ACT Test Materials
Our ACT preparation program provides comprehensive study materials and practice tests, both in print and online formats, to help students perform well on ACT test day, as the ACT test is widely used for college admissions. By analyzing performance data, we customize lesson plans to target specific skills and strategies required for success, aiming to maximize students’ scores and enhance their competitiveness in college admissions.
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Cambridge’s Victory for the ACT® Test and Essential Skills set comprises three-volumes designed to maximize instructional time by allowing teachers to choose the material most appropriate to the immediate instructional goal. With over 90 hours of core content review and over 1,000 reinforcement items, the Victory set gives teachers content and test-strategy items in all three subject areas tested on the ACT test. Teachers cover only those sections most needed by their students as shown on their computer-generated lesson plans. The companion volume, Essential Skills, includes review and exercises based on three score ranges of the College Readiness Standards™, spanning everything from foundational middle and high school readiness to the topmost range of college ready skills, all encountered on the ACT test. Three additional full-length practice tests and additional subject quizzes are included in a third practice book.
Cambridge’s Victory for the ACT® Test teacher guides systematically present core content and skills, test-taking strategies, and explanations to all classroom text exercises, quizzes, and tests. The course concept outlines help instructors guide students through well-defined content review. Student text items are included in the teacher’s guide for a more user-friendly teaching experience. The Essential Skills teacher’s guide helps teachers to easily differentiate instruction in the classroom based on student needs and provide the needed practice to fill skill gaps, master ACT skills, and increase ACT scores.
Cambridge’s AccelePrep for the ACT Test has been designed for those that want a highly concise and focused prep course. The systematic and fast-track approach allows students to review content while learning all about the “ins and outs” of the ACT test. This book allows students to learn how to effectively navigate test content, avoid common errors and distractors, apply powerful test-taking strategies, and experience high-value item types that offer the best return on preparation. One full-length practice test is included to allow students to hone their test-taking abilities and put their new knowledge to practice, a key action for preparing for the ACT.
The teacher’s guide helps teachers to teach efficiently and effectively a concise, accelerated ACT test prep course. The book is all inclusive with the student text and highlights AccelePrep exclusive tools such as mastering the AccelePrep method, test specifications and features, effective pacing, strategies, and power tip alerts. In addition, teacher notes are provided that not only highlight the correct answer but provide explanations as to why incorrect answers are truly incorrect.
Cambridge’s AccelePrep for the ACT® Test has been designed for those that want a highly concise and focused prep course. The systematic and fast-track approach allows students to review content while learning all about the ins and outs of the ACT test. This course allows students to learn how to effectively navigate test content, avoid common errors and distractors, apply powerful test-taking strategies, and experience high-value item types that offer the best return on preparation. Each online lesson is followed by a practice opportunity that provides immediate feedback. Students end the course with a full-length practice test to hone their test-taking abilities and put their new knowledge to practice. Teachers can access the course and see student progress, scores, and even item-level analysis in the practice exercises and tests.
PrepCast for the ACT® Test is a comprehensive video course that brings some of the world’s best teachers directly to your students. It can be blended with in-class instruction or used as a self-study program. The course, which has over 60 hours of prep, includes:
- 18 hours of video instruction
- Additional lesson topics and items to cover for an in-class instructor
- 11 quizzes
- 4 full-length practice tests
- Essential Skills supplemental material for bonus skills review (print or online)
Students receive a course workbook to follow along with the videos and can complete the quizzes and tests either in their workbooks or in an interactive online environment. Teachers receive a comprehensive teacher’s guide and access to online content where they can also see students’ grades for any online activities.
As a supplement to your student program, Cambridge’s eCelePrep for the ACT® Test provides up to 30 hours of rigorous curricula in an interactive and self-guided format. This online material is supported by all devices, including computers, tablets, and smartphones, and requires no teacher involvement. Students have materials with them wherever internet access is available and is ideal for students working independently before test day. Students receive pre- and post-tests and lessons on the ACT’s test-mechanics, tested concepts, and strategies. Students also have access to graded practice quizzes and timed mini tests.
In addition, our Moodle-based platform allows teachers to monitor when, and how long, a student has logged in, whether from school or home. The teacher can also see which problems the students answered correctly or incorrectly, allowing for more effective supplementary instruction. In addition, the teacher can create logs/reports based on factors including: the group/individual, the activity (particular unit, workshop, quiz, etc.), and date.
The Score Booster for the ACT® Test is an interactive database developed to build skills, improve test-taking techniques, and boost test scores. The Score Booster (up to 12 hours) provides students with two comprehensive tests for a testing experience that reflects the actual test. Included explanations help students identify wrong answer choice patterns and review troublesome question types. Additional skill-building questions in English and Math are sorted by difficulty, allowing students to answer easier questions before moving on to those that are more difficult.
Cambridge’s Victory for the ACT® and SAT® Tests and Essential Skills set comprises two volumes designed to maximize instructional time by allowing teachers to choose the material most appropriate to the immediate instructional goal. With over 90 hours of core content review and over 1,000 reinforcement items, the Victory set gives teachers content and test-strategy items in all three subject areas tested on the SAT test. Teachers cover only those sections most needed by their students as shown on their computer-generated lesson plans. The Victory for the ACT® and SAT® Tests text concludes with two full-length practice tests, one ACT and one SAT. The companion volume, Essential Skills, includes review and exercises based on three score ranges of the College Readiness Standards™, spanning everything from foundational high school readiness to the topmost range of college ready skills, all encountered on the ACT test.
Cambridge’s Victory for the ACT® and SAT® Test teacher guides systematically present core content and skills, test-taking strategies, and explanations to all classroom text exercises, quizzes, and tests. The course concept outlines help instructors guide students through well-defined content review. Student text items are included in the teacher’s guide for a more user-friendly teaching experience. The Essential Skills teacher’s guide helps teachers to easily differentiate instruction in the classroom based on student needs and provide the needed practice to fill skill gaps, master ACT and SAT skills, and increase scores.
Teacher Professional Development
Cambridge’s Test DeMystifier Professional Development gives teachers a thorough understanding ACT test. Teachers learn about test mechanics including the test structure and format; timing of each subject test – Reading, Writing and Language, English, Math, and Science; tested content and skills within each subject and in what proportion; and analysis of the new Essay, including the passage, prompt, and expectations. With practice problems in Reading, Writing and Language, English, Math, and Science teachers learn high-value test-taking strategies for items most frequently encountered on the test; how different forms of “data” are integrated throughout the tests; how to address student-produced response questions, and about evidence-based questions. Teachers also gain insight into the scoring of the tests and the aligned scale scores for any suite of exams.
Cambridge’s Introduction to Testing Readiness provides teachers with a thorough understanding of how to effectively prepare students using any one of Cambridge’s test preparation materials including Victory for the ACT Test, Essential Skills, and AccelePrep for the ACT texts. Led by a Cambridge Master teacher and customized for your implementation model your teachers will analyze the Cambridge Course Concept Outline, understand the instructional layout and progression of the Cambridge materials, consider different course structures and timings, learn how to target instruction based on ability levels while incorporating building basic skills into your program, review applicable Item Indexes and Crosswalks to Standards, explore the mechanics of the applicable test in terms of test structure, timing, content, frequency and skills for each section of the test (e.g. Writing, Language, Reading, Math, and Science), learn best practices for implementing and differentiating instruction, and gain insight into question types, concepts tested, common distractors, and assigning homework. This professional development assumes use of Cambridge materials for a skill building or test preparation program.
Teachers will take a dive into their own students’ data to understand how to effectively use the Cambridge data reports (reports may include Student Summary and Item Analysis, Instructor Summary, Error Analysis, Content Distribution, Formative Connection, Lesson Plans, and others) to more effectively address skill gaps and target instruction. Topics include the pre-assessment process and the importance of timely and accurate feedback, linking assessment items to instructional objectives and differentiating among learners to drive score increases across the spectrum of achievement. Teachers will also learn powerful ACT test-taking strategies to incorporate in the classroom.
Student and Family Workshops
The ScoreCelerator Workshop for the ACT tests offer an intensive review of solid test taking techniques, high-value targets that offer the best return on preparation time, and powerful test-taking strategies. Students will learn how to avoid common errors and use the test structure to maximum advantage. Topics include:
- The mechanics of the test:
- How the test is written and scored
- How just a few more correct questions can dramatically increase scores – every problem matters,
- Common distractors
- A systematic analysis of each section of the test:
- Mapping of item types
- Timing and pacing of the test
- Proportion of problems
- The need to be a wise test-taker:
- In-depth strategies
- How to get the best return on preparation and practice
- Workshop practice problems are used illustrate test mechanics and strategies
The Student Motivation Workshop encourages students to set high expectations for educational and personal goals, and to start planning for the future now. Emphasizing the importance of good test scores and conscientious preparation to build a competitive application, students learn the impact education has on career choices and earnings, today’s top jobs and in-demand college degrees, how to maximize opportunities for admission and financial aid, and the importance of solid practice and preparation for the challenges of the ACT® test.
The College Is for Me/Family Admissions Workshop (usually presented in the evenings) helps students and parents focus on practical tactics for gaining admission to college. Participants learn the most effective steps families must take in the college transition process. The workshop includes topics such as the correlation between high test scores, GPA and earnings; designing and crafting a winning application; strategies for choosing schools; tips on securing financial aid; the roles of parents; an overview of the design and mechanics of the ACT®; and a demonstration of problem-solving strategies.
