10 Tips to Boost Your Score and Master the ACT Reading Section
If you want to perform well on the ACT, you need to tackle it one section at a time. Check out our list of 10 hacks to ace the reading section.
1. Know the Structure of the Test
The first trick is to know the structure of the test. It’s important to understand how many questions you’ll need to answer, how many passages you’ll have to read, and how much time you have to do it all. The ACT reading section has 4 passages. You have 35 minutes to complete the reading section, which breaks down to about 8.5 minutes to read and answer the questions for each passage. Practice timing yourself accordingly.
2. Dumb Down Complicated Questions
Keep it simple! Many of the questions on the ACT reading section are unnecessarily complicated and wordy. Think about what the question is actually asking you. At the core of each question is essentially a who, what, where, when, or why from the passage.
3. Know the Question Types
There are four different types of questions in the ACT reading section. The first is word in context, which asks you to determine the meaning of a word as it is used in the passage. You’ll also see development and function questions, which ask you why something in the passage occurred. The next question type is inference, in which you’ll need to draw a conclusion about something based on clues presented in the passage. Finally, you’ll see “except” questions. These questions ask you to identify which of the answer choices is incorrect, or which word/phrase was not mentioned in the passage.
4. Time Yourself While You Practice
A good test strategy always considers timing. Practice taking timed tests before the real deal. It’s important to make sure you have enough time to answer all of the questions and finish the section.
5. Keep Moving
There’s a good chance you’ll come across a question or two that you just can’t figure out. Don’t sit there and stare at the same question for minutes at a time. Keep moving and come back to it later. Wasting time and energy on the one question you don’t know can actually cost you a few questions later when your time inevitably runs out.
6. Do the Passages in Any Order
You do not have to work through the passages in order! If you start reading the first passage and decide you can’t be bothered to read about that topic right away, get started with another passage later in the section. There’s no penalty for jumping around within the reading section. Just double check to make sure you’ve finished all the questions before you stop the test.
7. Use Line References
There’s no need to memorize the passages. That would be a waste of time and brain space. Some questions will reference a specific line within the passage. Use that reference and go right back to that line before you answer the question. The answer will likely be right there on the page, and if not, the passage will give you the clues you need to arrive at the correct answer.
8. Eliminate, Eliminate, Eliminate!
By now you should know that eliminating incorrect answers is a tried and true test-taking strategy. Keep that up throughout the reading section. You can cross out the answers that you know right away are incorrect, making it easier for you to find the correct answer out of the remaining choices.
9. Find Support
Some questions have a line reference, but not all will. If there’s no line reference, that doesn’t mean there isn’t a line with the answer. You’ll find all you need to know within the passage. Always turn back and find the support you need to answer the question.
10. Stay Calm, Focused, and Engaged
This is perhaps the most obvious and the most difficult of ACT tips. Keep a clear head and stay on track throughout the duration of the test. The reading section is not ranked in order of difficulty; this means that the hardest passage could be the first one! Don’t give up after a few tough questions--the easier portion might be just around the corner.
Your individual test-taking strategy will be unique to you, but these 10 tips are a great place to start. We can help you get started on building your own plan of attack. Contact us for a free consultation.
