ACT Reading Section Tips

The ACT Reading section is a part of the ACT (American College Testing) exam, which is a standardized test used by colleges and universities in the United States to assess a student’s readiness for college-level coursework. The reading section is a 35-minute, 40-question test that measures a student’s ability to understand and analyze written texts. The section includes four passages, with 10 questions per passage.

How hard is the ACT Reading section?

How hard is the ACT Reading section? The difficulty level of the test can vary depending on a student’s individual strengths and weaknesses. Some students may find the section relatively easy, while others may find it more challenging. However, in general, the test is considered to be one of the more challenging sections of the ACT.

One reason the section may be considered challenging is that it is timed, and students have only 35 minutes to read four passages and answer 40 questions. This can be difficult for students who struggle with time management or reading comprehension.

However, with proper preparation and practice, students can become more comfortable with the types of passages and questions in the ACT Reading section. Reading actively, managing your time effectively, practicing different types of passages and questions, and staying calm and focused can all help students increase their chances of success on this section of the ACT.

What to expect in the ACT Reading section?

What to expect in the ACT Reading section? It is designed to test a student’s ability to read and understand college-level texts. The section includes four passages with ten questions per passage. The passages are chosen from a variety of disciplines, including literature, social studies, natural science, and the humanities. The questions test the student’s ability to identify the main ideas, understand the author’s purpose and tone, and make inferences from the text.

Here are a few things you can expect in the test:

Variety of Passage Types: The section includes different types of passages, such as fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and historical documents. It’s important to practice with a diverse range of passages to become more comfortable with different types of texts.

Time Constraint: The section is timed, and you have 35 minutes to complete 40 questions. It’s important to manage your time effectively so that you have enough time to read and understand all of the passages and answer all of the questions.

Vocabulary-based Questions: The questions may include vocabulary words or phrases from the passage, so it’s important to understand the meaning of words in context.

Inferential Questions: The questions will test your ability to make inferences from the text, so you should be prepared to think critically and draw conclusions based on the information provided in the passage.

Main Idea and Details: The questions will test your ability to identify the main idea of the passage and understand the details that support it.

Author’s Purpose and Tone: The questions will test your ability to understand the author’s purpose and tone, so you should be prepared to analyze the passage from the author’s perspective.

The ACT Reading section is designed to test your ability to read and understand college-level texts, it’s important to practice with a diverse range of passages, manage your time effectively, understand the meaning of words in context, think critically and draw conclusions, identify the main idea and details and understand the author’s perspective.

ACT Reading Tips

Here are some ACT reading tips to prepare you for the reading section:

Practice Active Reading: Practice reading actively by underlining key points, taking notes, and summarizing the main ideas of each passage. This will help you better understand and remember the information in the passage.

Manage Your Time Effectively: The ACT Reading section is timed, so it’s important to manage your time effectively. Set a pace for yourself and make sure you have enough time to read and understand all of the passages and answer all of the questions.

Practice with a Variety of Passage Types: The section includes passages from a variety of disciplines, including literature, social studies, natural science, and the humanities. Practice with a diverse range of passages to become more comfortable with different types of texts.

Understand Vocabulary in Context: The questions may include vocabulary words or phrases from the passage, so it’s important to understand the meaning of words in context.

Practice Critical Reading and Analysis: The questions will test your ability to make inferences from the text, so practice thinking critically and drawing conclusions based on the information provided in the passage.

Practice Identifying Main Ideas and Supporting Details: The questions will test your ability to identify the main idea of the passage and understand the details that support it.

Practice Understanding Author’s Purpose and Tone: The questions will test your ability to understand the author’s purpose and tone, so practice analyzing passages from the author’s perspective.

Stay Calm and Focused: The test day can be stressful but staying calm and focused can help you perform better.

Overall, practice, practice, and more practice is the key to success in any standardized test, so make sure you practice a variety of passages and questions and use strategies to improve your reading comprehension and critical thinking skills.

ACT Reading section textbooks

ACT Reading section textbooks typically include a variety of passage types, such as fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and historical documents. This allows students to practice with a diverse range of passages and become more comfortable with different types of texts.

These textbooks often include detailed explanations and strategies for answering the questions, making them a great resource for students who are struggling with certain aspects of the section. They also provide a great way for students to track their progress and identify areas where they need to improve.

Furthermore, ACT Reading section textbooks often include full-length practice tests, which can help students become more familiar with the format and time constraints of the actual test. Taking full-length practice tests can help students develop good test-taking strategies, like time management and staying calm under pressure.

These textbooks are a valuable resource for students preparing for the ACT. They provide a variety of passages and questions that are similar in format and content to those found on the actual test and often include detailed explanations and strategies for answering the questions. They also provide a great way for students to track their progress and identify areas where they need to improve, as well as full-length practice tests that can help students become more familiar with the format and time constraints of the actual test.

If you need more guidance and tips on the ACT, reach out to college admissions experts like those here at AdmissionSight. At AdmissionSight, we have over ten years of experience guiding students through the competitive admissions process to get accepted to the top universities in the world. Feel free to set up an appointment today to book your initial consultation.