Introduction to the ACT
Rising 11th or 12th Grade Only
This course is designed to demystify the ACT for rising juniors and seniors who have not yet taken the exam. Over the four-week summer session, students will build confidence by first becoming familiar with the test's format and content, then practicing the core skills required for success on the test. By virtue of its small class size, the course structure is flexible and will be adapted to students' needs and abilities.
This program is open to both AIM and non-AIM students entering grades 11 and 12.
Content and Analytical Skills
The ACT tests both content and reasoning. It tests only a narrow range of content but requires strong command thereof. The most heavily tested content areas are grammar, vocabulary, arithmetic, algebra, and geometry. The ACT tests reasoning skills by presenting this content in a variety of formats, many of them unfamiliar, disguised, or hybridized. The course will begin with orientation to the testing format and strategy, then go into content, both basics, as well as deeper review of specific subject areas depending on individual and group need.
Test-Taking Skills and Strategy
This course will cover a variety of test-taking skills. Some provide alternative ways of arriving at the correct answer, including estimation, process of elimination, and working backwards. Others relate to navigating the test as a whole, such as work-flow efficiency, pacing, and question sequence (strategically skipping around). Many of these skills typically require some individual calibration, particularly for students who may qualify for testing accommodations. Accordingly, the course will cover these skills generally at first but gradually incorporate particularized guidance as needed.
