How to Prepare for theACT Reading Test

The ACT Reading section assesses your comprehension and reasoning skills with several types of questions. We will explore these question types using a passage from the novel "The Catcher in the Rye" by J.D. Salinger:

"If you really want to hear about it, the first thing you'll probably want to know is where I was born, and what my lousy childhood was like, and how my parents were occupied and all before they had me, and all that David Copperfield kind of crap, but I don't feel like going into it, if you want to know the truth. In the first place, that stuff bores me, and in the second place, my parents would have about two haemorrhages apiece if I told anything pretty personal about them. They're quite touchy about anything like that, especially my father. They're nice and all - I'm not saying that - but they're also touchy as hell. Besides, I'm not going to tell you my whole goddam autobiography or anything. I'll just tell you about this madman stuff that happened to me around last Christmas just before I got pretty run-down and had to come out here and take it easy."

These questions ask you to determine the meaning of a word or phrase based on how it's used in the passage. They evaluate your ability to understand unfamiliar vocabulary by using context clues.

Example: "Based on the context, what does the narrator mean by describing his childhood as 'lousy'?"

These questions require you to draw logical conclusions based on the information presented in the passage. They test your ability to understand implied ideas or relationships that are not explicitly stated.

Example: "Based on the narrator's description of his parents, what can you infer about his relationship with them?"

These questions assess your understanding of the author's intentions, attitudes, and persuasive techniques. They may ask you to identify the author's purpose, tone, or rhetorical strategies employed.

Example: "What is the author's purpose in referencing 'David Copperfield' in the passage?"

These questions ask you to analyse the relationships between ideas, characters, or events within the passage. Synthesis questions ask you to integrate information from multiple passages or draw conclusions based on the combined details.

Example: "How does the narrator's attitude toward his parents compare to his attitude toward telling his life story?"

These questions assess your ability to understand causal relationships, or the order of events described in the passage.

Example: "According to the narrator, what caused him to 'come out here and take it easy'?"

While some question types may be more frequent than others, the exact distribution will vary test to test. Many questions will combine elements from multiple categories. To be well-prepared, familiarize yourself with all of these question types and practice as much as you can!

You will receive one point for each correct answer, and there is no penalty for incorrect answers. Therefore, it's essential to answer every question, even if you need to guess.

A good ACT Reading score depends on your college aspirations. Generally, scores of 24 or higher (out of 36) is considered competitive. However, highly selective colleges may look for scores in the 30-34 range. According to ACT's 2022 data, the median ACT Reading score was 19, a score of 22 meets the College Readiness Benchmark, while the top 10% of students scored 31 or higher. The composite score distribution can be found in full on page 13. Your reading score will contribute a 25% weighting to your composite score making it very important to your university applications.

While the admissions process for top universities is wholistic process and these universities do not have a minimum requirement; typically a composite scores of around 34 is expected. Is it possible to be admitted with a lower score if the rest of your application is excellent. For example, the bottom 10% students admitted to Harvard had a score of 31 or lower. More details on ACT scores can be found in our dedicated guide.

Our ACT test preparation guide provides a comprehensive overview of how to prepare effectively for all sections of the ACT, including making your own personalised study plan. When it comes to the Reading section specifically, here are some key strategies to focus on:

Regular reading outside of your test preparation is one of the most effective ways to improve your ACT Reading performance. It helps build vocabulary, comprehension skills, and reading speed. Read a variety of materials that interest you, including fiction, non-fiction, news articles, and academic texts to expose yourself to different writing styles and topics. Try to make reading a daily habit, even if it's just for a short period each day.

To maximize your understanding and retention, practice active reading techniques. Engage with the text by underlining key ideas, making notes, and asking yourself questions as you read. This approach helps you stay focused, deepens your understanding, and makes it easier to recall information when answering questions. Apply this technique to ACT Reading passages to develop your skills in a test-specific context.

Preparing for the ACT Reading test doesn't have to be a solitary endeavour. Consider joining or starting a study group to discuss strategies, share insights, and stay motivated. Collaborating with others provides valuable perspectives, exposes you to different problem-solving approaches, and helps you stay accountable.

Preparing for the ACT Reading test doesn't have to be a solitary endeavour. Consider joining or starting a study group to discuss strategies, share insights, and stay motivated. Collaborating with others provides valuable perspectives, exposes you to different problem-solving approaches, and helps you stay accountable.

Preparing for the ACT writing section can be a daunting task since it can be hard to judge the quality of your own essay. An experienced tutor can be very useful in helping you to develop your essay writing skills and making sure you are on track. Especially since, on average, most students sitting the ACT Writing paper only score half marks. It is important to find a tutor with a proven track record of success as their insight is vital in shaping your progress. A-List Education has a selected number of experienced tutors who can help you with the Writing section (and all other areas of the ACT!). 

For students that prefer group training, why not consider our intensive 5-day ACT courses.

Analysing your performance on practice tests reveals areas where you excel and those that need improvement. For example, you might discover that you consistently struggle with the inference and interpretation questions discussed earlier or tend to run out of time on natural science passages. This self-awareness allows you to target your studying, reading and practice more effectively.

As you take more practice tests, monitor your scores and identify trends in your performance. If you see steady improvement, you know your study strategies are working. If your scores plateau or decline, it's a sign that you may need to adjust your approach or seek additional support. You may decide that this section will require more hours of study time dedicated to it.

After completing each practice test, review your performance and analyse your mistakes. Ask yourself:

• Which question types did I struggle with the most?
• Did any question types or topics take a disproportionate amount of time?
• Which passages or topics were the most challenging for me?
• Can I do anything differently next time to improve my score?

By utilizing practice tests to their fullest potential and implementing these strategies, you'll be well-prepared to tackle the ACT Reading test with confidence. Remember, consistent practice, targeted skill development, and a commitment to continuous improvement are essential for achieving your goals and maximizing your performance on test day.

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