How to Tackle the ACT Reading Section: Tips and Strategies
By gearing up with ACT test prep for an upcoming exam, you know you have your work cut out for you. The Reading Section of the test gives you 35 minutes to answer 40 questions, so there's no time to read at a relaxed pace or second-guess every detail.
You need a clear approach to help you move through the passages, stay focused, and choose the best answers without overthinking.
In this post, we'll review the test structure, as well as provide smart reading techniques and strategies to help with your ACT test preparation. By the end, you'll have a solid plan for tackling the ACT Reading section confidently.
Understanding the ACT Reading Section
To begin your strategizing for the ACT Reading section, you need to understand its layout. This test section features four passages, each with 10 questions, and distributed across these four distinct categories:
Prose Fiction/Literary Narrative – Includes short story excerpts or literary passages. These often explore characters, emotions, and relationships.
Social Science – Here you'll find topics related to history, economics, sociology, or politics.
Humanities – You'll tackle passages about art, philosophy, literature, or personal essays.
Natural Science – This category is focused on scientific concepts, experiments, and research findings.
This mix of subjects means that some passages may feel easier than others. With just 35 minutes to get through all four passages and their total of 40 questions, time management is key.
Whether you're studying on your own, attending ACT test prep classes, or working with an ACT test prep tutor, practicing under timed conditions will help you get comfortable with the test's pace.
How to Prepare for the ACT Reading Section
If you want to improve your ACT score, regular practice is a non-negotiable must. The key isn't just reading a lot but reading strategically.
Get Comfortable with the Passage Types
Each passage type has a unique style and structure. If you know the patterns in which information is presented, you'll read passages faster on test day.
For example, Prose Fiction passages often include a character's thoughts and emotions, while Natural Science passages tend to be dense with data and the studies that produced them. Knowing what to expect will help you with your ACT test prep.
Use Official Practice Tests
There is no substitute for the Official ACT practice tests, your best resource for understanding the test's format and exposing yourself to practice questions.
When preparing for the ACT test, always time yourself. You don't just want to practice reading—you want to practice reading under test conditions so that you can build speed and reach your target ACT score.
Read More Outside of ACT Test Prep
You can't build your reading skills overnight. If you struggle with comprehension, try incorporating more reading into your daily life.
Read short stories, news articles, and science-related essays.
After reading, summarize the main ideas in your own words.
Challenge yourself with texts that are slightly above your comfort level.
The more you get familiar with different writing styles, the more naturally you'll understand and analyze passages on test day.
Strategies for the Day of the Test
Test day is when your hard work pays off. However, even the best ACT test prep is useless without a smart Reading Section strategy.
Time Management is Everything
You've got 35 minutes to complete 40 questions—or about 8-9 minutes per passage (including answering questions).
If you've been to ACT tutoring programs, you know that's not a lot of time, so be smart about how you approach each passage.
If a question is tricky, don't waste time—mark it and come back to it later.
Be strict with your pacing. If you find yourself spending too long on a passage, move on.
Skim the Passage First, Then Dive into Questions
While preparing for the ACT test, a big mistake high school students make is reading every word slowly before looking at the questions. That's a surefire way to run out of time.
Instead, skim the passage first—get a sense of the main idea, tone, and structure. Then, tackle the questions.
Look for topic sentences, bold claims, and key transitions. You don't need to memorize every detail—just get the big picture.
Be an Active Reader
Don't just passively read through the passage—engage with it.
Underline or circle key ideas you find.
Pay attention to transitional words like "however" and "on the other hand"—these often signal important shifts in the passage.
Look for cause-and-effect relationships, as they're often tested in questions.
Using these strategies will help you quickly locate information when answering questions.
How to Answer ACT Reading Questions Effectively
During your ACT tutoring sessions, you must have heard your tutor stress that each question type needs a different approach. Here's how to handle the most common ones:
Main Idea Questions: Look for the overall theme. Usually, the first and last paragraphs offer the best clues.
Detail Questions: Go back to the passage and find the exact location of the answer—don't guess!
Inference Questions: Read between the lines, but don't assume anything beyond what's in the text.
Vocabulary in Context: Use surrounding sentences to figure out the meaning.
Function/Purpose Questions: Ask yourself, "Why did the author include this?"
Remember: use the process of elimination aggressively. If an answer isn't backed by direct evidence in the passage, cross it out.
Common Mistakes (And How to Avoid Them)
Even strong readers fall into common ACT traps. Here's what to watch out for:
Overthinking a Question– Stick to what's in the passage. If an answer isn't directly supported by text, it's wrong.
Spending Too Much Time on One Passage – Move on if you're stuck. You can always return later.
Not Reviewing Practice Mistakes – If you don't analyze your errors, you won't improve. Make sure to understand why you answered a question wrong.
Bonus Tips for Success
Use the process of elimination ruthlessly – Get rid of wrong answers fast.
Stay calm and confident – Your mindset matters—panic leads to wasted time.
Never leave a question blank – The ACT doesn't penalize for wrong answers, so always guess if needed.
Conclusion
The ACT Reading Section can feel overwhelming, but with the right mindset, you can confidently tackle it. The keys are preparing in advance, practicing under real testing conditions, and approaching the test strategically.
If you're ready to improve your ACT test score, start by taking a timed practice test and implementing these strategies. The more you practice, the faster and more accurate you'll become.
If you need extra guidance, do not hesitate to seek guidance from an experienced ACT test prep tutor who can help refine your approach.
Schedule a session with our expert ACT test prep tutors today and take the next step toward achieving your target score!
