2016 ACT Practice Initiative
As a response to the phaseout of the EXPLORE and PLAN tests for our 8th and 10th graders to help
predict their performance on and prepare them for the ACT, Collierville Schools will now provide that
opportunity to its 8th, 9th, 10th, and 11th graders each September.
8th graders take an actual ACT test that has been pared down to match the original item numbers,
skills, and standards assessed by the EXPLORE in hopes of providing some early performance
feedback to our rising Freshmen. Current high school students take a full, proctored and timed ACT
test which, like the abbreviated version for our 8th graders, is intended to give students a better
grasp on their strengths and teachers a clearer direction for both sustaining and supporting future
learning. Students additionally have an earlier exposure to the ACT to begin building their comfort
with the testing format and experience, and because research indicates that students who begin
testing earlier and repeat testing show gains much higher than their peers who test later or only
once, it’s an important first step towards their readiness.
This document accompanies the individual student score reports and will explain the ACT College
and Career Readiness benchmarks. Additionally, the process for translating student scores for
each subject area and compiling a composite are provided along with a skills analysis for each
subject area test. Students and parents can use these item analyses as a great tool to identify areas
of need as a next step towards improving scores.
And because so many of the TNReady standards align with and overlap those of the ACT, we would
hope that these next steps would garner improvement on each.
College and Career Readiness Benchmarks
The Benchmarks are scores on the ACT subject-area tests that represent the level of achievement
required for students to have a 50% chance of obtaining a B or higher or about a 75% chance of
obtaining a C or higher in corresponding credit-bearing first-year college courses. These college
courses include English composition, college algebra, introductory social science courses, and
biology. Based on a sample of 214 institutions and more than 230,000 students from across the
United States, the Benchmarks are median course placement values for these institutions and as
such represent a typical set of expectations. The ACT College Readiness Benchmarks are:
College Course
ACT Subject Area Score
English Composition
18 : English
College Algebra
22 : Mathematics
Social Sciences
22 : Reading
Biology
23 : Science
The basis for the required 21 cumulative score to earn the HOPE Scholarship is based on these
readiness benchmarks. Regardless of your performance on this test, don’t feel that it is an accurate
and final prediction of your future success. Use these scores and these skills analyses to focus your
work on making improvements where they are needed while continuing to strengthen those areas in
which you have an aptitude.
It’s important to note that of last year’s graduating class only about 25% of students met all four
benchmarks nationally, and about one-third failed to meet any of the four benchmarks. At Collierville
High, just shy of 50% of our graduates met all four of their benchmarks. We think that practice tests
like these and the results our students receive helps them outperform their peers across the state
and across the nation.
College and Career Readiness Standards
Standards refer to the specific skills and knowledge a student needs to master in order to be
successful either in their collegiate studies or in their chosen career. What your score says is that
you may have mastered some skills, but you still need work on others. If you take your score and
compare it to the score ranges attached to the standards, your performance will indicate that you’ve
likely mastered the skills for all the score ranges below your score and possibly some above. So as
you look at your score, think about those standards above your score and how you might find some
help in strengthening your abilities with those.
The standards associated with our practice are available for download by clicking here or at the
following web address:
https://www.act.org/content/act/en/education-and-career-planning/college-and-career-readinessstandards.html
Please note that there are no standards designated for scores below 13. ACT explains on their
standards site that scores below a 13 indicate that students “are most likely beginning to develop
the knowledge and skills assessed in the other ranges.”
Most importantly, at the bottom of each standards sheet there is a link to “Ideas for Progress.”
Clicking the link for each score range will give you specific feedback on what you need to know to
improve your score within that range.
Creating Your Score
At the top of each of your four subject area reports, beneath your name, you’ll see information similar
to the graphic below:
Pay closest attention to Your Score - this is the number of questions you answered correctly out of
the total number of questions (not the percentage) - this is your Raw Score. You need this number
to determine your Scale Score. Write each Raw Score in the spaces provided below:
English - __________
Mathematics - __________
Reading - __________
Science - __________
Use the chart to find your Raw Score for each subject area to determine your Scale Score. Write
each Scale Score in the spaces provided below:
English - __________
Mathematics - __________
Reading - __________
Science - __________
To determine your Composite Score - your overall performance for the test - add the four Scale
Scores together & divide that number by four. Round any fraction to the nearest whole number:
Sum of scores - ____________ / 4
=
Composite Score - ____________
Raw Scores
Scale Scores
Scale Scores
English
Mathematics
Reading
Science
36
75
60
40
40
36
35
74
59
-
-
35
34
73
57-58
39
39
34
33
72
56
38
-
33
32
71
55
37
38
32
31
70
54
36
37
31
30
69
52-53
35
36
30
29
67-68
51
34
-
29
28
66
48-50
33
35
28
27
64-65
46-47
32
33-34
27
26
62-63
43-45
31
32
26
25
60-61
41-42
30
30-31
25
24
58-59
38-40
29
28-29
24
23
55-57
35-37
27-28
26-27
23
22
53-54
33-34
25-26
24-25
22
21
49-52
31-32
24
22-23
21
20
46-48
29-30
22-23
20-21
20
19
43-45
27-28
21
18-19
19
18
41-42
24-26
19-20
17
18
17
39-40
21-23
18
15-16
17
16
36-38
17-20
16-17
14
16
15
33-35
13-16
14-15
13
15
14
30-32
11-12
13-16
12
14
13
28-29
8-10
11-12
11
13
12
26-27
7
10
10
12
11
24-25
5-6
8-9
9
11
10
22-23
4
7
7-8
10
9
19-21
-
6
6
9
8
16-18
3
5
5
8
7
13-15
-
4
4
7
6
11-12
2
-
3
6
5
8-10
-
3
-
5
4
6-7
1
2
2
4
3
4-5
-
-
1
3
2
3
-
1
-
2
1
0-2
0
0
0
1
Skills Analysis : English
Below is a list of the skills associated with each individual question. Though some of these
questions were deleted from your test, all questions are included for both remediation & enrichment.
Passage One
Taking Wing
1. Punctuation : Comma Rules : Using Commas with Interrupters
2. Logic & Coherence : Simplification : Avoiding Wordiness or Redundancy
3. Correct & Consistent Verb Tense or Verb Form
4. Logic & Coherence : Revision for Purpose
5. Knowledge of Language : Appropriate Diction : Word Choice
6. Logic & Coherence : Unity and Sentence Order
7. Knowledge of Language : Appropriate Preposition + Correct & Consistent Verb Tense or Form
8. Knowledge of Language : Appropriate Diction : Word Choice
9. Logic & Coherence : Unnecessary Transition
10. Punctuation : Apostrophes : Unnecessary Apostrophe + Subject / Verb Agreement
11. Logic & Coherence : Revision for Purpose
12. Knowledge of Language : Homonyms + Appropriate Preposition
13. Sentence Structure : Sentence Combining + Run-ons
14. Logic & Coherence : Simplification : Avoiding Wordiness or Redundancy
15. Logic & Coherence : Paragraph Division
Passage Two
Edmonia Lewis and Her Marble Cleopatra
16. Logic & Coherence : Revision for Purpose
17. Logic & Coherence : Revision for Purpose
18. Punctuation : Apostrophes for Ownership
19. Punctuation : Comma Rules : Superfluous Commas
20. Logic & Coherence : Revision for Purpose
21. Punctuation : Comma Rules : Superfluous Commas
22. Logic & Coherence : Necessity of Deletion
23. Logic & Coherence : Simplification : Avoiding Wordiness or Redundancy
24. Knowledge of Language : Appropriate Diction : Homonyms : Its v. It’s v. Its’ v. Its’s
25. Usage : Subject / Verb Agreement
26. Punctuation : Comma Rules : Superfluous Commas
27. Knowledge of Language : Appropriate Diction : Appropriate Alternatives
28. Logic & Coherence : Revision for Purpose
29. Knowledge of Language : Appropriate Diction
30. Logic & Coherence : Simplification : Avoiding Wordiness or Redundancy
Passage Three
A Peachy Winter Game
31. Knowledge of Language : Diction : Modifiers
32. Punctuation : Comma Rules : Commas with Interrupters
33. Sentence Combining & Sentence Structure
34. Logic & Coherence : Transitional Terms + Simplification : Avoiding Wordiness or Redundancy
35. Appropriate Alternatives : Sentence Combining & Sentence Structure
36. Logic & Coherence : Simplification : Avoiding Wordiness or Redundancy by Deleting
37. Punctuation : Comma Rules : Commas with Interrupters
38. Appropriate Alternatives : Knowledge of Language : Appropriate Diction
39. Sentence Structure : Clarity : Unclear Pronoun Referent
40. Sentence Structure : Clarity : Active Voice
41. Punctuation : Comma Rules + Apostrophes
42. Sentence Structure : Compound Predicate
43. Logic & Coherence : Needless Transition
44. Sentence Combining
45. Punctuation : Superfluous Commas + Incorrect Semicolon
Passage Four
An Evening Walk in Washington
46. Knowledge of Language : Diction : Homonyms : Forms of Its v. There / Their / They’re
47. Logic & Coherence : Revision for Purpose
48. Knowledge of Language : Appropriate Diction
49. Sentence Combining
50. Appropriate Alternatives : Diction
51. Logic & Coherence : Revision for Purpose
52. Logic & Coherence : Necessity of Effect of Addition or Deletion : Relevant Facts or Details
53. Appropriate Alternatives : Appropriate Diction : Participles : Appropriate Prepositions
54.Punctuation : Superfluous Commas + Apostrophes for Possession
55. Logic & Coherence : Order of Sentences in a Paragraph
56. Logic & Coherence : Necessity of Effect of Addition or Deletion
57. Logic & Coherence : Sentence Structure : Modifiers
58. Logic & Coherence : Appropriate Transition
59. Usage : Verb Tens & Form
60. Revision for Purpose : Logical Transition
Passage Five
Drought - In My Front Yard
61. Appropriate Alternatives : Logical Transition
62. Logic & Coherence : Necessity of or Effect of Addition or Deletion
63. Usage : Verb Tense & Form
64. Appropriate Diction
65. Sentence Combining
66. Usage : Modifiers : Adjective v. Adverb
67. Sentence Combining
68. Logic & Coherence : Necessity of or Effect of Addition or Deletion
69. Logic & Coherence : Sentence Structure : Logical Order
70. Logic & Coherence : Necessity of or Effect of Addition or Deletion
71. Punctuation : Comma Rules : Superfluous Commas
72. Usage : Modifiers : Improper Superlative v. Comparative Forms + Appropriate Diction
73. Punctuation : Commas v. Dashes for Interrupters
74. Usage : Pronoun Agreement
75. Logic : Appropriateness to Task
NOTES
Skills Analysis : Math
Below is a list of the skills associated with each individual question. Though some of these
questions were deleted from your test, all questions are included for both remediation & enrichment.
1
Algebra word problem
31 Parallelogram properties
2
% discount
32 Applying rectangle area
3
Conversions & & v = d / t
33 Rhombus properties & Pythagorean theorem
4
Substitution & pemdas
34 Symmetry
5
Algebra substitution
35 Set up equation using rectangle area
6
Logic w/ inequalities
36 Prism volume & multiplying binomials
7
Algebra using formulas
37 Manipulating data/media
8
Multiplication and exponent rules
38 SOHCAHTOA
9
Probability
39 Coordinate geometry/Pythagorean theorem
10 LCM
40 Similar solids & volume
11 Triangle angle sum & congruent triangles
41 Equation of circles
12 Simplifying complex fractions
42
13 Systems of equations word problem
43
14 Geometric logic
44
15 Averages
45 Transformations graphing trig functions
16 Slope intercept form from standard form
46 Number sense & inequalities
17 Quadratic equations
47 Percents
18 Absolute value
48 Trig identities
19 Comparing fractions
49 Reflection through line
20 Finding slope between 2 points
50 Circle arc length
21 Simplifying like terms
51 Geometry: intersecting solid & plane
22 Analyzing graphs
52 Logarithms
23 Arithmetic sequences
53 Graphing transformations of functions
24 Simplifying rational expressions
54 Parallel lines & special angle pairs
25 Similar triangles & proportions
55 Linear programming/analyzing linear
26 b0 = 1
56
27 Perimeter of a polygon
57 SOHCAHTOA
28 Analyzing geometric maps
58 Zeros of polynomial functions
29 Comparing like terms
59 Dimensional analysis & scientific notation
30
60 Factoring difference of squares/
inequalities
conversion using formula
Story problem: rectangle area & perimeter
inequalities
Skills Analysis : Reading
Below is a list of the skills associated with each individual question. Though some of these
questions were deleted from your test, all questions are included for both remediation & enrichment.
Passage One
Prose Fiction
1. Author’s Point of View
2. Factual Recall : Cause & Effect
3. Factual Recall : Specific Details
4. Drawing Conclusions Based on Context
5. Main Idea / Author’s Purpose - Paragraph Level
6. Vocabulary in Context
7. Factual Recall : Cause & Effect
8. Factual Recall : Specific Details
9. Factual Recall : Specific Details
10. Factual Recall : Specific Details
Passage Two
Social Sciences
11. Narrative Point of View
12. Factual Recall : Specific Details
13. Factual Recall : Specific Details
14. Main Idea / Author’s Purpose - Paragraph Level
15. Main Idea / Author’s Purpose - Paragraph Level
16. Vocabulary in Context
17. Factual Recall : Specific Details
18. Drawing Conclusions Based on Context
19. Factual Recall : Specific Details
20. Drawing Conclusions Based on Context
Passage Three
Humanities
21. Summary & Paraphrase : Recognizing an Effective Summary
22. Main Idea / Author’s Purpose - Paragraph Level
23. Drawing Conclusions / Making Inferences
24. Factual Recall : Specific Details
25. Whole Passage Comprehension & Factual Recall
26. Vocabulary in Context
27. Factual Recall : Specific Details
28. Factual Recall : Specific Details
29. Factual Recall : Cause & Effect
30. Factual Recall : Specific Details
Passage Four
Natural Science
31. Factual Recall : Specific Details
32. Paragraph Level Comprehension & Factual Recall
33. Factual Recall : Specific Details
34. Factual Recall : Specific Details
35. Main Idea : Paragraph Level
36. Factual Recall : Cause and Effect
37. Vocabulary in Context
38. Factual Recall : Specific Details
39. Factual Recall : Specific Details
40. Factual Recall : Specific Details
Skills Analysis : Science Reasoning
Below is a list of the skills associated with each individual question. Though some of these
questions were deleted from your test, all questions are included for both remediation & enrichment.
Passage One
Data Representation
Biology
Passage Four
Research Summary
Environmental Science
1. Reading Graphs
19. Reading Graphs
2. Reading Graphs
20. Reading Graphs
3. Applying Biology to Visual Organizers
21. Interpreting data & making predictions
4. Interpreting Visual Organizers
22. Interpreting data & making predictions
5. Applying Graphs
23. Calculations based on graphs
24. Making predictions
Passage Two
Research Summary
Physics
Passage Five
Data Representation
Chemistry
6. Interpreting time / distance graph
25. Reading graphs
7. Representing table as a graph
26. Interpreting graphic information
27. Interpreting graphic information
8. Interpreting and inferring from a table
9. Solve an equation for a given variable
10. Applying physics to given information
28. Interpreting graphic information
29. Analyzing graphic information
11. Interpret and make predictions
Passage Three
Conflicting Viewpoints
Refer to Viewpoints : Reading & Synthesizing
information from multiple perspectives
Passage Six
Research Summary
Physics
30. Recognizing given information
12. Drawing Conclusions
31. Choosing appropriate units
13. Comparing and Contrasting Perspectives
32. Making predictions
14. Drawing Conclusions
33. Interpreting graphic information
15. Drawing Conclusions
34. Drawing conclusions
16. Factual Recall
35. Comparing and contrasting data
17. Supporting Evidence
18. Drawing Conclusions
Passage Seven
Data Representation
Geology
36. Interpreting graphic information
37. Interpreting graphic information
38. Reading graphs
39. Making predictions
40. Interpreting graphic information