How to Score High on the ACT Reading Test
Students should welcome the ACT Reading Test as a very student-friendly and predictable test. Although reading speed and vocabulary take considerable time to develop, highly motivated students have the potential to score very high even if they started with low scores. Statistically, we have many students who started with very low ACT Reading Test scores, but after our training, ended up with near-perfect scores. Please review how our Presidio Education® 2019 and 2018 ACT students progressed, including a review from one of our students who jumped from a 23 to a 34 on the ACT Reading Test! Below are just a few strategies we have taught our students on how to excel.
Predictable Reading Passage Order
Unlike the SAT Reading Test, the ACT Reading Test passages maintain a very predictable order. Since ACT revised its test in 2015, the four reading passage genres have consistently remained in the same order: 1) literary narrative (questions 1-10); 2) social science (questions 11-20); 3) humanities (questions 21-30); and 4) natural science (questions 31-40). Therefore, ACT students should feel much more confident knowing the order of each passage. Although paired passages may fall in any of the four passage genres, the order of each genre will remain the same. Still, students should refrain from jumping around test questions to decrease confusion. Answer sheets may be incorrectly filled when students answer out of order. Consistent rhythm with time management is vital.
Tackling Inference Questions
ACT students may often find inference questions difficult because they are more interpretational. This is normal, but nothing to feel anxious about! Inference questions require students to read in context to determine the most coherent, meaning logically consistent, responses. Analyzing how questions apply to both specific parts of the passages and passages as a whole is key. ACT inference questions are often posed with key words, such as “infers”, “indicates”, “suggests”, “most likely” and “most directly”, which mean answers may not necessarily be written in black and white in the passages. Although students are often taught to locate line evidence questions in passages by searching for verbatim phrases or sentences, inference questions require students to separate figurative from literal language, which is why we train our students to study literary and rhetorical devices. While inference questions appear in all four reading passages, these interpretational questions are most prevalent in the ACT literary narrative passage!
Strong Vocabulary is the Hidden Key
Analyzing passages at a high level requires students to maintain deep vocabulary levels. Studying vocabulary may not be the most thrilling, but its value should never be underestimated! ACT Reading Test passages often have questions specific to vocabulary. But similarly to perfecting inference skills, students should learn to answer vocabulary questions by reading the questions in context. Simple rote memorization of vocabulary words is not always effective. Students must understand how the meaning of these words alter depending both on the context of the passages and how the questions are being asked. Again, the ACT just wants to make sure students realize that meanings of words ultimately depend on context, not straight dictionary definition. Students must prepare for vocabulary questions that are posed in new and unfamiliar contexts, similarly to inference questions. This is also why students should dedicate decent effort with learning all definitions of words, not just the popular or first definition of given words.
Nothing to Fear about Paired Passages
Similarly to the SAT Reading Test, the ACT Reading Test usually contains paired passages, which may appear in any of the passage sections (literary narrative, social science, humanities, or natural science). Instead of one larger passage, paired passages are two smaller passages divided as “Passage A” and “Passage B”. Paired passages may have the same author, different authors, similar tones and arguments, or even vastly dissimilar tones and arguments for students to compare and contrast. Students should not worry if paired passages have different authors, but analyze these smaller, more focused passages with confidence. Occasionally, the ACT Reading Test does not contain paired passages, but either way, students should not worry!
Anticipating Subject Material
Since the ACT Reading Test passage order is predictable, students can also predict the type of subject material that will be tested. For the literary narrative passage, students should prepare by reading novels, novellas, myths, fairy tales, plays, fables, dramas and imaginative narratives to increase inference skills. Although none of the ACT Reading Test passages contain poems, students should practice analyzing poetry to gain that extra edge with breaking down figurative language. For the social science passage, students should study texts concerning history, government, politics, sociology, psychology, economics and geography. Familiarizing with American terminology and literature will be particularly helpful for this genre. For the humanities passage, students should review texts on human society and culture to understand how, and most importantly why, people think, act and communicate with each other. Understanding rationales and motives are key to breaking down the humanities passage. For the natural science passage, students are not expected to know all the technical terms for biology or chemistry subjects, but should anticipate questions that require them to locate evidence or data in passages relating to life science and physical science. The natural science passage is nothing to fear! Also, unlike the SAT Reading Test, so far, none of the ACT Reading Test passages contain supplementary material, such as charts, graphs, tables, or maps, that students need to analyze in conjunction with the passages.
Familiarizing with American Culture and Terminology
ACT Reading Test passages can be from a variety of literary subjects, authors and cultures. However, “ACT” stands for “American College Testing”, which implies that passages and question wording are often tailored towards American culture, society and linguistic terminology. This is not to say that all passages will always be from American literature, but that oftentimes passages will contain wording that may be more familiar to American students. Therefore, reading American texts is a strong way to gain familiarity with American culture, society, monetary systems, measuring systems, or, for example, political systems, such as the three branches of government for the social science passage. Students should also study American English vocabulary and be aware that passages dated in particular eras may have vocabulary with distinct definitions specific to those time periods.
Keeping Track of the Clock
Time management is often one of the biggest hurdles on American standardized tests. This does not necessarily mean students may struggle more with content knowledge, but rather may not have the most effective time management skills to complete each passage and question on time. The ACT Reading Test is 35 minutes with a total of 40 questions. Students often divide their time evenly among the four Reading Test passages and assume that they should maximize just over eight minutes per passage. However, students may forget to anticipate obstacles. This is why we train students to remain disciplined and provide themselves with an adequate cushion in case they need more time with difficult passages or questions, or simply want to go back and double check answers. Our time management training teaches students to increase reading speed, comprehension, scanning and analytical skills. Providing a solid buffer time will also vastly alleviate stress and panic!
Want More ACT Reading Test Strategies?
The above ACT Reading Test strategies are only a few that we teach our students who have high Reading Test target scores. If you have any questions about how to improve on the ACT Reading Test, would like to share some ideas or strategies that have worked for you, or have requests on what else you would like to read about, please post them here for fellow students and parents! For those interested in our ACT training, please complete our Private Class Registration Form on our Private Classes page or contact our Customer Service Team for more information. Thank you and good luck students!
