completing the square
- Rewrite ax² + bx + c into a(x − h)² + k form to find the vertex.
- Greatest common factor
- Factor out the largest common term first when simplifying or factoring.
- Proportion (cross-multiply)
- a/b = c/d means ad = bc.
- Ratio
- A comparison of quantities (3:4). Scale both parts by the same factor.
- Unit rate
- A rate per single unit (miles per hour, cost per item).
- Scientific notation
- A number as a × 10ⁿ with 1 ≤ a < 10 (e.g., 4.2 × 10³).
- Square root rules
- √(ab) = √a × √b; √a is the non-negative root.
- Pythagorean theorem use for distance
- The distance formula comes from a² + b² = c² applied to coordinate differences.
- Circle: arc and sector
- Arc length and sector area are fractions of the whole (central angle ÷ 360°).
- Surface area of a rectangular solid
- 2(lw + lh + wh).
- Volume of a cone
- V = (1/3)πr²h.
- Volume of a sphere
- V = (4/3)πr³.
- Similar triangles
- Same shape, proportional sides; corresponding angles are equal.
- Special angle: sin 30°, cos 60°
- Both equal 1/2.
- Special angle: sin 45°, cos 45°
- Both equal √2/2.
- Tangent definition
- tan θ = sin θ / cos θ = opposite / adjacent.
- Imaginary unit i
- i = √(−1); i² = −1.
- Matrix dimensions
- Rows × columns. A 2×3 matrix has 2 rows and 3 columns.
- Scalar multiplication of a matrix
- Multiply every entry by the scalar.
- Logarithm definition
- log_b(x) = y means bʸ = x.
- Combinations vs permutations
- Combinations ignore order; permutations count order.
- Probability of independent events
- Multiply: P(A and B) = P(A) × P(B).
- Probability of mutually exclusive events
- Add: P(A or B) = P(A) + P(B).
- Weighted average
- Multiply each value by its weight, sum, then divide by the total weight.
- Standard deviation (concept)
- A measure of how spread out data is from the mean; all-equal data has 0.
- Translating words to algebra
- 'Of' often means multiply; 'is' means equals; 'per' means divide.
- Order of operations (PEMDAS)
- Parentheses, Exponents, Multiply/Divide (left to right), Add/Subtract (left to right).
- Solving inequalities
- Flip the inequality sign when multiplying or dividing both sides by a negative.
- Absolute value equation
- |x| = a gives x = a or x = −a (a ≥ 0).
- Average of consecutive integers
- Equals the middle value (or the average of the two middle values).
- Topic sentence
- The sentence (often first) that states a paragraph's main point.
- Theme
- The underlying message or insight a literary passage conveys.
- Characterization
- How an author reveals a character — through actions, words, thoughts, and others' reactions.
- Mood vs tone
- Mood is the feeling created in the reader; tone is the author's attitude toward the subject.
- Connotation vs denotation
- Denotation is a word's literal meaning; connotation is its emotional association.
- Figurative language
- Non-literal language — metaphor, simile, personification — used for effect.
- Simile vs metaphor
- A simile compares using like/as; a metaphor states one thing is another.
- Rhetorical question
- A question asked for effect, not for an answer.
- Author's argument/claim
- The main position the author is trying to convince you of.
- Evidence question
- Asks which detail best supports a given answer or claim; cite the strongest textual proof.
- Generalization (overreach trap)
- Reject answers that go beyond what the passage actually supports.
- Function of a paragraph/line
- Why it's there — to introduce, support, contrast, or transition.
- Implicit vs explicit
- Explicit is stated outright; implicit must be inferred.
- Skimming strategy
- Read the first/last sentences and topic sentences to grasp structure before the questions.
- Active reading
- Note the main idea of each paragraph as you go to find answers faster.
- Process of elimination
- Cross off answers you can disprove from the text; the survivor is usually correct.
- Extreme-language trap
- Watch words like always, never, all, none — often too strong to be supported.
- Author would most likely agree…
- Pick the statement consistent with the author's stated position and tone.
- Shift in the passage
- A change in time, tone, or perspective; signal words often mark it.
- Detail vs main idea question
- Detail = a specific fact in the text; main idea = the passage's overall point.
- Reading axis units
- A change in units (e.g., mL vs L) changes the value — always check before answering.
- Best-fit line use
- Use it to predict values and judge whether the relationship is positive or negative.
- Multiple data series on one graph
- Match the correct line/legend key before reading a value.
- Holding variables constant
- Why an experiment keeps other factors fixed — so only the tested variable's effect shows.
- Replication
- Repeating trials to confirm results and reduce the effect of random error.
- Strengthening vs weakening evidence
- Strengthening data fits a viewpoint's prediction; weakening data contradicts it.
- Comparing scientists' hypotheses
- Identify where two viewpoints agree and where they differ before answering.
- Trend reversal
- Watch for a point where a graph changes direction (increasing to decreasing).
- Maximum/minimum from a graph
- The highest or lowest point of the plotted data — read its coordinates.
- Proportional reasoning in data
- If doubling X doubles Y, the relationship is directly proportional.
- Experimental control vs variable
- The control is unchanged; the variable is what's tested against it.
- Conclusion vs result
- A result is the raw data; a conclusion is the interpretation drawn from it.
- Which experiment answers a question
- Pick the experiment whose design isolates the factor the question asks about.
- Outlier in data
- A point far from the trend; note it but don't let it distort the overall pattern.
- Reading between table rows
- Estimate an in-between value by interpolating from the rows above and below.
- Units conversion in science
- Convert to consistent units before comparing values across a table.
- Graph vs table same data
- The figure type changes; the relationship does not — read whichever the question references.
- Assumption in an experiment
- An unstated condition the design relies on; questions may ask you to identify it.
- Effect of changing a variable
- Predict the outcome by following the established trend in the data.
- Science section knowledge needed
- Mostly graph/table reasoning; only basic biology, chemistry, physics, and Earth science as background.
