Session 2 SAT/ACT Homework Assignment

  • Reading 
    • Study thoroughly fiction and paired passage tactics in addition to non-fiction passage tactics.
    • Complete the passage briefing exercise and q&a exercise for the following passages of Practice SAT 1 from the Official SAT Study Guide:
      • Passage 1 - Lydia Minatoya, The Strangeness of Beauty
      • Passage 3 - J.D. Watson and F.H.C. Crick, Genetical Implications of the Structure of Deoxyribonucleic Acid
      • Passage 5 - Paired Passages; Michael Slezak, Space Mining: the Next Gold Rush and New Scientist, Taming the Final Frontier
      • Note: Use these three passages to hone your skills at assimilating and articulating key passage data and using strong, focused passage understanding to inform you about what each question is after and how to justify your own answer from one or more text references. Using the Google Form-based exercise to send me your drill responses is optional; practicing articulating understandings and answers in your own words is not. 
  • Editing (SAT Writing/ACT English) 
    • Complete the first two passages of the English section of Practice ACT 1 from the Official ACT Prep Guide.
      • Do not limit your time on this section, but do pace yourself in preparation for the test's time constraints. These two passages are the warm-up for a full SAT Writing section (see below).
      • Grade yourself using the answer key (in the back of the book or immediately following the test) and mark and review any questions you didn't answer correctly.
    • Complete as a test simulation the writing section of Practice SAT 1 from the Official SAT Study Guide, focusing on using disciplined method for the editing section.
      • Time yourself strictly on this section - the limit is 35 minutes for 44 total questions over 4 passages.
      • Use the provided grid sheet to bubble your answers; when grading, grade your grid sheet rather than your test booklet (as will be the case on the real test).
      • Grade yourself using the answer key (immediately following the test, also available as a separate download from the College Board) and mark and review any questions you didn't answer correctly.