Your FREE PreACT Flashcards 2026 – 100+ Cards

A verb must match its subject in number — a singular subject takes a singular verb. Cross out the phrase between subject and verb to find the true subject.

A group of words with a subject and verb that can stand alone as a complete sentence.

A clause with a subject and verb that cannot stand alone (e.g., 'because she left').

The error of joining two independent clauses with only a comma. Fix with a period, semicolon, or comma + FANBOYS conjunction.

The seven coordinating conjunctions — For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, So — that join two independent clauses when preceded by a comma.

Joins two closely related independent clauses without a conjunction. It works wherever a period would.

Introduces a list, explanation, or quotation — but only after a complete sentence.

A descriptive phrase with no clear word to modify, so it seems to describe the wrong noun.

A modifier placed next to the wrong word, changing the intended meaning.

Items in a list, comparison, or series share the same grammatical form (reading, writing, and running).

A pronoun must match the noun it refers to in number and gender, and the reference must be clear.

'Its' is the possessive of it (no apostrophe); 'it's' is the contraction of 'it is' or 'it has.'

Their = possessive; there = place; they're = they are.

Your = possessive; you're = you are.

'Than' compares (faster than); 'then' refers to time or sequence (and then).

Who is a subject (who is calling?); whom is an object (to whom did you give it?).

Shows possession (the student's score) or a contraction (it's = it is) — never a plural.

The English reporting category covering grammar, usage, punctuation, and sentence structure.

The English reporting category covering precise word choice, style, tone, and concision.

The English reporting category covering topic development, organization, unity, and cohesion (including transitions).

Saying the same thing in fewer words. When two choices are both grammatical, the shorter, clearer one usually wins.

Repeating an idea unnecessarily (e.g., 'return back,' 'each and every'). The PreACT wants you to cut it.

A word like however, therefore, or for example that signals the logical relationship between sentences.

Used for hypothetical or wishful statements: 'If she were here…' (not 'was').

Two independent clauses joined with no punctuation or conjunction.

An incomplete sentence missing a subject, a verb, or a complete thought.

The PreACT English answer choice meaning the underlined text is already correct — it's right a fair share of the time.

Keep verb tenses consistent within a passage unless the timeline clearly shifts.

The steepness of a line, change in y over change in x (rise over run); m in y = mx + b.

m = (y₂ − y₁) / (x₂ − x₁) for a line through two points.

y = mx + b, where m is the slope and b is the y-intercept.

Parallel lines have equal slopes.

Perpendicular slopes are negative reciprocals (slope 2 → slope −1/2).

For a right triangle, a² + b² = c², where a and b are the legs and c is the hypotenuse.

Whole-number right-triangle side sets to memorize: 3-4-5 and 5-12-13.

d = √[(x₂ − x₁)² + (y₂ − y₁)²] — the distance between two points.

M = ((x₁ + x₂)/2, (y₁ + y₂)/2) — the midpoint of a segment.

The interior angles of any triangle add up to 180°.

A = ½ · base · height.

A = length × width.

P = 2(length + width).

A = πr², where r is the radius.

C = 2πr (or πd), where r is the radius and d the diameter.

V = length × width × height.

The average — the sum of the values divided by how many there are.

The middle value of an ordered data set (average the two middle values if the count is even).

The value that appears most often in a data set.

An outlier pulls the mean toward it but barely moves the median.

Favorable outcomes ÷ total outcomes — a value from 0 (impossible) to 1 (certain).

An equation stating two ratios are equal (a/b = c/d); solve by cross-multiplying.

A comparison of two quantities, like 3 cups flour to 2 cups sugar (3:2).

A part per 100. To find a percent of a number, convert to a decimal and multiply (25% = 0.25).

If something is x% off, it now costs (100 − x)% of the original; solve for the original by dividing.

A rule assigning exactly one output (y) to each input (x); written f(x).

Substitute the input value for x and simplify to get the output.

Isolate the variable by doing the same operation to both sides, then check by substitution.

When you multiply or divide both sides of an inequality by a negative number, flip the inequality sign.

Two equations solved together; use substitution or elimination (add/subtract) to find the shared solution.

xᵃ · xᵇ = xᵃ⁺ᵇ — add exponents when multiplying like bases.

(xᵃ)ᵇ = xᵃᵇ — multiply exponents when raising a power to a power.

A number written as a × 10ⁿ with 1 ≤ a < 10, used for very large or small numbers.

The largest integer that divides two numbers evenly (GCD of 36 and 54 is 18).

Parentheses, Exponents, Multiplication/Division (left to right), Addition/Subtraction (left to right).

Where a line crosses the y-axis; the b in y = mx + b (set x = 0).

Where a line crosses the x-axis (set y = 0 and solve for x).

The central point the whole passage supports — broader than any single detail.

A conclusion the passage implies but does not state directly, supported by textual evidence.

A word's meaning from how it's used in the passage — often a less common, secondary meaning.

The author's attitude toward the subject, shown through word choice (critical, admiring, neutral, skeptical).

Why the author wrote the passage — to inform, persuade, describe, or entertain.

The perspective from which a passage is written (first person, third person, an author's stance).

A specific fact or example in the passage that backs up a larger point.

The largest Reading category: main ideas, summary, sequence, and supporting evidence.

The Reading category covering word meaning, point of view, text structure, and tone.

The Reading category covering arguments, evidence, and connecting information across a passage.

The specific lines that prove an answer — answer detail and inference questions from the text, not memory.

The underlying message or insight a literary passage explores (e.g., resilience, heritage).

A comparison that states one thing is another ('a melting pot of cultures') to convey an idea.

Two shorter passages on one topic; summarize each author first, then compare their views.

Three answers are supported and one isn't — cross off what you can prove from the text.

A brief statement of the passage's main points in your own words.

Budget your time across the passages so you finish; don't get stuck on one hard question.

A Reading passage type drawn from short stories or novels, focused on character and theme.

A nonfiction Reading passage about a scientific topic, focused on information and explanation.

The factor the experimenter deliberately changes (usually the x-axis).

The outcome measured in response to the independent variable (usually the y-axis).

The group that receives no experimental treatment — the baseline for comparison.

A factor held the same so it doesn't affect the result.

A testable proposed explanation a scientist sets out to support.

A Science passage format presenting graphs and tables to interpret.

A Science passage format describing one or more related experiments to compare.

A Science passage format presenting two or more competing explanations to compare.

Estimating a value between known data points on a trend.

Extending a trend to estimate a value beyond the known data points.

As one variable increases, the other increases.

As one variable increases, the other decreases.

Check axis labels and units first, then locate the value and read straight across.

Read the figures before the text; most questions are answered straight from the graphs and tables.

The largest Science skill area: reading values, trends, and relationships from figures.

The Science skill area about experimental design — variables, procedures, and controls.

The Science skill area about judging hypotheses, predictions, and conclusions.

The energy needed to raise a substance's temperature; water's is high due to hydrogen bonding.

The process where plants use chlorophyll to absorb sunlight and make energy from CO₂ and water.

Organisms that recycle nutrients by breaking down dead matter in an ecosystem.

Nitrogen makes up about 78% of Earth's atmosphere.

A 0–14 scale measuring hydrogen-ion concentration; below 7 is acidic, above 7 is basic.

The movement of Earth's crustal plates; subduction zones are where crust is destroyed.

The liquid layer whose motion generates Earth's magnetic field.

The process moving water from the surface into the atmosphere in the water cycle.

A change in a DNA sequence, often from errors during DNA replication.

A model showing how energy passes from producers to consumers to decomposers.

ACT's practice test for grades 9–10. Covers English, Math, Reading, and Science on a 1–35 scale and predicts a future ACT score.

The main PreACT score, 1–35. For 2025–2026, the average of the English, Math, Reading, and Science section scores, rounded to a whole number.

Each section and the Composite are scored 1–35 (the ACT uses 1–36).

The average of your Math and Science scores — an early read on STEM readiness.

On some reports, the average of your English and Reading scores, summarizing English/Language Arts readiness.

A range reported with each PreACT score that estimates how you'd likely score on the ACT later in high school.

The section score signaling you're on track to be ready for entry-level college courses in that subject.

Students in grades 9–10, as early, low-stakes practice before the official ACT.

English, Mathematics, Reading, and Science — the same four subjects as the ACT.

About 136 multiple-choice questions: English 45, Math 36, Reading 25, Science 30.

Just over two hours (roughly 2 hours 10 minutes), varying slightly by PreACT version.

The PreACT (grades 9–10, scored 1–35) is the practice version that predicts the ACT (grades 11–12, scored 1–36), which is the test colleges actually see.

No. The PreACT is practice and prediction only; it is not sent to colleges.

ACT, Inc. — the same organization that makes the ACT.

A permitted calculator may be used on the entire Math section.

Starting fall 2026, the PreACT Composite is planned to be the average of English, Math, and Reading only (Science reported separately).

Every question is multiple choice with four answer choices.

To get a realistic ACT experience, find weak spots early, and receive a predicted ACT score — ACT's research shows takers average ~1 Composite point higher on the ACT.