ACT Reading Section Breakdown

Hi everyone! Can someone explain what I should expect on the ACT Reading section? Like, how many questions are there, which skills do I need to focus on, and any tips for tackling this section? TIA!

Hello! I'd be happy to help break down the ACT Reading section for you.

First, let's discuss the format. The ACT Reading section consists of 40 multiple-choice questions that you'll need to complete in 35 minutes. The section is divided into four passages, each followed by 10 questions. The passages cover four subjects: literary narrative or prose fiction, social science, humanities, and natural science.

In terms of skills, the ACT Reading section tests your ability to:

1. Locate and interpret details from the passages.

2. Determine the main ideas and themes.

3. Understand relationships, draw inferences, and make predictions.

4. Analyze characters, tone, and perspective.

5. Understand the purpose and organization of the passages.

Now let's discuss some tips for tackling the ACT Reading section:

1. Time management: With 35 minutes to complete 40 questions, you have roughly 52 seconds per question. It's helpful to allocate around 3 minutes to read each passage and about 30 seconds to answer each question.

2. Skimming: You may not have time to read every passage in-depth. Start by skimming the passage to identify the main idea and any essential details, then refer back to the text to answer specific questions.

3. Answering questions: Attack the questions in the order that works best for you. Some test-takers start with detail-oriented questions, while others dive into the broader, main idea questions first.

4. Get familiar with question types: The ACT Reading section has a few common question types, such as Vocabulary-in-Context, Detail, Main Idea, Inference, and Tone/Perspective. Being familiar with these question types will help you approach them more strategically.

5. Eliminate incorrect answers: Always try to eliminate obviously incorrect answer choices before choosing the correct one. This increases your odds of selecting the right answer.

6. Practice: The more you practice, the more confident and prepared you'll be for the actual test. Utilize official ACT practice tests and other resources to familiarize yourself with the types of passages and questions you'll encounter.

Remember, the key to success on the ACT Reading section is a combination of time management, strategic reading, and practice. Good luck!