5 Things to Know for the ACT Reading Section

TL;DR

The ACT Reading section has 36 questions total (27 scored) and lasts 40 minutes. You'll read passages and answer multiple-choice questions about main ideas, author's purpose, rhetoric, and inferences. Some passages include graphs or visual aids. Here are five things you need to know to perform well.

more resources to help you study

cheatsheets

Section Overview

The ACT Reading section is the third section of the exam. You'll read passages of varying lengths and answer multiple-choice questions about author's purpose, rhetoric, and inferences drawn from the text. Some passages also include graphs or visual aids, and questions will ask you to integrate that visual information into your analysis.

Top Tips

1. Know the format and pace yourself

The section has 36 multiple-choice questions in 40 minutes. That's a little over a minute per question, so pacing still matters.

• Bring a watch. Aim to have roughly half the questions done by the 20-minute mark.
• If you get stuck on a question or a passage, skip it and come back. Spending three minutes on one tough question means losing time on easier ones you'd otherwise get right.
• Practice under timed conditions before test day. The more familiar you are with the pressure, the less it'll throw you off.

2. Read each passage fully before answering questions

It's tempting to skim or jump straight to the questions, but reading the full passage first gives you a much better sense of the author's overall argument and tone. That big-picture understanding helps you answer questions faster and more accurately.

• As you read, ask yourself: What is the author trying to convey? What's the tone? Is this fiction or nonfiction?
• Some question sets are based on paired passages that ask you to compare and contrast. While reading these, pay close attention to where the authors agree and where they differ so you're ready for comparison questions.

3. Refer back to the passage when answering

Don't rely on memory alone. Go back to the text, especially when a question points you to a specific paragraph or line range.

• Read a few lines before and after the referenced section. Context matters for questions about why a detail is included or how it fits into the larger argument.
• The correct answer is almost always supported directly by something in the passage. If you can't find evidence for your choice, reconsider.

4. Read questions and answer choices carefully

• Watch for keywords like EXCEPT, LEAST, NOT, best, or implies. These words change what you're looking for and are easy to miss under time pressure.
• Read all four answer choices before selecting one. There are often two answers that seem plausible. When that happens, re-read the question and pick the one most directly supported by the passage.

5. Answer every single question

There is no penalty for wrong answers on the ACT. A blank answer scores zero, but a guess has a 25% chance of being right. If you're running low on time, fill in your best guess for every remaining question before time is called.

• Even on questions where you're unsure, try to eliminate one or two obviously wrong choices first. Going from a 1-in-4 chance to a 1-in-2 chance makes a real difference across 36 questions.

Quick Reference: ACT Reading Facts

Practical Study Guidance

• Build reading stamina. Practice reading dense nonfiction and literary passages without stopping. The passages on the ACT can be challenging, and fatigue is real.
• Time your practice sets. Use a stopwatch when doing practice passages so pacing becomes automatic.
• Review every wrong answer. When you miss a question, find the exact line in the passage that supports the correct answer. This trains you to look for evidence rather than going from memory.
• Get comfortable with visual aids. Some passages include graphs or charts. Practice reading data visuals quickly and connecting them to the passage text.