Grammar
This punctuation mark is used to connect two independent clauses without using a coordinating conjunction (FANBOYS).
What is a semi colon.
In ACT English, this punctuation mark must be preceded by a complete independent clause and is used to introduce an explanation, list, or quotation.
This passage genre consistently appears as the first of the four passages in the ACT Reading section.
What is Literary Narrative (or Prose Fiction)?
When stumped by an algebra question containing variables in both the problem statement and the answer choices, strategy experts recommend substituting simple numbers (like $2$ or $3$) for those variables—a technique commonly known by this name.
What is plugging in numbers (Plug-n-Chug)
Plugging in concrete numbers converts abstract variables expressions into simple arithmetic calculations, making it much easier to verify which answer choice matches.
In a scientific experiment, the variable that the researcher intentionally manipulates is known as this.
What is the independent variable?
Because there is no penalty for incorrect answers on the ACT, you should never leave any of these on your bubble sheet.
What are blank answers?
In the sentence "Walking to the store, the rain soaked Maya," this grammatical error occurs because the introductory phrase modifies the wrong noun.
What is a dangling modifier?
When answering a vocabulary-in-context question, you should rely on surrounding context rather than the word's primary this.
What is dictionary definition (or literal meaning)?
When facing an ACT Math word problem or equation with specific numerical options, testing the middle value first allows you to determine whether you need a higher or lower number—a technique known by this name.
What is back solving.
Back solving involves plugging the provided answer choices directly back into the problem, starting with the middle choice to eliminate options efficiently.
This specific ACT Science passage format features no figures or tables, relying entirely on text-based scientific arguments.
What is the Conflicting Viewpoints passage?
When running short on time, using a single consistent letter for all remaining blind guesses relies on this probability strategy.
What is the "Letter of the Day" (or Lot Letter)?
Joining two complete sentences using only a comma without a coordinating conjunction creates this common error.
What is a comma splice?
When tackling the Paired Passages format, you should read Passage A and answer its questions before doing this.
What is reading Passage B?
In the standard circle equation $(x - h)^2 + (y - k)^2 = r^2$, the point $(h, k)$ represents this geometric feature.
What is the center of the circle?
Trend Analysis
When a question asks how variable Y changes as variable X increases, you need to identify this fundamental statistical relationship shown by the slope of the line.
What is direct or inverse proportionality (the trend)?
Unlike the SAT, ACT Reading and Science questions within a passage are not arranged in order of this.
What is difficulty?
When referring to a person who functions as the object of a verb or preposition in a sentence, standard written English requires this relative pronoun.
What is Whom
'Whom' serves as the object case relative pronoun required when referring to human antecedents functioning as objects of verbs or prepositions
Answer choices containing absolute words like "always," "never," or "impossible" are usually incorrect because they are too this.
What is extreme (or broad)?
If \sin\theta = 4/5 and angle theta lies in Quadrant II, this is the exact value of cos theta.
What is -3/5?
Estimating an unplotted value beyond the existing data points on a graph is known as this process.
What is extrapolation?
To complete all 36 questions in the Reading section within the 40-minute limit, you should spend approximately this much time per passage.
What is 67 seconds per question or 10 min. for each of the four passages?
When choosing between pronouns like "I" vs. "me" or "he" vs. "him" after a preposition, you must use this grammatical case.
What is the objective case?
Every correct answer on the ACT Reading test must be supported by this direct element from the passage.
What is textual evidence (or explicit text)?
On the Math section, testing the provided answer choices by plugging them back into the problem is called this technique.
What is backsolving?
Estimating a missing value that falls between two known, plotted data points on a trendline is called this.
What is interpolation?
While a semicolon requires an independent clause on both sides, a colon strictly requires a complete independent clause on this side only.
What is the left side (the clause before the colon)?