Help with ACT English

I've been practicing for the ACT and honestly, I'm struggling a bit with the English section. Does anybody have any tips or resources I could use?

Sure, I'm glad you reached out for tips to improve your score in the ACT English section. Let's tackle this one step at a time!

1. Understand the Format: The first step is to fully understand the format of the ACT English section. It consists of 75 questions that you'll need to answer in 45 minutes. The questions are divided among five passages. The key areas tested are English Conventions, Production of Writing, Language Use and Conventions, and Knowledge of Language.

2. Review Grammar Rules: The ACT English section essentially tests your knowledge of English grammar and usage. It'll be critical for you to review and get comfortable with core grammar rules. This includes subject-verb agreement, pronoun usage, verb tenses, punctuation, parallel structure, and modifiers. Knowing these rules can really help you identify potential errors in the passages.

3. Understand the Question Types: The types of questions you'll see include questions that ask you to choose the best option to convey the author's intended meaning, questions about syntax, punctuation, and grammar, and questions that ask you to evaluate the effectiveness of the passage's organization or transitions. There are also 'big picture' questions that ask about the main idea, author’s tone, or purpose.

4. Practice: Like with any test, practice is critical. The more you familiarize yourself with the test format and the types of questions asked, the better you'll get at answering them. There are many free sample questions and tests available, and these can help you to identify your weak areas so you can focus your study efforts more effectively.

5. Read Actively: When you're practicing, make sure to read the passages actively. Pay attention to the flow of ideas and the relationships between the sentences and paragraphs. Understanding the context can help you answer the questions more accurately.

6. Reading Outside of Test Prep: Regularly reading outside of your ACT prep can also help. Choose challenging material that makes you work to understand it. This will strengthen your overall comprehension skills and make you more comfortable with complex texts.

7. Review Mistakes: Make sure to thoroughly review your mistakes after each practice test. This will help you understand the reasoning behind correct answers and reduce similar mistakes in the future.

In addition to all this, you can use the study resources on official ACT prep materials or prep books. Also, consider checking out study guides or online prep platforms that offer sample questions, lessons, and full-length practice tests. This should give you a comprehensive approach in improving your ACT English score. Best of luck!