The ACT reading section can pose a significant challenge for students not fond of reading. The passages are lengthy, uninteresting, and difficult to comprehend, making it hard to remain focused during practice tests. However, excelling in this section is crucial if you aspire to achieve a high ACT score and gain admission to your dream college, just like any other part of the test.

One of the main hurdles is the time constraint, as you have only 35 minutes to answer 40 questions while grappling with those dense passages.

To enhance your reading score on the ACT, you need effective strategies tailored to this section. Despite your aversion to reading, the ACT is highly predictable, and by following Park Tutoring’s tips for ACT reading, you can significantly improve your performance and even excel in this aspect of the test.

2023 ACT Reading Topics

Based on our analysis, here are the topics covering ACT Reading:

• Author’s Purpose
• Big Picture
• Data Reasoning
• Evidence Support
• Inference
• Little Detail
• Vocabulary in Context

Park Tutoring’s Top 12 ACT Reading Strategies

Here are some proven effective strategies to ace ACT Reading: 

Know the Content of the Exam

Like any other section of the ACT, it’s important to know what to study for while taking your ACT practice reading test and what to expect on the actual exam. The ACT reading section can be summarized as follows:

• There are 40 questions to be answered in 35 minutes! Budget your time accordingly because you have to get through the passages as well.
• It’s scored on a scale of 1-36, like all the other sections on the exam.
• There are four types of passages: Prose Fiction / Literary Narrative, Social Science, Humanities, and Natural Science.
• At least one of the passages will be a dual passage which has two shorter passages and will ask you to compare the two.

Don’t Fall for the Test Maker’s Traps! 

• The purpose of the ACT Reading section is to assess your college readiness, and as a result, it is deliberately made challenging. The test-makers aim to create an experience that evaluates your skills and ability to think critically about the content. Consequently, they incorporate various tricks and traps to slow you down and make you uncomfortable. To excel in the ACT Reading section, it is crucial to adopt a strategic approach that allows you to predict and steer clear of these traps. Being mindful of the methods employed by the ACT to trip you up will better prepare you to answer questions accurately and efficiently.
• A common pitfall to avoid is falling into a deceptive sense of ease and certainty while unknowingly squandering time on what appears to be a straightforward passage. Take, for instance, the literary narrative passage, typically the opening one in the ACT Reading section. Many students tend to underestimate its difficulty, assuming it will be effortless due to its focus on fiction, characters, and dialogue. However, upon starting the exam, they soon realize that the questions related to this passage demand meticulous attention to detail and consume a significant amount of time, requiring them to search through the text for specific information.
• Regrettably, numerous students make the mistake of commencing with this particular passage, leading to a significant time loss. The test-makers intentionally design the ACT Reading section to lure students into spending a substantial amount of time on the initial passage, reducing the time available for the remaining passages.

Consequently, it is crucial to approach the ACT Reading section with a vigilant focus on strategy and a carefully devised plan for approaching each passage. You will greatly enhance your chances of achieving high scores when you successfully identify and evade these typical pitfalls.

Target Simple Questions and Passages First 

• Like all other parts of the ACT, each question in this section carries the same point value, and there is no negative marking for incorrect answers. Therefore, it’s wise to focus on the passages and questions you find the most manageable or straightforward.
• What constitutes an “easy” passage or question in the ACT Reading section is not straightforward and depends on each individual student. In general, an “easy” passage is one that manages to capture your interest to some extent. When you find a connection or curiosity in the subject matter, even if it’s just a slight interest, it enhances your focus and improves your chances of answering the questions correctly.
• A straightforward question in the ACT Reading section is one that can be solved by merely reading a line again or focusing on a single detail in the passage. These questions demand a less comprehensive understanding of the entire passage, making them faster and simpler to respond to.
• However, challenging ACT Reading passages are usually characterized by their complexity, technicality, and focus on specific details. Among these passages, the Prose Fiction / Literary Narrative section is often regarded as time-consuming, despite its engaging content. Likewise, difficult ACT Reading questions usually involve broader concepts and demand a deeper understanding of the passage. Because of this, it is advisable to leave these questions for the end or make educated guesses if needed.

Know the Question Types You’ll be Tested On

As with all the other sections, the ACT English exam has three distinct categories of questions, which are:

• Key Ideas and Details
• Craft and Structure
• Integration of Knowledge and Ideas

These categories are rather broad, and it might be difficult to understand what they actually mean.

Here are a few specifics on what you can expect on the exam:

• Drawing inferences from textual evidence
• Identifying the function or purpose of words, sentences, paragraphs, or the passage
• Determining the main idea of the passage or individual paragraphs
• Noting details and keywords from the questions
• Analyzing the narrative point of view or authorial perspective
• Understanding vocabulary words in context
• Identifying literary devices such as metaphor, personification, and allusion
• Conducting character analysis

Annotate While You Read 

• One of the biggest challenges when tackling the ACT Reading section is managing your time. Longer, denser passages can be especially daunting. To work through them more efficiently, it’s important to read strategically.
• So, what does strategic reading look like exactly? The key is to prioritize the main ideas as you read. A lot of the questions will concern these, so you don’t want to get lost in the details and elaborations. Take notes as you go, underlining the central ideas, keywords from the questions, and author opinions.
• By doing this, you create a “passage guide” that can lead you more easily and quickly to the answers when it’s time to tackle the questions. Additionally, these annotations will help you develop a baseline understanding of the passage as a whole, which is crucial for answering big-picture questions.

Use the Passage to Your Advantage! 

• The ACT is actually an open-book exam if you think about it. The passages are provided for you to reference throughout the entirety of the exam, and you can always make reference to them.
• Remember, all answer choices are grounded in the text somehow, and by using strategic reading as well as some common sense, you can easily figure out where to answer most questions!
• Even large context-based questions can be answered simply by reading the passage, so it’s important to start getting into the habit of seeing how small details contribute to a larger meaning.

Remember Traps? Memorize Common Types 

• When taking the ACT Reading section, there are several answer traps you should be on the lookout for. One of the most common traps is extreme answers, which use words like “never” or “always.” Be cautious of answer choices that make absolute statements like these, as they are often incorrect.
• Another trap to avoid is vague answer choices. These options may be too general or broad and fail to address the specific details or information asked in the question. To avoid this, choose answers that directly address the information asked and are clearly stated.
• You should also avoid answers that go too far. While some answer choices may sound correct, they can go too far and make an inference or logical leap that is not supported by the passage. Stay grounded in the information presented in the passage and choose answers that are supported by the evidence.
• Finally, watch out for answers that scramble details from the passage. While these answers may appear correct at first glance, they are often slightly off and do not fully address the information asked in the question. Always double-check the details in the passage and ensure your chosen answer accurately reflects the information presented.

Don’t Read the Answer Choices First! 

• While it may be tempting to look at the answer choices and then read the passage, you really shouldn’t do this! This increases your likelihood of falling for traps designed to catch your eye because you’re not looking at the answer choices in detail.
• Instead, you should read the question first, but not the answer choices. Then, with the question in mind, go ahead and read through the passage to figure out what textual evidence you have and how it can be used to answer the questions.

Eliminate Answers 

• When choosing an answer, it is easier to do the elimination method. One word can make an entire answer incorrect. When you see a word that does not support the context of the question, keep eliminating until you find the right answer.

Know What to Look for in a Topic 

It will save you more time if you can anticipate what the question will be as you start reading a new passage. Here are some topics and what the question will most likely lean to:

• Literary Fiction – Look for the bigger picture when dealing with literary fiction. The key to understanding literary fiction is to find the idea behind the idea. Try to summarize the passage in one statement.
• Humanities – Most passages on humanities focus on the tone. What are the emotions the author is trying to evoke in the readers? Try to figure out what the author’s voice is.
• Natural Science – Look for details when reading about Natural Science. Science is always backed by evidence and supporting facts, which is why it is practical to apply an evidence-based approach when answering questions.
• Social Science – Encompassing Social Science are Psychology and Sociology. Psychology is about how people think and Sociology is about how people behave. When dealing with Social Science, think of the passage’s subject and point of view. Most questions might lean towards what statement the author may agree with based on the passage.

Dual Passage? Divide and Conquer 

• It’s important to keep in mind that one of the four passages in the ACT Reading section is a dual passage. This means you’ll need to read two smaller passages and answer questions about both of them.
• A helpful strategy is to divide and conquer. Instead of trying to read through both passages before answering any questions, tackle one passage at a time, paying close attention to details and themes.
• Once you’ve completed the first passage, move on to the second one and answer its questions. Then, tackle the questions concerning both passages and make sure you can point to exactly where you’re getting your answers from in each passage.
• This approach can save you time and help you avoid feeling overwhelmed by trying to comprehend both passages at the same time. It allows you to focus on each passage more thoroughly and answer the questions more accurately.

Consistent Practice 

• Reading is tough, we get it, but you need to practice in order to get better at it. Whether it be through studying passages or practicing how to annotate correctly, the ACT Reading exam can be cracked by thorough practice.
• It’s a good idea for you to practice with timed exercises to get used to the pace of the ACT Reading section. You can do this by attempting one Reading passage in 8.5 minutes. This can help you get a feel for how much time you have to work with and develop a sense of pacing to make the most of your time on test day. By making it a regular practice, you can build your confidence and improve your reading speed and accuracy.

Here are our top twelve approaches to achieving a high ACT Reading Exam score! You can click here if you’re interested in a more detailed explanation of ACT scoring. Alternatively, you can explore some other ACT-related articles we have. For personalized guidance and recommendations, you can sign up for Park Tutoring’s Intensive ACT course and begin improving your score today!