CliffsTestPrep ACT
Chapter One
INTRODUCTION TO
THE ENGLISH TEST
The English Test is 45 minutes long and contains 75 multiple-choice questions.
Ability Tested
The English Test tests your ability to recognize and correct errors in standard written
English. It tests your knowledge of grammar, punctuation, sentence structure,
and rhetoric. It is not a test of spelling, vocabulary, or recall of grammar rules.
The test covers five or six prose passages of differing styles and content, upon
which the multiple-choice questions are based.
Basic Skills Necessary
The basic skills necessary to perform well on the English Test include the six elements
of effective writing.
Usage/Mechanics
* punctuation, with an emphasis on punctuation that influences meaning,
such as that which avoids ambiguity or identifies an appositive
* basic grammar and usage, such as agreement, case, verb form, and idiomatic
usage
* sentence structure, including correct subordination, parallelism, and
placement of modifiers
Rhetorical Skills
* strategy, including questions about the audience, purpose, and ... read full excerpt from CliffsTestPrep ACT, 7th Edition ebook
