MS Spanish Guide

Mathematics ACT measures how quickly and accurately a student can employ a wide variety of mathematical skills and procedures that have been taught over a student’s entire academic career. Questions are multiple choice and designed to assess specific mathematical skills. This is a 60-question, 60-minute test designed to assess mathematics skills students have typically acquired in courses taken up through grade 12. For example, students will be assessed on fourth grade, seventh grade, and high school skills all intertwined within the same assessment. Students may use an approved calculator on the entire mathematics portion of the ACT. The science subtest of the ACT does not assess specific understanding or comprehension of scientific subject areas (e.g., biology, chemistry, physics). Instead, the ACT aims to measure a student’s ability to solve problems and interpret information under strict time constraints and use scientific reasoning. The test presents several sets of scientific information, each followed by several multiple-choice test questions, including data representation, research summaries, and conflicting viewpoints. This subtest has 40 questions to complete in 35 minutes. The ACT writing test is designed to assess students’ ability to take a position on an issue, develop the position with supporting ideas, and articulate the position and ideas through effective use of language. The prompt briefly describes an issue and provides three different perspectives on the issue. Students are required to develop and communicate their own perspective, while incorporating an analytical comparison to one of the provided perspectives. Students have 40 minutes to complete the essay. 4. Are the Utah Core State Standards aligned to ACT expectations? The ACT standards are encompassed within the Utah Core State Standards, ensuring that students who show strong growth and achievement on RISE and Utah Aspire Plus will also be well prepared to meet the college- and career-readiness benchmarks on the ACT. Mathematics: Mastery of the Utah Core State Standards in Mathematics prepares a student to be successful on the ACT assessment. The expectation for the ACT mathematics assessment is that students should be able to quickly and accurately answer a wide variety of mathematics questions, many of which are grounded in the procedural fluency and problem-solving expectations embedded in the Utah mathematics standards. By stressing conceptual understanding at all levels, the Utah mathematics standards are designed to prepare students not only to master this wide array of mathematical skills but also to retain conceptual knowledge from year to year. English language arts: The skills of the ACT English and reading subtests extend across grade levels; however, the biggest differentiator of success is the ability to read complex text proficiently. The Utah Core State Standards call for students to have regular practice with complex text. Students should read a range of nonfiction/informational text from the natural sciences, social sciences, and humanities throughout the school year and across all content areas. Science Writing

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