web02.fireside.fm Fri, 17 Apr 2026 01:43:15 -0500 Fireside (https://fireside.fm) Chad Cargill's ACT Test Prep - Episodes Tagged with “Test” https://podcast.chadcargill.com/tags/test Thu, 15 Apr 2021 02:00:00 -0500 Chad Cargill took the ACT test 18 times in high school raising his score 13 points and scoring in the 99.5 percentile. He is the nation's leading ACT test prep workshop presenter having taught nearly 250,000 students over the last 32 years. He travels the Midwest each school day teaching students, faculty, and parents how to beat the ACT. His full workshop schedule can be found at calendar.chadcargill.com. His website is chadcargill.com. en-us episodic Practical tips to increase ACT scores and win scholarships Chad Cargill Chad Cargill took the ACT test 18 times in high school raising his score 13 points and scoring in the 99.5 percentile. He is the nation's leading ACT test prep workshop presenter having taught nearly 250,000 students over the last 32 years. He travels the Midwest each school day teaching students, faculty, and parents how to beat the ACT. His full workshop schedule can be found at calendar.chadcargill.com. His website is chadcargill.com. no act, chad cargill, high school, prep, qualify, scholarships, test, classes Chad Cargill chad@chadcargill.com 57: Live Q&A at the End of an Online Workshop https://podcast.chadcargill.com/57 c7a24ee7-8ee9-477b-bea3-c33aaa27ec77 Thu, 15 Apr 2021 02:00:00 -0500 Chad Cargill full 2 Chad Cargill Listen in as students post questions at the end of one of my online workshops. I answer as they are posted, and you can listen to all my answers in this episode. 17:29 no Listen in as students post questions at the end of one of my online workshops. I answer as they are posted, and you can listen to all my answers in this episode. Q&A, act, high school, prep, qualify, scholarships, test, classes Listen in as students post questions at the end of one of my online workshops. I answer as they are posted, and you can listen to all my answers in this episode.

]]> Listen in as students post questions at the end of one of my online workshops. I answer as they are posted, and you can listen to all my answers in this episode.

]]> 56: Why You Should Never Take the 5th Experimental Section of the ACT https://podcast.chadcargill.com/56 cd76341f-4c74-47d9-bba3-8ea777aea097 Thu, 08 Apr 2021 10:15:00 -0500 Chad Cargill full 2 Chad Cargill Most ACT tests now have a 5th experimental section. Most stay and try on this section. In this episode, I explain what this section is and why you should never take it. 18:11 no Most ACT tests now have a 5th experimental section. Most stay and try on this section. In this episode, I explain what this section is and why you should never take it. 5th experimental, high school, prep, qualify, scholarships, test Most ACT tests now have a 5th experimental section. Most stay and try on this section. In this episode, I explain what this section is and why you should never take it.

]]> Most ACT tests now have a 5th experimental section. Most stay and try on this section. In this episode, I explain what this section is and why you should never take it.

]]> 55: Trouble Finishing the Reading Test? This Trick Can Immediately Raise Your Score https://podcast.chadcargill.com/55 d3f5c3d1-08fb-42ce-b262-3b3c5b78ace0 Thu, 01 Apr 2021 12:00:00 -0500 Chad Cargill full 2 Chad Cargill If you find yourself running out of time in reading, many students give up on the last passage. Using this simple tip, students who struggle finishing reading can immediately raise their scores. 16:41 no If you find yourself running out of time in reading, many students give up on the last passage. Using this simple tip, students who struggle finishing reading can immediately raise their scores. act, high school, prep, reading, speed, test If you find yourself running out of time in reading, many students give up on the last passage. Using this simple tip, students who struggle finishing reading can immediately raise their scores.

]]> If you find yourself running out of time in reading, many students give up on the last passage. Using this simple tip, students who struggle finishing reading can immediately raise their scores.

]]> Episode 50: Math - What is Tested? A Detailed Look at the July 2020 National ACT Math Test https://podcast.chadcargill.com/50 b7796ea8-7564-458b-920a-d5672dd6a1e4 Thu, 18 Feb 2021 02:00:00 -0600 Chad Cargill full 2 Chad Cargill Have you ever wondered what percent of the math test is geometry? Or maybe you wonder if certain math topics are tested. In this episode, we go question by question from the July 2020 national ACT test. We look at the concepts tested and break down what percentage of questions are each category. 15:46 no Source: ACT.org (https://www.act.org/content/act/en/products-and-services/the-act/scores/understanding-your-scores.html) Mathematics 60 Preparing for higher math (57-60%) Number & Quantity (7–10%) Algebra (12–15%) Functions (12–15%) Geometry (12–15%) Statistics & Probability (8–12%) Integrating essential skills (40-43%) Modeling act, high school, prep, math, scholarships, test Source: ACT.org (https://www.act.org/content/act/en/products-and-services/the-act/scores/understanding-your-scores.html)

Mathematics 60

Preparing for higher math (57-60%)

Number & Quantity (7–10%)
Algebra (12–15%)
Functions (12–15%)
Geometry (12–15%)
Statistics & Probability (8–12%)
Integrating essential skills (40-43%)

Modeling

]]> Source: ACT.org (https://www.act.org/content/act/en/products-and-services/the-act/scores/understanding-your-scores.html)

Mathematics 60

Preparing for higher math (57-60%)

Number & Quantity (7–10%)
Algebra (12–15%)
Functions (12–15%)
Geometry (12–15%)
Statistics & Probability (8–12%)
Integrating essential skills (40-43%)

Modeling

]]> Episode 49: Is the ACT Science Test Changing? https://podcast.chadcargill.com/49 d67f2015-0207-4dcc-a9b8-54d36a30e2ea Thu, 11 Feb 2021 02:00:00 -0600 Chad Cargill full 2 Chad Cargill Although the ACT has been virtually the same for the last few decades, there are subtle changes that are important to know. In this episode, we'll discuss some of the changes you'll see in the science section of the test. 23:38 no Although the ACT has been virtually the same for the last few decades, there are subtle changes that are important to know. In this episode, we'll discuss some of the changes you'll see in the science section of the test. I Ordered My Test and Answers. Now What? https://podcast.chadcargill.com/4 act, high school, prep, science, scholarships, test Although the ACT has been virtually the same for the last few decades, there are subtle changes that are important to know. In this episode, we'll discuss some of the changes you'll see in the science section of the test.

I Ordered My Test and Answers. Now What?
https://podcast.chadcargill.com/4

]]> Although the ACT has been virtually the same for the last few decades, there are subtle changes that are important to know. In this episode, we'll discuss some of the changes you'll see in the science section of the test.

I Ordered My Test and Answers. Now What?
https://podcast.chadcargill.com/4

]]> 45: A Look Ahead to 2021 https://podcast.chadcargill.com/45 dfc52c11-cb40-49da-9022-7f0dd6458eff Thu, 14 Jan 2021 02:00:00 -0600 Chad Cargill full 2 Chad Cargill As we start the new year, we reflect on the challenges of 2020 and turn our focus to a new beginning in 2021. 30:03 no As we start the new year, we reflect on the challenges of 2020 and turn our focus to a new beginning in 2021. act, high school, prep, qualify, scholarships, test, classes, MS As we start the new year, we reflect on the challenges of 2020 and turn our focus to a new beginning in 2021.

]]> As we start the new year, we reflect on the challenges of 2020 and turn our focus to a new beginning in 2021.

]]> Episode 41: ACT Writing - When You Should Take It and How To Get a Great Score https://podcast.chadcargill.com/41 c37b0013-1973-45a0-b7e9-c86e2a8bce26 Thu, 19 Nov 2020 02:00:00 -0600 Chad Cargill full 2 Chad Cargill Students wonder if they should take the ACT writing test. And if so, how should the essay be written to get a great score. In this episode, we break down the ACT writing test and look at the strategies needed to maximize your score. 24:17 no Students wonder if they should take the ACT writing test. And if so, how should the essay be written to get a great score. In this episode, we break down the ACT writing test and look at the strategies needed to maximize your score. act, high school, prep, qualify, scholarships, test, writing Students wonder if they should take the ACT writing test. And if so, how should the essay be written to get a great score. In this episode, we break down the ACT writing test and look at the strategies needed to maximize your score.

]]> Students wonder if they should take the ACT writing test. And if so, how should the essay be written to get a great score. In this episode, we break down the ACT writing test and look at the strategies needed to maximize your score.

]]> Episode 40: How To Correctly Use Who and Whom https://podcast.chadcargill.com/40 4ecc8caa-037b-427f-9597-1300a0774f05 Thu, 12 Nov 2020 02:00:00 -0600 Chad Cargill full 2 Chad Cargill In high school, choosing between who and whom was very difficult for me. But once I learned a simple trick, this became one of the easiest things in the English language. In this episode, we dive back into the English section of the ACT and learn when to pick who and when to choose whom. 18:55 no In high school, choosing between who and whom was very difficult for me. But once I learned a simple trick, this became one of the easiest things in the English language. In this episode, we dive back into the English section of the ACT and learn when to pick who and when to choose whom. Louis Zamporini is a man _ I respect. It was King Henry VIII _ had six wives. I talked with Teresa _ was trying to paint the walls of her new living room. There is the new student _ you were asking about. For _ did Molly vote? _ will give the graduation speech on Friday evening? Our new neighbor, _ we met yesterday morning, works at Conoco. With _ are you rooming with for your freshman year at college? whom 2. who 3. who 4. whom 5. whom 6. Who 7. whom 8. whom He gave it to John and me/I. John and me/I went to the game. Between you and me/I, let's keep that a secret. English, ACT, test prep, who, whom, grammar In high school, choosing between who and whom was very difficult for me. But once I learned a simple trick, this became one of the easiest things in the English language. In this episode, we dive back into the English section of the ACT and learn when to pick who and when to choose whom.

  1. Louis Zamporini is a man _ I respect.
  2. It was King Henry VIII _ had six wives.
  3. I talked with Teresa _ was trying to paint the walls of her new living room.
  4. There is the new student _ you were asking about.
  5. For _ did Molly vote?
  6. _ will give the graduation speech on Friday evening?
  7. Our new neighbor, _ we met yesterday morning, works at Conoco.

  8. With _ are you rooming with for your freshman year at college?

  9. whom 2. who 3. who 4. whom 5. whom 6. Who 7. whom 8. whom

He gave it to John and me/I.

John and me/I went to the game.

Between you and me/I, let's keep that a secret.

]]> In high school, choosing between who and whom was very difficult for me. But once I learned a simple trick, this became one of the easiest things in the English language. In this episode, we dive back into the English section of the ACT and learn when to pick who and when to choose whom.

  1. Louis Zamporini is a man _ I respect.
  2. It was King Henry VIII _ had six wives.
  3. I talked with Teresa _ was trying to paint the walls of her new living room.
  4. There is the new student _ you were asking about.
  5. For _ did Molly vote?
  6. _ will give the graduation speech on Friday evening?
  7. Our new neighbor, _ we met yesterday morning, works at Conoco.

  8. With _ are you rooming with for your freshman year at college?

  9. whom 2. who 3. who 4. whom 5. whom 6. Who 7. whom 8. whom

He gave it to John and me/I.

John and me/I went to the game.

Between you and me/I, let's keep that a secret.

]]> Episode 38: Best in Class: What Some Schools Do That All Schools Should Do https://podcast.chadcargill.com/38 fefaf76a-fc84-4269-a629-702005d39bea Thu, 29 Oct 2020 02:00:00 -0500 Chad Cargill full 2 Chad Cargill As I work with high schools across the country, I often say, "Man, every school should do this." In this episode, we discuss a few of these and what I label "Best in Class." 20:53 no When I worked as an engineer at Lucent Technologies, we used benchmarking to study other companies, processes, and systems. Certain practices would be identified as "Best in Class." Some high schools have features, processes, and cultures that fit the "Best in Class" standard. In this episode, we discuss a few of these and why I call these "Best in Class." act, high school, prep, qualify, scholarships, test, best practices, best in class When I worked as an engineer at Lucent Technologies, we used benchmarking to study other companies, processes, and systems. Certain practices would be identified as "Best in Class." Some high schools have features, processes, and cultures that fit the "Best in Class" standard. In this episode, we discuss a few of these and why I call these "Best in Class."

]]> When I worked as an engineer at Lucent Technologies, we used benchmarking to study other companies, processes, and systems. Certain practices would be identified as "Best in Class." Some high schools have features, processes, and cultures that fit the "Best in Class" standard. In this episode, we discuss a few of these and why I call these "Best in Class."

]]> Episode 34: How to Correctly Use Indefinite Pronouns and Raise English ACT Scores https://podcast.chadcargill.com/34 81d277a4-b95f-447a-890e-0aee37569b11 Thu, 01 Oct 2020 02:00:00 -0500 Chad Cargill full 2 Chad Cargill Often, indefinite pronouns are used incorrectly. Even though I teach how to use them, I still make mistakes. Today I’m going to explain how to correctly use indefinite pronouns. And stick around for the end of the episode because I’ll tell you a small part of our adoptive family story. 22:52 no Often, indefinite pronouns are used incorrectly. Even though I teach how to use them, I still make mistakes. Today I’m going to explain how to correctly use indefinite pronouns. And stick around for the end of the episode because I’ll tell you a small part of our adoptive family story. Learn more about embryo adoption at https://www.embryodonation.org. Join Last Chance Prep Oct 2020 and you will: • Review Key Content Asked on ACTs • Solidify Your Knowledge of Math Formulas and Calculator Usage • Verify Your Method and Timing in Reading • Be Able to Ask Last Minute Questions Directly to Chad Cargill • Reduce Test Anxiety • Have Confidence You are Ready • Crush Any Last Minute Weaknesses https://academy.chadcargill.com English, ACT, test prep, indefinite pronouns, grammar, embryo, adoption, snowflake, Often, indefinite pronouns are used incorrectly. Even though I teach how to use them, I still make mistakes. Today I’m going to explain how to correctly use indefinite pronouns. And stick around for the end of the episode because I’ll tell you a small part of our adoptive family story.

Learn more about embryo adoption at https://www.embryodonation.org.

Join Last Chance Prep Oct 2020 and you will:
• Review Key Content Asked on ACTs
• Solidify Your Knowledge of Math Formulas and Calculator Usage
• Verify Your Method and Timing in Reading
• Be Able to Ask Last Minute Questions Directly to Chad Cargill
• Reduce Test Anxiety
• Have Confidence You are Ready
• Crush Any Last Minute Weaknesses

https://academy.chadcargill.com

]]> Often, indefinite pronouns are used incorrectly. Even though I teach how to use them, I still make mistakes. Today I’m going to explain how to correctly use indefinite pronouns. And stick around for the end of the episode because I’ll tell you a small part of our adoptive family story.

Learn more about embryo adoption at https://www.embryodonation.org.

Join Last Chance Prep Oct 2020 and you will:
• Review Key Content Asked on ACTs
• Solidify Your Knowledge of Math Formulas and Calculator Usage
• Verify Your Method and Timing in Reading
• Be Able to Ask Last Minute Questions Directly to Chad Cargill
• Reduce Test Anxiety
• Have Confidence You are Ready
• Crush Any Last Minute Weaknesses

https://academy.chadcargill.com

]]> Episode 26: Three Math Strategies to Increase Your Score Now https://podcast.chadcargill.com/26 05c55700-2af5-4715-8f2c-5327ee05555c Thu, 06 Aug 2020 02:00:00 -0500 Chad Cargill full 1 Chad Cargill Do you get stuck on an ACT math question and waste tons of time? Could you backsolve more efficiently? Do you freak out at the end of the math test because the problems are difficult and you're almost out of time? If so, this episode is for you. 23:41 no Do you get stuck on an ACT math question and waste tons of time? Could you backsolve more efficiently? Do you freak out at the end of the math test because the problems are difficult and you're almost out of time? If so, this episode is for you. If a problem is getting extremely long and difficult, you are approaching it the wrong way. You should stop working and decide whether to approach the problem another way or simply guess and go to the next problem. On trial and error problems, start with the middle choice if the choices are in order from least to greatest or greatest to least, and start with the last choice and work to the first choice if the choices are random. In general, the problems get harder as you take the test. You may want to start with problem number 60 and work back to problem number 1. act, high school, prep, math, scholarships, test Do you get stuck on an ACT math question and waste tons of time? Could you backsolve more efficiently? Do you freak out at the end of the math test because the problems are difficult and you're almost out of time? If so, this episode is for you.

  1. If a problem is getting extremely long and difficult, you are approaching it the wrong way. You should stop working and decide whether to approach the problem another way or simply guess and go to the next problem.
  2. On trial and error problems, start with the middle choice if the choices are in order from least to greatest or greatest to least, and start with the last choice and work to the first choice if the choices are random.
  3. In general, the problems get harder as you take the test. You may want to start with problem number 60 and work back to problem number 1.
]]> Do you get stuck on an ACT math question and waste tons of time? Could you backsolve more efficiently? Do you freak out at the end of the math test because the problems are difficult and you're almost out of time? If so, this episode is for you.

  1. If a problem is getting extremely long and difficult, you are approaching it the wrong way. You should stop working and decide whether to approach the problem another way or simply guess and go to the next problem.
  2. On trial and error problems, start with the middle choice if the choices are in order from least to greatest or greatest to least, and start with the last choice and work to the first choice if the choices are random.
  3. In general, the problems get harder as you take the test. You may want to start with problem number 60 and work back to problem number 1.
]]> Episode 19: Master These 5 Comma Rules and Raise Your ACT Score https://podcast.chadcargill.com/19 686df874-53a9-45a6-86ad-f03c4a0cab12 Thu, 18 Jun 2020 02:00:00 -0500 Chad Cargill full 1 Chad Cargill Master these five comma rules and watch your ACT English score soar. 18:06 no There are five key comma rules you must know to score well in ACT English. 1. Use a comma to separate main clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction. The common coordinating conjunctions are and, but, or, nor, for, so, and yet. A main clause is one that has both a subject (s) and a verb (v). EX: We went to the store, and we spent our money. S/V, and S/V. -Some memorize the conjunctions with the word FAN BOYS 2. Set off words, phrases, and clauses that are not needed (nonessential). Use commas around nonessential, transitional, or contrasting information. Non-restrictive elements function much like appositives. 3 Examples Below: 1. Intense preparation, then, is known to produce higher test scores. (transitional) 2. Robert Frost, a Pulitzer Prize winner, is known for his poem “Birches.” (nonessential) 3. Robert Kurson, not Stephen King, is my favorite author. (contrasting) 3. Use a comma after an introductory phrase, clause, and adverb. Short introductory prepositional phrases do not require commas unless needed for clarity. 3 Examples Below: 1. To be able to compete on the collegiate level, many high school athletes practice their sport all year. 2. If you are counting on a college scholarship, pay attention to your grades, class rank, community service, and standardized test scores. 3. Occasionally, the person actually responsible for the vandalism will be caught and pay the damage. 4. A series can be defined as three or more words, phrases, or clauses in a sentence that have the same grammatical rank. EX: I am taking biology, calculus and history. -The comma before the word _and _is optional. 5. Use commas to separate adjectives in a series that describe the same word. EX: The old, blue shirt was worn today. EX: The dark blue shirt was worn today. The second sentence does not have a comma between dark and blue because dark describes blue; whereas, in the first sentence old does not describe blue. -Can you replace the comma with the word and? -Can you reverse the words? Pages 41-49 of Chad Cargill's ACT prep book provides these rules, examples, exercises, and model ACT questions. I’d love to connect with you and keep you posted on upcoming episodes and resources. For a free downloadable pdf What Scholarship Committees Look for and How to Win Them, go to scholarships.chadcargill.com (http://scholarships.chadcargill.com), and get your guide now. For a free downloadable pdf of Key Things You Must Know on Test Day, go to testday.chadcargill.com (testday.chadcargill.com), and get your guide now. If you enjoyed the podcast, please leave a review on your podcast app. Leave a shout out for your high school, and I may read it on a future podcast. If you have questions, leave a comment here or on the Chad Cargill Workshops Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/Chad-Cargill-Workshops-22077611182/?ref=bookmarks) page. To view the workshop calendar, go to calendar.chadcargill.com (http://calendar.chadcargill.com). You can also order the prep book Chad Cargill's ACT and sign up for speed reading at chadcargill.com. If you are interested in hosting a workshop at your high school, call our office at (405) 454-3233 or email penny@chadcargill.com. chadcargill.com (http://www.chadcargill.com) Twitter: @ChadCargill Thanks for listening to the podcast! English, ACT, test prep, commas, grammar There are five key comma rules you must know to score well in ACT English.

1. Use a comma to separate main clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction. The common coordinating conjunctions are and, but, or, nor, for, so, and yet. A main clause is one that has both a subject (s) and a verb (v).

EX: We went to the store, and we spent our money.
S/V, and S/V.

-Some memorize the conjunctions with the word FAN BOYS

2. Set off words, phrases, and clauses that are not needed (nonessential). Use commas around nonessential, transitional, or contrasting information. Non-restrictive elements function much like appositives.

3 Examples Below:

  1. Intense preparation, then, is known to produce higher test scores. (transitional)
  2. Robert Frost, a Pulitzer Prize winner, is known for his poem “Birches.” (nonessential)
  3. Robert Kurson, not Stephen King, is my favorite author. (contrasting)

3. Use a comma after an introductory phrase, clause, and adverb. Short introductory prepositional phrases do not require commas unless needed for clarity.
3 Examples Below:

  1. To be able to compete on the collegiate level, many high school athletes practice their sport all year.
  2. If you are counting on a college scholarship, pay attention to your grades, class rank, community service, and standardized test scores.
  3. Occasionally, the person actually responsible for the vandalism will be caught and pay the damage.

4. A series can be defined as three or more words, phrases, or clauses in a sentence that have the same grammatical rank.
EX: I am taking biology, calculus and history.

-The comma before the word _and _is optional.

5. Use commas to separate adjectives in a series that describe the same word.
EX: The old, blue shirt was worn today.
EX: The dark blue shirt was worn today. The second sentence does not have a comma between dark and blue because dark describes blue; whereas, in the first sentence old does not describe blue.

-Can you replace the comma with the word and?
-Can you reverse the words?

Pages 41-49 of Chad Cargill's ACT prep book provides these rules, examples, exercises, and model ACT questions.

I’d love to connect with you and keep you posted on upcoming episodes and resources. For a free downloadable pdf What Scholarship Committees Look for and How to Win Them, go to scholarships.chadcargill.com, and get your guide now.

For a free downloadable pdf of Key Things You Must Know on Test Day, go to [testday.chadcargill.com](testday.chadcargill.com), and get your guide now.

If you enjoyed the podcast, please leave a review on your podcast app. Leave a shout out for your high school, and I may read it on a future podcast.

If you have questions, leave a comment here or on the Chad Cargill Workshops Facebook page.

To view the workshop calendar, go to calendar.chadcargill.com. You can also order the prep book Chad Cargill's ACT and sign up for speed reading at chadcargill.com. If you are interested in hosting a workshop at your high school, call our office at (405) 454-3233 or email penny@chadcargill.com.

chadcargill.com
Twitter: @ChadCargill

Thanks for listening to the podcast!

]]> There are five key comma rules you must know to score well in ACT English.

1. Use a comma to separate main clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction. The common coordinating conjunctions are and, but, or, nor, for, so, and yet. A main clause is one that has both a subject (s) and a verb (v).

EX: We went to the store, and we spent our money.
S/V, and S/V.

-Some memorize the conjunctions with the word FAN BOYS

2. Set off words, phrases, and clauses that are not needed (nonessential). Use commas around nonessential, transitional, or contrasting information. Non-restrictive elements function much like appositives.

3 Examples Below:

  1. Intense preparation, then, is known to produce higher test scores. (transitional)
  2. Robert Frost, a Pulitzer Prize winner, is known for his poem “Birches.” (nonessential)
  3. Robert Kurson, not Stephen King, is my favorite author. (contrasting)

3. Use a comma after an introductory phrase, clause, and adverb. Short introductory prepositional phrases do not require commas unless needed for clarity.
3 Examples Below:

  1. To be able to compete on the collegiate level, many high school athletes practice their sport all year.
  2. If you are counting on a college scholarship, pay attention to your grades, class rank, community service, and standardized test scores.
  3. Occasionally, the person actually responsible for the vandalism will be caught and pay the damage.

4. A series can be defined as three or more words, phrases, or clauses in a sentence that have the same grammatical rank.
EX: I am taking biology, calculus and history.

-The comma before the word _and _is optional.

5. Use commas to separate adjectives in a series that describe the same word.
EX: The old, blue shirt was worn today.
EX: The dark blue shirt was worn today. The second sentence does not have a comma between dark and blue because dark describes blue; whereas, in the first sentence old does not describe blue.

-Can you replace the comma with the word and?
-Can you reverse the words?

Pages 41-49 of Chad Cargill's ACT prep book provides these rules, examples, exercises, and model ACT questions.

I’d love to connect with you and keep you posted on upcoming episodes and resources. For a free downloadable pdf What Scholarship Committees Look for and How to Win Them, go to scholarships.chadcargill.com, and get your guide now.

For a free downloadable pdf of Key Things You Must Know on Test Day, go to [testday.chadcargill.com](testday.chadcargill.com), and get your guide now.

If you enjoyed the podcast, please leave a review on your podcast app. Leave a shout out for your high school, and I may read it on a future podcast.

If you have questions, leave a comment here or on the Chad Cargill Workshops Facebook page.

To view the workshop calendar, go to calendar.chadcargill.com. You can also order the prep book Chad Cargill's ACT and sign up for speed reading at chadcargill.com. If you are interested in hosting a workshop at your high school, call our office at (405) 454-3233 or email penny@chadcargill.com.

chadcargill.com
Twitter: @ChadCargill

Thanks for listening to the podcast!

]]> Episode 17: CLEP Tests and Why You Should Take Them https://podcast.chadcargill.com/17 c2f73a80-3e06-443f-a737-5f257a725902 Thu, 04 Jun 2020 02:00:00 -0500 Chad Cargill full 1 Chad Cargill CLEP tests are a great, cheap way to get college credit when concurrent or AP is not an option. Most students never take CLEP tests. In this episode, I tell you what they are as well as why and when you should take them. 18:33 no "CLEP exams help students earn college credit for what they already know, for a fraction of the cost of a college course." -College Board CLEP website $89 (Subject to change) plus small administration fee charged by test center. Most tests last 90 minutes. Key CLEP Facts: Students take CLEP exams on a computer at official CLEP test centers. CLEP exams contain multiple-choice questions. CLEP exams take about 90–120 minutes to complete, depending on the exam subject. CLEP exams are offered year-round at more than 2,000 CLEP test centers across the country. Students receive their CLEP exam scores immediately after completing the exam (except for College Composition and Spanish with Writing). More than 2,900 U.S. colleges and universities grant credit for CLEP. A college’s CLEP credit policy explains: -Which CLEP exams are accepted by the institution -What CLEP score you need to receive credit -How many credits are awarded for a particular CLEP exam The policy may also include other guidelines, such as the maximum number of credits a student can earn through CLEP. Before signing up for a CLEP exam, talk with your academic advisor to figure out how an exam fits in with your education plan." -From clep.collegeboard.com website Who Can Take CLEP Exams? Anyone interested in earning college credit and saving time and money can take a CLEP exam. CLEP launched in 1967 as a way for adult students and military service members to earn degrees inexpensively while also being able to meet work and family responsibilities. 34 different exams are offered for CLEP credit: Composition and Literature These exams cover topics related to American and British literature and composition. American Literature Analyzing and Interpreting Literature College Composition College Composition Modular English Literature Humanities World Languages These exams assess comprehension of French, German, and Spanish. French Language: Levels 1 and 2 German Language: Levels 1 and 2 Spanish Language: Levels 1 and 2 Spanish with Writing: Levels 1 and 2 History and Social Sciences These exams cover topics related to history, economics, and psychology. American Government History of the United States I History of the United States II Human Growth and Development Introduction to Educational Psychology Introductory Psychology Introductory Sociology Principles of Macroeconomics Principles of Microeconomics Social Sciences and History Western Civilization I: Ancient Near East to 1648 Western Civilization II: 1648 to the Present Science and Mathematics These exams cover various science disciplines and different levels of math. Biology Calculus Chemistry College Algebra College Mathematics Natural Sciences Precalculus Business These exams cover various business disciplines. Financial Accounting Information Systems Introductory Business Law Principles of Management Principles of Marketing Search for the college or university on the College Board website by clicking on "See Which Colleges Accept CLEP." For Example: Oklahoma State University in Stillwater accepts these for credit: OSU - Stillwater Exams, Minimum Score for Credit, Credit Hours Awarded Business Financial Accounting, 50, 3 Introductory Business Law, 50, 3 Principles of Management, 50, 3 Principles of Marketing, 50, 3 Composition and Literature College Composition, 54, 3 Foreign Languages French Language Level I, 50, 6 French Language Level II, 59, 9 German Language Level I, 50, 6 German Language Level II, 60, 9 Spanish Language Level I, 50, 6 Spanish Language Level II, 63, 9 History and Social Sciences American Government, 50, 3 Human Growth and Development, 50, 3 Introduction to Educational Psychology, 50, 3 Introductory Psychology, 50, 3 Introductory Sociology, 50, 3 Principles of Macroeconomics, 50, 3 Principles of Microeconomics, 50, 3 Science and Mathematics Biology, 50, 4 Calculus, 50, 4 Chemistry, 50, 9 College Algebra, 50, 3 Precalculus, 50, 5 Order Transcripts ($20 fee per transcript) To award credit for CLEP, colleges, universities, or other organizations typically require that you send an official CLEP transcript. https://clep.collegeboard.org (https://clep.collegeboard.org) act, chad cargill, CLEP, high school, prep, qualify, scholarships, test, classes "CLEP exams help students earn college credit for what they already know, for a fraction of the cost of a college course." -College Board CLEP website

$89 (Subject to change) plus small administration fee charged by test center.

Most tests last 90 minutes.

Key CLEP Facts:

Students take CLEP exams on a computer at official CLEP test centers.
CLEP exams contain multiple-choice questions.
CLEP exams take about 90–120 minutes to complete, depending on the exam subject.
CLEP exams are offered year-round at more than 2,000 CLEP test centers across the country.
Students receive their CLEP exam scores immediately after completing the exam (except for College Composition and Spanish with Writing).
More than 2,900 U.S. colleges and universities grant credit for CLEP. A college’s CLEP credit policy explains:

-Which CLEP exams are accepted by the institution
-What CLEP score you need to receive credit
-How many credits are awarded for a particular CLEP exam

The policy may also include other guidelines, such as the maximum number of credits a student can earn through CLEP. Before signing up for a CLEP exam, talk with your academic advisor to figure out how an exam fits in with your education plan." -From clep.collegeboard.com website

Who Can Take CLEP Exams?

Anyone interested in earning college credit and saving time and money can take a CLEP exam. CLEP launched in 1967 as a way for adult students and military service members to earn degrees inexpensively while also being able to meet work and family responsibilities.
34 different exams are offered for CLEP credit:

Composition and Literature
These exams cover topics related to American and British literature and composition.

American Literature
Analyzing and Interpreting Literature
College Composition
College Composition Modular
English Literature
Humanities

World Languages
These exams assess comprehension of French, German, and Spanish.

French Language: Levels 1 and 2
German Language: Levels 1 and 2
Spanish Language: Levels 1 and 2
Spanish with Writing: Levels 1 and 2

History and Social Sciences
These exams cover topics related to history, economics, and psychology.

American Government
History of the United States I
History of the United States II
Human Growth and Development
Introduction to Educational Psychology
Introductory Psychology
Introductory Sociology
Principles of Macroeconomics
Principles of Microeconomics
Social Sciences and History
Western Civilization I: Ancient Near East to 1648
Western Civilization II: 1648 to the Present

Science and Mathematics
These exams cover various science disciplines and different levels of math.

Biology
Calculus
Chemistry
College Algebra
College Mathematics
Natural Sciences
Precalculus

Business
These exams cover various business disciplines.

Financial Accounting
Information Systems
Introductory Business Law
Principles of Management
Principles of Marketing

Search for the college or university on the College Board website by clicking on "See Which Colleges Accept CLEP."

For Example:

Oklahoma State University in Stillwater accepts these for credit:

OSU - Stillwater
Exams, Minimum Score for Credit, Credit Hours Awarded

Business
Financial Accounting, 50, 3
Introductory Business Law, 50, 3
Principles of Management, 50, 3
Principles of Marketing, 50, 3

Composition and Literature
College Composition, 54, 3

Foreign Languages
French Language Level I, 50, 6
French Language Level II, 59, 9
German Language Level I, 50, 6
German Language Level II, 60, 9
Spanish Language Level I, 50, 6
Spanish Language Level II, 63, 9

History and Social Sciences
American Government, 50, 3
Human Growth and Development, 50, 3
Introduction to Educational Psychology, 50, 3
Introductory Psychology, 50, 3
Introductory Sociology, 50, 3
Principles of Macroeconomics, 50, 3
Principles of Microeconomics, 50, 3

Science and Mathematics
Biology, 50, 4
Calculus, 50, 4
Chemistry, 50, 9
College Algebra, 50, 3
Precalculus, 50, 5

Order Transcripts ($20 fee per transcript)
To award credit for CLEP, colleges, universities, or other organizations typically require that you send an official CLEP transcript.

https://clep.collegeboard.org

]]> "CLEP exams help students earn college credit for what they already know, for a fraction of the cost of a college course." -College Board CLEP website

$89 (Subject to change) plus small administration fee charged by test center.

Most tests last 90 minutes.

Key CLEP Facts:

Students take CLEP exams on a computer at official CLEP test centers.
CLEP exams contain multiple-choice questions.
CLEP exams take about 90–120 minutes to complete, depending on the exam subject.
CLEP exams are offered year-round at more than 2,000 CLEP test centers across the country.
Students receive their CLEP exam scores immediately after completing the exam (except for College Composition and Spanish with Writing).
More than 2,900 U.S. colleges and universities grant credit for CLEP. A college’s CLEP credit policy explains:

-Which CLEP exams are accepted by the institution
-What CLEP score you need to receive credit
-How many credits are awarded for a particular CLEP exam

The policy may also include other guidelines, such as the maximum number of credits a student can earn through CLEP. Before signing up for a CLEP exam, talk with your academic advisor to figure out how an exam fits in with your education plan." -From clep.collegeboard.com website

Who Can Take CLEP Exams?

Anyone interested in earning college credit and saving time and money can take a CLEP exam. CLEP launched in 1967 as a way for adult students and military service members to earn degrees inexpensively while also being able to meet work and family responsibilities.
34 different exams are offered for CLEP credit:

Composition and Literature
These exams cover topics related to American and British literature and composition.

American Literature
Analyzing and Interpreting Literature
College Composition
College Composition Modular
English Literature
Humanities

World Languages
These exams assess comprehension of French, German, and Spanish.

French Language: Levels 1 and 2
German Language: Levels 1 and 2
Spanish Language: Levels 1 and 2
Spanish with Writing: Levels 1 and 2

History and Social Sciences
These exams cover topics related to history, economics, and psychology.

American Government
History of the United States I
History of the United States II
Human Growth and Development
Introduction to Educational Psychology
Introductory Psychology
Introductory Sociology
Principles of Macroeconomics
Principles of Microeconomics
Social Sciences and History
Western Civilization I: Ancient Near East to 1648
Western Civilization II: 1648 to the Present

Science and Mathematics
These exams cover various science disciplines and different levels of math.

Biology
Calculus
Chemistry
College Algebra
College Mathematics
Natural Sciences
Precalculus

Business
These exams cover various business disciplines.

Financial Accounting
Information Systems
Introductory Business Law
Principles of Management
Principles of Marketing

Search for the college or university on the College Board website by clicking on "See Which Colleges Accept CLEP."

For Example:

Oklahoma State University in Stillwater accepts these for credit:

OSU - Stillwater
Exams, Minimum Score for Credit, Credit Hours Awarded

Business
Financial Accounting, 50, 3
Introductory Business Law, 50, 3
Principles of Management, 50, 3
Principles of Marketing, 50, 3

Composition and Literature
College Composition, 54, 3

Foreign Languages
French Language Level I, 50, 6
French Language Level II, 59, 9
German Language Level I, 50, 6
German Language Level II, 60, 9
Spanish Language Level I, 50, 6
Spanish Language Level II, 63, 9

History and Social Sciences
American Government, 50, 3
Human Growth and Development, 50, 3
Introduction to Educational Psychology, 50, 3
Introductory Psychology, 50, 3
Introductory Sociology, 50, 3
Principles of Macroeconomics, 50, 3
Principles of Microeconomics, 50, 3

Science and Mathematics
Biology, 50, 4
Calculus, 50, 4
Chemistry, 50, 9
College Algebra, 50, 3
Precalculus, 50, 5

Order Transcripts ($20 fee per transcript)
To award credit for CLEP, colleges, universities, or other organizations typically require that you send an official CLEP transcript.

https://clep.collegeboard.org

]]> Episode 11: How to Become a Great Writer with Thomas Umstaddt Jr. https://podcast.chadcargill.com/11 8bda9e22-7d04-4246-a170-7c7b440072dd Thu, 23 Apr 2020 02:00:00 -0500 Chad Cargill full 1 Chad Cargill Author and publishing coach Thomas Umstaddt Jr. joins the podcast to discuss how to become a great writer. Have you ever considered writing a book or being a published author? Maybe you just want to become a better writer. This episode is for you. 47:01 no Special Guest Thomas Umstaddt Jr. Novel Marketing Podcast (https://www.authormedia.com/novel-marketing/) Christian Publishing Show (https://www.christianpublishingshow.com) Author Media (https://www.authormedia.com) It's easier now more than ever to publish a book. Indie is self-publishing where you pay for everything upfront. You design, print, market, and sell your book. Traditional is signing a contract with a publishing company who takes control and the financial risk of your book. The publishing company will pay for editing, layout, cover, printing, marketing and selling the book. You will market and sell your book along with the publishing company. Writing short stories is a great way to develop your writing. Key Writing Craft Concepts: Show Don't Tell Tight Writing Where can you start learning from Thomas? Novel Marketing Podcast (https://www.authormedia.com/novel-marketing/) Christian Publishing Show (https://www.christianpublishingshow.com) Author Media (https://www.authormedia.com) What do we both want to read? Peter DeHaan's 52 Churches. Click here (https://www.peterdehaan.com/books/52-churches/) to learn more about Peter's work or to order his book. I’d love to connect with you and keep you posted on upcoming episodes and resources. For a free downloadable pdf What Scholarship Committees Look for and How to Win Them, go to scholarships.chadcargill.com (http://scholarships.chadcargill.com), and get your guide now. For a free downloadable pdf of Key Things You Must Know on Test Day, go to testday.chadcargill.com (testday.chadcargill.com), and get your guide now. If you enjoyed the podcast, please leave a review on your podcast app. Leave a shout out for your high school, and I may read it on a future podcast. If you have questions, leave a comment here or on the Chad Cargill Workshops Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/Chad-Cargill-Workshops-22077611182/?ref=bookmarks) page. To view the workshop calendar, go to calendar.chadcargill.com (http://calendar.chadcargill.com). You can also order the prep book Chad Cargill's ACT and sign up for speed reading at chadcargill.com. If you are interested in hosting a workshop at your high school, call our office at (405) 454-3233 or email penny@chadcargill.com. chadcargill.com (http://www.chadcargill.com) Twitter: @ChadCargill Thanks for listening to the podcast! act, chad cargill, Thomas Umstaddt Jr., high school, prep, author, writing, test, publish Special Guest Thomas Umstaddt Jr.
Novel Marketing Podcast
Christian Publishing Show
Author Media

It's easier now more than ever to publish a book.

Indie is self-publishing where you pay for everything upfront. You design, print, market, and sell your book.

Traditional is signing a contract with a publishing company who takes control and the financial risk of your book. The publishing company will pay for editing, layout, cover, printing, marketing and selling the book. You will market and sell your book along with the publishing company.

Writing short stories is a great way to develop your writing.

Key Writing Craft Concepts:
Show Don't Tell
Tight Writing

Where can you start learning from Thomas?
Novel Marketing Podcast
Christian Publishing Show
Author Media

What do we both want to read?
Peter DeHaan's 52 Churches.
Click here to learn more about Peter's work or to order his book.

I’d love to connect with you and keep you posted on upcoming episodes and resources. For a free downloadable pdf What Scholarship Committees Look for and How to Win Them, go to scholarships.chadcargill.com, and get your guide now.

For a free downloadable pdf of Key Things You Must Know on Test Day, go to [testday.chadcargill.com](testday.chadcargill.com), and get your guide now.

If you enjoyed the podcast, please leave a review on your podcast app. Leave a shout out for your high school, and I may read it on a future podcast.

If you have questions, leave a comment here or on the Chad Cargill Workshops Facebook page.

To view the workshop calendar, go to calendar.chadcargill.com. You can also order the prep book Chad Cargill's ACT and sign up for speed reading at chadcargill.com. If you are interested in hosting a workshop at your high school, call our office at (405) 454-3233 or email penny@chadcargill.com.

chadcargill.com
Twitter: @ChadCargill

Thanks for listening to the podcast!

]]> Special Guest Thomas Umstaddt Jr.
Novel Marketing Podcast
Christian Publishing Show
Author Media

It's easier now more than ever to publish a book.

Indie is self-publishing where you pay for everything upfront. You design, print, market, and sell your book.

Traditional is signing a contract with a publishing company who takes control and the financial risk of your book. The publishing company will pay for editing, layout, cover, printing, marketing and selling the book. You will market and sell your book along with the publishing company.

Writing short stories is a great way to develop your writing.

Key Writing Craft Concepts:
Show Don't Tell
Tight Writing

Where can you start learning from Thomas?
Novel Marketing Podcast
Christian Publishing Show
Author Media

What do we both want to read?
Peter DeHaan's 52 Churches.
Click here to learn more about Peter's work or to order his book.

I’d love to connect with you and keep you posted on upcoming episodes and resources. For a free downloadable pdf What Scholarship Committees Look for and How to Win Them, go to scholarships.chadcargill.com, and get your guide now.

For a free downloadable pdf of Key Things You Must Know on Test Day, go to [testday.chadcargill.com](testday.chadcargill.com), and get your guide now.

If you enjoyed the podcast, please leave a review on your podcast app. Leave a shout out for your high school, and I may read it on a future podcast.

If you have questions, leave a comment here or on the Chad Cargill Workshops Facebook page.

To view the workshop calendar, go to calendar.chadcargill.com. You can also order the prep book Chad Cargill's ACT and sign up for speed reading at chadcargill.com. If you are interested in hosting a workshop at your high school, call our office at (405) 454-3233 or email penny@chadcargill.com.

chadcargill.com
Twitter: @ChadCargill

Thanks for listening to the podcast!

]]> Episode 10: The Right Way to Keep Time on the ACT https://podcast.chadcargill.com/10 2ba8c653-275f-4f92-a23f-bc3a3e310085 Thu, 16 Apr 2020 12:00:00 -0500 Chad Cargill full 1 Chad Cargill The way most students keep time on the ACT is wrong. Listen to this episode to learn the right way. This episode teaches the easiest way to lower test anxiety and raise scores by effectively keeping your own time and working all the way to the end. 19:45 no One of the downfalls of being an inexperienced ACT test taker is you may not know how much time you have left. The tests are very long and difficult to finish. As mentioned earlier, you should always answer every question. If you run out of time without every question answered, your score will not be as high as it could be. Time seems to pass very quickly during a difficult section of the test. Be aware of the time but not terrified of it. Using a wall clock in the testing center may not be the best method. I found that trying to keep time on my watch or a simple wall clock often confused me, and concentrating solely on the test often caused me to forget when the test started and when it was supposed to end. In order to prevent this unnecessary confusion, I created my own method of time keeping. I wore a simple three-handed (hour, minute, and second) watch. Before a section began, I let the second hand on my watch rotate until it pointed to the twelve. Then I stopped the second hand from moving by pulling out the crown. Next, I adjusted the other hands so that the clock read exactly noon. Then I backed the time from noon for the amount of time allotted for the section. For example on the English test, which lasts 45 minutes, I moved the clock to read 11:15. When the test administrator said, "Go," I started the clock. I knew at all times during the test that when my watch read straight up noon, the test was over. No questions. No confusion. This method may seem somewhat ridiculous, but if you want to reduce confusion and improve your score, master a time keeping method. A digital watch can also be used if you want to purchase one, but it can not make noise or communicate such as an Apple watch. Finally, when the test administrators announce there are five minutes remaining in each section, you should ignore them. First of all, you already know the time because you are keeping time on your watch. The other reason is five minutes is a lot of time. For example, the science test is six passages designed to be of approximately equal length and difficulty. The science test as a whole is 35 minutes long. Thirty-five minutes divided by six equal passages is five minutes and 50 seconds. At the five minute call if you think your test is over and you panic, you are greatly reducing your score. Many students start guessing when the test administrator calls five minutes. If you do that, you are going to guess on approximately 24 questions total in English, math, reading, and science. If the guessing odds play out, you will get about 6 of the 24 correct. Consider the following: if you score a 19, you are getting about half the questions right. If you do this while guessing when they call five minutes, you got 6 out of 24 rather than 12 out of 24. That is a difference of 6 questions spread over the four sections of the ACT. Did you know that a difference of 6 questions spread over the four sections of the ACT is over a one composite score increase? If you are guessing at 5 minutes and scoring a 19, try the method described above, and your composite ACT score should increase to at least a 20 doing this alone! I’d love to connect with you and keep you posted on upcoming episodes and resources. For a free downloadable pdf What Scholarship Committees Look for and How to Win Them, go to scholarships.chadcargill.com (http://scholarships.chadcargill.com), and get your guide now. For a free downloadable pdf of Key Things You Must Know on Test Day, go to testday.chadcargill.com (testday.chadcargill.com), and get your guide now. If you enjoyed the podcast, please leave a review on your podcast app. Leave a shout out for your high school, and I may read it on a future podcast. If you have questions, leave a comment here or on the Chad Cargill Workshops Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/Chad-Cargill-Workshops-22077611182/?ref=bookmarks) page. To view the workshop calendar, go to calendar.chadcargill.com (http://calendar.chadcargill.com). You can also order the prep book Chad Cargill's ACT and sign up for speed reading at chadcargill.com. If you are interested in hosting a workshop at your high school, call our office at (405) 454-3233 or email penny@chadcargill.com. chadcargill.com (http://www.chadcargill.com) Twitter: @ChadCargill Thanks for listening to the podcast! test anxiety, ACT, test prep, time, timed test One of the downfalls of being an inexperienced ACT test taker is you may not know how much time you have left. The tests are very long and difficult to finish. As mentioned earlier, you should always answer every question. If you run out of time without every question answered, your score will not be as high as it could be. Time seems to pass very quickly during a difficult section of the test. Be aware of the time but not terrified of it. Using a wall clock in the testing center may not be the best method. I found that trying to keep time on my watch or a simple wall clock often confused me, and concentrating solely on the test often caused me to forget when the test started and when it was supposed to end. In order to prevent this unnecessary confusion, I created my own method of time keeping. I wore a simple three-handed (hour, minute, and second) watch. Before a section began, I let the second hand on my watch rotate until it pointed to the twelve. Then I stopped the second hand from moving by pulling out the crown. Next, I adjusted the other hands so that the clock read exactly noon. Then I backed the time from noon for the amount of time allotted for the section. For example on the English test, which lasts 45 minutes, I moved the clock to read 11:15. When the test administrator said, "Go," I started the clock. I knew at all times during the test that when my watch read straight up noon, the test was over. No questions. No confusion. This method may seem somewhat ridiculous, but if you want to reduce confusion and improve your score, master a time keeping method. A digital watch can also be used if you want to purchase one, but it can not make noise or communicate such as an Apple watch.
Finally, when the test administrators announce there are five minutes remaining in each section, you should ignore them. First of all, you already know the time because you are keeping time on your watch. The other reason is five minutes is a lot of time. For example, the science test is six passages designed to be of approximately equal length and difficulty. The science test as a whole is 35 minutes long. Thirty-five minutes divided by six equal passages is five minutes and 50 seconds. At the five minute call if you think your test is over and you panic, you are greatly reducing your score. Many students start guessing when the test administrator calls five minutes. If you do that, you are going to guess on approximately 24 questions total in English, math, reading, and science. If the guessing odds play out, you will get about 6 of the 24 correct. Consider the following: if you score a 19, you are getting about half the questions right. If you do this while guessing when they call five minutes, you got 6 out of 24 rather than 12 out of 24. That is a difference of 6 questions spread over the four sections of the ACT. Did you know that a difference of 6 questions spread over the four sections of the ACT is over a one composite score increase? If you are guessing at 5 minutes and scoring a 19, try the method described above, and your composite ACT score should increase to at least a 20 doing this alone!

I’d love to connect with you and keep you posted on upcoming episodes and resources. For a free downloadable pdf What Scholarship Committees Look for and How to Win Them, go to scholarships.chadcargill.com, and get your guide now.

For a free downloadable pdf of Key Things You Must Know on Test Day, go to [testday.chadcargill.com](testday.chadcargill.com), and get your guide now.

If you enjoyed the podcast, please leave a review on your podcast app. Leave a shout out for your high school, and I may read it on a future podcast.

If you have questions, leave a comment here or on the Chad Cargill Workshops Facebook page.

To view the workshop calendar, go to calendar.chadcargill.com. You can also order the prep book Chad Cargill's ACT and sign up for speed reading at chadcargill.com. If you are interested in hosting a workshop at your high school, call our office at (405) 454-3233 or email penny@chadcargill.com.

chadcargill.com
Twitter: @ChadCargill

Thanks for listening to the podcast!

]]> One of the downfalls of being an inexperienced ACT test taker is you may not know how much time you have left. The tests are very long and difficult to finish. As mentioned earlier, you should always answer every question. If you run out of time without every question answered, your score will not be as high as it could be. Time seems to pass very quickly during a difficult section of the test. Be aware of the time but not terrified of it. Using a wall clock in the testing center may not be the best method. I found that trying to keep time on my watch or a simple wall clock often confused me, and concentrating solely on the test often caused me to forget when the test started and when it was supposed to end. In order to prevent this unnecessary confusion, I created my own method of time keeping. I wore a simple three-handed (hour, minute, and second) watch. Before a section began, I let the second hand on my watch rotate until it pointed to the twelve. Then I stopped the second hand from moving by pulling out the crown. Next, I adjusted the other hands so that the clock read exactly noon. Then I backed the time from noon for the amount of time allotted for the section. For example on the English test, which lasts 45 minutes, I moved the clock to read 11:15. When the test administrator said, "Go," I started the clock. I knew at all times during the test that when my watch read straight up noon, the test was over. No questions. No confusion. This method may seem somewhat ridiculous, but if you want to reduce confusion and improve your score, master a time keeping method. A digital watch can also be used if you want to purchase one, but it can not make noise or communicate such as an Apple watch.
Finally, when the test administrators announce there are five minutes remaining in each section, you should ignore them. First of all, you already know the time because you are keeping time on your watch. The other reason is five minutes is a lot of time. For example, the science test is six passages designed to be of approximately equal length and difficulty. The science test as a whole is 35 minutes long. Thirty-five minutes divided by six equal passages is five minutes and 50 seconds. At the five minute call if you think your test is over and you panic, you are greatly reducing your score. Many students start guessing when the test administrator calls five minutes. If you do that, you are going to guess on approximately 24 questions total in English, math, reading, and science. If the guessing odds play out, you will get about 6 of the 24 correct. Consider the following: if you score a 19, you are getting about half the questions right. If you do this while guessing when they call five minutes, you got 6 out of 24 rather than 12 out of 24. That is a difference of 6 questions spread over the four sections of the ACT. Did you know that a difference of 6 questions spread over the four sections of the ACT is over a one composite score increase? If you are guessing at 5 minutes and scoring a 19, try the method described above, and your composite ACT score should increase to at least a 20 doing this alone!

I’d love to connect with you and keep you posted on upcoming episodes and resources. For a free downloadable pdf What Scholarship Committees Look for and How to Win Them, go to scholarships.chadcargill.com, and get your guide now.

For a free downloadable pdf of Key Things You Must Know on Test Day, go to [testday.chadcargill.com](testday.chadcargill.com), and get your guide now.

If you enjoyed the podcast, please leave a review on your podcast app. Leave a shout out for your high school, and I may read it on a future podcast.

If you have questions, leave a comment here or on the Chad Cargill Workshops Facebook page.

To view the workshop calendar, go to calendar.chadcargill.com. You can also order the prep book Chad Cargill's ACT and sign up for speed reading at chadcargill.com. If you are interested in hosting a workshop at your high school, call our office at (405) 454-3233 or email penny@chadcargill.com.

chadcargill.com
Twitter: @ChadCargill

Thanks for listening to the podcast!

]]> Episode 9: Science: The 4th Quarter - Where the Game Will Be Won or Lost https://podcast.chadcargill.com/9 3bbceb34-1e26-4804-b689-8041d76c4153 Thu, 09 Apr 2020 02:00:00 -0500 Chad Cargill full 1 Chad Cargill For most students Science is the easiest section to raise your score. The fourth quarter of the ACT is the most important quarter of the test. This game is won or lost in Science. 17:27 no Let’s say you guess on 5 questions because you are tired and just want the test to be over. You miss all 5, but you actually score a 26 in science. Your composite score for the ACT ends up at a total of 112 subscore points or a composite of a 28. (112 / 4 = 28.0) Now let’s say you get to go back in time and actually try on the 5 questions that you guessed. If you get all 5 of them correct, what do you think your 26 would be? Your 26 would increase all the way to a 31 or 32. The difference in a 26 and a 32 in science is as few as 5 questions. Taking this one step further, if you scored a composite of 28.0 and increased your science score 6 points, your composite would increase to a 30. Under these conditions the difference in a 28 and a 30 on the ACT is as few as 5 science questions. How important is the science reasoning section? Huge! If you have a 26 in English by guessing on 5 questions and missing them, then you retake the 5 questions and get them right, your score would increase from a 26 to a 28. That is just two points in English and six points in science. One main difference is that the English test has 75 questions and the science test has 40. Each question in science has greater value. You can’t afford to give less than your best effort on every question in science. Although it would be ridiculous to guess on the English test, I would rather you guess in English than science. If you wouldn’t guess in English, don’t guess in science. Each section counts 1⁄4 of your composite score. Let’s assume you are playing a basketball game, and you come out in the first period and get a nice lead. During the second period you start to wear down a little, but you work really hard and maintain the lead. At halftime you get a little break and listen to the famous pep talk by the coach. One of my high school basketball coaches Curt Knox always said, “No one’s going to ask you who was winning at halftime.” He was right. So knowing it is only the final score that counts, you come out and play hard in the third quarter and still maintain your lead. What happens if you get to the fourth quarter and you say, “Man, I’m really tired now; I think I’ll just not try so hard anymore.” You lose. There is no reason to play the first three quarters, if you are going to quit in the fourth quarter. I didn’t just describe a basketball game, I described the ACT test. The first quarter is English. Most students will try in English because it is the first test, and you are relatively fresh. The second quarter is a long, tiring quarter. It is a 60 minute math test. Many of you will have a tendency to go ahead and quit right here, but press on to halftime. When halftime comes, you will get a 15 minute break. Take advantage of this time. Get out of the testing room. Get a snack. Use the bathroom. And make sure you get back to your seat on time. Don’t be late for the start of the 3rd quarter. When the 3rd quarter begins, you will start the reading comprehension test. A common dilemma in sports is called the “3rd quarter letdown.” This is where you come out of halftime not ready to play. You end up blowing any lead you had and losing all momentum you built in the first half. DON’T HAVE A “3RD QUARTER LETDOWN!” Be ready to play when they say, “Go.” So most of you will grind through the reading test, and then comes the fourth quarter – the science test. Just like the basketball game, you are tired and ready for this thing to end, but you have to press all the way to the end. Most coaches say the fourth quarter is the most important quarter of any game. The fourth quarter of the ACT is the most important quarter of the test. Yes, science is the most important test you will take. This game is won or lost in the fourth quarter. This is the easiest section to raise your score. Why? The reason is most of you are guessing on at least one problem in science because you give up. If you try on every question, you will probably raise your score. The other primary reason is you are not staying focused. Be committed to stay focused for the entire 35 minutes of this section. You must try your best on every question. Remember that if a 6 point increase in science is as few as 5 questions, you must give each question your very best. I’d love to connect with you and keep you posted on upcoming episodes and resources. For a free downloadable pdf What Scholarship Committees Look for and How to Win Them, go to scholarships.chadcargill.com (http://scholarships.chadcargill.com), and get your guide now. For a free downloadable pdf of Key Things You Must Know on Test Day, go to testday.chadcargill.com (testday.chadcargill.com), and get your guide now. If you enjoyed the podcast, please leave a review on your podcast app. Leave a shout out for your high school, and I may read it on a future podcast. If you have questions, leave a comment here or on the Chad Cargill Workshops Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/Chad-Cargill-Workshops-22077611182/?ref=bookmarks) page. To view the workshop calendar, go to calendar.chadcargill.com (http://calendar.chadcargill.com). You can also order the prep book Chad Cargill's ACT and sign up for speed reading at chadcargill.com. If you are interested in hosting a workshop at your high school, call our office at (405) 454-3233 or email penny@chadcargill.com. chadcargill.com (http://www.chadcargill.com) Twitter: @ChadCargill Thanks for listening to the podcast! act, science, high school, prep, qualify, scholarships, test, test anxiety Let’s say you guess on 5 questions because you are tired and just want the test to be over. You miss all 5, but you actually score a 26 in science. Your composite score for the ACT ends up at a total of 112 subscore points or a composite of a 28. (112 / 4 = 28.0)
Now let’s say you get to go back in time and actually try on the 5 questions that you guessed. If you get all 5 of them correct, what do you think your 26 would be? Your 26 would increase all the way to a 31 or 32. The difference in a 26 and a 32 in science is as few as 5 questions.
Taking this one step further, if you scored a composite of 28.0 and increased your science score 6 points, your composite would increase to a 30. Under these conditions the difference in a 28 and a 30 on the ACT is as few as 5 science questions. How important is the science reasoning section? Huge!
If you have a 26 in English by guessing on 5 questions and missing them, then you retake the 5 questions and get them right, your score would increase from a 26 to a 28. That is just two points in English and six points in science. One main difference is that the English test has 75 questions and the science test has 40. Each question in science has greater value. You can’t afford to give less than your best effort on every question in science. Although it would be ridiculous to guess on the English test, I would rather you guess in English than science. If you wouldn’t guess in English, don’t guess in science. Each section counts 1⁄4 of your composite score.

Let’s assume you are playing a basketball game, and you come out in the first period and get a nice lead. During the second period you start to wear down a little, but you work really hard and maintain the lead. At halftime you get a little break and listen to the famous pep talk by the coach. One of my high school basketball coaches Curt Knox always said, “No one’s going to ask you who was winning at halftime.” He was right. So knowing it is only the final score that counts, you come out and play hard in the third quarter and still maintain your lead. What happens if you get to the fourth quarter and you say, “Man, I’m really tired now; I think I’ll just not try so hard anymore.” You lose. There is no reason to play the first three quarters, if you are going to quit in the fourth quarter.

I didn’t just describe a basketball game, I described the ACT test. The first quarter is English. Most students will try in English because it is the first test, and you are relatively fresh. The second quarter is a long, tiring quarter. It is a 60 minute math test. Many of you will have a tendency to go ahead and quit right here, but press on to halftime. When halftime comes, you will get a 15 minute break. Take advantage of this time. Get out of the testing room. Get a snack. Use the bathroom. And make sure you get back to your seat on time. Don’t be late for the start of the 3rd quarter. When the 3rd quarter begins, you will start the reading comprehension test. A common dilemma in sports is called the “3rd quarter letdown.” This is where you come out of halftime not ready to play. You end up blowing any lead you had and losing all momentum you built in the first half. DON’T HAVE A “3RD QUARTER LETDOWN!” Be ready to play when they say, “Go.” So most of you will grind through the reading test, and then comes the fourth quarter – the science test.

Just like the basketball game, you are tired and ready for this thing to end, but you have to press all the way to the end. Most coaches say the fourth quarter is the most important quarter of any game. The fourth quarter of the ACT is the most important quarter of the test. Yes, science is the most important test you will take. This game is won or lost in the fourth quarter.

This is the easiest section to raise your score. Why? The reason is most of you are guessing on at least one problem in science because you give up. If you try on every question, you will probably raise your score. The other primary reason is you are not staying focused. Be committed to stay focused for the entire 35 minutes of this section.
You must try your best on every question. Remember that if a 6 point increase in science is as few as 5 questions, you must give each question your very best.

I’d love to connect with you and keep you posted on upcoming episodes and resources. For a free downloadable pdf What Scholarship Committees Look for and How to Win Them, go to scholarships.chadcargill.com, and get your guide now.

For a free downloadable pdf of Key Things You Must Know on Test Day, go to [testday.chadcargill.com](testday.chadcargill.com), and get your guide now.

If you enjoyed the podcast, please leave a review on your podcast app. Leave a shout out for your high school, and I may read it on a future podcast.

If you have questions, leave a comment here or on the Chad Cargill Workshops Facebook page.

To view the workshop calendar, go to calendar.chadcargill.com. You can also order the prep book Chad Cargill's ACT and sign up for speed reading at chadcargill.com. If you are interested in hosting a workshop at your high school, call our office at (405) 454-3233 or email penny@chadcargill.com.

chadcargill.com
Twitter: @ChadCargill

Thanks for listening to the podcast!

]]> Let’s say you guess on 5 questions because you are tired and just want the test to be over. You miss all 5, but you actually score a 26 in science. Your composite score for the ACT ends up at a total of 112 subscore points or a composite of a 28. (112 / 4 = 28.0)
Now let’s say you get to go back in time and actually try on the 5 questions that you guessed. If you get all 5 of them correct, what do you think your 26 would be? Your 26 would increase all the way to a 31 or 32. The difference in a 26 and a 32 in science is as few as 5 questions.
Taking this one step further, if you scored a composite of 28.0 and increased your science score 6 points, your composite would increase to a 30. Under these conditions the difference in a 28 and a 30 on the ACT is as few as 5 science questions. How important is the science reasoning section? Huge!
If you have a 26 in English by guessing on 5 questions and missing them, then you retake the 5 questions and get them right, your score would increase from a 26 to a 28. That is just two points in English and six points in science. One main difference is that the English test has 75 questions and the science test has 40. Each question in science has greater value. You can’t afford to give less than your best effort on every question in science. Although it would be ridiculous to guess on the English test, I would rather you guess in English than science. If you wouldn’t guess in English, don’t guess in science. Each section counts 1⁄4 of your composite score.

Let’s assume you are playing a basketball game, and you come out in the first period and get a nice lead. During the second period you start to wear down a little, but you work really hard and maintain the lead. At halftime you get a little break and listen to the famous pep talk by the coach. One of my high school basketball coaches Curt Knox always said, “No one’s going to ask you who was winning at halftime.” He was right. So knowing it is only the final score that counts, you come out and play hard in the third quarter and still maintain your lead. What happens if you get to the fourth quarter and you say, “Man, I’m really tired now; I think I’ll just not try so hard anymore.” You lose. There is no reason to play the first three quarters, if you are going to quit in the fourth quarter.

I didn’t just describe a basketball game, I described the ACT test. The first quarter is English. Most students will try in English because it is the first test, and you are relatively fresh. The second quarter is a long, tiring quarter. It is a 60 minute math test. Many of you will have a tendency to go ahead and quit right here, but press on to halftime. When halftime comes, you will get a 15 minute break. Take advantage of this time. Get out of the testing room. Get a snack. Use the bathroom. And make sure you get back to your seat on time. Don’t be late for the start of the 3rd quarter. When the 3rd quarter begins, you will start the reading comprehension test. A common dilemma in sports is called the “3rd quarter letdown.” This is where you come out of halftime not ready to play. You end up blowing any lead you had and losing all momentum you built in the first half. DON’T HAVE A “3RD QUARTER LETDOWN!” Be ready to play when they say, “Go.” So most of you will grind through the reading test, and then comes the fourth quarter – the science test.

Just like the basketball game, you are tired and ready for this thing to end, but you have to press all the way to the end. Most coaches say the fourth quarter is the most important quarter of any game. The fourth quarter of the ACT is the most important quarter of the test. Yes, science is the most important test you will take. This game is won or lost in the fourth quarter.

This is the easiest section to raise your score. Why? The reason is most of you are guessing on at least one problem in science because you give up. If you try on every question, you will probably raise your score. The other primary reason is you are not staying focused. Be committed to stay focused for the entire 35 minutes of this section.
You must try your best on every question. Remember that if a 6 point increase in science is as few as 5 questions, you must give each question your very best.

I’d love to connect with you and keep you posted on upcoming episodes and resources. For a free downloadable pdf What Scholarship Committees Look for and How to Win Them, go to scholarships.chadcargill.com, and get your guide now.

For a free downloadable pdf of Key Things You Must Know on Test Day, go to [testday.chadcargill.com](testday.chadcargill.com), and get your guide now.

If you enjoyed the podcast, please leave a review on your podcast app. Leave a shout out for your high school, and I may read it on a future podcast.

If you have questions, leave a comment here or on the Chad Cargill Workshops Facebook page.

To view the workshop calendar, go to calendar.chadcargill.com. You can also order the prep book Chad Cargill's ACT and sign up for speed reading at chadcargill.com. If you are interested in hosting a workshop at your high school, call our office at (405) 454-3233 or email penny@chadcargill.com.

chadcargill.com
Twitter: @ChadCargill

Thanks for listening to the podcast!

]]> Episode 8: 3 Different Ways to Take the ACT Reading Section https://podcast.chadcargill.com/8 dc124aeb-df1b-418c-92ea-e58147ab201d Thu, 02 Apr 2020 02:00:00 -0500 Chad Cargill full 1 Chad Cargill Many say you should always preview the questions before you read the passage. Who is right? Listen as Chad reveals the percent of students that do best using three top methods. 18:19 no Many say you should always preview the questions before you read the passage. Others say you should read the passage first. Some say you should read the first and last sentence of each paragraph. Who is right? I narrow it down to three general methods: Method 1: Step 1: Preview the Questions Step 2: Briskly Read the Passage Step 3: Answer the Questions Referring Back to the Passage Method 2: Step 1: Read the Questions Thoroughly Step 2: Find the Answers in the Passage Method 3: Step 1: Read the Passage Thoroughly Step 2: Find the Answers Step 3: Quickly Answer the Questions About 48% score highest using method 1, 8% using method 2, and 44% using method 3. You must practice. Figure out how to define the methods for you to maximize your reading score. I’d love to connect with you and keep you posted on upcoming episodes and resources. For a free downloadable pdf What Scholarship Committees Look for and How to Win Them, go to scholarships.chadcargill.com (http://scholarships.chadcargill.com), and get your guide now. For a free downloadable pdf of Key Things You Must Know on Test Day, go to testday.chadcargill.com (testday.chadcargill.com), and get your guide now. If you enjoyed the podcast, please leave a review on your podcast app. Leave a shout out for your high school, and I may read it on a future podcast. If you have questions, leave a comment here or on the Chad Cargill Workshops Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/Chad-Cargill-Workshops-22077611182/?ref=bookmarks) page. To view the workshop calendar, go to calendar.chadcargill.com (http://calendar.chadcargill.com). You can also order the prep book Chad Cargill's ACT and sign up for speed reading at chadcargill.com. If you are interested in hosting a workshop at your high school, call our office at (405) 454-3233 or email penny@chadcargill.com. chadcargill.com (http://www.chadcargill.com) Twitter: @ChadCargill Thanks for listening to the podcast!   act, chad cargill, reading, high school, prep, qualify, scholarships, test, classes Many say you should always preview the questions before you read the passage. Others say you should read the passage first. Some say you should read the first and last sentence of each paragraph. Who is right?

I narrow it down to three general methods:

Method 1:
Step 1: Preview the Questions
Step 2: Briskly Read the Passage
Step 3: Answer the Questions Referring Back to the Passage

Method 2:
Step 1: Read the Questions Thoroughly
Step 2: Find the Answers in the Passage

Method 3:
Step 1: Read the Passage Thoroughly
Step 2: Find the Answers
Step 3: Quickly Answer the Questions

About 48% score highest using method 1, 8% using method 2, and 44% using method 3.

You must practice. Figure out how to define the methods for you to maximize your reading score.

I’d love to connect with you and keep you posted on upcoming episodes and resources. For a free downloadable pdf What Scholarship Committees Look for and How to Win Them, go to scholarships.chadcargill.com, and get your guide now.

For a free downloadable pdf of Key Things You Must Know on Test Day, go to [testday.chadcargill.com](testday.chadcargill.com), and get your guide now.

If you enjoyed the podcast, please leave a review on your podcast app. Leave a shout out for your high school, and I may read it on a future podcast.

If you have questions, leave a comment here or on the Chad Cargill Workshops Facebook page.

To view the workshop calendar, go to calendar.chadcargill.com. You can also order the prep book Chad Cargill's ACT and sign up for speed reading at chadcargill.com. If you are interested in hosting a workshop at your high school, call our office at (405) 454-3233 or email penny@chadcargill.com.

chadcargill.com
Twitter: @ChadCargill

Thanks for listening to the podcast!

 

]]> Many say you should always preview the questions before you read the passage. Others say you should read the passage first. Some say you should read the first and last sentence of each paragraph. Who is right?

I narrow it down to three general methods:

Method 1:
Step 1: Preview the Questions
Step 2: Briskly Read the Passage
Step 3: Answer the Questions Referring Back to the Passage

Method 2:
Step 1: Read the Questions Thoroughly
Step 2: Find the Answers in the Passage

Method 3:
Step 1: Read the Passage Thoroughly
Step 2: Find the Answers
Step 3: Quickly Answer the Questions

About 48% score highest using method 1, 8% using method 2, and 44% using method 3.

You must practice. Figure out how to define the methods for you to maximize your reading score.

I’d love to connect with you and keep you posted on upcoming episodes and resources. For a free downloadable pdf What Scholarship Committees Look for and How to Win Them, go to scholarships.chadcargill.com, and get your guide now.

For a free downloadable pdf of Key Things You Must Know on Test Day, go to [testday.chadcargill.com](testday.chadcargill.com), and get your guide now.

If you enjoyed the podcast, please leave a review on your podcast app. Leave a shout out for your high school, and I may read it on a future podcast.

If you have questions, leave a comment here or on the Chad Cargill Workshops Facebook page.

To view the workshop calendar, go to calendar.chadcargill.com. You can also order the prep book Chad Cargill's ACT and sign up for speed reading at chadcargill.com. If you are interested in hosting a workshop at your high school, call our office at (405) 454-3233 or email penny@chadcargill.com.

chadcargill.com
Twitter: @ChadCargill

Thanks for listening to the podcast!

 

]]> Episode 6: 7 Ways to Reduce Test Anxiety on the ACT https://podcast.chadcargill.com/6 580de109-c419-45d9-a491-465b2e93e923 Thu, 19 Mar 2020 01:00:00 -0500 Chad Cargill full 1 Chad Cargill While the world is anxious about the Corona virus, students are also anxious about taking an ACT. In this episode, we look at the number one reason good academic students underachieve on this test. Here are 7 practical tips you can use to immediately reduce your test anxiety. 23:31 no While the world is anxious about the Corona virus, students are also anxious about taking an ACT. The number one reason good academic students underachieve on the ACT is test anxiety. Here are 7 practical tips you can use to immediately reduce your test anxiety. Control what you can control. You can't control everything, but control what you can. Apply one, a few, or all of these tips to immediately start reducing your test anxiety. Take the test as many times as you can afford Drive to the test center before the test day Recognize everyone misses questions Familiarize yourself with your calculator Keep your own time Memorize key rules and formulas testday.chadcargill.com (testday.chadcargill.com) Do your best, and God will do the rest I’d love to connect with you and keep you posted on upcoming episodes and resources. For a free downloadable pdf What Scholarship Committees Look for and How to Win Them, go to scholarships.chadcargill.com (http://scholarships.chadcargill.com), and get your guide now. For a free downloadable pdf of Key Things You Must Know on Test Day, go to testday.chadcargill.com (testday.chadcargill.com), and get your guide now. If you enjoyed the podcast, please leave a review on your podcast app. Leave a shout out for your high school, and I may read it on a future podcast. If you have questions, leave a comment here or on the Chad Cargill Workshops Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/Chad-Cargill-Workshops-22077611182/?ref=bookmarks) page. To view the workshop calendar, go to calendar.chadcargill.com (http://calendar.chadcargill.com). You can also order the prep book Chad Cargill's ACT and sign up for speed reading at chadcargill.com. If you are interested in hosting a workshop at your high school, call our office at (405) 454-3233 or email penny@chadcargill.com. chadcargill.com (http://www.chadcargill.com) Twitter: @ChadCargill Thanks for listening to the podcast! test anxiety, ACT, test prep While the world is anxious about the Corona virus, students are also anxious about taking an ACT. The number one reason good academic students underachieve on the ACT is test anxiety. Here are 7 practical tips you can use to immediately reduce your test anxiety.

Control what you can control. You can't control everything, but control what you can. Apply one, a few, or all of these tips to immediately start reducing your test anxiety.

  1. Take the test as many times as you can afford

  2. Drive to the test center before the test day

  3. Recognize everyone misses questions

  4. Familiarize yourself with your calculator

  5. Keep your own time

  6. Memorize key rules and formulas
    [testday.chadcargill.com](testday.chadcargill.com)

  7. Do your best, and God will do the rest

I’d love to connect with you and keep you posted on upcoming episodes and resources. For a free downloadable pdf What Scholarship Committees Look for and How to Win Them, go to scholarships.chadcargill.com, and get your guide now.

For a free downloadable pdf of Key Things You Must Know on Test Day, go to [testday.chadcargill.com](testday.chadcargill.com), and get your guide now.

If you enjoyed the podcast, please leave a review on your podcast app. Leave a shout out for your high school, and I may read it on a future podcast.

If you have questions, leave a comment here or on the Chad Cargill Workshops Facebook page.

To view the workshop calendar, go to calendar.chadcargill.com. You can also order the prep book Chad Cargill's ACT and sign up for speed reading at chadcargill.com. If you are interested in hosting a workshop at your high school, call our office at (405) 454-3233 or email penny@chadcargill.com.

chadcargill.com
Twitter: @ChadCargill

Thanks for listening to the podcast!

]]> While the world is anxious about the Corona virus, students are also anxious about taking an ACT. The number one reason good academic students underachieve on the ACT is test anxiety. Here are 7 practical tips you can use to immediately reduce your test anxiety.

Control what you can control. You can't control everything, but control what you can. Apply one, a few, or all of these tips to immediately start reducing your test anxiety.

  1. Take the test as many times as you can afford

  2. Drive to the test center before the test day

  3. Recognize everyone misses questions

  4. Familiarize yourself with your calculator

  5. Keep your own time

  6. Memorize key rules and formulas
    [testday.chadcargill.com](testday.chadcargill.com)

  7. Do your best, and God will do the rest

I’d love to connect with you and keep you posted on upcoming episodes and resources. For a free downloadable pdf What Scholarship Committees Look for and How to Win Them, go to scholarships.chadcargill.com, and get your guide now.

For a free downloadable pdf of Key Things You Must Know on Test Day, go to [testday.chadcargill.com](testday.chadcargill.com), and get your guide now.

If you enjoyed the podcast, please leave a review on your podcast app. Leave a shout out for your high school, and I may read it on a future podcast.

If you have questions, leave a comment here or on the Chad Cargill Workshops Facebook page.

To view the workshop calendar, go to calendar.chadcargill.com. You can also order the prep book Chad Cargill's ACT and sign up for speed reading at chadcargill.com. If you are interested in hosting a workshop at your high school, call our office at (405) 454-3233 or email penny@chadcargill.com.

chadcargill.com
Twitter: @ChadCargill

Thanks for listening to the podcast!

]]> Episode 5: What Math Classes to Take in High School and When https://podcast.chadcargill.com/5 5b21a77d-2374-4eeb-b91e-f00de525275b Thu, 12 Mar 2020 01:00:00 -0500 Chad Cargill full 1 Chad Cargill If your goal is to maximize ACT math scores, your class selection is critical. When to take the classes is equally important. In this episode, learn the advatages and disadvantages and why taking certain classes at specific times matters. 21:19 no My kids from Congo and Uganda can’t speak Lingala or Luganda anymore. Why? They stopped speaking it. Now they only speak English. Math is a language you learn to speak. If you stop speaking it, you too will start losing it. On the ACT, we must be able to quickly speak the language of math to efficiently determine correct answers. The math test is 60 questions over 60 minutes. That does not mean you have 1 minute per question. It may average that rate, but easier questions are at the beginning. The first 20 questions shouldn’t take you 20 mins. To work efficiently, you need to have math fresh on your mind from several years of high school and junior high math. Approximate breakdown of math section: 40% Geometry 53% Pre-algebra, Algebra, and Algebra II 7% Trig No calculus on the ACT. Most students will start with pre-algebra and algebra I. Many schools will then have students take geometry. This will typically be the freshman year for advanced students and the sophomore year for everyone else. Then algebra II follows geometry. Students may finish with any combination of trigonometry, math analysis, pre-calculus, and calculus. Some schools encourage students to bypass all courses after algebra II and take college algebra as a concurrent class. Concurrent classes count for both high school and college credit. With the cost of college these days, these courses can save you a lot of money. So what math classes should you take and when? If your goal is to maximize ACT scores, you should take these courses to start: Pre-Algebra Algebra I Geometry Algebra II Trigonometry Trigonometry is the key class. It reteaches or refreshes geometry. Finally, you must take a math class your senior year. This math class can be one listed above. If those are already taken, the senior math course should be calculus or a concurrent math class. “But I wanted my son to have a happy senior year.” Don’t buy this lie. When he can’t do math because he stopped speaking the language of math, you and he won’t be very happy. Refresh basic math before each test. No derivatives or integrals. Make sure you remember basic geometry and algebra. I’d love to connect with you and keep you posted on upcoming episodes and resources. For a free downloadable pdf What Scholarship Committees Look for and How to Win Them, go to scholarships.chadcargill.com (http://scholarships.chadcargill.com), and get your guide now. If you enjoyed the podcast, please leave a review on your podcast app. Leave a shout out for your high school, and I may read it on a future podcast. If you have questions, leave a comment here or on the Chad Cargill Workshops Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/Chad-Cargill-Workshops-22077611182/?ref=bookmarks) page. To view the workshop calendar, go to calendar.chadcargill.com (http://calendar.chadcargill.com). You can also order the prep book Chad Cargill's ACT and sign up for speed reading at chadcargill.com. If you are interested in hosting a workshop at your high school, call our office at (405) 454-3233 or email penny@chadcargill.com. chadcargill.com (http://www.chadcargill.com) Twitter: @ChadCargill Thanks for listening to the podcast! act, chad cargill, math, high school, prep, qualify, scholarships, test, classes My kids from Congo and Uganda can’t speak Lingala or Luganda anymore. Why? They stopped speaking it. Now they only speak English.

Math is a language you learn to speak. If you stop speaking it, you too will start losing it.

On the ACT, we must be able to quickly speak the language of math to efficiently determine correct answers.

The math test is 60 questions over 60 minutes. That does not mean you have 1 minute per question. It may average that rate, but easier questions are at the beginning. The first 20 questions shouldn’t take you 20 mins.

To work efficiently, you need to have math fresh on your mind from several years of high school and junior high math.

Approximate breakdown of math section:
40% Geometry
53% Pre-algebra, Algebra, and Algebra II
7% Trig
No calculus on the ACT.

Most students will start with pre-algebra and algebra I. Many schools will then have students take geometry. This will typically be the freshman year for advanced students and the sophomore year for everyone else. Then algebra II follows geometry. Students may finish with any combination of trigonometry, math analysis, pre-calculus, and calculus.

Some schools encourage students to bypass all courses after algebra II and take college algebra as a concurrent class.

Concurrent classes count for both high school and college credit. With the cost of college these days, these courses can save you a lot of money.

So what math classes should you take and when?

If your goal is to maximize ACT scores, you should take these courses to start:
Pre-Algebra
Algebra I
Geometry
Algebra II
Trigonometry

Trigonometry is the key class. It reteaches or refreshes geometry.

Finally, you must take a math class your senior year. This math class can be one listed above. If those are already taken, the senior math course should be calculus or a concurrent math class.

“But I wanted my son to have a happy senior year.”

Don’t buy this lie. When he can’t do math because he stopped speaking the language of math, you and he won’t be very happy.

Refresh basic math before each test. No derivatives or integrals. Make sure you remember basic geometry and algebra.

I’d love to connect with you and keep you posted on upcoming episodes and resources. For a free downloadable pdf What Scholarship Committees Look for and How to Win Them, go to scholarships.chadcargill.com, and get your guide now.

If you enjoyed the podcast, please leave a review on your podcast app. Leave a shout out for your high school, and I may read it on a future podcast.

If you have questions, leave a comment here or on the Chad Cargill Workshops Facebook page.

To view the workshop calendar, go to calendar.chadcargill.com. You can also order the prep book Chad Cargill's ACT and sign up for speed reading at chadcargill.com. If you are interested in hosting a workshop at your high school, call our office at (405) 454-3233 or email penny@chadcargill.com.

chadcargill.com
Twitter: @ChadCargill

Thanks for listening to the podcast!

]]> My kids from Congo and Uganda can’t speak Lingala or Luganda anymore. Why? They stopped speaking it. Now they only speak English.

Math is a language you learn to speak. If you stop speaking it, you too will start losing it.

On the ACT, we must be able to quickly speak the language of math to efficiently determine correct answers.

The math test is 60 questions over 60 minutes. That does not mean you have 1 minute per question. It may average that rate, but easier questions are at the beginning. The first 20 questions shouldn’t take you 20 mins.

To work efficiently, you need to have math fresh on your mind from several years of high school and junior high math.

Approximate breakdown of math section:
40% Geometry
53% Pre-algebra, Algebra, and Algebra II
7% Trig
No calculus on the ACT.

Most students will start with pre-algebra and algebra I. Many schools will then have students take geometry. This will typically be the freshman year for advanced students and the sophomore year for everyone else. Then algebra II follows geometry. Students may finish with any combination of trigonometry, math analysis, pre-calculus, and calculus.

Some schools encourage students to bypass all courses after algebra II and take college algebra as a concurrent class.

Concurrent classes count for both high school and college credit. With the cost of college these days, these courses can save you a lot of money.

So what math classes should you take and when?

If your goal is to maximize ACT scores, you should take these courses to start:
Pre-Algebra
Algebra I
Geometry
Algebra II
Trigonometry

Trigonometry is the key class. It reteaches or refreshes geometry.

Finally, you must take a math class your senior year. This math class can be one listed above. If those are already taken, the senior math course should be calculus or a concurrent math class.

“But I wanted my son to have a happy senior year.”

Don’t buy this lie. When he can’t do math because he stopped speaking the language of math, you and he won’t be very happy.

Refresh basic math before each test. No derivatives or integrals. Make sure you remember basic geometry and algebra.

I’d love to connect with you and keep you posted on upcoming episodes and resources. For a free downloadable pdf What Scholarship Committees Look for and How to Win Them, go to scholarships.chadcargill.com, and get your guide now.

If you enjoyed the podcast, please leave a review on your podcast app. Leave a shout out for your high school, and I may read it on a future podcast.

If you have questions, leave a comment here or on the Chad Cargill Workshops Facebook page.

To view the workshop calendar, go to calendar.chadcargill.com. You can also order the prep book Chad Cargill's ACT and sign up for speed reading at chadcargill.com. If you are interested in hosting a workshop at your high school, call our office at (405) 454-3233 or email penny@chadcargill.com.

chadcargill.com
Twitter: @ChadCargill

Thanks for listening to the podcast!

]]> Episode 4: I Ordered My Test and Answers. Now What? https://podcast.chadcargill.com/4 8f5754ed-b12a-458c-9fea-db1b51704e2d Thu, 05 Mar 2020 02:00:00 -0600 Chad Cargill full 1 Chad Cargill You ordered the test questions, your answers, and the correct answers. What do you do with that? This episode gives you a step-by-step guide what to do. 26:20 no Episode 4: I Ordered My Test and Answers. Now What? Test Information Release - $22 Available December, April, and June national tests Not available on residuals Order when you register or by logging back in to your account and adding this up to 5 days after you test. This year you can also order up to 6 months after you test by calling ACT. If you order when you register you’ll get your test about 3 weeks after you test. When it comes in the mail, you’ll receive the test questions, your answers, and the correct answers. — Now that you’ve received it, now what? Look at every question you missed and say, “Why did I miss this?” This is a two part question. You are not only looking at what was being asked that you missed, but you are also looking at what you selected that was wrong. For example, if in English the underline part was a dash and you changed it to a colon and missed it, you missed both the dash and the colon. Build a Pareto chart of your misses. Put your top missed concepts first. All misses should be shown from most missed to least missed. Spend 80% of your practice time on your top 20% of misses. — Bring your test to your teachers Teachers please work the math section with your math class. Science and English the same. — When you graduate donate it to your counseling office. — Finally, what are you reading? Make that part of your culture. I’d love to connect with you and keep you posted on upcoming episodes and resources. For a free downloadable pdf What Scholarship Committees Look for and How to Win Them, go to scholarships.chadcargill.com (http://scholarships.chadcargill.com), and get your guide now. If you enjoyed the podcast, please leave a review on your podcast app. Leave a shout out for your high school, and I may read it on a future podcast. If you have questions, leave a comment here or on the Chad Cargill Workshops Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/Chad-Cargill-Workshops-22077611182/?ref=bookmarks) page. To view the workshop calendar, go to calendar.chadcargill.com (http://calendar.chadcargill.com). You can also order the prep book Chad Cargill's ACT and sign up for speed reading at chadcargill.com. If you are interested in hosting a workshop at your high school, call our office at (405) 454-3233 or email penny@chadcargill.com. chadcargill.com (http://www.chadcargill.com) Twitter: @ChadCargill Thanks for listening to the podcast! TIR, test information release, ACT, test prep Episode 4: I Ordered My Test and Answers. Now What?

Test Information Release - $22

Available December, April, and June national tests

Not available on residuals

Order when you register or by logging back in to your account and adding this up to 5 days after you test.

This year you can also order up to 6 months after you test by calling ACT.

If you order when you register you’ll get your test about 3 weeks after you test.

When it comes in the mail, you’ll receive the test questions, your answers, and the correct answers.

—
Now that you’ve received it, now what?

Look at every question you missed and say, “Why did I miss this?”

This is a two part question. You are not only looking at what was being asked that you missed, but you are also looking at what you selected that was wrong.

For example, if in English the underline part was a dash and you changed it to a colon and missed it, you missed both the dash and the colon.

Build a Pareto chart of your misses.
Put your top missed concepts first. All misses should be shown from most missed to least missed.

Spend 80% of your practice time on your top 20% of misses.

—
Bring your test to your teachers

Teachers please work the math section with your math class. Science and English the same.

—
When you graduate donate it to your counseling office.

—
Finally, what are you reading? Make that part of your culture.

I’d love to connect with you and keep you posted on upcoming episodes and resources. For a free downloadable pdf What Scholarship Committees Look for and How to Win Them, go to scholarships.chadcargill.com, and get your guide now.

If you enjoyed the podcast, please leave a review on your podcast app. Leave a shout out for your high school, and I may read it on a future podcast.

If you have questions, leave a comment here or on the Chad Cargill Workshops Facebook page.

To view the workshop calendar, go to calendar.chadcargill.com. You can also order the prep book Chad Cargill's ACT and sign up for speed reading at chadcargill.com. If you are interested in hosting a workshop at your high school, call our office at (405) 454-3233 or email penny@chadcargill.com.

chadcargill.com
Twitter: @ChadCargill

Thanks for listening to the podcast!

]]> Episode 4: I Ordered My Test and Answers. Now What?

Test Information Release - $22

Available December, April, and June national tests

Not available on residuals

Order when you register or by logging back in to your account and adding this up to 5 days after you test.

This year you can also order up to 6 months after you test by calling ACT.

If you order when you register you’ll get your test about 3 weeks after you test.

When it comes in the mail, you’ll receive the test questions, your answers, and the correct answers.

—
Now that you’ve received it, now what?

Look at every question you missed and say, “Why did I miss this?”

This is a two part question. You are not only looking at what was being asked that you missed, but you are also looking at what you selected that was wrong.

For example, if in English the underline part was a dash and you changed it to a colon and missed it, you missed both the dash and the colon.

Build a Pareto chart of your misses.
Put your top missed concepts first. All misses should be shown from most missed to least missed.

Spend 80% of your practice time on your top 20% of misses.

—
Bring your test to your teachers

Teachers please work the math section with your math class. Science and English the same.

—
When you graduate donate it to your counseling office.

—
Finally, what are you reading? Make that part of your culture.

I’d love to connect with you and keep you posted on upcoming episodes and resources. For a free downloadable pdf What Scholarship Committees Look for and How to Win Them, go to scholarships.chadcargill.com, and get your guide now.

If you enjoyed the podcast, please leave a review on your podcast app. Leave a shout out for your high school, and I may read it on a future podcast.

If you have questions, leave a comment here or on the Chad Cargill Workshops Facebook page.

To view the workshop calendar, go to calendar.chadcargill.com. You can also order the prep book Chad Cargill's ACT and sign up for speed reading at chadcargill.com. If you are interested in hosting a workshop at your high school, call our office at (405) 454-3233 or email penny@chadcargill.com.

chadcargill.com
Twitter: @ChadCargill

Thanks for listening to the podcast!

]]> Episode 3: 3 Reasons Why in English You Should Read the Passage as You Go https://podcast.chadcargill.com/3 87c7e0a9-3661-49a6-9420-d1dedceb3975 Thu, 27 Feb 2020 02:00:00 -0600 Chad Cargill full 1 Chad Cargill Over half of today's English ACT test-takers skip from one underline to the next. In this episode we discuss why you should never do this. 20:20 no 3 reasons why in English you should read the passage as you go 2 Types of Questions: Usage questions General passage questions Usage Underline in a sentence Grammatically correct? Punctuated correctly? 1st choice is no change. General passage questions do not have an underline part in a sentence. The first choice is usually something other than No Change. These are questions more about the passage rather than just an underlined part in a sentence. The first several ACT tests I took in high school, I didn’t read the passage. Why? I was in a hurry. 75 questions in 45 mins. When I ask students in my workshop how many skip, over half agree. Many so called experts teach this. I figured out quickly I had to read the passage as I tested; otherwise, I was having to go back and reread. As you read from one underline to the next, remember this isn’t reading comprehension. You just need to think, “In general what is happening?” “What’s the purpose of the passage?” “What’s the author’s main point?” 3 Reasons why you should read as you go: Tough to summarize an essay you didn’t read. Context Some was/were eaten. For Cat’s first birthday her mother bought her 2 cakes. Some were eaten. There were two cakes. Changing tense of the verbs. If you read a sentence by itself, the present tense verb, for example, works great. But if you read the paragraph, every other verb was past tense, and you’ll immediately make a change. So read the passage as you go. That doesn’t mean read the entire essay, then go back and answer the questions. Just read to question one, then answer question one. Then read to question two, then answer question two. If you do this, you’ll finish even faster with a higher score than not reading it. Remember this is not reading comprehension. You don’t need to know all the details. Keep asking yourself as you are reading, “In general, what is happening here?” Special thanks to Ms. Julie Garner for a great review of the podcast. Julie is an English teacher at Jim Ned HS is West Texas. This is a great podcast for those of you who are looking for some helpful advice and tips on taking the ACT. Chad Cargill is a trusted source and is the guy that some of you may have gone to see last October in Anson. Whether you went then or not, you should check this out. ~Ms. Garner -- I’d love to connect with you and keep you posted on upcoming episodes and resources. For a free downloadable pdf What Scholarship Committees Look for and How to Win Them, go to scholarships.chadcargill.com (http://scholarships.chadcargill.com), and get your guide now. If you enjoyed the podcast, please leave a review on your podcast app. Leave a shout out for your high school, and I may read it on a future podcast. If you have questions, leave a comment here or on the Chad Cargill Workshops Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/Chad-Cargill-Workshops-22077611182/?ref=bookmarks) page. To view the workshop calendar, go to calendar.chadcargill.com (http://calendar.chadcargill.com). You can also order the prep book Chad Cargill's ACT and sign up for speed reading at chadcargill.com. If you are interested in hosting a workshop at your high school, call our office at (405) 454-3233 or email penny@chadcargill.com. chadcargill.com (http://www.chadcargill.com) Twitter: @ChadCargill Thanks for listening to the podcast! English, ACT, test, prep, chad, cargill 3 reasons why in English you should read the passage as you go

2 Types of Questions:

Usage questions

General passage questions

Usage
Underline in a sentence
Grammatically correct?
Punctuated correctly?

1st choice is no change.

General passage questions do not have an underline part in a sentence. The first choice is usually something other than No Change.

These are questions more about the passage rather than just an underlined part in a sentence.

The first several ACT tests I took in high school, I didn’t read the passage.

Why? I was in a hurry. 75 questions in 45 mins.

When I ask students in my workshop how many skip, over half agree.

Many so called experts teach this.

I figured out quickly I had to read the passage as I tested; otherwise, I was having to go back and reread.

As you read from one underline to the next, remember this isn’t reading comprehension. You just need to think, “In general what is happening?”

“What’s the purpose of the passage?”
“What’s the author’s main point?”

3 Reasons why you should read as you go:

  1. Tough to summarize an essay you didn’t read.

  2. Context

Some was/were eaten.

For Cat’s first birthday her mother bought her 2 cakes.

Some were eaten. There were two cakes.

  1. Changing tense of the verbs.

If you read a sentence by itself, the present tense verb, for example, works great.

But if you read the paragraph, every other verb was past tense, and you’ll immediately make a change.

So read the passage as you go. That doesn’t mean read the entire essay, then go back and answer the questions. Just read to question one, then answer question one. Then read to question two, then answer question two.

If you do this, you’ll finish even faster with a higher score than not reading it.

Remember this is not reading comprehension. You don’t need to know all the details. Keep asking yourself as you are reading, “In general, what is happening here?”

Special thanks to Ms. Julie Garner for a great review of the podcast. Julie is an English teacher at Jim Ned HS is West Texas.

This is a great podcast for those of you who are looking for some helpful advice and tips on taking the ACT. Chad Cargill is a trusted source and is the guy that some of you may have gone to see last October in Anson. Whether you went then or not, you should check this out.
~Ms. Garner

--
I’d love to connect with you and keep you posted on upcoming episodes and resources. For a free downloadable pdf What Scholarship Committees Look for and How to Win Them, go to scholarships.chadcargill.com, and get your guide now.

If you enjoyed the podcast, please leave a review on your podcast app. Leave a shout out for your high school, and I may read it on a future podcast.

If you have questions, leave a comment here or on the Chad Cargill Workshops Facebook page.

To view the workshop calendar, go to calendar.chadcargill.com. You can also order the prep book Chad Cargill's ACT and sign up for speed reading at chadcargill.com. If you are interested in hosting a workshop at your high school, call our office at (405) 454-3233 or email penny@chadcargill.com.

chadcargill.com
Twitter: @ChadCargill

Thanks for listening to the podcast!

]]> 3 reasons why in English you should read the passage as you go

2 Types of Questions:

Usage questions

General passage questions

Usage
Underline in a sentence
Grammatically correct?
Punctuated correctly?

1st choice is no change.

General passage questions do not have an underline part in a sentence. The first choice is usually something other than No Change.

These are questions more about the passage rather than just an underlined part in a sentence.

The first several ACT tests I took in high school, I didn’t read the passage.

Why? I was in a hurry. 75 questions in 45 mins.

When I ask students in my workshop how many skip, over half agree.

Many so called experts teach this.

I figured out quickly I had to read the passage as I tested; otherwise, I was having to go back and reread.

As you read from one underline to the next, remember this isn’t reading comprehension. You just need to think, “In general what is happening?”

“What’s the purpose of the passage?”
“What’s the author’s main point?”

3 Reasons why you should read as you go:

  1. Tough to summarize an essay you didn’t read.

  2. Context

Some was/were eaten.

For Cat’s first birthday her mother bought her 2 cakes.

Some were eaten. There were two cakes.

  1. Changing tense of the verbs.

If you read a sentence by itself, the present tense verb, for example, works great.

But if you read the paragraph, every other verb was past tense, and you’ll immediately make a change.

So read the passage as you go. That doesn’t mean read the entire essay, then go back and answer the questions. Just read to question one, then answer question one. Then read to question two, then answer question two.

If you do this, you’ll finish even faster with a higher score than not reading it.

Remember this is not reading comprehension. You don’t need to know all the details. Keep asking yourself as you are reading, “In general, what is happening here?”

Special thanks to Ms. Julie Garner for a great review of the podcast. Julie is an English teacher at Jim Ned HS is West Texas.

This is a great podcast for those of you who are looking for some helpful advice and tips on taking the ACT. Chad Cargill is a trusted source and is the guy that some of you may have gone to see last October in Anson. Whether you went then or not, you should check this out.
~Ms. Garner

--
I’d love to connect with you and keep you posted on upcoming episodes and resources. For a free downloadable pdf What Scholarship Committees Look for and How to Win Them, go to scholarships.chadcargill.com, and get your guide now.

If you enjoyed the podcast, please leave a review on your podcast app. Leave a shout out for your high school, and I may read it on a future podcast.

If you have questions, leave a comment here or on the Chad Cargill Workshops Facebook page.

To view the workshop calendar, go to calendar.chadcargill.com. You can also order the prep book Chad Cargill's ACT and sign up for speed reading at chadcargill.com. If you are interested in hosting a workshop at your high school, call our office at (405) 454-3233 or email penny@chadcargill.com.

chadcargill.com
Twitter: @ChadCargill

Thanks for listening to the podcast!

]]> Episode 1: Chad's Story and When to take the ACT and Why? The 1-2-3 Plan. https://podcast.chadcargill.com/1 bb3989dd-336f-47a4-88fd-f903f1b06177 Thu, 13 Feb 2020 04:00:00 -0600 Chad Cargill full 1 Chad Cargill Hear Chad's story of taking the ACT 18 times in high school raising his score from a 19 to a 32 which was 99.5% at the time. Then learn about the 1-2-3 plan for when to take ACTs. 28:11 no Chad Cargill’s ACT Test Prep Podcast Episode 1 – Chad’s Story and the 1-2-3 Plan Chad’s Story Chad comes from a simple home. He went to his mom's high school graduation, and his dad lugged boxes in a grocery warehouse for 30 years. His parents had not saved any money for college since it really wasn't expected. Chad's dad told him he would have to get a job and attend the local junior college. During high school Chad knew he needed to win scholarships in order to attend Oklahoma State University. Chad's freshman year in high school, he discovered many scholarships were based on ACT scores, and the journey began. He took the ACT a total of 18 times in high school raising his score 13 points from a 19 to a 32 which placed him in the scoring in the 99.5 percentile. This increase was simply due to him learning what was on the test and how to take it. Chad says, "The same people make the test every time. It’s the same opponent every time you play the game. They put the same things on every test. They just change the words and numbers.” After graduating high school, Chad went back to his high school to tell some of the students what he learned taking the test those 18 times. When the results of those students' tests were very positive, the counselor asked if he would come back to tell more students. After a few cycles helping students at his alma-mater, other schools began hearing about the workshop. Chad began giving workshops when he could get away from class. After graduation, Chad worked five years as an engineer for Lucent Technologies while giving workshops in the evenings and weekends. Now in his 28th year, Chad travels full-time across the country giving his workshop. Each year Chad speaks at high schools in Oklahoma, Arkansas, Texas, Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, and Iowa. He has spoken to over 200,000 students and sold over 40,000 copies of his test prep book Chad Cargill’s ACT. Chad lives in Choctaw, Oklahoma with his wife Shellie and their 8 kids Camden (20), Cayce (18), Clarity and Creed (both 11 from the Democratic Republic of Congo), Cai (10 from Uganda), Carli and Crosby (both 8 from Uganda), and Cat (6 months adopted as a frozen embryo). The 1-2-3 Plan -Students are limited to 12 ACT tests. -If you can afford it, students should take all 12. 1 – Sophomore Year: Take one national ACT test your sophomore year. This should be either the December or April test. You can order the test questions, your answers, and the correct answers. Don’t study for this test. Give your best effort and see what happens. 2 – Junior Year: Take the December national ACT and either the April or June national ACT. Order the test both times. Start identifying weakness areas and practicing. 3 – Senior Year: Take the September, October, and December national ACTs. These first three test scores can be used on most scholarships since they will be before most scholarship deadlines. -If you want to take an ACT your freshman year without actually paying for it and using one of your twelve tests, administer one by yourself or with a group of friends. -I don’t recommend the Duke Talent Search 7th grade ACT. You can download a recent national ACT test provided free of charge from ACT. Just Google search Preparing for the ACT Test pdf ACT .org. The scoring chart and correct answers are in the back of the booklet. I’d love to connect with you and keep you posted on upcoming episodes and resources. For a free downloadable pdf What Scholarship Committees Look for and How to Win Them, go to scholarships.chadcargill.com (http://scholarships.chadcargill.com), and get your guide now. If you enjoyed the podcast, please leave a review on your podcast app. Leave a shout out for your high school, and I may read it on a future podcast. If you have questions, leave a comment here or on the Chad Cargill Workshops Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/Chad-Cargill-Workshops-22077611182/?ref=bookmarks) page. To view the workshop calendar, go to calendar.chadcargill.com (http://calendar.chadcargill.com). You can also order the prep book Chad Cargill's ACT and sign up for speed reading at chadcargill.com. If you are interested in hosting a workshop at your high school, call our office at (405) 454-3233 or email penny@chadcargill.com. chadcargill.com (http://www.chadcargill.com) Twitter: @ChadCargill Next week: Why you should never just take one section of the ACT. Thanks for listening to the podcast! chad, cargill, ACT, test, prep, test prep, high school, college, entrance, exam, counselor, parent, SAT, scholarship, qualify, admission, resume, interview Chad Cargill’s ACT Test Prep Podcast
Episode 1 – Chad’s Story and the 1-2-3 Plan

Chad’s Story

Chad comes from a simple home. He went to his mom's high school graduation, and his dad lugged boxes in a grocery warehouse for 30 years. His parents had not saved any money for college since it really wasn't expected. Chad's dad told him he would have to get a job and attend the local junior college.

During high school Chad knew he needed to win scholarships in order to attend Oklahoma State University. Chad's freshman year in high school, he discovered many scholarships were based on ACT scores, and the journey began.

He took the ACT a total of 18 times in high school raising his score 13 points from a 19 to a 32 which placed him in the scoring in the 99.5 percentile. This increase was simply due to him learning what was on the test and how to take it. Chad says, "The same people make the test every time. It’s the same opponent every time you play the game. They put the same things on every test. They just change the words and numbers.”

After graduating high school, Chad went back to his high school to tell some of the students what he learned taking the test those 18 times. When the results of those students' tests were very positive, the counselor asked if he would come back to tell more students. After a few cycles helping students at his alma-mater, other schools began hearing about the workshop.
Chad began giving workshops when he could get away from class. After graduation, Chad worked five years as an engineer for Lucent Technologies while giving workshops in the evenings and weekends. Now in his 28th year, Chad travels full-time across the country giving his workshop. Each year Chad speaks at high schools in Oklahoma, Arkansas, Texas, Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, and Iowa. He has spoken to over 200,000 students and sold over 40,000 copies of his test prep book Chad Cargill’s ACT.

Chad lives in Choctaw, Oklahoma with his wife Shellie and their 8 kids Camden (20), Cayce (18), Clarity and Creed (both 11 from the Democratic Republic of Congo), Cai (10 from Uganda), Carli and Crosby (both 8 from Uganda), and Cat (6 months adopted as a frozen embryo).

The 1-2-3 Plan

-Students are limited to 12 ACT tests.

-If you can afford it, students should take all 12.

1 – Sophomore Year: Take one national ACT test your sophomore year. This should be either the December or April test. You can order the test questions, your answers, and the correct answers. Don’t study for this test. Give your best effort and see what happens.

2 – Junior Year: Take the December national ACT and either the April or June national ACT. Order the test both times. Start identifying weakness areas and practicing.

3 – Senior Year: Take the September, October, and December national ACTs. These first three test scores can be used on most scholarships since they will be before most scholarship deadlines.

-If you want to take an ACT your freshman year without actually paying for it and using one of your twelve tests, administer one by yourself or with a group of friends.

-I don’t recommend the Duke Talent Search 7th grade ACT.

You can download a recent national ACT test provided free of charge from ACT. Just Google search Preparing for the ACT Test pdf ACT .org. The scoring chart and correct answers are in the back of the booklet.

I’d love to connect with you and keep you posted on upcoming episodes and resources. For a free downloadable pdf What Scholarship Committees Look for and How to Win Them, go to scholarships.chadcargill.com, and get your guide now.

If you enjoyed the podcast, please leave a review on your podcast app. Leave a shout out for your high school, and I may read it on a future podcast. If you have questions, leave a comment here or on the Chad Cargill Workshops Facebook page.

To view the workshop calendar, go to calendar.chadcargill.com. You can also order the prep book Chad Cargill's ACT and sign up for speed reading at chadcargill.com. If you are interested in hosting a workshop at your high school, call our office at (405) 454-3233 or email penny@chadcargill.com.

chadcargill.com
Twitter: @ChadCargill

Next week: Why you should never just take one section of the ACT.

Thanks for listening to the podcast!

]]> Chad Cargill’s ACT Test Prep Podcast
Episode 1 – Chad’s Story and the 1-2-3 Plan

Chad’s Story

Chad comes from a simple home. He went to his mom's high school graduation, and his dad lugged boxes in a grocery warehouse for 30 years. His parents had not saved any money for college since it really wasn't expected. Chad's dad told him he would have to get a job and attend the local junior college.

During high school Chad knew he needed to win scholarships in order to attend Oklahoma State University. Chad's freshman year in high school, he discovered many scholarships were based on ACT scores, and the journey began.

He took the ACT a total of 18 times in high school raising his score 13 points from a 19 to a 32 which placed him in the scoring in the 99.5 percentile. This increase was simply due to him learning what was on the test and how to take it. Chad says, "The same people make the test every time. It’s the same opponent every time you play the game. They put the same things on every test. They just change the words and numbers.”

After graduating high school, Chad went back to his high school to tell some of the students what he learned taking the test those 18 times. When the results of those students' tests were very positive, the counselor asked if he would come back to tell more students. After a few cycles helping students at his alma-mater, other schools began hearing about the workshop.
Chad began giving workshops when he could get away from class. After graduation, Chad worked five years as an engineer for Lucent Technologies while giving workshops in the evenings and weekends. Now in his 28th year, Chad travels full-time across the country giving his workshop. Each year Chad speaks at high schools in Oklahoma, Arkansas, Texas, Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, and Iowa. He has spoken to over 200,000 students and sold over 40,000 copies of his test prep book Chad Cargill’s ACT.

Chad lives in Choctaw, Oklahoma with his wife Shellie and their 8 kids Camden (20), Cayce (18), Clarity and Creed (both 11 from the Democratic Republic of Congo), Cai (10 from Uganda), Carli and Crosby (both 8 from Uganda), and Cat (6 months adopted as a frozen embryo).

The 1-2-3 Plan

-Students are limited to 12 ACT tests.

-If you can afford it, students should take all 12.

1 – Sophomore Year: Take one national ACT test your sophomore year. This should be either the December or April test. You can order the test questions, your answers, and the correct answers. Don’t study for this test. Give your best effort and see what happens.

2 – Junior Year: Take the December national ACT and either the April or June national ACT. Order the test both times. Start identifying weakness areas and practicing.

3 – Senior Year: Take the September, October, and December national ACTs. These first three test scores can be used on most scholarships since they will be before most scholarship deadlines.

-If you want to take an ACT your freshman year without actually paying for it and using one of your twelve tests, administer one by yourself or with a group of friends.

-I don’t recommend the Duke Talent Search 7th grade ACT.

You can download a recent national ACT test provided free of charge from ACT. Just Google search Preparing for the ACT Test pdf ACT .org. The scoring chart and correct answers are in the back of the booklet.

I’d love to connect with you and keep you posted on upcoming episodes and resources. For a free downloadable pdf What Scholarship Committees Look for and How to Win Them, go to scholarships.chadcargill.com, and get your guide now.

If you enjoyed the podcast, please leave a review on your podcast app. Leave a shout out for your high school, and I may read it on a future podcast. If you have questions, leave a comment here or on the Chad Cargill Workshops Facebook page.

To view the workshop calendar, go to calendar.chadcargill.com. You can also order the prep book Chad Cargill's ACT and sign up for speed reading at chadcargill.com. If you are interested in hosting a workshop at your high school, call our office at (405) 454-3233 or email penny@chadcargill.com.

chadcargill.com
Twitter: @ChadCargill

Next week: Why you should never just take one section of the ACT.

Thanks for listening to the podcast!

]]>