Mastering ACT Reading: What skills do I need?

I'm kinda stressed about the ACT Reading section. What types of skills do I need to develop to do well, and how are these skills applied in the context of the exam?

Understanding that the ACT Reading section can feel daunting is the first step towards tackling it! The key skills you need for the ACT Reading section include: rapid reading comprehension, ability to find and interpret details, and understanding the main idea of a passage. These skills are critical since the test will ask you to read passages from different genres — including prose, humanities, social science, and natural science — and answer questions about them within a fairly tight time limit.

For instance, you'll need to be able to quickly identify an author’s purpose, differentiate between fact and opinion, make inferences, and understand context. To sharpen these skills, practice timed reading exercises with a variety of texts, and routinely challenge yourself with questions that test your understanding of what you've just read.

You might also find it useful to put yourself in test-like conditions: sit down with a full-length practice exam, and time each reading section to get a feel for the pace required. Remember, like any skill, these reading skills develop over time with consistent practice, so keep at it and don't hesitate to seek help if you're struggling in a particular area. You've got this!