MATH Q1. What is the formula for the volume of a rectangular prism (box)?

Answer:

V = length × width × height

Surface Area = 2(lw + lh + wh)

Example: A box 3×4×5 has volume = 60 cubic units.

💡 ACT often gives dimensions in different units — convert first before calculating.

MATH Q2. How do you solve a system of two linear equations?

Answer:

Method 1 — Substitution:

Solve one equation for a variable, substitute into the other.

Method 2 — Elimination:

Add or subtract equations to cancel one variable.

Check: plug solution back into BOTH equations.

💡 If the lines are parallel → no solution. If identical → infinite solutions.

MATH Q3. What is the difference between permutation and combination?

Answer:

Permutation: ORDER matters

nPr = n! / (n−r)!

Combination: ORDER does not matter

nCr = n! / [r!(n−r)!]

Example: Choosing 3 from 5 people for a podium = permutation (1st, 2nd, 3rd matter).

💡 ‘How many ways to arrange’ = permutation. ‘How many ways to choose’ = combination.

MATH Q4. What is the formula for simple interest?

Answer:

I = P × r × t

I = interest earned

P = principal (starting amount)

r = annual interest rate (as decimal)

t = time in years

Total amount = P + I

💡 ACT may give rate as a percentage — divide by 100 to convert to decimal first.

MATH Q5. What are the laws of exponents you must know for the ACT?

Answer:

xᵃ × xᵇ = xᵃ⁺ᵇ

xᵃ ÷ xᵇ = xᵃ⁻ᵇ

(xᵃ)ᵇ = xᵃᵇ

x⁰ = 1

x⁻ᵃ = 1/xᵃ

(xy)ᵃ = xᵃyᵃ

💡 Negative exponent = reciprocal. Fractional exponent = root: x^(1/2) = √x.

SCI Q6. What is the difference between a physical and chemical change?

Answer:

Physical change: changes form/shape but NOT chemical composition.

Examples: melting ice, cutting paper, dissolving sugar.

Chemical change: forms a NEW substance with different properties.

Examples: burning wood, rusting iron, baking a cake.

💡 Signs of chemical change: color change, gas produced, heat/light released, precipitate forms.

SCI Q7. What is the difference between acids and bases on the pH scale?

Answer:

pH scale: 0 to 14

pH < 7 = Acid (lemon juice, vinegar)

pH = 7 = Neutral (pure water)

pH > 7 = Base/Alkaline (baking soda, bleach)

Each pH unit = 10× difference in concentration.

💡 Acids donate H⁺ ions. Bases accept H⁺ ions (or donate OH⁻). ACT tests pH interpretation.

SCI Q8. What is the difference between conduction, convection, and radiation?

Answer:

Conduction: heat transfer through direct contact.

Example: touching a hot pan.

Convection: heat transfer through fluid movement.

Example: boiling water, ocean currents.

Radiation: heat transfer through electromagnetic waves.

Example: sunlight warming Earth.

💡 Only radiation can transfer heat through a vacuum (space). The others need matter.

SCI Q9. What is natural selection and how does it work?

Answer:

Natural selection: organisms with traits better suited to their environment survive and reproduce more.

4 conditions needed:

1. Variation in traits

2. Traits are heritable

3. Competition for resources

4. Differential survival/reproduction

💡 Evolution = change in allele frequency over time. Natural selection is the main mechanism.

SCI Q10. What is the difference between DNA and RNA?

Answer:

DNA: double-stranded, contains deoxyribose sugar, bases A-T-G-C, found in nucleus, stores genetic info.

RNA: single-stranded, contains ribose sugar, bases A-U-G-C (Uracil replaces Thymine), carries instructions for protein synthesis.

💡 DNA → RNA → Protein is the central dogma of molecular biology.

ENG Q11. What is the difference between active and passive voice?

Answer:

Active: subject performs the action.

Example: The dog chased the cat. ✓ (preferred)

Passive: subject receives the action.

Example: The cat was chased by the dog.

ACT prefers active voice — it is clearer and more concise.

💡 If the answer choice removes unnecessary words and uses active voice, it is usually correct.

ENG Q12. What is a misplaced modifier and how do you fix it?

Answer:

A misplaced modifier is placed too far from the word it describes, causing confusion.

Wrong: She almost drove her kids to school every day. (almost drove?)

Right: She drove her kids to school almost every day.

Fix: place the modifier directly next to what it modifies.

💡 Misplaced vs dangling: misplaced = modifier is there but in wrong place. Dangling = subject is missing.

ENG Q13. When should you use a colon (:) in a sentence?

Answer:

Use a colon after a complete independent clause to introduce:

• A list: I need three things: milk, eggs, bread.

• An explanation: She had one goal: to win.

• A quotation

NEVER use a colon after a verb or preposition.

💡 What comes BEFORE the colon must always be a complete sentence on its own.

ENG Q14. What is the correct use of ‘fewer’ vs ‘less’?

Answer:

Fewer: use with COUNTABLE nouns (things you can count)

Example: fewer students, fewer apples, fewer mistakes.

Less: use with UNCOUNTABLE nouns (mass/abstract)

Example: less water, less time, less effort.

💡 Quick test: Can you count it? → fewer. Can’t count it? → less.

ENG Q15. What does ‘conciseness’ mean in ACT English and why does it matter?

Answer:

Conciseness = expressing an idea in as few words as possible WITHOUT losing meaning.

ACT principle: if two answer choices are grammatically correct, the SHORTER one is usually right.

Eliminate: redundancy, wordiness, and unnecessary repetition.

💡 Watch for: ‘the reason is because’ (redundant), ‘at this point in time’ (wordy = just say ‘now’).

READ Q16. What is the difference between a ‘theme’ and a ‘topic’ in a literary passage?

Answer:

Topic: the subject matter — what the passage is ABOUT.

Example: Topic = grief

Theme: the deeper message or insight about that topic.

Example: Theme = grief can be a form of love and devotion.

ACT main idea questions often ask for the theme, not just the topic.

💡 Theme is always a complete idea/statement — not just a single word like ‘love’ or ‘loss’.

READ Q17. How should you approach a ‘paired passages’ question on the ACT?

Answer:

Paired passages present two texts on the same topic with different perspectives.

Strategy:

1. Read Passage A → answer Passage A questions

2. Read Passage B → answer Passage B questions

3. Then answer comparison questions

Focus on: agreement, disagreement, tone differences.

💡 Authors rarely fully agree — look for subtle differences in emphasis or approach.

READ Q18. What is ‘figurative language’ and what types appear on the ACT?

Answer:

Figurative language uses words beyond their literal meaning.

Key types:

• Simile: comparison using ‘like’ or ‘as’

• Metaphor: direct comparison without ‘like/as’

• Personification: giving human traits to non-human things

• Hyperbole: extreme exaggeration

• Symbolism: object represents a deeper idea

💡 ACT asks what figurative language SUGGESTS or IMPLIES — always connect back to context.

READ Q19. What is the difference between a ‘social science’ and ‘natural science’ passage on the ACT?

Answer:

Social Science: studies human behavior, society, history, psychology, economics.

Examples: Asch conformity study, education inequality research.

Natural Science: studies the physical and biological world.

Examples: coral reefs, monarch migration, gut microbiome.

Both use evidence-based arguments.

💡 Natural science passages often include data/graphs. Social science passages often include studies.

READ Q20. What strategy helps most with ACT Reading time management?

Answer:

Strategy: Read the passage first, then answer questions.

1. Skim for structure (1–2 min): first/last sentences of each paragraph.

2. Read questions — note line references.

3. Return to passage for evidence — don’t rely on memory.

4. Eliminate wrong answers — 2 are usually clearly wrong.

Time: ~8–9 minutes per passage.

💡 Never answer from memory alone — always verify with the text. The answer is always there.