The April 2007 ACT

This was a fairly straightforward exam. The items tested were not particularly demanding for the most part, and preparation and practice in techniques, such as process of elimination, would have helped tremendously

ACT English

On the ACT English test, questions requiring students to analyze whether or not answer choices satisfied a given objective from the question were also prevalent. On the whole, we continue to see the English portion of the ACT trending toward asking more rhetorical and structural questions. Knowledge of punctuation rules, though, is still essential to success.

ACT Reading

The ACT Reading test required less interpretation of information by the students than in recent administrations. In addition, the reading passages were all quite accessible and students should not have had great difficulty understanding the language in either the questions or the passages.

ACT Math

This ACT Math exam was not as difficult overall as other recent ACT tests, though we continue to see a few really tough questions sprinkled throughout. The trigonometry problems were on the more difficult side, in keeping with ACT’s recent trend, though basic algebraic and geometric questions still dominate the section. For most students, the presence of these tough questions shouldn’t affect their scores too much, since they can always skip the most difficult ones.

ACT Science

The ACT Science test was a mix of quick, easy passages and more difficult, time-consuming ones. Looking up answers in the various charts and graphs was the basis for most of the questions, but some of those charts and graphs were very difficult to interpret. Many students shooting for top scores reported having difficulty finishing the entire ACT Science test in the allotted time.

ACT Essay

As expected, the ACT essay required students to write on a topic related to education and relevant to their experiences as students. One’s ability to structure an argument and write clearly is paramount on this ACT essay.