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Question

The Summer Olympic Games are among the most-watched internationally televised sporting events and have been held in over 20 different countries. The table below gives the number of U.S. viewers, in millions, for 8 Summer Olympics opening ceremonies located in different international cities.

Essentials

What is the median number of viewers, in millions, of these 8 Summer Olympics opening ceremonies?

A. 26.6
B. 27.8
C. 28.6
D. 30.2

Hint :

The median is the middle of a numerically ordered data set. When the number of values is odd, the median is the middle value. When it is even, the median is the average of the two middle values.

Explanation

The median of a data set with an even number of values is the average of the middle two values when all values are ordered numerically.

The given data set has 8 values, but the values are not in order. First order the number of U.S. viewers from least to greatest.

Essentials

There are 8 values in the given table, so the median is the average of the 4th and 5th ordered numbers.

Essentials

The median number of U.S. viewers of these 8 Summer Olympics opening ceremonies is 28.6 million.

(Choice A) 26.6 is the average of the middle two values of the unordered list of numbers of viewers. However, the median is the average of the middle two values when all values are ordered numerically.

(Choice B) 27.8 is the smallest of the middle two values of the ordered list of numbers of viewers. However, the median of a data set with an even number of values is the average of the middle two values.

(Choice D) 30.2 is the mean of the number of viewers. However, the question asks for the median of the number of viewers.

Things to remember:
The median is the middle value of a data set that is ordered numerically. When the number of values is odd, the median is the middle value. When it is even, the median is the average of the two middle values.

Essentials

Question

A box contains 12 flavored candies: 5 lime, 4 cherry, 1 orange, and 2 grape. Which of the following expressions gives the probability of choosing, at random and without replacement, a cherry candy for the first choice, a lime candy for the second choice, and a cherry candy for the third choice?

A.
( 412 ) . ( 512 ) . ( 312 )
B.
( 412 ) . ( 512 ) . ( 412 )
C.
( 412 ) . ( 511 ) . ( 410 )
D.
( 412 ) . ( 411 ) . ( 310 )
E.
( 412 ) . ( 511 ) . ( 310 )

Hint :

The probability that dependent events occur is equal to the probability that the first event occurs multiplied by the probability that each consecutive event occurs, given that each preceding event has already occurred.

Explanation

The candies are chosen without replacement (they are not replaced in the box after being chosen), so each event of choosing a candy affects the probability of the events that follow. Therefore, the events are dependent.

The probability that dependent events occur is equal to the probability that the first event occurs multiplied by the probability that each consecutive event occurs, given that each preceding event has already occurred.

P ( 1st, 2nd, and 3rd event ) = P(1st) P(2nd) P(3rd)

The 1st event is that a cherry candy is chosen and not replaced in the box. The 2nd event is that a lime candy is chosen and not replaced, and the 3rd event is that a cherry candy is chosen and not replaced.

Therefore, the probability that a cherry candy is chosen first, a lime candy is chosen second, and a cherry candy is chosen third is:

P ( cherry 1st , lime 2nd , and cherry 3rd ) = P( cherry 1st ) P( lime 2nd ) P( cherry 3rd )

Use the following formula to find the probability P of each event:

P = number of desired outcomes total number of possible outcomes

P(cherry 1st)

The first event is that a cherry candy is chosen first from the box.

The number of desired outcomes for choosing cherry is the number of cherry candies in the box.
The total number of possible outcomes for choosing cherry is the total number of candies in the box.

P ( cherry 1st ) = cherry candies total candies in box

It is given that there are 4 cherry candies in the box, and it is given that the box contains a total of 12 candies. Therefore, the probability of choosing a cherry first is 4 12 .

P ( cherry 1st ) = 4 12

P(lime 2nd)

The probability that a lime candy is chosen second depends on the first event that a cherry candy is chosen, so it is the probability given that the first chosen candy is cherry.

The number of desired outcomes is the number of lime candies after a cherry candy is removed.
The number of possible outcomes is the number of candies remaining after a cherry candy is removed.

P ( lime 2nd ) = lime candies remaining candies in box

It is given that the full box had 5 lime candies. After a cherry candy is removed, there are still 5 lime candies and a total of 12 − 1 = 11 candies remaining.

Therefore, the probability of choosing a lime candy second is 5 11 .

P ( lime 2nd ) = 5 11

P(cherry 3rd)

The probability that a cherry candy is chosen third depends on the first event and the second event, so it is the probability given that the first chosen candy is cherry and the second chosen is lime.

The number of desired outcomes is the number of cherry candies remaining. The total number of possible outcomes is the number of candies remaining after a cherry and lime candy are removed.

P ( cherry 3rd ) = cherry candies remaining candies in box

It is given that the full box had 4 cherry candies. A cherry candy and then a lime candy were removed, so there are 4 − 1 = 3 cherry candies remaining and a total of 12 − 2 = 10 candies remaining.

Therefore, the probability of choosing a cherry candy third is 3 10 .

P ( cherry 3rd ) = 3 10

P(cherry 1st, lime 2nd, and cherry 3rd)

Now multiply the individual probabilities to find the probability that all three events occur.

P(cherry 1st) · P(lime 2nd) · P(cherry 3rd)

Probability of cherry 1st, lime 2nd, and cherry 3rd
( 4 12 ) ( 5 11 ) ( 3 10 )
Plug in probabilities

The probability of choosing, at random and without replacement, a cherry candy first, a lime candy second, and a cherry candy third is ( 4 12 ) ( 5 11 ) ( 3 10 ) .

(Choice A) ( 4 12 ) ( 5 12 ) ( 3 12 ) may result from mistaking the total number of candies in the box to be 12 with each choice. However, the total number of candies in the box decreases by 1 each time a choice is made without replacement.

(Choice B) ( 4 12 ) ( 5 12 ) ( 4 12 ) is the probability of choosing a cherry candy, a lime candy, and a cherry candy with replacement instead of without replacement.

(Choice C) ( 4 12 ) ( 5 11 ) ( 4 10 ) may result from mistaking the number of cherry candies in the box for the third choice to be 4. However, the number of cherry candies in the box decreases by 1 each time a cherry candy is chosen without replacement.

(Choice D) ( 4 12 ) ( 4 11 ) ( 3 10 ) may result from mistaking the number of lime candies in the box to be 4 (instead of 5).

Things to remember:

  • To find the probability of a single event, use the following formula:

P = number of desired outcomes total number of possible outcomes
  • Two events are dependent if one event affects the other.

  • To find the probability that two dependent events occur, multiply their individual probabilities together.

P ( 1st and 2nd event ) = P(1st) P(2nd)

Question

For all real values of x, which of the following is the solution set of 3x + 9 ≥ −12 ?

A. x ≤ −1
B. x ≥ −1
C. x ≤ −7
D. x ≥ −7

Hint :

To find the solution set of an inequality in one variable, isolate the variable by itself on one side of the inequality.

Explanation

The solution set of an inequality with one variable is the set of all values of the variable that make the inequality true. To find the solution set, solve for the variable in the inequality.

To solve for x in the given inequality 3x + 9 ≥ −12, subtract 9 from both sides and divide by 3 to isolate x so it is by itself on one side of the inequality.

3x + 9 ≥ −12
3x ≥ −21 Subtract 9 from both sides
x ≥ −7 Divide both sides by 3
Note: The inequality sign remains unchanged because 3 is positive.

Therefore, the solution set of the given inequality is x ≥ −7.

(Choice A) x ≤ −1 may result from a combination of the errors described in Choices B and C.

(Choice B) x ≥ −1 may result from incorrectly subtracting −12 − 9 to get −3 (instead of −21).

(Choice C) x ≤ −7 may result from mistakenly reversing the direction of the inequality. The inequality sign only reverses as a result of multiplying or dividing both sides by a negative number.

Things to remember:

  • To find the solution set of an inequality in one variable, isolate the variable by itself on one side of the inequality.
  • The solution set of an inequality is the set of all values that make the inequality true.

Question

An electronics company has an incentive program in which account representatives can earn money based on their monthly sales. Representatives can earn bonus pay based on their single highest sale for the month.

Table data

In a certain month, account representatives at the electronics company earned bonus pay that totaled $9,500. What is the maximum number of representatives whose single highest sale that month could have been in the range of $20,000–$39,999?

A. 4
B. 5
C. 9
D. 10

Hint :

The maximum number of representatives whose single highest sale could have been in the given range is equal to the greatest whole number of bonuses for that range that could have been paid with the given total bonus.

Explanation

The number of representatives is equivalent to the number of bonuses paid, so find the maximum number of bonuses that could have been paid with the given total.

Divide the given total bonus pay by the bonus for a single highest sale in the range of $20,000–$39,999 to determine the maximum number of bonuses.

maximun number of bonuses total bonus pay bonus for single sale

The given total bonus pay was $9,500.

To determine the bonus for a single highest sale in the range of $20,000–$39,999, use the given table.

The bonus for a single highest sale in the given range is $1,000.

Divide the given total bonus pay (9,500) by the bonus for each sale (1,000) to determine the maximum number of bonuses that could have been paid.

total bonus pay bonus for single sale Maximum number of bonuses
9,500 1,000 Plug in values
9.5 Divide

The number of bonuses paid must be a whole number. The largest whole number less than 9.5 is 9, so the maximum number of bonuses that could be paid is 9.

Therefore, the maximum number of representatives is 9.

(Choices A and B) 4 and 5 may result from mistakenly dividing the highest value ($39,999) in the given range by the total bonus pay ($9,500).

(Choice D) 10 may result from mistakenly rounding 9.5 up to 10. However, the total bonus pay ($9,500) is not enough to pay a bonus of $1,000 to 10 representatives.

Question

Anthony is deciding whether to buy a membership to his local art museum. The price of an annual membership is $162 and paid members may attend any of the 16 museum events held throughout the year at no additional cost. For non-members, the museum charges $12 for an individual ticket to each event. What is the minimum number of museum events that Anthony must attend in a year so that the cost of the annual membership is less than the cost of buying an individual ticket to each event he attends?

A. 10
B. 11
C. 13
D. 14

Hint :

The total membership cost must be less than or equal to the total cost of individual tickets. Write an inequality that relates the membership and individual ticket costs.

Explanation

To find the minimum number of events Anthony must attend so that the membership cost is less than (<) the total cost of individual tickets, first write an inequality that relates the membership and individual ticket costs.

The total cost of individual tickets is equal to the cost per ticket multiplied by the number of events Anthony must attend. Plug in the given costs ($162 and $12), and let the number of events he must attend be x.

Now solve the inequality for x, the minimum number of events Anthony must attend.

162 < 12x
13.5 < x Divide both sides by 12

For the cost of the membership to be less than the total cost of individual tickets, the minimum number of events Anthony must attend is the smallest whole number greater than 13.5.

Therefore, Anthony must attend a minimum of 14 events.

Note: It is also possible to answer the question by process of elimination. Calculate the ticket cost for each answer choice, and identify which results in the lowest amount that is greater than the membership cost (calculation).

(Choice A) 10 may result from a combination of the errors described in Choices B and C.

(Choice B) 11 may result from mistaking the total number of events (16) for the cost of each individual ticket ($12).

(Choice C) 13 may result from rounding down to the nearest answer choice (instead of rounding up), but the number of tickets must be greater than 13.5 for the membership cost to be less than the total cost of individual tickets.

Things to remember:
If the solution to an equation or inequality represents a real-world object with no fractional meaning (ex. a number of people or a number of completed tasks), it may be necessary to round that value to a whole number.

The ACT English and Reading sections test how well you understand, analyze, and improve written passages. Practice with realistic questions covering comprehension, grammar, vocabulary, and rhetorical skills, with clear explanations that help build accuracy, confidence, and stronger test-day strategy.

Jackson Pollock's Paintings

Abstract Expressionism centers on freedom of expression and excludes representational subject matter. Of all the Abstract Expressionists, Jackson Pollock is by far the most famous. Many of Pollock's paintings' exemplify his unique style and artistic vision. The full use of intense, bright, and high-valued color, it is evident in Pollock's works. Also, he often intentionally keeps from creating shapes because, in his work, lines undoubtedly dominate over form.

Pollock uses two main design principles to strengthen his paintings, balance and harmony ensure no one side carries greater weight than the other. Although his works are often not symmetrical, they almost always feel balanced. Harmony refers to repetition, when Pollock repeats foundational colors (red, yellow, blue, white, and black) from which all other values and hues are derived. Pollock combines colors proportionally, joining them together naturally and comfortably creating a harmonious effect.

[1] In addition to Abstract Expressionist, the label Action Painter definitely applies to Pollock. [2] Pollock often talked about being "in" his paintings, he often actively handled the paint he used. [3] Sometimes Pollock utilized a stick, one tool that at other times he carefully poured paint straight from the can to apply his paint with a gesture: the tools he used were secondary to the result. [4] Likewise, he used a practiced hand to direct the paint, creating a symbiotic relationship between the two. [5] He was actively involved in his paintings, laying his canvases on the ground to view his work from every angle.

Pollock's work will likely always be controversial. Many people believe that anyone can throw paint on a canvas to make abstract art. However, no one thought to throw paint on a canvas before Pollock and that makes him a pioneer. The goal of these artistic works are to evoke emotion, and many of his paintings modified this goal, capturing the spirit of exhilaration and intensity through his use of line, color, balance, and harmony.

1. This passage is from Jackson Pollock's White Light by Amberlee Clark (© 2017 by UWorld).

Question

The full use of intense, bright, and high-valued color, it is evident in Pollock's works.

A. NO CHANGE
B. color
C. color that which
D. color, it is this which

Explanation

The full use of intense, bright, and high-valued color is evident in Pollock's works.

To determine the correct wording and whether to use a comma, locate the subject and verb:

  • "Use" functions as the subject of the sentence, not as a verb. The word "the" that comes before it indicates that "use" is being used as a noun.

  • The verb in the sentence is "is."

Usually, no commas separate the complete subject from the verb that begins the predicate. Also, adding additional words or punctuation would create a grammatically incorrect sentence.

(Choices A & D) Placing a comma after "color" followed by either "it" or "it is this which" would make "The…color" an introductory clause, but doing so would make the sentence awkward. Also, it might be unclear what is being referred to by "it."

(Choice C) Adding "that which" before "is" would mean that the verb is part of a dependent clause; however, the main sentence would then lack a verb, making it a fragment instead of a complete sentence.

Things to remember:
Sometimes words can function as either verbs or subjects. When determining whether to add extra wording or commas, see if doing so would make the sentence clear and grammatically correct.

Jackson Pollock's Paintings

Abstract Expressionism centers on freedom of expression and excludes representational subject matter. Of all the Abstract Expressionists, Jackson Pollock is by far the most famous. Many of Pollock's paintings' exemplify his unique style and artistic vision. The full use of intense, bright, and high-valued color, it is evident in Pollock's works. Also, he often intentionally keeps from creating shapes because, in his work, lines undoubtedly dominate over form.

Pollock uses two main design principles to strengthen his paintings, balance and harmony ensure no one side carries greater weight than the other. Although his works are often not symmetrical, they almost always feel balanced. Harmony refers to repetition, when Pollock repeats foundational colors (red, yellow, blue, white, and black) from which all other values and hues are derived. Pollock combines colors proportionally, joining them together naturally and comfortably creating a harmonious effect.

[1] In addition to Abstract Expressionist, the label Action Painter definitely applies to Pollock. [2] Pollock often talked about being "in" his paintings, he often actively handled the paint he used. [3] Sometimes Pollock utilized a stick, one tool that at other times he carefully poured paint straight from the can to apply his paint with a gesture: the tools he used were secondary to the result. [4] Likewise, he used a practiced hand to direct the paint, creating a symbiotic relationship between the two. [5] He was actively involved in his paintings, laying his canvases on the ground to view his work from every angle.

Pollock's work will likely always be controversial. Many people believe that anyone can throw paint on a canvas to make abstract art. However, no one thought to throw paint on a canvas before Pollock and that makes him a pioneer. The goal of these artistic works are to evoke emotion, and many of his paintings modified this goal, capturing the spirit of exhilaration and intensity through his use of line, color, balance, and harmony.

1. This passage is from Jackson Pollock's White Light by Amberlee Clark (© 2017 by UWorld).

Question

In addition to Abstract Expressionist, the label Action Painter definitely applies to Pollock.

A. NO CHANGE
B. Expressionist, the label Action Painter,
C. Expressionist the label, Action Painter
D. Expressionist the label Action Painter

Explanation

In addition to Abstract Expressionist, the label Action Painter definitely applies to Pollock.

Commas should be placed according to grammar rules, with the purpose of clarifying the meaning of a sentence.

This sentence begins with the introductory prepositional phrase "In…Expressionist."  Grammar rules dictate that a comma should be placed after the introductory phrase to show where it ends and the independent clause (complete sentence) begins.  No other commas are needed in the sentence to clarify meaning.

(Choice B)  Commas placed after "Expressionist" and "Painter" would indicate the phrase "the label Action Painter" is information that could be deleted from the sentence.  However, if this phrase were removed, it would be unclear what "applies" to Pollock.

(Choice C)  Placing a comma after "label" would indicate that the introductory phrase ended there instead of after "Expressionist," which would make the resulting independent clause awkward.

(Choice D)  Without any commas, it is unclear where the introductory phrase ends and the independent clause begins, making the meaning of the sentence difficult to understand.

Things to remember:
Commas should make the meaning of a sentence clear and should be placed based on specific grammar rules, like using a comma after an introductory clause.

Passage

INFORMATIONAL: This passage is adapted from the article "Octopuses are Smart Suckers!?" by Jennifer Mather (© 2000 by Jennifer Mather).

While watching an octopus in Bermuda, animal behaviorist Jennifer Mather observed it sitting in its sheltering den after a foraging expedition, where it caught several crabs, took them home, and ate them. Suddenly it jetted out directly to a small rock about six feet away, tucked it under its spread arms and jetted back. Going out three times more in different directions, it took up three more rocks and piled the resulting barrier in front of the entrance to its den and went to sleep. To Dr. Mather, this didn't look like random action.

An octopus is very different from a mammal. It lives only about two years. It has much less opportunity to gain and use knowledge than an elephant, which has a 50-year lifespan and three generations of a family to learn from. The young octopus learns on its own with minimal contact with other octopuses and no influences of parental care or sibling rivalry. This may be because the octopus has a large brain with vertical and sub-frontal lobes dedicated to storing learned information: it has the anatomy for a robust, built-in intelligence.

But it is not enough to know that anatomy predicts an animal to be intelligent without some idea of how it uses this ability. Investigations at Naples in the 1950s and 1960s found that octopuses can learn a wide array of visual patterns, encoding information mostly by comparing edges, orientations, and shapes. They also learn by touch, and that tactile information is stored in a different area of the brain. Intent on just demonstrating learning abilities at first, researchers did not follow up to find what octopuses were doing with this learning in their ocean home. As concerns about direct experimentation in laboratories on intelligent animals began to emphasize observation of natural behavior in the field, the Naples studies ended, and no link was made between abstract information storage and the use of learning in daily life. In 1996, the works of Roger Hanlon and John Messenger provided an overview of cephalopod behavior in their natural habitat, studying areas such as prey manipulation, personality, and even play in the octopus.

What were octopuses doing with the information that learning studies said they could acquire? One study Mather and Roland C. Anderson undertook in 1999 centered on the "Packaging Problem." The problem posed was how an octopus could get at the soft, delectable clam enclosed in its hard shell. Many predators have evolved means of penetrating the clam's hard shell—sea stars pull the valves apart, seabirds pry them apart, snails drill a hole into the shell, and gulls drop the clam from a carefully calculated height onto rocks or road pavement.

But the octopus does even better than these predators in that it can use an arsenal of different solutions for use in feeding. It has the holding ability of hundreds of suckers and the pulling power of eight muscular arms, flexible because they are boneless. Underneath, inside the mouth at the junction of the arms, it has a parrot-like twin beak for biting. Inside are also two more useful structures, the radula with teeth for rasping and the extendible salivary papilla that delivers cephalotoxin, a neuromuscular function-blocker that can kill a crab in several minutes. Fortunately for Mather and Anderson, only the venom of blue-ringed octopuses has proven fatal to humans.

Since octopuses are well set up to recover and use information for solving the problem of the clam's protection, Mather and Anderson set out to determine what the giant Pacific octopus would do to get at three types of bivalves. Prey species were each opened differently. The fragile mussel shells were simply broken, and the stronger Venus clams were pulled apart. Thick-shelled Protothaca clams were drilled with the octopuses' radula and salivary papilla, or chipped with the beak, then injected with venom, which weakened the muscle holding the valves together. When they were offered the clams opened on the half shell, the octopuses changed preference and consumed both clam species, but hardly any mussels. When they didn't have to work hard for the clam meat, they liked Protothaca. Octopuses could also shift their penetration strategies. When live Venus clams were wired shut with stainless steel wire, the octopuses couldn't pull the valves apart, so they then tried drilling and chipping. Given empty-weighted shells glued shut, the octopuses ignored them; they were on to that trick right away.

Perhaps this individual sensitivity to change, honed by intelligence and variability, has been the key to solving the puzzle of the success of both the cephalopods and the higher vertebrates. Similarities that could lead us to understand the evolution of intelligence in octopuses and humans are few but thought-provoking. Neither group has the protection of a hard exoskeleton. Both have evolved in complex environments; the octopuses in the tropical coral reef and the hominid in the savanna edge. Both have considerable variability among individuals and the ability to change their behavior to help them survive. So, perhaps looking at octopuses through their intelligence, as witnessed by their feeding flexibility, helps us also look at aspects of ourselves as we continue to unpack the evolution of intelligence.

Question

Based on the passage, the notion that octopus behavior is not random is best described as a:

A. fact that is supported by studies on human intelligence.
B. reasoned judgment from an expert in animal behavior.
C. reasoned judgment from scientists who study anatomy.
D. belief that the passage author proved incorrect.

Explanation

P1: While watching an octopus in Bermuda, animal behaviorist Jennifer Mather observed it sitting in its sheltering den after a foraging expedition, where it caught several crabs, took them home, and ate them. Suddenly it jetted out directly to a small rock about six feet away, tucked it under its spread arms and jetted back. Going out three times more in different directions, it took up three more rocks and piled the resulting barrier in front of the entrance to its den and went to sleep. To Dr. Mather, this didn't look like random action.

Summarize the discussion connected to the notion (belief) that octopus behavior is not random (occurring without thought or intention) and select the answer that best matches the details of that discussion.

P1 discusses octopus behavior, stating that while studying an octopus, animal behaviorist Jennifer Mather observed behaviors that "didn't look like random action." An animal behaviorist has a high degree of knowledge about animal behavior.

Based on these details, the notion that octopus behavior is not random is best described as a reasoned judgment from an expert in animal behavior.

(Choice A) The final paragraph suggests that studying octopus intelligence might help scientists learn more about human intelligence, but there is no evidence that studies on human intelligence have been used to support ideas about octopus behavior.

(Choice C) Although the passage author implies that an octopus's "anatomy predicts" it to be intelligent, the author also indicates this is not enough to conclude anything about its behavior. Furthermore, the passage doesn't mention any specific scientists who study anatomy.

(Choice D) The passage author notes that the octopus's behavior "didn't look like random action" and offers no evidence to disprove this idea.

Things to remember:
Identify the answer that is based on the passage by reading all the passage evidence about the question's subject.

Passage

INFORMATIONAL: This passage is adapted from the article "Octopuses are Smart Suckers!?" by Jennifer Mather (© 2000 by Jennifer Mather).

While watching an octopus in Bermuda, animal behaviorist Jennifer Mather observed it sitting in its sheltering den after a foraging expedition, where it caught several crabs, took them home, and ate them. Suddenly it jetted out directly to a small rock about six feet away, tucked it under its spread arms and jetted back. Going out three times more in different directions, it took up three more rocks and piled the resulting barrier in front of the entrance to its den and went to sleep. To Dr. Mather, this didn't look like random action.

An octopus is very different from a mammal. It lives only about two years. It has much less opportunity to gain and use knowledge than an elephant, which has a 50-year lifespan and three generations of a family to learn from. The young octopus learns on its own with minimal contact with other octopuses and no influences of parental care or sibling rivalry. This may be because the octopus has a large brain with vertical and sub-frontal lobes dedicated to storing learned information: it has the anatomy for a robust, built-in intelligence.

But it is not enough to know that anatomy predicts an animal to be intelligent without some idea of how it uses this ability. Investigations at Naples in the 1950s and 1960s found that octopuses can learn a wide array of visual patterns, encoding information mostly by comparing edges, orientations, and shapes. They also learn by touch, and that tactile information is stored in a different area of the brain. Intent on just demonstrating learning abilities at first, researchers did not follow up to find what octopuses were doing with this learning in their ocean home. As concerns about direct experimentation in laboratories on intelligent animals began to emphasize observation of natural behavior in the field, the Naples studies ended, and no link was made between abstract information storage and the use of learning in daily life. In 1996, the works of Roger Hanlon and John Messenger provided an overview of cephalopod behavior in their natural habitat, studying areas such as prey manipulation, personality, and even play in the octopus.

What were octopuses doing with the information that learning studies said they could acquire? One study Mather and Roland C. Anderson undertook in 1999 centered on the "Packaging Problem." The problem posed was how an octopus could get at the soft, delectable clam enclosed in its hard shell. Many predators have evolved means of penetrating the clam's hard shell—sea stars pull the valves apart, seabirds pry them apart, snails drill a hole into the shell, and gulls drop the clam from a carefully calculated height onto rocks or road pavement.

But the octopus does even better than these predators in that it can use an arsenal of different solutions for use in feeding. It has the holding ability of hundreds of suckers and the pulling power of eight muscular arms, flexible because they are boneless. Underneath, inside the mouth at the junction of the arms, it has a parrot-like twin beak for biting. Inside are also two more useful structures, the radula with teeth for rasping and the extendible salivary papilla that delivers cephalotoxin, a neuromuscular function-blocker that can kill a crab in several minutes. Fortunately for Mather and Anderson, only the venom of blue-ringed octopuses has proven fatal to humans.

Since octopuses are well set up to recover and use information for solving the problem of the clam's protection, Mather and Anderson set out to determine what the giant Pacific octopus would do to get at three types of bivalves. Prey species were each opened differently. The fragile mussel shells were simply broken, and the stronger Venus clams were pulled apart. Thick-shelled Protothaca clams were drilled with the octopuses' radula and salivary papilla, or chipped with the beak, then injected with venom, which weakened the muscle holding the valves together. When they were offered the clams opened on the half shell, the octopuses changed preference and consumed both clam species, but hardly any mussels. When they didn't have to work hard for the clam meat, they liked Protothaca. Octopuses could also shift their penetration strategies. When live Venus clams were wired shut with stainless steel wire, the octopuses couldn't pull the valves apart, so they then tried drilling and chipping. Given empty-weighted shells glued shut, the octopuses ignored them; they were on to that trick right away.

Perhaps this individual sensitivity to change, honed by intelligence and variability, has been the key to solving the puzzle of the success of both the cephalopods and the higher vertebrates. Similarities that could lead us to understand the evolution of intelligence in octopuses and humans are few but thought-provoking. Neither group has the protection of a hard exoskeleton. Both have evolved in complex environments; the octopuses in the tropical coral reef and the hominid in the savanna edge. Both have considerable variability among individuals and the ability to change their behavior to help them survive. So, perhaps looking at octopuses through their intelligence, as witnessed by their feeding flexibility, helps us also look at aspects of ourselves as we continue to unpack the evolution of intelligence.

Question

The passage indicates that compared to those of mussels and Venus clams, the shells of Protothaca clams are:

A. more easily broken and light.
B. thicker and more protective.
C. less attractive and nutritious.
D. less robust and intricate.

Explanation

P6: The fragile mussel shells were simply broken, and the stronger Venus clams were pulled apart. Thick-shelled Protothaca clams were drilled. with the octopuses' radula and salivary papilla, or chippedwith the beak, then injected with venom, which weakened the muscle holding the valves together.

Compare the shells of Protothaca clams to the shells of mussels and Venus clams by summarizing their descriptions and choosing the answer that matches both descriptions.

Protothaca clams are compared to mussels and Venus clams in P6:

Mussel shells Venus clam shells Protothaca clam shells
"fragile" and "simply broken" "stronger" than mussel shells but can be "pulled apart" "thick-shelled"; must be either "chipped" or "drilled" and then "injected with venom" (poison) before they can be opened

These details indicate that octopuses can open mussels and Venus clams in one step, whereas Protothaca clams require multiple steps because the shells of Protothaca clams cannot be easily broken open or pulled apart. Therefore, compared to the shells of mussels and Venus clams, the shells of Protothaca clams are thicker and more protective.

(Choice A) P6 states that Protothaca clams are "thick-shelled," indicating they are not easily broken and are likely heavy rather than light.

(Choice C) P6 doesn't discuss the attractiveness of the shells, nor does it suggest any shells are nutritious. Octopuses eat the meat inside the shells, not the shells themselves.

(Choice D) P6 indicates that Protothaca shells are more difficult to open than the others, so they are more, not less, robust (strong). The passage describes feeding on Protothaca as an intricate (complex) process but doesn't describe the shells as intricate.

Things to remember:
To compare items in the passage, summarize key details about each item and select the answer that accurately describes the relationship between them.

Passage A by Kate Flint

All photography requires light, but the light used in flash photography is unique—shocking, intrusive, and abrupt. Unlike the light that comes from the sun, or even from ambient illumination, flash explodes suddenly into the darkness.

In the early days of flash photography, a sense of quasi-divine revelation was invoked by some flash photographers, especially when documenting deplorable social conditions. The filthy darkness in which the urban poor lived could not have been photographed otherwise. Jacob Riis, working in New York in the late 1880s, used spiritual language to underscore flash's significance as an instrument to expose—and hopefully rectify—the horrid conditions of those living in urban squalor.

It's in relation to documentary photography that we most starkly encounter flash's contradictory aspects. It makes visible that which would otherwise remain in darkness; to do so requires an intrusion, a rupturing of private lives and interiors. Yet flash brings a form of democracy to the material world. Formerly insignificant details take on unplanned prominence, as we see in the work of those Farm Security Administration (FSA) photographers who used flash in the 1930s and laid bare the reality of poverty during the Depression. A sudden flare of light reveals each dent on a kitchen utensil and the label on each carefully stored can; each cherished ornament on the mantle; each wrinkle of the skin.

These FSA photographers used flash bulbs, not powder. Pioneered in the late 1920s, these bulbs became generally available around 1930, their ease and portability transforming the abilities of press photographers, documentarians, even police photographers, who could now record evidence of crimes committed under the cover of darkness. But the history of flash photography is about speed as well as light. The breathtaking, high-speed images produced by Harold Edgerton in the mid-20th century, enabled by very high-speed bursts of light from electrically-controlled neon tubes, created the illusion of stopped motion: bullets piercing playing cards or balloons; golfers and tennis players swinging at balls. The ordinary became strange and beautiful through stroboscopic flash.

These examples challenge the bad press that flash photography has received over the century and a half since its invention. Sudden and surprising light continues to be imaginatively deployed by inventive photographers, once again making luminous something of the original wonder that attended flash.

Passage B by Kate Flint

Susan Sontag was deliberately provocative when she coupled photography with violence. There is, she wrote in 1977, "something predatory in the act of taking a picture." She pointed out that we speak casually about "loading" and "aiming" a camera: "Just as the camera is a sublimation of a gun, to photograph someone is a sublimated violation of privacy." Sontag's hyperbole prodded her readers to consider the identity-freezing that is implicit in each portrait that is shot.

But it is less of an exaggeration to couple violence with one particular photographic technology: flash. From the earliest decades of flash photography, when limelight or magnesium was used to illuminate darkness, flash was associated with explosive unpredictability. Even after flash powder was invented in 1887, accidents were commonplace, maiming and injuring photographers. Not until flash bulbs were introduced around 1930 did the means for producing sudden blasts of artificial light become easier and more dependable, and this increased with the advent of the Speedlite and other electronic flash guns.

"Flash gun"—that nomenclature takes us full circle, since some of the early contraptions for igniting flash powder indeed looked much like a revolver. The name, and the linkage to violence and weaponry, stuck. The allusion is clear in the black humor of the words that decorated some military gun barrels in World War II: "Smile. Wait for flash." Weaponry and photography work in consort in Alfred Hitchcock's film Foreign Correspondent, in which a man posing as a news photographer fires a weapon at the same moment that he sets off his camera flash.

Flash can also enact a form of ethical violence. Among those who worked for the Farm Security Administration during the Depression, Dorothea Lange saw its use as invasive, and Ben Shahn expressed his doubts--both about photographing someone else's private space and about flash's aesthetics. "When some of the people came in and began to use flash I thought it was immoral," he said. "You know, you come into a sharecropper's cabin and it's dark. But a flash destroyed that darkness." Another photographic artist, Henri Cartier-Bresson, also shunned the flash, in part due to its association with newsmen and detective work. No one more famously brought flash and crime together than the man known as Weegee, working in mid-20th-century New York to record criminal activity. "A photographer is a hunter with a camera," he said, anticipating Sontag.

Nowhere has this determined violation and exploitation been more apparent than in the work of paparazzi. Popping flash bulbs have become visual shorthand for the achievement of notoriety, as well as the price paid for that fame. Think of King Kong—captured, brought to New York City, exhibited on stage, and then startled into destructive rage by newspaper photographers. Whether viewed as exposure or exploitation, flash photography is historically, and disconcertingly, inseparable from violence.

1. "A Short History of Flash Photography" by Kate Flint

Question

This question asks about Passage A

One reasonable inference from Passage A is that before the mid-20th century, photographers had not yet figured out:

A. ways to replace flash powder with portable flash bulbs.
B. how they would use their photos to document the lives of the poor.
C. whether people would object to the intrusion of flash photography.
D. ways to create photographic images of movements too fast for the human eye to see.

Explanation

P4: But the history of flash photography is about speed as well as light. The breathtaking, high-speed images produced by Harold Edgerton in the mid-20th century, enabled by very high-speed bursts of light from electrically-controlled neon tubes, created the illusion of stopped motion: bullets piercing playing cards or balloons; golfers and tennis players swinging at balls.

When a question asks what can be reasonably inferred from a passage, the answer will be a conclusion that you draw from the text.

The question requires you to examine any references to the mid-20th century (around the 1950s) and infer (draw a conclusion) what flash photographers had not discovered until then. Skim the answer choices and eliminate any that are not supported by the text. The correct answer will be something that happened in the mid-20th century or later.

(Choice A) ways to replace flash powder with portable flash bulbs P4 notes that "FSA photographers used flash bulbs, not powder…in the late 1920s," which was before the mid-20th century.
(Choice B) how they would use their photos to document the lives of the poor P2 mentions Jacob Riis documenting the lives of the poor in the 1880s. This was well before the mid-20th century.
(Choice C) whether people would object to the intrusion of flash photography Passage A doesn't discuss whether people objected to flash photography.
(Choice D) ways to create photographic images of movements too fast for the human eye to see P4 states that "the…images produced…in the mid-20th century…created the illusion of stopped motion [which the eye cannot see in real time]," implying that photographers had not figured out how to create images of movements too fast for the human eye to see before this time.

Things to remember:
When asked what can be inferred from the passage, summarize the details and determine which answer choice is logically supported by those details.

ACT Practice Suite

Two Powerful Options to Score High on ACT

UWorld’s practice tools combine realistic ACT questions and full-length test simulations to help students improve accuracy, sharpen timing, and track progress more effectively.
1
ACT Question Bank

Targeted Topic Mastery

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2
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What's Included

ACT QBank Starting at $99
ACT Prep Course Starting at $299
Access a massive bank of 2500+ practice questions that mimic the ACT's format, timing, and difficulty. Understand the 'why' behind every answer with detailed, illustrated solutions.
Design your own ACT practice sessions. Focus on the sections or question types giving you trouble, from Science graphs to Rhetorical Skills. Build timed mock tests or short quizzes.
Visually track your performance across every ACT section. The dashboard highlights your mastery level, showing you where you're excelling and where you need to review.
Maximize your study time by focusing on what matters. Choose specific ACT sections (Math, Reading, English) or even sub-topics to drill down and improve your composite score.
Let us build your ACT prep schedule. Just provide your availability and test date, and we'll create a step-by-step study plan that adapts to your life and keeps you moving forward.
Experience a realistic, full-length ACT simulation. Complete all four sections under official timed conditions and receive a predicted composite score to gauge your readiness.
Watch video lessons from top ACT educators. They break down challenging concepts from all four sections, using clear visuals and easy-to-follow test-taking strategies.
Our complete ACT study guide set, in print and digital, provides in-depth content review. Use it with the video lessons for a fully integrated and organized study system.
Solidify your knowledge with concept-check questions after each video lesson. Ensure you've grasped the fundamentals before moving on to challenging, fast-paced ACT practice.
Find bonus, book-only ACT practice questions in your printed study guide. These extra problems (not available online) mimic the test and include full visual explanations.

Start your free trial with a free ACT practice questions,
whether you want a quick topic review or a deep dive into the whole test.

ACT QBank Starting at $99
As low as $9/mo with Affirm
See What’s Included
  • Access a massive bank of 2500+ practice questions that mimic the ACT's format, timing, and difficulty. Understand the 'why' behind every answer with detailed, illustrated solutions.
  • Design your own ACT practice sessions. Focus on the sections or question types giving you trouble, from Science graphs to Rhetorical Skills. Build timed mock tests or short quizzes.
  • Visually track your performance across every ACT section. The dashboard highlights your mastery level, showing you where you're excelling and where you need to review.
  • Maximize your study time by focusing on what matters. Choose specific ACT sections (Math, Reading, English) or even sub-topics to drill down and improve your composite score.
  • Let us build your ACT prep schedule. Just provide your availability and test date, and we'll create a step-by-step study plan that adapts to your life and keeps you moving forward.
  • Experience a realistic, full-length ACT simulation. Complete all four sections under official timed conditions and receive a predicted composite score to gauge your readiness.
Save Big, Score High!
ACT Prep Course Starting at $299
See What’s Included
  • Access a massive bank of 2500+ practice questions that mimic the ACT's format, timing, and difficulty. Understand the 'why' behind every answer with detailed, illustrated solutions.
  • Design your own ACT practice sessions. Focus on the sections or question types giving you trouble, from Science graphs to Rhetorical Skills. Build timed mock tests or short quizzes.
  • Visually track your performance across every ACT section. The dashboard highlights your mastery level, showing you where you're excelling and where you need to review.
  • Maximize your study time by focusing on what matters. Choose specific ACT sections (Math, Reading, English) or even sub-topics to drill down and improve your composite score.
  • Let us build your ACT prep schedule. Just provide your availability and test date, and we'll create a step-by-step study plan that adapts to your life and keeps you moving forward.
  • Experience a realistic, full-length ACT simulation. Complete all four sections under official timed conditions and receive a predicted composite score to gauge your readiness.
  • Watch video lessons from top ACT educators. They break down challenging concepts from all four sections, using clear visuals and easy-to-follow test-taking strategies.
  • Our complete ACT study guide set, in print and digital, provides in-depth content review. Use it with the video lessons for a fully integrated and organized study system.
  • Solidify your knowledge with concept-check questions after each video lesson. Ensure you've grasped the fundamentals before moving on to challenging, fast-paced ACT practice.
  • Find bonus, book-only ACT practice questions in your printed study guide. These extra problems (not available online) mimic the test and include full visual explanations.
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Take a complete practice exam under real testing conditions and get an estimated SAT score. See where you stand before test day.
In-house SAT tutors and educators break down tough concepts with clear animations and step-by-step explanations. Finally, understand the topics that confuse you.
Our comprehensive SAT prep book set, available in both print and digital formats, provides focused content review. It's perfectly aligned with the videos and practice questions.
After each SAT lesson, use these foundational questions to confirm you understand the core concepts before tackling more difficult, exam-style problems. Build your confidence.
The printed SAT guide includes an additional set of unique, exam-level practice questions not found online, complete with detailed, illustrated solutions for extra practice.
SAT QBank Starting at $99
  • Hone your skills with questions modeled directly after the official SAT. Each problem comes with an in-depth, visual explanation to clarify the answer and the strategy.
  • Build practice tests focused on YOUR weak topics. Create timed mock exams or quick topic quizzes. Study your way, not someone else's way.
  • See exactly which topics you're nailing and which need more work. Track your progress across all SAT practice tests and quizzes so you know where to focus.
  • Stop wasting time on content you already know. Choose specific SAT topics to practice and build a study plan that actually makes sense for you.
  • Tell us your schedule and we'll create a personalized SAT study plan that fits your life. Stay on track without the stress of figuring out what to study next.
Save Big, Score High!
SAT Prep Course Starting at $299
  • Hone your skills with questions modeled directly after the official SAT. Each problem comes with an in-depth, visual explanation to clarify the answer and the strategy.
  • Build practice tests focused on YOUR weak topics. Create timed mock exams or quick topic quizzes. Study your way, not someone else's way.
  • See exactly which topics you're nailing and which need more work. Track your progress across all SAT practice tests and quizzes so you know where to focus.
  • Stop wasting time on content you already know. Choose specific SAT topics to practice and build a study plan that actually makes sense for you.
  • Tell us your schedule and we'll create a personalized SAT study plan that fits your life. Stay on track without the stress of figuring out what to study next.
  • Take a complete practice exam under real testing conditions and get an estimated SAT score. See where you stand before test day.
  • In-house SAT tutors and educators break down tough concepts with clear animations and step-by-step explanations. Finally, understand the topics that confuse you.
  • Our comprehensive SAT prep book set, available in both print and digital formats, provides focused content review. It's perfectly aligned with the videos and practice questions.
  • After each SAT lesson, use these foundational questions to confirm you understand the core concepts before tackling more difficult, exam-style problems. Build your confidence.
  • The printed SAT guide includes an additional set of unique, exam-level practice questions not found online, complete with detailed, illustrated solutions for extra practice.

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What’s Included in the SAT + ACT Bundle

SAT + ACT
QBank Bundle
Starting at $199
SAT + ACT Prep
Course Bundle
Starting at $549
Master both exams with a comprehensive database of 4200+ questions. Practice items mirror the style of both the SAT and ACT, with clear, visual explanations for every single one.
Adapt your study plan for both tests. Generate targeted practice exams for the SAT, the ACT, or specific sections from both. It's the most flexible way to prep for both test days.
Monitor your readiness for each exam in its own unique dashboard. The analytics break down your progress for the SAT and ACT separately, so you can intelligently divide your study time.
Optimize your prep by tackling SAT and ACT topics individually. Whether it's ACT English or SAT Math, you choose what to study, ensuring no time is wasted on concepts you already know.
Tell us your schedule and test dates, and our planner will create a balanced study plan that allocates time for preparing for each test.
Gauge your readiness with score-predicting mock exams for both the SAT and ACT. See your estimated score for each test and identify key areas for improvement on each one.
Master content for both exams. Our expert educators use clear visuals and step-by-step strategies to break down the toughest concepts on the ACT and SAT.
Get our comprehensive print and digital study guides for both the ACT and SAT. These books align perfectly with the video lessons for a fully integrated and organized study system.
Reinforce your learning after each video lesson. These foundational questions for both ACT and SAT ensure you grasp the core concepts before tackling more difficult, exam-level practice.
Discover hundreds of unique, bonus practice questions for both the ACT and SAT found only in the printed study guides. These extra problems (not available online) include detailed visual explanations.
SAT + ACT QBank Bundle Starting at $199
As low as $18/mo with Affirm
See What’s Included
  • Master both exams with a comprehensive database of 4200+ questions. Practice items mirror the style of both the SAT and ACT, with clear, visual explanations for every single one.
  • Adapt your study plan for both tests. Generate targeted practice exams for the SAT, the ACT, or specific sections from both. It's the most flexible way to prep for both test days.
  • Monitor your readiness for each exam in its own unique dashboard. The analytics break down your progress for the SAT and ACT separately, so you can intelligently divide your study time.
  • Optimize your prep by tackling SAT and ACT topics individually. Whether it's ACT English or SAT Math, you choose what to study, ensuring no time is wasted on concepts you already know.
  • Tell us your schedule and test dates, and our planner will create a balanced study plan that allocates time for preparing for each test.
  • Gauge your readiness with score-predicting mock exams for both the SAT and ACT. See your estimated score for each test and identify key areas for improvement on each one.
Save Big, Score High!
SAT + ACT Prep Course Bundle Starting at $549
See What’s Included
  • Master both exams with a comprehensive database of 4200+ questions. Practice items mirror the style of both the SAT and ACT, with clear, visual explanations for every single one.
  • Adapt your study plan for both tests. Generate targeted practice exams for the SAT, the ACT, or specific sections from both. It's the most flexible way to prep for both test days.
  • Monitor your readiness for each exam in its own unique dashboard. The analytics break down your progress for the SAT and ACT separately, so you can intelligently divide your study time.
  • Optimize your prep by tackling SAT and ACT topics individually. Whether it's ACT English or SAT Math, you choose what to study, ensuring no time is wasted on concepts you already know.
  • Tell us your schedule and test dates, and our planner will create a balanced study plan that allocates time for preparing for each test.
  • Gauge your readiness with score-predicting mock exams for both the SAT and ACT. See your estimated score for each test and identify key areas for improvement on each one.
  • Master content for both exams. Our expert educators use clear visuals and step-by-step strategies to break down the toughest concepts on the ACT and SAT.
  • Get our comprehensive print and digital study guides for both the ACT and SAT. These books align perfectly with the video lessons for a fully integrated and organized study system.
  • Reinforce your learning after each video lesson. These foundational questions for both ACT and SAT ensure you grasp the core concepts before tackling more difficult, exam-level practice.
  • Discover hundreds of unique, bonus practice questions for both the ACT and SAT found only in the printed study guides. These extra problems (not available online) include detailed visual explanations.

Kick off your prep with a free trial!
Explore the SAT QBank and ACT QBank, whether you want a quick review or a full exam deep dive.

Not All ACT Qbanks Are Created Equal

Why UWorld Stands Out for ACT Prep

More than just practice questions, UWorld provides realistic ACT practice, detailed feedback, and study tools that support score improvement.
Feature UWorld Other Providers
ACT Realism
Matches real ACT format, pacing, and difficulty. Less realistic or generic practice.
Question Bank Depth
2,500+ questions for targeted and long-term practice. Smaller banks limit repetition and focus.
Answer Explanations
Step-by-step explanations for deep conceptual learning. Brief, surface-level, or less instructional explanations.
Custom Practice
Custom quizzes by topic, difficulty, and question type. Standard quizzes make isolating weak areas difficult.
Performance Analytics
Detailed analytics track weak spots, pacing & progress. Less actionable score tracking.
Smart Study Tools
Integrated flashcards, study planners, and mobile access. Limited review tools and mobile accessibility.
Mobile Access
Seamless cross-device syncing for studying anywhere. Mobile learning may lack a unified experience.
Self-Study Fit
Structured, self-paced prep for independent students. Less support for self-guided study.
ACT Realism
UWorld

Matches real ACT format, pacing, and difficulty.

Other Providers

Less realistic or generic practice.

Question Bank Depth
UWorld

2,500+ questions for targeted and long-term practice.

Other Providers

Smaller banks limit repetition and focus.

Answer Explanations
UWorld

Step-by-step explanations for deep conceptual learning.

Other Providers

Brief, surface-level, or less instructional explanations.

Custom Practice
UWorld

Custom quizzes by topic, difficulty, and question type.

Other Providers

Standard quizzes make isolating weak areas difficult.

Performance Analytics
UWorld

Detailed analytics track weak spots, pacing, and progress.

Other Providers

Less actionable score tracking.

Smart Study Tools
UWorld

Integrated flashcards, study planners, and mobile access.

Other Providers

Fewer integrated review tools or inconvenient mobile access.

Mobile Access
UWorld

Seamless cross-device syncing for studying anywhere

Other Providers

Mobile learning can feel less connected to the overall study experience.

Self-Study Fit
UWorld

Structured, self-paced prep for independent students.

Other Providers

Less support for self-guided study.

Common Questions

UWorld ACT QBank FAQs

Most ACT prep tools compete on question volume. UWorld focuses on something more valuable: helping students understand their mistakes, improve their timing, and build real test-taking confidence.

  • Step-by-step explanations for every answer choice, correct and incorrect, so students learn the reasoning behind each question
  • Strategy-focused content that teaches recurring patterns and problem-solving approaches students can apply across the exam
  • Smart study tools including performance analytics, flashcards, and custom quizzes that make it easy to target weak areas
  • Questions written by experienced educators and reviewed for accuracy and alignment with the real ACT. No AI-generated content, no unverified third-party material

Free ACT resources can be a starting point, but they rarely provide the feedback, analytics, or realistic practice depth that drives meaningful score improvement. UWorld is built to help students not just practice, but actually get better.

UWorld’s ACT QBank gives students everything they need for focused, efficient prep in one place.

  • 2,500+ ACT-style practice questions across English, Math, Reading, and Science
  • Detailed answer explanations for every correct and incorrect answer choice
  • Performance analytics that track strengths, weaknesses, pacing, and overall progress
  • Custom quizzes filterable by topic, difficulty, and question type
  • Flashcards, My Notebook, and full mobile access so students can study anywhere

Both products are built around the same high-quality question bank and study tools. The right choice depends on what kind of support you need.

  • QBank: The best fit for self-studiers who want to practice and review independently. Includes the full 2,500+ question library along with analytics, flashcards, and My Notebook to help you find and fix your weak areas on your own schedule.
  • Course: The better fit for students who need structured content instruction before they practice. Includes everything in the QBank, plus 100+ short expert-led video lessons that cover every tested concept, a guided study plan, and a prep book.

If you need to practice and review, the QBank is the right fit. If you need to learn or relearn core content first, choose the Course. Not sure? Start with the free trial to explore the platform before deciding.

UWorld’s ACT questions are designed to match the format, pacing, style, and difficulty of the actual test as closely as possible.

  • Realistic question styles that mirror the ACT’s English, Math, Reading, and Science formats, including passage types and question structures
  • True-to-test pacing through timed practice modes that help students build the speed and endurance required on test day
  • Exam-level difficulty that prepares students for the challenge they will face, not an easier version of it

Many students report that the actual ACT felt like another QBank session. That level of familiarity is exactly what UWorld is designed to create.

UWorld’s ACT questions are written by a team of experienced educators, subject matter experts, and high-scoring test prep professionals who have deep knowledge of how the ACT is structured and scored. Every question and explanation goes through a rigorous review process to ensure accuracy, appropriate difficulty, and alignment with the real exam. UWorld does not use AI-generated questions or unreviewed third-party content. Every item in the QBank is purpose-built to give students a high-quality, trustworthy learning experience.

Yes. UWorld offers a free trial that gives students hands-on access to the platform before purchasing, with no credit card required.

  • Practice with realistic ACT-style questions across multiple sections
  • Review detailed, strategy-focused explanations for every answer choice
  • Explore the platform’s tools and interface to see how it fits your study style

The free trial is the best way to experience what makes UWorld different before making a decision.

Yes, and in some ways it is especially well-suited for students with limited time. When you cannot afford to waste hours reviewing things you already know, UWorld helps you zero in on what actually needs work.

  • Performance analytics quickly surface your weakest areas so you can prioritize the right topics from day one
  • Custom quizzes let you concentrate your remaining prep time on high-impact content instead of working through material at random
  • Detailed explanations help you learn from every mistake immediately, so you are not repeating the same errors week after week
  • Timed practice modes help you sharpen pacing and build the test-day stamina you need to finish each section on time

Students who study consistently and review explanations carefully can see meaningful score improvement in just a few weeks. A focused month of QBank practice is far more effective than unstructured reviewing.

There is no single number that works for every student. What matters more than volume is how you practice.

  • Targeted daily review of 20 to 30 questions is more effective than rushing through large sets without reflection
  • Studying explanations carefully, especially for questions you got right by guessing, is where most score gains come from
  • Using performance analytics regularly helps you stay focused on the topics that will move your score the most

Students who prioritize understanding over quantity consistently improve faster. The goal is not to complete the QBank, it is to get better at the ACT.

The fastest path to a higher score combines targeted practice, honest review, and realistic timing. Doing more questions without understanding your mistakes is one of the most common ways students plateau.

  • Use performance analytics to identify your weakest topics so you are not spending time on things you already know
  • Build custom quizzes around those specific concepts and question types to get focused repetition where it counts
  • Review detailed explanations after every session, including the questions you answered correctly, to reinforce the reasoning behind each answer
  • Practice under timed conditions regularly so improving your pacing becomes part of your preparation, not an afterthought

Consistent, focused practice combined with honest review is the most reliable way to improve. UWorld is designed to make both easier.

Yes. UWorld gives you full control over how you practice, so you can build sessions around exactly what you need to work on.

  • ACT Math-only quizzes filtered by topic and difficulty
  • English grammar drills focused on specific conventions like punctuation, verb agreement, or sentence structure
  • Reading comprehension sets organized by passage type and question style
  • Science reasoning practice covering data interpretation, experiment analysis, and hypothesis comparison
  • Timed or untimed sessions depending on whether you are building accuracy or speed

This level of customization makes it easy to work on your weakest section without losing ground in areas where you are already strong.

UWorld covers the full range of math content tested on the ACT, from foundational concepts to more advanced problem types.

  • Algebra and Functions: linear equations, inequalities, systems of equations, and function notation
  • Advanced Math: quadratic, polynomial, exponential, and logarithmic functions
  • Geometry and Trigonometry: angles, triangles, circles, coordinate geometry, and right triangle trigonometry
  • Data Analysis and Statistics: ratios, percentages, probability, and interpreting graphs and tables

Students can filter practice by topic, difficulty, and question type at any time, making it easy to focus on the areas that need the most attention.

Yes. UWorld includes a full set of ACT Science practice questions designed to help students interpret data, analyze experiments, and work efficiently under time pressure.

  • Data interpretation and graph analysis using charts, tables, and figures similar to those on the real exam
  • Scientific reasoning questions based on experiments, including identifying variables and evaluating conclusions
  • Hypothesis comparison questions that require students to assess conflicting viewpoints and research summaries
  • Pacing strategies to help students manage one of the most time-pressured sections on the ACT

Each explanation breaks down the passage and question logic step by step, helping students build both the analytical skills and the speed they need to perform well on test day.

Both are valuable tools, but they serve different purposes and work best at different stages of your prep.

Mock Exam

  • A complete, full-length simulation of the Digital ACT that mirrors the real test in format, timing, and difficulty
  • Best used to measure your overall readiness and simulate actual test-day conditions
  • Delivers a detailed score report with overall scores, section scores, subscores by skill area, and guidance on where to focus next
  • Most students find their final mock score falls within a few points of their actual ACT result

Customizable Practice Tests

  • You choose the subject, topic, difficulty, and length, giving you complete control over each session
  • Ideal for drilling specific weak areas like algebra or punctuation without spending time on content you have already mastered
  • No limit on the number of custom quizzes you can create, so you can keep practicing a skill until it sticks

Use mock exams to measure where you stand overall. Use custom quizzes to fix the specific things holding your score back.

Timing your mock exams strategically makes them significantly more useful than taking them at random.

  • Early in your prep to establish a baseline score and identify which sections and topics need the most work before you start studying
  • Midway through your study plan to measure how much progress you have made and decide whether to adjust your focus before the exam
  • In the final week before test day to confirm your readiness, get comfortable with full-length timing, and reduce test-day anxiety

Spacing your mock exams across your prep timeline gives you a clear picture of your improvement and helps you make smarter decisions about where to spend your remaining study time.

UWorld’s questions are designed to be at or slightly above the difficulty of the actual ACT. Practicing at a slightly elevated level helps students build the skills and confidence they need to handle whatever appears on test day. Many students report that the actual exam felt more manageable than their QBank sessions, which is exactly the outcome UWorld is built to create. Every question, regardless of whether you get it right or wrong, comes with a detailed explanation so you are always learning how to approach the exam more effectively.

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Frequently Asked Questions

New Purchase: All new subscriptions go into effect from the time they are activated and not at the time of setup/purchase. A subscription can be activated immediately or any time thereafter. If your initial purchase consists of multiple courses (Qbank, Self-Assessment exam, CCS, etc.), each can be activated individually and independently via your account on our website. This process of activating a subscription after purchase allows you the flexibility to start a subscription when you are truly ready to use it.

We recommend that all subscriptions be activated within 180 days of setup/purchase. Once a subscription is activated, it cannot be paused or suspended for any reason and will run continuously for the duration of the course material.

Renewal: A renewal is an extension of time to continue access to a current activated subscription. Because a renewal is an extension to an already active subscription, it is effective from the existing expiration date, not from the day of purchase and cannot be deferred to start at a later date/time.

Note: All of our subscriptions are based on the Eastern Time Zone (GMT/UTC -5 hours or New York Time), which may be different than your local time zone.

Any of our product offerings can be purchased from our website with payment due in full at time of purchase via a credit or debit card with American Express/Discover/MasterCard or Visa logo.

You will need to register for an account in order to purchase any of our products. Once you have registered for an account or if you already have an account:

  • Log in to your UWorld account
  • Click on the Cart icon at the top of the page and then select your desired product to see a list of available packages and their prices
  • Select the package you wish to purchase
  • Verify your profile information, address, and educational status, then click the Update button
  • Enter your Billing address and credit/debit card information, then click Review Order
  • Verify that the correct product is in your cart and click Place Order
  • A purchase receipt will automatically be sent to your registered email address

If you complete your purchase but do not receive a receipt, please contact the Customer Care Team at [email protected]

You can subscribe to any of our online courses/services using a credit or debit card with a Visa, MasterCard, Discover or American Express logo. After a successful payment, your subscription will immediately be available for activation via your account on our website or available complementary mobile applications.

You can also subscribe via personal check, money order, or demand drafts taken in U.S. dollars. These types of payments should be mailed to us and should include the name of the subscription and the duration, along with the details asked for in the registration form. We will set up your account as soon as we receive your payment and notify you via email of your access credentials. All direct-mail payments must be in U.S. dollars and made payable to:

UWORLD, LLC
P.O. Box 739478

Dallas, TX 75373-9478

We do not accept cash via mail, currencies other than U.S. dollars or payments via fax.

Individuals purchasing our CPA Review product may finance their purchase using Affirm during checkout process. Your eligibility depends on your credit score and other criteria, as per Affirm’s policies (outlined here). A soft credit check, a credit check that does not affect your credit score, will be performed by Affirm to determine your loan eligibility. You will need a US based bank account to qualify.

All refunds are evaluated on a case-by-case basis for products purchased directly from UWorld. One case has no bearing on another. Refund amounts determined by UWorld are final.

In-App Purchases: We are unable to process any refunds for purchases made via mobile application (in-app). Please contact Apple for all refund/credit requests for Apple in-app purchases.

USMLE Step 2 CS, Step 3 CCS, Subject Reviews & Self-Assessment Exams: These subscriptions are non-refundable, non-transferable, and cannot be converted into another subscription.

CPA Review: Students may request to cancel their CPA review product only within 10-days of activation of any of the materials. To qualify for a refund, no more than 10% of the course (lectures, Qbank, or a combination there-of) may have been used per exam section. All CPA Review refunds are subject to a cancellation fee of $75 (for single section purchases) or $250 (for package
purchases), plus any applicable shipping charges. No return of merchandise is necessary.

All other Qbanks: Refunds are considered for subscriptions of more than 30 days. Refund amounts are based on the number of days elapsed since the subscription start date or the number of questions used, whichever amounts to a higher deductible.

Example scenarion: An individual purchases a 180-day Qbank subscription and generates a few test blocks equal to 20% of the questions in the Qbank. After 45 days, he/she requests a refund. Because the elapsed duration is greater than the percentage of questions used, the refund amount will be based on a subscription converted to the closest duration (60 days) by deducting the applicable 60-day subscription fee from the refund. In the same scenario, if the individual had used 85% of the questions, the refund would be 15% of the subscription fee paid.

Note 1: A processing fee of 10% (minimum of $10 and maximum of $25) will be applied to all refund amounts.

Note 2: All refunds, pro-rated or otherwise, must be requested within 360 days of original purchase. Refunds for purchases made more than 360 days ago will be issued as non-refundable, non-transferable store credit.

Note 3: Subscribers must notify UWorld of their intent to obtain a refund before activating their subscription (or) during the active duration. If the reset option is used or all of the questions are used, no refund will be allowed (see “I want to reset/delete my Qbank test history (or) start all over again, is this possible?” below for further details). No refunds will be offered for expired subscriptions.

Note 4: For combination package purchases, individual subscription fees will be applied when calculating the refund. If any self-assessment Exam(s) is utilized from a package, the entire purchase is rendered non-refundable.

Note 5: Although access to Qbanks via certain mobile devices is provided as an additional feature, it is not intended to be a replacement for computer access, and no refunds or cancellations will be honored due to user inability to install and/or use the provided software on any mobile device (regardless of whether the device meets the minimum system requirements).

Please use the following steps to purchase a renewal for your subscription:

  • Log in to your account on our website
  • Click on the User Icon in the top right corner of the screen
  • Click on the Renew button corresponding to your subscription
  • Select the Renewal duration you wish to purchase
  • Verify your profile information, address, and educational status, then click the Update button
  • Enter your Billing address and credit/debit card information, then click Review Order
  • Verify that the correct package is in your cart and click Place Order

Upon a successful transaction, you will be sent a confirmation email receipt.

A renewal is an extension of time to continue accessing an active subscription, and it will not start the subscription over, provide a reset, or grant access to additional questions that were not previously accessible. Because a renewal is an extension to an already active subscription, it is effective from the existing expiration date, not from the date of purchase, and cannot be deferred in any way to start at a later date/time.

Please note that to qualify for renewal pricing, you will need to renew the course before it expires. Renewals are not offered to expired subscriptions. If you fail to secure a renewal before the expiration date, you will need to purchase a new subscription at the regular price directly from our website to regain access to the material.

Note: All times and dates displayed for subscription expiration correspond with the Eastern Time Zone (GMT/UTC -5 hours or New York Time), which may be different than your local time zone.

Note: If your initial purchase was a combination package, you will need to renew each active subscription individually. You do not need to renew a course that has not been activated.

You may request to upgrade or downgrade your subscription purchase as long as it has not been activated. If you purchase a combination package, all included subscriptions must be unused. Please be advised that current subscription pricing will apply.

If your subscription has been activated, unfortunately, we cannot upgrade it retroactively. If seeking to downgrade, please refer to our refund policy for available options.

We do not offer custom duration(s) or combination packages other than those outlined on the website. Please refer to our purchase page for currently available subscriptions (including discounted combination packages for some products).

Self-Assessment exam subscriptions are for 14 days each. Subscribers whose active subscription(s) have not expired can purchase renewals from 7 days or more at any time before their active subscription expires. Please refer to the respective course description page for renewal options.

We offer a demo on each of our product pages that contains a sample of the product interface and a few sample questions. We do not offer guest/trial accounts to test our software and view materials.

It is possible to purchase a subscription as a gift for someone else. However, the intended recipient will need to register an account on our website (or have an account registered for them, with their profile information entered accurately). If the user is present at the time of purchase, the purchase can be made from their account on our website using any credit or debit card with a Visa, MasterCard, American Express, or Discover logo.

If the user is not present, or you wish for the gift to be a surprise, please contact Support directly using the contact form to arrange payment for the gift subscription. You will need to provide the user’s registered email address so the account can be located.
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180 Day Access + One-Time Reset
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360 Day Access + One-Time Reset
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SAT QBank
Select Your Plan
Fast Track
30-Day Access
$99
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Power Boost
90-Day Access
$149
Buy
Competitive Edge
180-Day Access + One-Time Reset
$199
Buy
Peak Performance
360-Day Access + One-Time Reset
$249
Buy
SAT Prep Course
Select Your Plan
Introductory Plan
30 Day Access
$299
Buy
Score Booster Plan
90 Day Access
$349
Buy
Deep Learning Plan
180 Day Access + One-Time Reset
$399
Buy
Dream Score Plan
360 Day Access + One-Time Reset
$449
Buy