5 Things to Know for the ACT Reading Section

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 40 multiple-choice questions in 35 minutes. That's less than a minute per question, so pacing matters more here than on almost any other section of the ACT.

• Bring a watch. Aim to have about half the questions done by the 15-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. On the ACT Reading section, there are often two answers that seem plausible. When that happens, re-read the question and pick the one that's 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 40 questions.

For more detailed strategies, check out these other Fiveable guides on the ACT Reading section:

• Fiveable's ACT Reading Section Overview: What's On It?
• ACT Reading: Integration of Knowledge & Ideas
• ACT Reading: Craft & Structure
• ACT Reading: Key Ideas & Details