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English Test

The ACT® English Test is a 45-minute, 75-question test that measures comprehension, fluency, and writing proficiency with standard English writing conventions. Spelling, vocabulary and memorized grammar rules are not tested.

The test consists of five essays or passages, each with a series of multiple-choice test questions. Different passage types are used to provide different rhetorical situations. Passages are selected to reflect the student's interests and experiences as well as being suitable for assessing writing ability. Some questions refer to the highlighted section of the section and offer multiple alternatives to the highlighted section. You will have to decide which option is most appropriate in relation to the scripture. Some questions are about highlighted parts, sections of passages, or entire passages. You have to decide which option best answers the question posed. Many questions offer passage with "NO CHANGE" as one of the options.

Content Covered by the English Test

  • Six elements of effective writing are included in the English test: punctuation, grammar and usage, sentence structure, strategy, organization, and style. A brief description and the approximate percentage of the test devoted to each element of effective writing are given below.

  • Punctuation (10–15%). Questions in this category test your knowledge of the conventions of internal and end-of- sentence punctuation, with emphasis on the relationship of punctuation to meaning (for example, avoiding ambiguity, indicating appositives).

  • Grammar and Usage (15–20%). Questions in this category test your understanding of agreement between subject and verb, between pronoun and antecedent, and between modifiers and the word modified; verb formation; pronoun case; formation of comparative and superlative adjectives and adverbs; and idiomatic usage.

  • Sentence Structure (20–25%). Questions in this category test your understanding of relationships between and among clauses, placement of modifiers, and shifts in construction.

  • Strategy (15–20%). Questions in this category test how well you develop a given topic by choosing expressions appropriate to an essay’s audience and purpose; judging the effect of adding, revising, or deleting supporting material; and judging the relevancy of statements in context.

  • Organization (10–15%). Questions in this category test how well you organize ideas and choose effective opening, transitional, and closing sentences.

  • Style (15–20%). Questions in this category test how well you choose precise and appropriate words and images, maintain the level of style and tone in an essay, manage sentence elements for rhetorical effectiveness, and avoid ambiguous pronoun references, wordiness, and redundancy.

A

English Test

The ACT® English Test is a 45-minute, 75-question test that measures comprehension, fluency, and writing proficiency with standard English writing conventions. Spelling, vocabulary and memorized grammar rules are not tested.

The test consists of five essays or passages, each with a series of multiple-choice test questions. Different passage types are used to provide different rhetorical situations. Passages are selected to reflect the student's interests and experiences as well as being suitable for assessing writing ability. Some questions refer to the highlighted section of the section and offer multiple alternatives to the highlighted section. You will have to decide which option is most appropriate in relation to the scripture. Some questions are about highlighted parts, sections of passages, or entire passages. You have to decide which option best answers the question posed. Many questions offer passage with "NO CHANGE" as one of the options.

Content Covered by the English Test

  • Six elements of effective writing are included in the English test: punctuation, grammar and usage, sentence structure, strategy, organization, and style. A brief description and the approximate percentage of the test devoted to each element of effective writing are given below.

  • Punctuation (10–15%). Questions in this category test your knowledge of the conventions of internal and end-of- sentence punctuation, with emphasis on the relationship of punctuation to meaning (for example, avoiding ambiguity, indicating appositives).

  • Grammar and Usage (15–20%). Questions in this category test your understanding of agreement between subject and verb, between pronoun and antecedent, and between modifiers and the word modified; verb formation; pronoun case; formation of comparative and superlative adjectives and adverbs; and idiomatic usage.

  • Sentence Structure (20–25%). Questions in this category test your understanding of relationships between and among clauses, placement of modifiers, and shifts in construction.

  • Strategy (15–20%). Questions in this category test how well you develop a given topic by choosing expressions appropriate to an essay’s audience and purpose; judging the effect of adding, revising, or deleting supporting material; and judging the relevancy of statements in context.

  • Organization (10–15%). Questions in this category test how well you organize ideas and choose effective opening, transitional, and closing sentences.

  • Style (15–20%). Questions in this category test how well you choose precise and appropriate words and images, maintain the level of style and tone in an essay, manage sentence elements for rhetorical effectiveness, and avoid ambiguous pronoun references, wordiness, and redundancy.