ACT Reading Test: What aspect of reading does it measure?

Hi everyone! I'm working on my ACT prep, and I'm unsure about the ACT Reading Test. What specific aspect of reading does it measure, and what skills should I focus on refining to do well on this section? Any tips or resources would be amazing. Thanks a bunch!

Hello! The ACT Reading Test is designed to measure your reading comprehension skills. By assessing your ability to understand, analyze, and draw conclusions from various texts, the test evaluates your ability to read efficiently and effectively in college and beyond.

To excel in this section, you should focus on improving the following skills:

1. Pacing: ACT Reading has 40 questions that you need to answer in just 35 minutes, which means you have less than a minute per question. Practice reading passages and answering questions quickly to improve your pacing.

2. Skimming and scanning: Learn to quickly identify the main ideas, key details, and the structure of a passage. Skimming and scanning will help you locate relevant information and save time when answering questions, as reading every word and trying to memorize everything is difficult and time-consuming.

3. Vocabulary: While the ACT doesn't emphasize vocabulary as heavily as the SAT, a strong vocabulary can still help your overall comprehension, by providing context clues. Try to learn new words regularly, even by playing simple games like Wordle, and look up unfamiliar words when you encounter them.

4. Identifying types of questions: Familiarize yourself with the different types of questions asked in the ACT Reading section, such as main idea and detail, inference, and author's purpose. By knowing how to approach each type of question, you can save time and improve your accuracy.

5. Analyzing arguments and ideas: Practice understanding the different viewpoints and arguments presented in a passage. Be prepared to analyze how authors build their arguments and convey their ideas.

Regarding resources, you can start with the official ACT website and the many ACT prep books available, which include sample passages and questions. Online platforms like Khan Academy also offer free resources and articles on ACT Reading strategies. Additionally, you can find forums and blogs where other students share their experiences and tips for the ACT Reading section. Finally, your English teacher may have some tips that have helped students earn high scores on this section in the past.

Remember to practice regularly and review your answers to identify areas for improvement. By refining these skills and utilizing available resources, you'll be well-prepared for the ACT Reading Test. Good luck!