Information on the reading section of the ACT!

1. Welcome to ACT Reading!

2. Abilities Tested:
• The Reading Test assesses your ability to
understand, interpret, and analyze prose drawn
from reading passages:
– Prose Fiction: excerpts from short stories or novels
– Humanities: architecture, art, dance, music,
philosophy, theater
– Social Studies: anthropology, economics, history,
political science, psychology, sociology
– Natural Sciences: biology, chemistry, physical
science, physics

3. Remember…
• The questions test your reading and
reasoning abilities, not your prior
knowledge of a subject or knowledge of
vocabulary or rules of logic.

4. Common types of questions ask
you:
• About the main idea, point, purpose, or
possible titles of passages
• About important details or information this
is directly stated
• About the meaning of a word or phrase in
a passage
• About information that is assumed,
implied, or suggested that can be
reasonably inferred

5. Common types of questions ask
you:
• To recognize an author’s point of view
• To make comparisons between ideas or
characters
• To identify cause-effect relationships
• To make generalizations

6. Suggested General Approaches
• Since there are 4 passages and a total of
40 questions (10 per passage) to
complete in 35 minutes, you should spend
just under 9 minutes for each passage
and set of 10 questions.
• Because of the time allotment and number
of questions, you must work quickly. Don’t
get stuck on any one question.

7. Suggested General Approaches
• There is no penalty for guessing, so if you
don’t know the answer, take an educated
guess if possible, but always fill in an
answer.
• As you read the passages, mark the main
points and other items you feel are
important. Be an active reader.

8. Suggested General Approaches
• You may wish to quickly skim some of the
questions (but not the choices) before reading
the passage. This pre-reading can give you a
clue about the passage and what to look for.
• Make sure to choose
the BEST answer.
There may be more
than one CORRECT
answer!