The Fastest, Smartest Way to Prep for the ACT
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Shortcuts, Tricks, Tips and Hacks to Skyrocket Your Scores
Shortcuts, Tricks, Tips and Hacks to Skyrocket Your Scores
Does the world really need another ACT Test prep book? If you are looking for a book with multiple practice tests or long winded reviews of topics you already know, then this book is NOT for you. Hacking the ACT is a different type of book.
The ACT is a speed test. Hacking the ACT gives you shortcuts, tricks, tips and hacks to skyrocket your scores.
We'll show you how to get into the mind of the test creators and finish most problems in less than 30 seconds.
Hacking the ACT will help you determine what you do not need to review while also providing extra work and hacks on those concepts you are struggling with.
You will get smarter at math. Since you will learn math conceptually and the understand ideas behind the problems, you will begin thinking mathematically, rather than mechanically or computationally.
The ACT breaks the 60 problem math test into three levels of difficulty (20 per section). Below is a sample from the hardest group. Most students don't even finish all 60 problems. Let us show you how to approach the problems so you can crush the ACT test.
SOLVING TRIANGLE PROBLEMS: Conceptual Understanding
> The Law of Sines works when you have an angle and its opposite side.
> The Law of Cosines works in two cases: when you have two sides and a corresponding angle (Side-Angle-Side or SAS) or when you have all three sides and you are solving for an angle (Side-Side-Side or SSS).
> SOH-CAH-TOA is for right triangle problems.
• sin x = opposite/hypotenuse,
• cos x = adjacent/hypotenuse,
• tan x = opposite/adjacent
Start by examining the picture and going directly to the question. For triangles, determine if it's a right triangle.
Determine the appropriate formula to use: SOH-CAH-TOA, Law of Sines, Law of Cosines
Scan the answer set and rule out answers.
Recall your conceptual understanding of triangles.
Apply logic and reasoning first, algebra techniques second, computation last.
This problem is intenionally made to look like a right triangle (that's why there are two pythagorean answers, C and D). Unless stated, assume all triangles are non-right.
No need for a calculator or even algebra or geometry here. Let's use LOGIC.
Once you realize it is a SAS case (law of cosines) problem, the answer has to be E because it is the only answer in Law of Cosines format.
NO MATH NEEDED! You rarely need to do computation on the ACT, so put that calculator down.
• You can rule out A and B because it is not a Law of Sines problem.
• You can rule out C and D because it is not a Pythagorean problem.
We analyzed thousandsof ACT problems and found patterns of concepts that they break into. We will show what concepts to study and hacks for every concept. We will teach you what your high school classes left out.
The key to scoring high is working quickly. Most problems are designed so they can be solved in 30 seconds or less. With our hacks, you will see how to get to the right answers in record time.
Since Hacking the ACT is also a guided workbook, it helps you determine what you don't know, but is also designed to skip the concepts you do know which dramatically speeds prep time.
For a long time I would get frustrated with math and used to think I wasn't good at it, but now I enjoy it because of what I have learned. I really appreciate that.
Thank you so much.
It has been a long time since I’ve really enjoyed math. Your approach has helped me understand everything at a deeper level and now I love math again.
Thanks for all of your help.
I have actually never liked math because I've never been really good at it. Now that I know how to think about solving problems, it is so much more fun for me and I am much more successful!
I have helped students navigate through the complexities of standardized testing in my 35 years as an educator. Some of those battles have been at underachieving schools where students needed to pass a state test to graduate and others have been at one of the highest achieving public high schools in the country, so students could qualify for top-tier university programs.
Based on the diversity of students I have taught, I came up with my current methodology and techniques. This method has been forged by all of those experiences. They work for everyone, regardless of educational background.
Not all families can afford prep courses that are hundreds or even thousands of dollars. Hacking the ACT is an attempt to bring all of my experience to a broad audience at a nominal price that everyone can afford.
My hope is that you find my work helpful, you learn how to approach problem solving in new creative ways, and that you find learning more enjoyable.
Sincerely,
Peter Stefanou
TESTING INFO
The ACT offers testing in September, October, December, February, April June and July. Registration usually closes three weeks before the test date.
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