ACT English Strategies - Chegg Test Prep

Summary

This video script offers a detailed guide to the English section of a standardized test, emphasizing the importance of editing skills to assess grammar, usage, and mechanics within 45 minutes. It covers two main question types: one focusing on grammar and sentence structure, and the other on rhetorical skills like writing strategy and style. The script provides tips on time management and understanding question formats, concluding with a mention of the scoring system, which ranges from 1 to 36 and does not include spelling or vocabulary.

Takeaways

• 📚 The English section of the test involves reading and editing rough drafts of essays to assess usage, mechanics, and rhetorical skills.
• ⏰ Test takers have 45 minutes to read five passages and answer 75 multiple-choice questions, with no time limit per question but advised to spend no more than nine minutes on each passage.
• 🔍 The difficulty of questions is not arranged in order, so test takers should manage their time effectively.
• 🖊 The test includes editing tasks where test takers act as editors, improving grammar and writing style in passages.
• 📝 Usage and mechanics questions cover grammar, punctuation, sentence structure, and various language mechanics.
• 📉 Rhetorical skills questions assess the ability to communicate effectively, including recognizing redundancy, organization, and style.
• 🔑 There are three types of rhetorical skill questions: writing strategy, organization, and style, each focusing on different aspects of effective communication.
• 🚫 The test does not assess spelling or vocabulary, which can be a relief for some test takers.
• 🏆 The score range for the English test is 1 to 36, contributing to the composite score.
• 📌 Special question indicators, like squares or rectangles, signal that a question is testing rhetorical skills and may require more time.
• 🎯 Test takers are encouraged to practice with the provided test to familiarize themselves with the format and improve their time management.

Q & A

What is the primary task in the English section of the test described in the transcript?

The primary task is to review rough drafts of essays and determine the best way to express the content, focusing on improving grammar and writing style.

How long is the time limit to complete the English section of the test?

The time limit is 45 minutes to read five passages and answer 75 accompanying multiple-choice questions.

What is the recommended time to spend on each passage according to the transcript?

It is recommended to spend no more than nine minutes on each passage.

What are the two main types of questions found in the English section of the test?

The two main types of questions are those dealing with usage and mechanics, and those testing rhetorical skills.

What aspects of language does the usage and mechanics section cover?

The usage and mechanics section covers grammar, punctuation, sentence structure, subject-verb agreement, verb forms, pronouns, comparatives, superlatives, idioms, and identification of sentence fragments, run-ons, and issues with parallelism and misplaced or dangling modifiers.

What does the rhetorical skills section assess in a test taker?

The rhetorical skills section assesses the ability to communicate effectively, persuasively, and clearly, focusing on writing strategy, recognizing redundancy, organization, and style.

What are the three types of rhetorical skills questions mentioned in the transcript?

The three types of rhetorical skills questions are those that analyze writing strategy, purpose, unity, and focus; organization questions that consider the effectiveness of topic and concluding sentences and the use of transition words; and style questions that ask to eliminate redundancy, increase clarity, and use proper word choice and diction.

How can test takers identify a rhetorical skills question according to the transcript?

Test takers can identify a rhetorical skills question by the presence of a square around the question number in the passage or a rectangle before the question.

What is the score range for the English test as mentioned in the transcript?

The score range for the English test is from 1 to 36.

What is not tested in the ACT English test according to the transcript?

The ACT English test does not test spelling or vocabulary.

What advice is given for managing time effectively during the English section of the test?

Test takers should use a watch to keep track of time, and if they are running out of time on a rhetorical skills question, they should make an educated guess and move on.