ACT English & Math Foundations Course

ACT English rewards clear, correct sentences. Learn when commas set off nonessential information, when semicolons join related independent clauses, and how apostrophes show possession rather than plurals. Recognize fragments, run-ons, and comma splices so you can choose the most concise correct revision.

Question pattern: ACT English questions usually present four versions of the same sentence. One version may fix a fragment, another may remove an unnecessary comma, and another may introduce a run-on. Compare the differences before reading the full sentence.

• Commas: use them after introductory phrases, between items in a list, and around nonessential clauses; do not place one between a subject and its verb.
• Semicolons: join two independent clauses only; if either side cannot stand alone, use a comma plus conjunction or split the sentence.
• Apostrophes: use 's for possession and do not use it for plural nouns such as books.

Read the sentence aloud in your mind. If a choice feels choppy or unclear, it is probably wrong. The correct answer is often the most direct version that keeps the meaning and grammar intact.

ACT English also tests usage and style: subject-verb agreement, pronoun reference, parallelism, word choice, and concise writing. Read the whole sentence before choosing. Prefer the shortest answer that is grammatically correct and does not change the meaning.

Focus areas: subject-verb agreement, pronoun case and reference, parallel structure, idioms, and wordiness. A sentence like Each of the players are ready is wrong because the singular subject Each needs is.

• Match verbs to the subject, not to a noun that appears between them.
• Keep items in a list or comparison in the same grammatical form.
• Choose the shortest option that preserves meaning; words such as very, really, and currently are often unnecessary.

Before choosing, delete every modifier you are unsure about and test whether the sentence still works. The best answer usually sounds natural when spoken and follows the same pattern as nearby items.

ACT Reading asks you to find main ideas, locate details, make reasonable inferences, and understand vocabulary in context. Read the question before scanning the passage. Eliminate choices that are too broad, too narrow, or unsupported.

Active reading method: skim the passage in about two minutes. Mark the main idea of each paragraph and circle transition words such as however, therefore, and as a result. Then read the question and return to the marked lines.

• Main idea: look for a sentence that covers the whole passage, not just one example.
• Detail: find the exact sentence and read two lines above and below it for context.
• Inference: choose the option that is supported by evidence, not the one that sounds reasonable but is unproven.

If two choices both seem possible, compare them with the passage. The correct answer will use different words but preserve the author's meaning; the wrong one usually adds an idea the author never stated.

ACT Math rewards fluency with linear equations, systems, inequalities, exponents, functions, ratios, percentages, means, medians, and probability. Write what you know, substitute carefully, and check your answer against the question. Use estimation to eliminate unreasonable choices.

Problem-solving sequence: write the known values, choose a formula, substitute, solve, and check. For systems, decide whether substitution or elimination is faster; for inequalities, remember that multiplying or dividing by a negative number reverses the sign.

• Functions: replace the input in the expression and follow the order of operations.
• Ratio and percent: set up a proportion or use a simple benchmark such as 10% before calculating.
• Statistics: order data before finding the median; the mean is pulled toward extreme values, so use both to judge an answer.

If a calculation feels long, estimate first. For example, 28% of 50 is close to 14, so an answer near 14 is likely correct; an answer far from that estimate signals a setup error.

Memorize the most common ACT formulas: area and perimeter of rectangles, area of triangles and circles, volume of boxes, slope, and distance. On test day, answer easy questions first, mark hard ones, and use answer choices to check calculations. Never leave a question blank.

Formula sheet in memory: rectangle area = length × width, triangle area = ½ × base × height, circle area = πr², circumference = 2πr, box volume = length × width × height, slope = (y2 − y1)/(x2 − x1).

• Draw the figure if none is provided, and label every known value.
• Check units: a question mixing centimeters and meters needs conversion before formula use.
• Use answer choices to test: for perimeter and area questions, substitute choices into the formula and see which one fits all given facts.

Time management: answer the easiest 60% of questions first, mark harder ones, and return with remaining time. An educated guess beats leaving a blank because the ACT has no wrong-answer penalty.