ACT English and SAT Writing & Language New Student Orientation
Discover the importance of memorizing rules and consistently applying tactics to maximize your score on ACT English and SAT Writing & Language.
Introduction
Welcome to the new student orientation for ACT English and SAT Writing & Language! Please read this carefully, as being familiar with these basics will help us hit the ground running in our first session, so we can start boosting your scores as soon as possible.
Even if you aren't one of my test prep students, feel free to keep reading. I think you'll find the information beneficial, as it provides an outline of how you can effectively self-prep. If you’re interested in studying with me to improve your SAT or ACT scores, click here.
If you're a new student, welcome! I look forward to helping you increase your scores!
Now, let’s jump into the three keys to increasing your ACT English or SAT Writing and Language scores!
The Three Keys
ACT English and SAT Writing & Language are the easiest sections for adding points to your overall score. Improving your score on these sections is not rocket science - it simply requires a willingness to put in some work.
Here are the three critical keys to increasing ACT English / SAT Writing & Language scores:
Learn to identify the question types.
Memorize the rules and tactics for the question types.
Always apply the tactics for the question types.
The Importance of Knowing Question Types
Many of the questions on ACT English and SAT Writing & Language have no question stem - they just give you four answer choices, with no guidance as to how you should judge between them. However, the vast majority of questions do fit neatly into very specific categories. The trick is learning to identify these question types.
Only after you've determined the question type can you be certain of the particular issue being tested. Obviously, if you're not sure of exactly what you're being tested on, it's going to be harder to find the correct answer!
Thus, on ACT English and SAT Writing & Language, you should never start working on a question until you have first identified the question type!
Memorize and Apply
After identifying the question type, securing the point depends on memorizing the rules for that type and consistently applying relevant tactics. Solid memorization is crucial, as a vague understanding of a rule or tactic can hinder your speed and may lead to disregarding the tactic in favor of guesswork. Consistency is essential, as neglecting to apply the appropriate rule or tactic increases the likelihood of making errors.
How to Learn the Info
In the Quiz Hacker articles in this publication, I provide you with everything you need to know in order to perform the above steps. How meticulous you are in learning and applying this information will strongly impact your ability to score higher.
Conclusion
Students often fail to reach their fullest potential on ACT English / SAT Writing & Language simply because they get lazy - they're not sufficiently diligent in learning to identify question types, memorizing rules and tactics, and consistently applying them. Diligence is critical because your goal is to have the rules and tactics fully internalized by test day, and that takes consistent focus and practice.
Review Questions
What are the three critical keys to increasing ACT English / SAT Writing & Language scores?
Why is it important to learn to identify question types before attempting to answer questions on the ACT English / SAT Writing & Language sections?
How does memorizing the rules for question types and using applicable tactics contribute to improving your score?
What is a common reason students fail to reach their fullest potential on ACT English / SAT Writing & Language sections?
Why is it crucial to be diligent in learning to identify question types, memorizing their rules, and using their tactics on the ACT English / SAT Writing & Language sections?