Tips
• The math questions start easy and get harder. Pace yourself accordingly.
• Study wisely. The number of questions involving various algebra topics is significantly higher than
the number of trigonometry questions. Spend more time studying algebra concepts.
• There is no penalty for wrong answers. Make sure that you answer all of the questions, even if
some answers are only a guess.
• If you are not sure of an answer, take your best guess. Try to eliminate a couple of the answer
choices.
• If you skip a question, leave that question blank on the answer sheet and return to it when you
are done. Often, a question later in the test will spark your memory about the answer to a ques-
tion that you skipped.
• Read carefully! Make sure you understand what the question is asking.
• Use your calculator wisely. Many questions are answered more quickly and easily without a cal-
culator.
• Most calculators are allowed on the test. However, there are some exceptions. Check the ACT
website (ACT.org) for specific models that are not allowed.
• Keep your work organized. Number your work on your scratch paper so that you can refer back
to it while checking your answers.
• Look for easy solutions to difficult problems. For example, the answer to a problem that can be
solved using a complicated algebraic procedure may also be found by “plugging” the answer
choices into the problem.
• Know basic formulas such as the formulas for area of triangles, rectangles, and circles. The
Pythagorean theorem and basic trigonometric functions and identities are also useful, and not that
complicated to remember.
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Coordinate Geometry
Plane Geometry
Tr igo nom et r y
In addition to these six topics, there are three skill levels: basic, application, and analysis. Basic problems
require simple knowledge of a topic and usually only take a few steps to solve. Application problems require
knowledge of a few topics to complete the problem. Analysis problems require the use of several topics to
complete a multi-step problem.
The questions appear in order of difficulty on the test, but topics are mixed together throughout the test.
Pre-Algebra
Topics in this section include many concepts you may have learned in middle or elementary school, such as
operations on whole numbers, fractions, decimals, and integers; positive powers and square roots; absolute